On the Map, Off the Radar On the Map, Off the Radar

Cookshop.Biz is a food delivery service like UberEats, Deliveroo or GrubHub, but operating under much different business and market conditions in Liberia. It is the first company in Liberia to accept online payments locally and it is revolutionizing the food supply chain in Monrovia. Founders Charles Cooper and Mlen-Too Westley discuss how they set up the appropriate infrastructure to create a successful business in a country where technological innovation is scarce.

Mahmud Johnson, a 25 year old Liberian Dartmouth graduate, returned to Liberia to found JPalm. JPalm supplies farmers around Liberia with palm oil collection machines and then helps the farmers sell their crude palm oil. JPalm strives to use every part of the palm tree and not only sells the palm oil now but also sells the palm kernel shells as an alternative fuel source to charcoal. They have also branched out to found a beauty product line: Kernel Fresh. Kernel Fresh uses the oil inside of the palm kernel as a moisturizer for skin and hair. It is the new 'coconut oil' and is widely sold throughout Liberia. J-Palm has helped Liberian palm farmers multiply their profits, improve oil collection efficiency, and has created a vital supply chain infrastructure for palm oil in the country.

Monrovia has one of the most consistent rainfalls in the world, and is also the 'wettest' capital city in the world. However, potable drinking water is a huge issue in the country. Joel Gordon and Charles Cooper discuss their business, African Rain, which installs rainwater collection tanks across the country to turn rainwater into drinking water.

Archel Bernard, founder of the Bombchel Factory, discusses how her clothing company in Monrovia empowers Liberian women who were affected by ebola or sexual assault. The Bombchels (as the women who work there are called) create contemporary outfits for the global woman using bold African prints. Check out this inspiring podcast about a clothing company whose mission will *always* be in style.

Somali presidential candidate Fadumo Q. Dayib talks with On the Map, Off the Radar about her choice to run for office in order to initiate social change, why the 4.5 clan system of choosing a leader is corrupt and needs to change, how Western media and organizations are hindering democratic elections in Somalia and perpetuating a damaging narrative of the country, and, most importantly, her hope for the future of women leaders and also of Somalia. This is one of the most inspiring interviews I have ever conducted and you'll be both informed and moved by watching it from start to finish. Thank you, Fadumo Dayib, for taking the time to share your story and your message with us! Regardless of the outcome of the presidency, you have already won in sparking a revolution that empowers women and the voiceless in Somalia and beyond!

For more information:
https://fqdayib.com/

Earth system models to date operate in a world without animals. In these models animals are assumed passive recipients of environmental conditions and plant processes, contributing negligible effects on global biogeochemical cycles and biome function. In this episode of On the Map, Off the Radar Andrew Abraham discusses the previously overlooked movement of nutrients by animals, and the importance this may have to all of life on Earth.