DP 4: Food Waste Solutions

As it was mentioned previously, food waste is truly a complex issue. This problem is stemmed by various factors that are different in developed and developing countries.

Seeing that much of the consumer food waste occurs in developed countries, and it is something I am more familiar with, the solutions in this post will be focused on actions that can be implemented in these nations.

Through previous posts, you will know that the biggest contributors to food waste is the throwing away of perfectly edible food. The reason this happens is due to increased portion sizes which have become bigger in the past 20 to 30 years. In addition, the fact that psychologically individuals are unable to detect when they are eating 30% more, means that big portions truly create negative impacts on people’s waste lines, as well as, enlarge waste bins with edible food.

It is also worth mentioning that much of the current food is high in corn syrup, salt, sodium, sugar and other elements which are not beneficial for the body in large quantities. The fact that most people don’t know what their food is composed of creates large barriers between eating healthier, because in most cases the tastier the food, the less healthy it tends to be. This behavior can be easily avoided through the addition of new front-of-pack color labeling, showing individuals through green, yellow or red colors, whether the level of sodium, salt or sugar in the food they are about to consume is above the recommended average. The labeling study revealed that “increased prevalence of front-of-pack signposts may lead to marked changes in consumer purchasing habits and increase consumers nutritional awareness.” (Bennett & Crossley)

Probably the worst contributor to food waste and consumption of unhealthy foods is the need for individuals to eat quickly and cheaply. This phenomenon is most common in low income families, who with the rising economic crises need to feed their families, while still paying for rent, transportation, clothing and if at all possible, entertainment for the family members.

Without much connection to the food we eat, understanding of what goes into the food, and consumption of appropriate food portions, food waste will continue to wreck havoc on the planet, economy, and people.

Partnership to the Rescue

To anyone who has been involved in long-term development issues, the subject of partnerships is a very important topic. In fact, it has played a very important role in my own development classes, and the issue of whether partnerships are truly efficient in the long-term and should be embarked on has surfaced many times.

With all personal beliefs aside, it is important to re-emphasize that the problem of food waste is very challenging and thus cannot be resolved by any single group. Rather, this issue needs to involve multiple stakeholders from the government, business and educational sectors.

Even though there are not many examples of well known partnerships that address food waste, there are a few that are worth mentioning. The 2003 EPODE program in France to reduce Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) in children, such as heart disease, cholesterol, and obesity, “brings together a wide range of stakeholders (industry, government, community organizations)”. (Boles & Halsey) This group of partners with various resources and experiences helps lower NCD in children by tackling the problem through many angels. In this case, EPODE educates the children about nutrition, conducts cooking lessons, promotes physical activity, and organizes visits to food production facilities.

Since children are the future generation of our planet, it is important to teach them good eating habits from a young age. Nonetheless, children won’t learn unless these positive behaviors are reinforced in their homes, by their parents and friends, which means educational programs targeting workplaces, low income neighborhoods and other fields must also be created.

Long-term Change

Discussing these partnerships, I would like to give some examples of what each partner could do. On the government level, policies that create incentives and provide profitability for corporations running a green business could help engage more private businesses. In addition to incentives, government can help regulate the food industry. For instance, the Food Standard Agency (FSA) can set a limit on the grams of salt that should be found in food portions, and regulate the industry to ensure everyone abides by these standards.

The communication sector, NGOs, and other organizations can cooperate to create other incentives for businesses to go green. This can be achieved by raising awareness of the brand name, and strengthening client relations through reports such as, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), which ranks companies that are being sustainable and invest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

It is important to mention, however, that healthy eating does not solely depend on food companies. It must also be promoted in schools and the workforce, seeing as how the second biggest factor of NCD is found through lack of physical activity. Workforces can emphasize the importance of staying active through monthly awareness programs on getting regular doctor check ups on blood pressure, cholesterol, and so on. A recent study showed that “workplace interventions for chronic disease control in industrialized societies have proven effective at reducing the associated costs, with an average return on investment of $3 for every $1 invested.” (Bennett & Crossley)

Make it part of the culture

Raising awareness about food portions, appropriate nutrition, and education on the type of food that should be consumed will play an important role in whether or not future societies can truly become sustainable.

At current rates of food production, its consumption, distribution, and the lack of people’s involvement in the processes of the food that is being sold to us, has resulted in many health problems, environmental degradation, and economic inefficiencies.

Resolving this issue is not easy, and can only be achieved through partnerships, but it is something that must be done right away. Since it is not just a change of personal diets, but rather a complete shift in the current food culture, big changes must be implemented in all spheres, at a rapid pace.

The health of the environment, the economy and every individual revolves around a good balance of demand, supply and consumption. The key is reaching the golden balance, and this can only be done through the involvement of all affected players.

Work Cited:

Bennett, J. & Crossley, R. (2007). “A Recipe for Success: How food companies can profit from consumer health.” International Business Leaders Forum. Accessed on January 4, 2011 from: www.iblf.org/~/media/Files/Resources/…/RecipeforSuccess.ashx

Boles, O. & Halsey, Y. (2011). “Many healthy returns: The business of tackling Non-communicable Diseases.” International Business Leaders Forum. Accessed on January 10, 2011 from: www.iblf.org/en/…/C16AB646539747DFAD3BB32FBABB69F4.ash…

Lee, V., Mikkelsen, L., Srikantharajah, J. and Cohen, .. (2008). “Promising Strategies for Creating Healthy Eating and Active Living Environments.” Prevention Institute. Accessed on January 7, 2011 from: www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/…/Convergence_Partnership_HEAL…

Tukuitonga, C. & Keller, I. (2005). “Implementing the WHO Global Strategy on Diet Physical Activity and Health.” Scandinavian Journal of Nutrition. Accessed on January 8, 2011 from: www.ifw-kiel.de/konfer/esf-ifw/newtech05/global_strategy.pdf

Comments Off on DP 4: Food Waste Solutions / 13 Jan 2012 por Hokuma Karimova
IMSD /

DP: Is society getting all the information?

In the last post, we analyzed how concepts such as climate change, sustainable development etc, are supposedly acknowledged by people; and we remarked the importance of society to be coherent with what they say and what they do.

For this entry, I would like to bring up some features that will show us how society has a lack of information. Because of this they are not completely aware of the meaning of such important concepts, the relationship among them and how this make an impact in our lives.

Lets start with Recycling as an example. Many people know this process, but what percentage of them implements it in a proper way? Not taking into account that in some cases, governments doesn’t provide the means to collect and store the waste.

Why do they still recycle? Is it because of a trend, or maybe they are trying to minimize pollution? I choose to believe they do it because they are aware of the damage pollution is making to the environment and it is a problem that affect us all.

What is important to highlight is that we achieve this actions in society after more than 20 years of being communicating and trying to sensitize people in many different ways. This strategy took years of developing several activities that went from publishing threatening pictures of the actual reality of our ecosystems to the creation of clusters such as Non Governmental Organizations and Green Activists Foundations among others.

Fortunately, these communication strategies have created an impact, but it is not enough I believe that it will take change in our mentality, in our culture and to start developing some concepts that are not known and understood by the people.

Sustainable development is not just about preserving the environment and reducing pollution. It takes so much more. What about inequality and the huge gap between developed and undeveloped country? This is the part that our society is not aware of and is so important in order to get this change in our minds.

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For some this might be utopist, but for others here is were the challenge take place. I believe communication is a great tool for presenting the relationship and the meaning of key concepts like: growth, development, and the relationship between the economy and the environment.

Reference:

http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Complete.pdf

Comments Off on DP: Is society getting all the information? / 13 Jan 2012 por Natalia Diaz Zamora
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DP blog 7. America is far from developed and is failing its citizens across the board.

Abstract: GDP fails. Nations need to adopt a multidimensional indicator so that the well being of a society is measured. A more complete indicator is step one to change and development. A concrete analysis of the state of a nation will lead to better policy implication and general well being.

America success and development is only seen in material goods and wealth. We are seen as a power nation because of our high GDP. However, that extreme wealth is made and limited to the top 1%. America is failing, just as developing countries are. Our biggest failures in my eye is the attention to the GDP over the environment, health, education and general life satisfaction. Education and health are two sectors are gravely important for development and in terms of measuring the well being of a society. GDP fails to highlight America’s shortcomings.

The Human Poverty Index is an indication of the standard of living in a country, measured by a three basic dimensional approach- a long healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living. I question is survival being directly linked to health in terms of physical health and how is mental health and drug abuse impacting survival. Mental health problems are analogous with extreme poverty in the United States. Studies have found a high rate of mental health problems among homeless substance abusers. Often mental health goes unmeasured due to inadequate numbers and willing participants. The mental health of my country is poor. We have the highest illegal drug use. Doctors are quick to prescribe medicine to increase their stock investments and leading to a drug induced, hazy society.

America’s education system is failing. We lag in education ranking among developed countries. Also, there is a lack of data in regards to math skills, there is documentation on school performance but not outside the classroom. The skills developed on the street may be well above those who do not suffer hardship. In the book, Freakeconomics, it shone light to the well-developed economic plans and financial literacy of crack dealers in Chicago. Furthermore, there is a grace concern for the financial illiteracy in America. Annamaria Lusardi an economist was cited in The New Yorker article by James Surowiecki titled “Greater fools” states that “Almost half of those surveyed couldn’t answer two questions about inflation and interest rates correctly, and slightly more sophisticated topics baffle a majority of people. Many people don’t know the terms of their mortgage or the interest rate they’re paying.” This has led to our current economic crisis, the average American has an average of 10,000 dollars of credit card debt. The “Slip-Sliding Away” survey was released by research nonprofit Public Agenda. “It showed that only two out of every 10 Americans report no financial struggles, while four out of 10 struggle just to make ends meet”(The Average American Debt?) So, who is better off those who are in developing countries who have no debt and are making ends meet or those who have the opportunity of financial services and are falling into debt? I would argue those involved in microcredit programs have a greater well being for their capacity to pay off debt. Financial literacy skills are very important for consumers in developed countries are just as valuable as developing and in my opinion those in developing countries are working within their means due to lack of financial institutions and perhaps a greater financial understanding. “In India, for example, more than half of laborers surveyed indicated that they store cash at home, while borrowing from moneylenders at high rates of interest.” (The Case for Financial Literacy, 13) The low savings rate in Sub Saharan Africa is comparable to the middle class of America. “Financial education and financial literacy are only one part of an effective policy response to empowering consumers in the financial marketplace.” (The Case for Financial Literacy, 15) This needs to be developed in both OECD countries and those developing.

Continuing with the analysis of poverty, often the measure of unemployment is an indicator. However, as I mentioned before there is a large unaccounted for working class. This class of people entails systems such as the black market, worldwide the black market provides 1.8 billion jobs. “In the U.S. unreported income is estimated to be $2 trillion resulting in a “tax gap” of $450–$500 billion.” (America’s Underground Activity) So, those who are following below the poverty line and are receiving Governmental aid may in fact be very well off. The value of unpaid employees in America is great, with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and committed workers are going unreported and unvalued in society. Furthermore, What about societies that are based on the barter system? Developing countries may be much better off in terms of meeting their needs even if their GDP is dismal. In conclusion, poverty has been traditionally been measured by dollars. However, the monetary focus does not give adequate insight into the well being of the poverty stricken.

Education. America’s education system is failing and is pathetic compared to other developed countries. Our funding for education only drives the gap between the rich and the poor. Programs and schools are being cut across the board. Our education budget federally is 56 billion compared to our military budget of 515 billion dollars, something is seriously wrong. Our nation is far from ranking high in terms of well being and development, especially if we are burning funds on war, we are essentially destroying the humanitarian well being both domestically and internationally. It greatly saddens me that America is in the last tier of developed countries in education. I was lucky enough to be afforded one of the best private education but it came with a large price tag, my college degree cost close to 180,000 dollars. This is absurd. The funding for education is driving the gap between the rich and the poor and needs to be reassessed and refocused and provided equally for all.

Health. America spends twice as much on healthcare then other developed countries. The US is ranked last in most areas such as access to health care, patient safety, timeliness of care, efficiency and equity. 45 million Americans are without healthcare, I was one of them until I recently was able to get an international healthcare program that is only valid outside of the USA. My country is obese and ridden with chronic illness. One third of my population is obese which results in heart disease that ultimately claims the lives of millions a year which is comparable to aids in Sub Saharan Africa which has a 5% prevalence rate. America’s health care system slightly prolongs life but not without serious financial consequences. As the US claims to be a “developed,” country it seems no better off then those in developing countries. The amount of unreported illness and mental illness is myriad. Again, my countries over all well being is poor.

Employment and Income I covered in previous blogs and above. In terms of shelter as I mentioned before, the housing crisis and America’s mortgage systems is impeding upon the well being of my country. Rents and mortgages are high. If it were plausible I would opt to go live in the woods. Our shelter, or our housing system does not guarantee that you will have a roof over your head and the high cost leaves most Americans unsatisfied and their well being diminished.

The Environment and a brief history for the need for environmental Indicators. There is a recent growing trend for the concern of the environment. Now, that climate change and the consequences of global warming are being seen, the world needs better indicators to access their national environment and the environment of the world. “Many highly aggregated economic and social indicators have been widely adopted, but there are virtually no comparable national environmental indicators to help decision makers or the public evaluate environmental trends.”(World Resource Institute) International Interest in the environment and developing environment indicators began in the late 1980s in Canada. Then in 1987, the Dutch government began similar work. After a G-7 economic summit in 1989, the OECD countries work towards formulating environmental indicators. The apex of the environmental indicators was in 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro and the Agenda 21 called for development indicators. Several concepts, methods and measurement factors have been proposed to formulate indicators. These attempts at formulating environmental indicators were fueled to address the discrepancy with GDP. The call for green accounting is a consequence of the narrow scope of traditional economic indicators. The basic idea behind green accounting is to address the depletion of nature’s capital and the cost of waste and pollution on a society. The UN development Index focuses on human’s safety, health and a productive environment. Air pollution, waste, toxins, fish stock, deforestation and waste all need to be accessed in order to account for the well being of a nation.

The information base used to build environmental indicators attempts to answer such questions as: What is happening to the state of the environment or natural resources? Why is it happening? What are we doing about it? Furthermore, indicators of stresses or pressures from human activities that cause environmental change (pressure indicators), and measures of the policy adopted in response to environmental problems (response indicators) ( Environmental Indicators, 18) As I have previously stated measuring the environment is extremely hard. I personally like the ecological economic approach the best. It combines national accounts and environmental accounting into one matrix where the measurement is relates economic units to physical units. This idea is the best to me because by equating stock of the environment as energy units it applies the law of thermodynamics and better describes the state of the environment. This works well for measuring intangible things such as air quality. We need thorough formulated pollution indexes, resource depletion index, ecosystem risk index and the impact on human welfare. America has the environmental protection agency but has failed to protect the well being of its citizens. Three examples that especially upset me are: the BP oil spill, the Haliburton loop hole and my countries general disregard for our Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu. The complete disregard for the environment in my country greatly angers me.

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Firstly, the EPA warned of the potential collapse in the BP oil rig. The project should not have been attempted and yet the all mighty dollar was more valued than the ecosystem of the gulf and the potential negative impact on the lives of people residing by the coast. Secondly, Cheney took office and the oil and gas industry was permitted to inject hazardous material unchecked into the ground which has resulted in contaminated drinking water, directly affecting the health of citizens and the environment. The national parks were not to be built on and due to the manipulation of corporate, capitalistic America have now been destroyed. And lastly, Steven Chu proposes the most simple, cheapest idea to fight global warming: paint the roofs and the roads white. It would be equivalent of taking 600 million cars of the road and significantly reducing energy cost which would improve the happiness of our citizens. Furthermore, America has the potential to be entirely dependable upon wind energy and yet the power of oil in congress has prevented renewable energies progression. America is spewing toxic material into the air, land and water and is significantly lowering the well being of our nation. “According to the recent epidemiological studies more than 500,000 Americans die each year from cardiopulmonary disease linked to breathing fine particle air pollution.” (pollutionarticles) As my nation’s welfare and well-being are being disregarded a new multi focus indicator should be employed for the betterment of the society.

The next sector of society that contributes to the well being of a nation is political participation. 63% of my nation has participated in political activities in the last year. (civic engagement) However, it seems convenient that laws are being passed in the middle of the night. Protest and general dissatisfaction is largely ignored. Our congress is being deployed by interest in their personal stock portfolios. (BUSH, OIL, WAR, need I say more) 70% of my country disagrees with our involvement in the middle east so why are our tax dollars being spent over there then at home. If we were really a country devoted to liberty and justice for all we would put down the weapons and help the world move forward in development not only domestically but internationally. “The cost of one nuclear weapons test alone could finance the installation of eighty thousand hand pumps, giving third world villages access to clean water.” Political agenda needs to focus on its citizens and not the GDP. Congress’ focus on money has lost sight of the overall happiness and well being of citizens.

I touched on human rights and family and household well being in previous blogs. USA claims to promote personal freedom but more and more rights are being bound and restricted. The loss of the nuclear family and disconnected communities in hindering progress in well being. America is weak and getting weaker. We need to really reevaluate the well being of society and see to it that our failures are recognized and work towards the betterment of all.

In conclusion (Not to sound like a Beatles song but), we all need to work together. We need to stop putting our personal financial interest ahead of the rights of humanity. All sectors of society need to address it strengths and weaknesses. The strength of the country will only flourish when we consider the different dimensions and factors that compose the well being of a society and weave it into one multi-dimensional national indicator. Indicators should tell us if things are getting better or worse. Indicators are used to develop successful policy to ensure the well being of a society. In conclusion, America needs to wake up and retake congress with politicians that are devoted to the well being and happiness of its citizens.

Work Cited, all previous sources were used to build this conclusion

1. http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/15–The-Internet-and-Civic-Engagement/2–The-Current-State-of-Civic-Engagement-in-America/2–Participation.aspx
2. http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2010/07/05/100705ta_talk_surowiecki#ixzz1jF3kaFlK
3. http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/poll/poverty/
4. http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2010/07/05/100705ta_talk_surowiecki
5. http://www.moneytalksnews.com/2011/02/10/average-american-debt/
6. The Case for Financial Literacy in Developing Countries
7. www.oecd.org/dataoecd/35/32/43245359.pdf

8. http://ideas.repec.org/p/pra/mprapa/29672.html

10 comentarios / 13 Jan 2012 por Lauren Musiello
IMSD /

DP#3: Everybody knows, but just a few acts

It is known that one of the challenges that the financial crisis made more visible is the achievement of sustainable, efficient and responsible business. The crisis always highlights what is being under shades; what had being said (or done) but just almost listened (or perceived).

During the last 10 years (or more) there has been an increasing proliferation of, what is called, Corporate Social Responsibility- CSR. Conferences, books, consultancies, initiatives, programs, etc., acquire higher relevance through time. There were hundreds of understandings and definitions, however they shared common denominator: to go beyond business in business.

Under this term, as I mentioned, there are hidden many conceptions and different understandings, just like it happens with some complex issues that society have been creating. Aware of the risk that this could suppose, I offer to classify these understandings in two approaches.

On the one hand, it is what I call the compulsory approach. This is related to what is a pre-requirement for any business performance, from a legal and ethical point of view. The compliance with the law, respect of human’s and labor rights, good practices of corporate governance, the protection and care for the stakeholder’s interests, are some examples of what is mandatory. On the other hand, there are some CSR notions that claim companies for an “add on”. This complementary field refers to activities that are outside the pure business orbit and could be translated as “added value initiatives” that companies voluntary decide to give. For instance, strategic social investments on education or health projects, creation of private foundations, donations or philanthropic aid.

It is true that go beyond business in business is important. For so, the compulsory issues are an imperative ones and the complementary ones are very desirable. Nevertheless, there is something missing. What about the business itself? For going beyond something it is precise to have that something. Financial crisis show us what was evident. The main responsibility for business is doing business good. Please don’t get confuse between doing good business and doing business good. Here, good is an attribute for behavior that is based on ethics.

Doing business good is about understanding the social role of business form the core of its own activity. The real concerning is the social impact of business. This analytic perspective turns into a management one, when companies not only accepted (be aware of it), but also adopt it, put it in practice. This implies to question the why, how, and for who produce, facing the social at the moment to make decisions.

As Jane Nelson explain, the role of private sector in development regards to the responsible management of the impact of their core business operations, in the workplace, in the marketplace and along the supply chain. She proposes eight socio-economic multipliers based on a responsible, efficient and profitable mainstream performance: the generation of income, production of safe products and services, creation of jobs, investment in human capital, establishes local business linkages, spread international business standards, support technology transfer and build physical and institutional infrastructure. By optimizing these multipliers, it is possible to create both shareholders value-added and societal value-added, which we define as the creation of wider economic, social and environmental value. (Nelson 2003)

And I go a little bit ahead of.

Businesses are in essence the main agents in the creation and primarily distribution of wealth. So, poverty and inequality in income distribution, some of the main concerns of Latin America, are not estranged problems for it.

Furthermore, as companies are the producers of goods and services, society have leave them the task to administrated the scare resources (in economic language) to reach the “optimal” in terms of needs’ satisfaction. It is obvious that the social impact of fine jewels and low-cost and high quality drugs are completely different. Naturally, the priorities of each country could differ; however, regarding general concerns, what should be the role of the entrepreneur sector in financial inclusion, hunger and food commercialization or housing deficit?

In addition, companies have the responsibility for being an appropriate scenario for the professional and personal development to for its workers. Respecting their rights, assuring fair conditions are some of the main issues.

But business also could address their “power and influence” to promote and advocate for the common good. Moreover, they should participate in the solution of the main problems that society face. As someone said, there are not wealth companies in sick societies.

There is a connection between societal and economic progress. Economic growth and social progress share the same end; so they should reinforce and improve each other to increase opportunities and assure people’s capabilities. In words of professor Porter, the point is the creation of shared value, which involves creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society by addressing its needs and challenges.

I want to end recalling Leonard Cohen: “Everybody knows the fight was fixed, the poor stay poor, the rich get rich. That’s how it goes. Everybody knows….. Everybody knows that the boat is leaking, without knowing where, that we are loosing the horizon. However, knowing is not all, it is necessary to take a step forward to think (including re-thinking) and act. Corporate Responsibility starts from a personal responsibility.

Ps. I want to tell you about an interesting business case. Fundación Social is the organization that contributed to “wake up” the passion that I fell for development and private sector (because it is a passion!). Fundación Social is a Colombian nonprofit organization with the ultimate goal to overcome the structural causes of poverty in order to promote the creation of a just, supportive, productive and peaceful society. While it is an NGO, the Foundation is also the matrix of a group of enterprises, since it regards the entrepreneurial line of action as a substantial component, essential to its action in society. The Foundation does not consist of a group of companies, all of which have a foundation; instead, it is a Foundation that has a group of companies. For them, “businesses were not simply a source of funds; they were in themselves an essential component of the social intervention strategy directed to overcome structural causes of poverty, the very raison d’etre of the entire organization.”

Fundación Social pursues its model of social intervention through three instruments: (i) direct social projects; (ii) business activities; and (iii) influence in society. It works directly with the poor creating conditions for development helping them to overcome the structural causes of poverty with integral local development initiatives. Companies of Fundación Social offer products and services (mainly in the financial sector) directed to sectors not adequately serviced by the traditional formal market offerings. Profits received by Fundación Social as a shareholder, were used to finance its growth strategy and to fund social projects. The organization also created influence in society by inviting society to participate in debates and solutions to major social issues.

The Foundation has more than 7.500 workers (62% of it are women), 4,7 millions customers on 63 cities nationwide, 63% of them has less than 2 minimum legal wage (around 400 Euros).

For more information: www.fundaciosocial.org or just ask me!

References

Cortina, Adela. ¿Ética económica europea?. EL PAÍS . Opinión – 20-10-2007

Kliksberg, Bernardo: “Más ética, más desarrollo”. Temas Grupo Editorial SRL, Buenos Aires. 2004

Nelson, Jane: “Economic Multipliers”. IBLF, 2003

Porter & Kramer: “Creating Shared Value. How to reinvent capitalism—and unleash a wave of innovation and growth”. Hardvard Business Review. January – February 2011.

Cohen, Leonard. Everybody knows. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDphyrGiaJE

Comments Off on DP#3: Everybody knows, but just a few acts / 13 Jan 2012 por Diana Patricia Sanchez Barajas
IMSD /

DP 5: The (desired) future of development in my personal point of view

In my DP blog entries I discussed some issues, where “development” (in the past and in the present) has been criticized – also positively, but more negatively. Under development one can understand and imagine many things depending on his/her motivation and goals with it. I prefer Maggie Black’s formulation of reforming today’s development, “so that it actually serves those for whom it was always supposed to be intended. More legitimacy for poor people as equal partners in the process, rather than as objects of development, would be a good starting point.”(1)

The term “development” (together with “developing” and “developed”) itself is misused many times. Nevertheless, even if we do not like it, in lack of alternatives professionals and laics will continue to use it. All we can hope for is to associate more positive image with the meaning of this word. This can be achieved only through adding positive experiences and projects with big, measured impacts.

I also agree with Maggie Black that many smaller scaled, customized projects can achieve a bigger impact, than any “big-bang, mass popular campaign or set of global resolutions.” (1) As good examples could serve the Matau Primary School Project in Zimbabwe (2) (researched on in DP class) or the El Nahual Community Education Center in Guatemala (own experience).

One is for sure: people should go first. Considering, that poor people depend on nature, on ecosystem services more than rich people, sustainable development should be about both, people and ecosystem. The most anticipated event of 2012 is Rio+20: United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Just recently came out the zero draft of it, which deals in big part with Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. Two points I find particularly interesting: “25. We are convinced that a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication should contribute to meeting key goals – in particular the priorities of poverty eradication, food security, sound water management, universal access to modern energy services, sustainable cities, management of oceans and improving resilience and disaster preparedness, as well as public health, human resource development and sustained, inclusive and equitable growth that generates employment, including for youth. 31. We note that the transformation to a green economy should be an opportunity to all countries and a threat to none. We therefore resolve that international efforts to help countries build a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication must not: create new trade barriers; impose new conditionalities on aid and finance; widen technology gaps or exacerbate technological dependence of developing countries on developed countries; restrict the policy space for countries to pursue their own paths to sustainable development.” (3) The plans are meaningful. Let’s hope they will be accepted and respected by everyone. We will see it shortly.

I support the idea of Sen, that development is above all the freedom to choose. I believe that proper education gives you more opportunities to choose from to live a life you wish. The education that I have received enables me a freedom to decide on my lifestyle and my future- where and what I want to do for living. Therefore, as I quoted in my first blog entry: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Keep this in mind, whenever you deal with any kind of development.

VIDEO: Rio+20: The Future We Want

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References:
(1)    Maggie Black: The no-nonsense guide to international development
(2)    Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZPr6QTMB5o
(3)    Rio+20 zero draft document published by UNCSD (2012) http://www.stakeholderforum.org/fileadmin/files/zerodraft110112.pdf
Rolf Rosenkranz (2011): Development cooperation in 2012 on http://www.devex.com/en/news/development-cooperation-in-2012/77079

Comments Off on DP 5: The (desired) future of development in my personal point of view / 13 Jan 2012 por Ildiko Heim
IMSD /

DP 5: The (desired) future of development in my personal point of view

VIDEO: Rio+20: The Future We Want

Pinche aquí para ver el vídeo

6 comentarios / 13 Jan 2012 por Ildiko Heim
IMSD /

ENERGY AN ESSENTIAL DRIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT

After the modules of Energy and Development perspective, i have been able to have that feeling of how energy is an essential tool for development. In my discussion we will define “Development” as meeting the basic needs and i shall discuss the link between Energy and the attainment of basic need.

The MDGs are all dependent, to a greater or lesser degree, on access to energy services. Without a reliable, predictably priced source of energy, growth can never flourish. How can we hope for good education without electricity, when children cannot read and do their homework in the evening. How can universal basic healthcare be achieved? In 2009 the International Energy Agency estimated that a mere 31% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa had access to electricity – and an unreliable supply at that. Yet the World Energy Council’s 2010 Survey of Energy Resources does not see a shortage of resources in the world today or in the decades to come. It is the way we are using these resources that has to change to secure a sustainable energy future. This situation is quite simply unacceptable. To pretend otherwise – and claim that, without access to modern energy, people can still pull themselves onto the first rung of the development ladder – is folly. We must act quickly, and act across sectors. Because the whole energy for development argument quickly raises a raft of other issues, not least on climate change, which in itself has the potential to derail development efforts.

Let’s take Malawi, for example. Malawi has a population of about thirteen Million, and only 8% of this population has access to electricity. However the country has enormous untapped renewable energy resources, while many areas are not yet covered by transmission and distribution infrastructure. In this case it means most of the hospitals, schools have no access to electricity. I was then thinking in line with the definition of “Development” as the attainment of basic needs amongst which are access to basic education and health services. I imagined a hospital without electricity and yet it is supposed to provide good services to the pregnant mothers, or the community as a whole; another situation whereby a has been given homework to do at home but there is no electricity. These two situation can give us a small picture of how essential enegy is for the attainment of basic needs. Many developing countries, have initiated the free primary education, but in situations like this, the results are questionable.

Let us take the situation where, the clinic can not provides some services due to the fact that there is no electricity i.e can not store some medicine or vaccinnes due to the fact that the community has no access to electricity. This should be a horrible situation and then the availability of the facilities do not fullfil thier intended purpose; and then in areas like these the communities members are forced to travel long distances for them to access some services even though they happen to have a clinic nearby. It is obvious that the access to the health services is not all about the building itself but also the associated functions for it to provide good services. Here we can see how energy has affected the attainment of “Development”

Let us also focus on access to basic education, imagine in a situatuation like Malawi’s where most of the schools do not electricity, it is obvious that the children will not be able to read at night, and this might affect their perfomance in class. On the other hand, it is also obvious that the schools like theses will be limited in the services provided like internet, computer lessons since their is no electricity. We are living in a world which is being technology driven , and if the majority of the people in a country do not have basic technology skill, then country might have problems on issues like international or even Regional trade. Education is supposed to help the people to b creative and innovative to adapt to the changes in the region whether in terms of technology, trade e.t.c However in countries where access to electricity is a challenge then technology will be greatly affected and could cause challenges in connecting with other countries in th region or internationally wher everything is technology based. This means that a country might have good resources but might also fail to penetrate into the market due to lack of communication channels and skills due to lack of energy.

On the other hand i also noticed that this lack energy is also causing some negative effects on the enviroment which in the long have serious problems as regards to development. For example, in Malawi, since 92% of the population has no access to electricity, the majority of this population uses trees and charcoal for cooking, heating e.t.c This has resulted in high deforestration rate, which is increasing daily due to population rise. Most of the poor people cut the trees, burn the charcoal and sell, earning a living from that. This also has an effect on development in the long run.

I therefore feel that when we are talking about development we need also to focus on deveveloping the energy sector of the country. This is so because most of the services we want in life depends on energy. One solution to this can be for the countries to initiate policies which will allow investors to come and invest in the energy sector. In situations where possible, Aid can be used to help poor countries to subside the energy so as to ensure that majority of the population has access to electricity which is essential for the attainment of basic needs. In this way, we will not only be boosting significantly the competitiveness of renewable generated electricity compared to more traditional forms, we will also be creating jobs and growth. This will not necessarily be a cure-all, and needs an appropriate technological framework alongside it, including environmental legislation and health and education provision, to guarantee inclusive growth. Moreover, the huge investments needed are not to be underestimated.

I also feel it will be helpful for big institutions like the EU to partner with countries in the developing world to take iswift and concerted action to catalyse change that focuses on renewables and avoids excessive CO2 emissions. The EU is uniquely well-equipped for this. It is the leading producer of renewable energy solutions. It houses some of the major renewable technology companies, and it has the greatest experience in the legal and administrative measures necessary to promote investment in renewable energy. In fact, provided appropriate management and cost-recovery mechanisms are put in place, they can generate a return by themselves. The catalyst for this change will be financing from development banks and financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank. To make this work, stable regulatory and administrative conditions will be needed, to enable and encourage investment by private companies, together with legal provisions allowing open competition on electricity markets to supply customers. In addition, the EU’s can provide technical expertise and its research and development funding, to developing countries in improving thier energy sectors. Such measures might therefore form the basis of new energy initiatives, between the EU and developing countries or regional groupings, to progressively provide sustainable electricity to every citizen. The opportunities are enormous, and they are achievable. The potential for real and lasting progress on energy in developing world is huge.

I feel developing countries need to assess their energy sector and analyse ways of improving the sector, this will help in improving the service provission as a means of attaining the basic needs.

Refferences

How to achieve Conherence between energy security and Development: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/piebalgs/multimedia/pdf/speeches/speech_20110209_energy_development.

Leda’s Notes; Beyond Growth

Comments Off on ENERGY AN ESSENTIAL DRIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT / 13 Jan 2012 por Tabithah Mkandawire Kaluwa
IMSD /

DP: Development through interdependent synergies

State, NGO’s and Private Sector face together challenges regarding development. Whenever there’s a common goal, logic would suggest that working together could make it easier, taking in account that something is uniting rather than separating. Reality shows how not necessarily this statement works in some countries, especially when one of the parts is particularly powerful. These three actors could give different answers towards development through interdependence, but, is it possible to transfer the concentrated power of one sector into the others? Can there be balance between different powerful sectors? Will that achieve development?

To transform State, the society that’s underneath needs to change itself first. Two great drivers could foster this transformation, NGO’s on one side, enterprises on the other.

Enterprises can impact in the lives of their workers if they help them in the provision of their basic conditions. Interests and communicational bridges have to be developed in this sense, and not just to know the areas in which the enterprise can contribute, but also to transmit the way in which workers can make those efforts sustainable by themselves. If water well is build to help the community were most of employees come from, it’s also important to spread the necessary knowledge to maintain it, so it doesn’t deplete itself by overuse or pollution. If the water well runs sustainably, this would also remain as a sustainable example of how a company can be active and helpful in the development process of their people, not just for the water, but also for the impact that clean water has over health. Efforts like this can transform society progressively, benefiting all parts. Also for enterprises, having a solid image, good reputation, motivated staff, productive and healthy workforce is a good thing.

NGO’s also play an important role reinforcing the synergies just commented. Their existence is justified over their social nature, considering they help society in different manners, from providing information to social services. For NGO’s also enterprises turn to be essential, as for they can be an important source of funding. International aid tends to be slower and more indirect (bearing in mind that in many cases the aid has to go through States first). If the Private Sector changes by including the people into the development process, the more will it grow, impacting as well on the possibilities of funding of NGO’s. Considering that NGO’s get involved within the fulfillment of State warranties- such as rights- it’s clear that people can do something for their own rights and environment. The stronger the Private Sector inside a country is, the more likely circumstances are favorable for NGO’s to exist and to keep citizenship active in the defense of what’s theirs: their own rights.

Supposing both of the above mentioned sector would work as perfect as it’s depicted on this written thoughts, circumstances would be prepared for the change that State needs to support the other two sectors. State is vital in all this process, as for it provides the conditions for society to develop (Sachs, 2005). Incentives and laws modify or model behaviors, meaning that State can be a driver to foster society’s synergies just mentioned, furthermore, State can be part of these. If the three sectors would become interdependent, State will also benefit from it by having the necessary support (Socially and economically speaking) to give all of the outputs (connections by land, air or water, all basic services, strong institutions) that citizens need to keep developing by themselves.

Latin America is a region with cases where States can be oversized, so the space left for enterprises or NGO’s is not enough to generate those interdependencies for. For State to change and open spaces, individuals have to change first, outputting their changes into enterprises and NGO’s. Synergies between both sectors is key to their growth, which is the first step to interdependencies. Interdependencies will be the indicator of equilibrated sectors. Development is a process, but it starts by everyone of us, no public institution, enterprise or NGO will change without our change, precisely because they are formed by people.

Sources:

Jefrey Sachs (2005). “The End of Poverty”. Penguin Books. London, England.

Comments Off on DP: Development through interdependent synergies / 13 Jan 2012 por Rodrigo Capriles Mazzei
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DP 4 | Ending with Happy Planet Index

We already know after my previous post, how professor Easterlin established relations between human´s universal goal, happiness, and three main factors contributing to it (material level, family circumstances and health).We concluded that family and health circumstances typically have long lasting effects on happiness, however having more money doesn´t. And I remind that Easterlin developed the above theory taking into account that countries have already met their basic needs.

In one hand, the author has tried to take into account broader concepts than Psychology studies do and he has tried to understand how those three factors affect human´s happiness. However his approach was very much in some way also close to the Psychological side by stating that although some cirsumstances in life can increase or decrease our happiness level at a certain point in time, human beings tend to a genetic setpoint of happiness. Through an adaptation process we will more or less move back to our original baseline of happiness. So this means that permanent happiness increase or decrease won´t occur.

But my reflexion is, despite “external circumstances” (considered as 10% accountable for our happiness for the Psychological approach) such as health, only means a decrease in happiness at a certain moment, and in the case of marriage a boost in happiness for a limited time; why not focussing on this punctual boosts? when these boosts occur aren´t our happiness levels affected much more than a 10% although temporarily? At the end, aren´t these temporary boosts the ones which make up a person´s life? Isn´t life composed ultimately by happy and painful moments?

I believe, as mentioned in previous posts, that finally the term happiness is totally subjective and under one´s control, so researchers looking for the method to increase individual´s happiness by, for example, policies, should take into account that they are adressing their efforts to a 10% of people´s happiness. However, looking for a higher percentage of impact, I reflected on the so called intentional activities (which account for a 40% of out happiness state). This ones include social relationships, meditation, grattitude expressed, empathy capacity and changes in our thinking, but important is that they include also pusuing goals. Isn´t it here were also from outside it can be influenced ones happiness level?

As we have seen, influencing happiness from the outside is difficult and taking into account particular external measures (such as material level, family circumstance) to create an index, we are not approaching happiness and so if people feel “good” or not, but we are approaching “life satisfaction”.This last one is meant as “the way a person perceives how his or her life has been and how they feel about where it is going in the future”. This is a concept which, in my opinion, brings together the factors which are able to motivate people to pursue and reach their goals.

When we refer to the widely researched topic of “satisfaction with life” one of the most known index that comes up is The Global HPI –Happy Planet Index.This innovative measure is shown by nef, an independent think-and-do tank where they believe in economics as if people and the planet mattered.

HPI is an efficiency measure calculating well-being delivered per unit of environmental impact. In my opinion a very interesting index measuring happy life of societies by incorporating three different indicators, in one hand ecological footprints and in the other life-satisfaction and life expectancy. Here it comes, life-satisfaction. But now, how is this measured? With the following question, as it stands in their oficial website, they measure life satisfaction:

“All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?”

Responses are based on numerical scales going from 0 to 10, where the smallest grade means dissatisfaction and 10 is satisfisfaction. Plenty of researches have demonstrated that this question results in meaningful results.

The individual´s answers revealed that the level of life satisfaction in countries tend to result higher within countries where people enjoy higher levels of social capital, high levels of life expectancy, better climate, abundant natural resources, better standards of living.(NEF, 2009)

Such measure of life satisfaction and life expectancy focus on how attainable human goals are depending on the opportunities in a given society, culture or government. But the means used to achieve those goals are also a key issue to be taken into account.

This is the most interesting part, means to achieve our life goals should be sustainable, so how to address the ‘sustainable’ aspect of well-being? This method, strategic for those countries where limited resources are required to support well-being, takes as approach the known as ecological footprint, developed by ecologists Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees.

To measure the ecological footprint of an individual/country/group of countries should be calculated by the amount of land required to reach the fulfillment of its resource requirements in addition to the amount of vegetated land surface required to absorb their CO2 emissions plus the CO2 emissions coming from the products consumed by the individual/country. This final figure is expressed in ‘global hectares’.It is important that European and global HPI do not use the same measures to calculate the ecological index.

So at the end, the HPI reflects the average years of happy life produced by a given society, nation or group of nations, per unit of planetary resources consumed.

To conclude the HPI, as we have seen, is not an indicator of happiness accross countries, but after the many difficulties arised, this one shows the progress towards the goal of providing sustainable long-term well-being, definitely a relevant index showing our trends towards sustainability.

WEB INFORMATION

http://www.happyplanetindex.org/learn/

Comments Off on DP 4 | Ending with Happy Planet Index / 13 Jan 2012 por Tatiana Casquero Rodriguez
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(DP) A philosophical approach to sustainability part 4

Part 4: what the Civil Society should do?

To conclude my personal path through the philosophical approach to sustainability, I’ll try to complete the painting with the last missing part: the civil society.

First of all I don’t like the tags, since it has any sense in many cases, and as we’ve learned in the development perspectives class it could be even misleading, thus I don’t want to categorize the civil society with some defined groups, I’ve just chosen some stakeholders that I would to analyze here.

I would start from the Religious organizations since these had a huge impact (and power) on our society:

nowadays it becomes broad organizations that could influence political establishment and civil society too; in some countries the governments (mainly the non-secular) are investing large sums of money in the promotion of religion and in others, despite having a large share of their population living below the poverty line, spend their resources on worship centers, which in many cases have a better infrastructure than the homes where people live [1].

Do they use this amount of power (and flux of money) in the right way?

Do all the values that they spread are really taking in account from the “leaders” of these associations?

I understand that this topic could flow even in a ethic discussion, and it’s not my intention now to fire it, in the other hand I would to let the reader reflect on this issues and do its own opinion on that.

As writer of this blog I would give my contribution as well: I think that the religious associations has a great impact, since they push and establish new project (following their own values whatever they are) to aid the people giving them instruction, goods, any else material help; conversely I think that these associations should have clear in mind what are their values, especially who is in the head of those.

What in many cases they had became has nothing to do with the original values of the religions, and has more to do with the political and economic power.

Does this society needs these kind of institutions? Again, (almost the same question that I’ve done for the public sector, in the 3^rd post) could they renounce to some of their power or spread it to relieve some needy populations?

This is a open question that I wonder to myself and I ask to you, and of course I would to ask to them too.

Leaving to the reader these reflections, now I would to move over another important part of civil society: the NGOs.

Nowadays the NGOs are seem to represent the best of private citizens responding to global inequities. But behind the characteristics inherent to an NGO model of development are lurking several challenges: too many actors, too many chiefs, and too much mission [2].

Thus in many cases the bigger NGOs are playing the role that foundations and bilateral aid agencies have traditionally played. Basically in many cases they are allocating resources or outsourcing development work to local NGOs and community-based organizations which may have better relationships with the target communities.

Another side of the actual NGOs is that while the prime focus of NGO campaigning has traditionally been on governments and regulators, increasing attention is being paid to private sector behaviour. Similarly, early work that focused on direct service provision in the development sector, and health, safety and environmental pollution issues, has expanded to embrace an even wider range of issues, including human rights, transparency, corruption, and both corporate and global governance [3].

This new trend give me the opportunity for the last thought on these: I really hope that in the near future the NGOs don’t start to “play the game” of private sector and to follow the business flow; adding to that the lack of responsibility and transparency towards society I think it would be some of the crucial issues that could involve the NGOs as the whole.

I’m concerned that the NGOs could become the “Trojan horse” of the modern business economy, losing their consultant/monitoring power that characterize it. I’m not saying that they don’t have to deal with private sector, this is in many cases good and even crucial, but they don’t need to become the leverage to raise fund or to have an access to new (mainly poors) markets to gain new business.