Posted by andries on Feb 21, 2010 in
Change,
Insights A study by “GRAIN”, a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems, released an interesting report on transitioning to a sustainable global food system.
I wouldn’t necessarily support the implementation of the full scope of their analysis (e.g de-industrializing agriculture and moving to local production) though directionally I would agree – my sense is though in moving from concept to reality, their recommendations can be used as guiding principles but will need to be softened to allow for efficiency-arguments in meeting the challenges of global demographics, global consumer sophistication and health considerations (e.g germ control, contingency plans, strengthening immune systems as globalization increases).
Without further a due, here they are:
Five key steps towards a food system that can address climate change and the food crisis http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 1: Move towards sustainable, integrated production methods http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 2: Rebuild the soil and retain the water http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 3: De-industrialise agriculture, save energy, and keep the people on the land http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 4: Grow close by and cut the international trade http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Step 5: Cut the meat economy and change to a healthier diet http://bit.ly/c1GigZ
Posted by andries on Dec 2, 2009 in
Insights Newspaper publishers will now be able to set a limit on the number of free news articles people can read through Google News. Here is what an interesting BBC article had to say about the dilemmas and limitations both old and new media models have.
The dispute between media groups and Google reflects the general confusion over how traditional media can make money on the internet.
Every newspaper owner angry about Google’s linking policy can use a simple remedy: add two lines of code to a file on your servers and Google will leave you alone.
Deep down, most media owners realise that the old “publish it and they will come” principle does not work in an on-demand world.
If Google would not link to their websites, the very same media groups would bitterly complain about Google’s refusal to generate valuable online traffic.
Unless you own premium content (from the Wall Street Journal at one end to porn at the other), making money from on-demand content means first and foremost that your audiences have to be able to find you.
The problem: Nobody has quite figured out a business model for a world where consumers don’t want their morning or evening news, but want the Now O’clock News – the “on-demand and to my taste” news
Posted by andries on Jul 30, 2009 in
Insights To contemplate on..
From: http://www.grameen-info.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=126
Every year GB staff evaluate their work and check whether the socio-economic situation of GB members is improving. GB evaluates poverty level of the borrowers using ten indicators.
A member is considered to have moved out of poverty if her family fulfills the following criteria:
1. The family lives in a house worth at least Tk. 25,000 (twenty five thousand) or a house with a tin roof, and each member of the family is able to sleep on bed instead of on the floor.
2. Family members drink pure water of tube-wells, boiled water or water purified by using alum, arsenic-free, purifying tablets or pitcher filters.
3. All children in the family over six years of age are all going to school or finished primary school.
4. Minimum weekly loan installment of the borrower is Tk. 200 or more.
5. Family uses sanitary latrine.
6. Family members have adequate clothing for every day use, warm clothing for winter, such as shawls, sweaters, blankets, etc, and mosquito-nets to protect themselves from mosquitoes.
7. Family has sources of additional income, such as vegetable garden, fruit-bearing trees, etc, so that they are able to fall back on these sources of income when they need additional money.
8. The borrower maintains an average annual balance of Tk. 5,000 in her savings accounts.
9. Family experiences no difficulty in having three square meals a day throughout the year, i. e. no member of the family goes hungry any time of the year.
10. Family can take care of the health. If any member of the family falls ill, family can afford to take all necessary steps to seek adequate healthcare.
Posted by andries on Jun 14, 2009 in
Insights,
Musing I have long been interested in personal/interpersonal development and since my participation at Otto Laske’s Gateway Seminar on Adult Development, back in January 2007, my interest and understanding of the field has taken a quantum leap.
Laske’s InterDevelopmental Model gave me an eagle-eyes view on the field, and provided me with the language and structure to think about human development and consider its practical applications across different fields – including my AIESEC work evolving around leadership development, progress in education for the 21st century, etc. Many authors and scholars like Robert Kegan and Don Beck have further influenced my views.
Beginning of the year I stumbled upon the Enlighten Next Magazine, published by Andrew Cohen & Co, and it ties in news, musings, research and practice from many of the evolutionary thinkers I have been following on the sidelines.
Yesterday they announced their Higher Development Research Project together with a concept paper, which I can highly recommend as an introduction on the developmental field.
Learn more, here.
Posted by andries on Jun 12, 2009 in
Insights A documentary on the decline of the bluefin tuna (and other seafood) has been released a few days ago, “The End of Line“.
I have yet to see anything else than the (powerful) trailer, but I hope to get my hands on it soon.
From a blog specializing in the subject:
It raises awareness and causes concern about a topic that most people wouldn’t otherwise think about. As with any film of this nature, it will have its critics; some people will question the science that was used, and others will quarrel about whether blame is being put in the right place. But at the end of the day, it will have people talking about these issues. From my perspective, that is a fantastic first step towards making change. And change needs to happen.