It never stops me from saying what I want to say about Ethiopia, the fact that a tour company is paid for me to go there. Book reviewers don't pay for the books they review.

A lot of books are sold and given away as presents. But who actually reads and enjoy reading?

I find the public reaction to writing - it's fascinating in this modern age. Of course people are able to interact with me and email me, and I get quite a few I suppose.

I am certainly very pro-Europe.

In both places [Paraguay and Newfoundland] people rise despite everything - both are pretty tough environments.

I'd like to write fiction. Perhaps at some stage.

We don't really listen to what the other person is saying. We have gotten used to information being in such a concentrated form all the time, and so continuously, that conversation somehow seems inadequate for a lot of people, and therefore they can't join in it. You notice how many people can't argue anymore - without getting very upset.