Ideas for Change - Because the right idea can change the world » Pollution

If it was your home

Daniel Daboczy - Editor in chief — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:41:07 +0000

Here your have a really good tool and project that visualises how big the BP oil spill is if it were in your neighbourhood.

http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/

Project management on the edge of chaos

Project management on the edge of chaos

Invited Contributor — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:46:07 +0000

Project management on the edge of chaos

by Arne Vestergaard and Marianne Smedegaard

We have for a number of years taught project managers how to manage people and processes. We have heard stories from many different organisations describing numerous ways to understand and execute projects. It seems that there exists not a single correct way to manage projects, but many possible ways. One thing, though, seems to be characteristic of most of the cases. Top management expects the project manager to have complete control over the project and to have answers to any question anyone might want to ask. In many cases it is also a requirement that the project manager ensures that members of the project group have clear goals and that the development of the project is on schedule.

In this paper we want to explore to what extent the effort to control and direct a project is useful, and to what extent a project can be restricted by tight control. Perhaps there are other concepts for project management that better fit with the complexity and variability that characterise projects in today’s world. Perhaps it is preferable to see projects as a living system rather than strategically and bureaucratically.

A change in perspective of this kind would mean that the project organisation must relinquish the idea of having control over the project all the time and, if they do achieve control, see it as a temporary state of affairs. Some degree of chaos then becomes a necessary (but not exclusive) condition for innovation and for handling complexity and change. In other words, the project manager must place the project on the edge of chaos. In this paper we will try to understand what this means in practice.

GLOBAL TRADE LOGISTICS IMPROVING, BUT MORE NEEDED TO BOOST RECOVERY

Invited Contributor — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:24:08 +0000

GLOBAL TRADE LOGISTICS IMPROVING, BUT MORE NEEDED TO BOOST RECOVERY

Brazil, China, Bangladesh and Uganda see upgrade in rankings, as Germany tops list

WASHINGTON, January 15, 2010—The capacity of countries to efficiently move goods and connect manufacturers and consumers with international markets is improving around the world, but much more progress is needed to spur faster economic growth and help firms benefit from trade recovery, according to a new World Bank Group survey on trade logistics.

Germany is the top performer among the 155 economies ranked in the Logistics Performance Indicators (LPI), which are included in the report Connecting to Compete 2010: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy. The study is based on the most comprehensive world survey of international freight forwarders and express carriers.

“Economic competitiveness is relentlessly driving countries to strengthen performance, and improving trade logistics is a smart way to deliver more efficiencies, lower costs and added economic growth,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick, who is visiting Berlin January 13 -15 to discuss global development and economic issues. “Streamlining the connections among markets, manufacturers, farmers and consumers offers tremendous growth and investment opportunities and should be a top focus for developing country growth strategies. As we issue this global report, I’m pleased to be in Germany, the top performer on efficient logistics.”

According to the LPI, high income economies dominate the top logistics rankings, with most of them occupying important places in global and regional supply chains. By contrast, the ten lowest performing countries are almost all from the low and lower income groups.

Although the study shows a substantial “logistics gap” between rich countries and most developing countries, it finds positive trends in some areas essential to logistics performance and trade. Some of them include the modernization of customs, use of information technology, and development of private logistics services.

“Following our first survey in 2007, many developing countries have improved their capacity to connect to international markets, which is a key ingredient for competitiveness and economic growth,” said Otaviano Canuto, World Bank Vice President for Poverty Reduction and Economic Management. “But if developing countries want to come out of the crisis in a stronger and more competitive position, they need to invest in better trade logistics.”

“Countries with better logistics performance can grow faster, become more competitive and increase their level of investment,” said Bernard Hoekman, World Bank Trade Department Director. “Our research shows that increasing logistics performance in low income countries to the middle-income average could boost trade by around 15 per cent and benefit all firms and consumers through lower prices and better quality services.”

The report, headed by World Bank Group economists Jean Francois Arvis and Monica Alina Mustra, notes that among developing economies logistics performance transcends the level of per capita income: Many countries perform better than what their income level would suggest. The ten most significant over-performers include China (27), India (47), Uganda (66), Vietnam (53), Thailand (35), the Philippines (44), and South Africa (28).

Likewise, the countries with significant improvement in performance between the two surveys (the 2007 and 2010 LPI) are often those which implemented comprehensive logistics and trade facilitation reforms earlier, such as Colombia, Brazil, and Tunisia.

In terms of how developing countries are doing per region, South Africa (28) is the top performer from Africa; China (27) from East Asia; Poland (30) from Central and Eastern Europe; Brazil (41) from Latin America; Lebanon (33) from the Middle East; and India (47) from South Asia.

According to the study, logistics performance is heavily influenced by the quality of public sector institutions and the effective coordination of border clearance processes among all border management agencies. In this area, customs performs better than many other agencies, pointing to the need for border management reforms. In low performing countries, on average, half of the containers are physically inspected and one container out of seven at least twice.

Other areas for improvement include better transport policies, increasing competition in trade-related services such as trucking, freight forwarding and railways; and better trade-related infrastructure. For many low-income countries the most binding constraints are often in logistics services and international transit systems. Given they perform better on many other indicators, improving trade infrastructure is often reported to be a priority for middle-income countries.

The World Bank Group has a number of projects designed to improve trade logistics in developing countries. The US$250 million East Africa Trade and Transport Facilitation Project improved the corridor infrastructure and upgraded the main border crossing between Uganda and Kenya at Malaba, reducing border crossing times from three days to three hours. In Tunisia, a US$250 million operation is improving competitiveness by reducing trade costs and streamlining border clearance procedures. And in Afghanistan, the Bank is providing funding for a US$31.2 million project to modernize and computerize four major border crossings, increasing customs revenues from US$50 million when the project started in 2004 to over US$399 million in 2008.

In addition, the Bank is working with IBM, Microsoft and the Global Express Association as part of a public-private partnership on “Aid for Trade Facilitation.” The objective is to develop pilot projects in developing countries that apply innovative IT solutions to streamline border procedures.

To access the report under embargo, please visit: www.media.worldbank.org

The report and related material will be available to the public after the embargo expires at:
www.worldbank.org

High expectations

Invited Contributor — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:15:19 +0000

News reports that president Obama has acknowledged that “time has run out” for a legally binding deal to come from the COP15 climate talks next month in Copenhagen has many in the mainstream media leading with a message of “no, we can’t.” While the announcement at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) breakfast yesterday gives the impression of afait accompli for COP15, leaving only the possibility of a “political framework” as the goal and the need for a “two-step” process for a final climate treaty for 2010 “at the earliest,” reports that climate talks in Copenhagen “are in tatters” is hardly accurate and gives a distinctly wrong impression.

That fact is that such an outcome has been expected, especially given the lack of progress on pre-summit talks in Bangkok in October and Barcelona earlier this month (not to mention the US Congress). Certainly hopes that a final, full, legally binding international treaty will come from Copenhagen next month are dim – but that has been an unrealistic and even counterproductive expectation for some time now. Momentum going into the talks remainshigh, and success at COP15 is not only possible, but essential. As was discussed at the Transatlantic Media Dialog in which I participated last week, it is a matter of “managingexpectations” and demanding results for real progress toward a firm and enforceable deal in 2010. The mainstream media’s message of “no, we can’t” be damned!

by/ By Thomas Schueneman,

http://www.globalwarmingisreal.com/

Saturday, December 5th: Climate Walk and Dance

Tcktcktck — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:24:49 +0000

This might be the last chance for us tho show the policy makers that we want a real deal in Copenhagen.

On Saturday, December 5th, the global climate campaign TckTckTck together with other organizations will arrange manifestations all over the world.

In Sweden, we call for a BRA meeting (=Bindande/legally binding, Rättvist/fair, Ambitiöst/ambitious.)

Manifestations will be held at Götaplatsen i Gothenburg, Mimerskolan in Umeå, Mynttorget i Stockholm and many other places. Take a look at the schedule and join us!

www.tcktcktck.se

On Dec 12 let’s show the World Wants a Real Deal!

Tcktcktck — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:37:06 +0000

On the weekend of December 12, TckTckTck and our partners will gather citizens in every corner of the world for our next massive global day of action. Our message is clear: at the Copenhagen climate summit, the world wants a real deal!

At very middle of the Copenhagen negotiations, people like you around the world will organize thousands of candlelight vigils, as well as marches, “signature walls”, and other positive events over the entire weekend.

TckTckTck and our partners, including the Elders, will present this global movement via photos, videos, pledges, and stories at a special vigil, happening right outside the summit building. Our partners Avaaz, 350.org, Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam and others are all working to promote turnout worldwide to ensure that negotiators get the message loud and clear.

In the spirit of our September 21 Global Wake Up Call and 350.org’s International Day of Climate Action on Oct 24, this next and perhaps most important global day of action will bring together a diverse range of groups and individuals, from religious groups, university and grade school students, indigenous peoples, clean energy and technology enthusiasts, environmentalists, economists, politicians and everyone in between who wants strong action to safeguard the climate for generations to come.

Join the global day of action this December 12*. Sign up to organize or attend an event near you. Or visit our partners’ sign-up pages: Avaaz, 350.org.

www.tcktcktck.org

www.tcktcktck.se

Make A Promise To Save The Environment In Your Own Way And Get 500GB File Hosting Account For Free

Daniel Daboczy - Editor in chief — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:41:56 +0000

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. If we do nothing to stop it, climate change will cause severe water shortages, rising sea levels will swallow cities, and pest outbreaks will sicken people and kill crops. One of the early signs we are already experiencing is an increase in extreme weather events such as destructive storms, drought and floods.

SmashingApps and FileBanker are teaming up to do their part for the environment. Average American consumes more than 700 pounds of paper per year, highest compared to anywhere else in the world. Hundreds of thousands of trees are cut down per day to support the consumption of paper that can be easily avoided.

SmashingApps believes that we can change that by helping people save and share their documents electronically instead of printing them out each time. We do not want you to print so much so they are offering 500 GB file hosting accounts for free at FileBanker. You will need to enter “smashingapps” in the promo code field. You can use these accounts to share all your documents without ever having to print anything.

We need a LEGAL agreement in Copenhagen

Tcktcktck — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:43:34 +0000

Top UN officials and developing nations have begun reframing a successful outcome in Copenhagen as one that is “politically binding” as opposed to “legally binding.”

Yvo de Boer, the UN’s most senior climate official, said last week: “It is physically impossible, under any scenario, to complete every detail of a treaty in Copenhagen.” He added: “It is absolutely clear that Copenhagen must deliver a strong political agreement and nail down the essentials.”

Danish Environment Minister Connie Hedegaard said, “We should use the opportunity, as the pressure has been building up. We must make a politically binding deal or else the poor people will have to pay the highest price.”

Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, said that several key countries were not ready to sign up to binding targets and that the best the world could hope for from the summit would be “political commitments”.

There is a risk that in the coming days, many more countries will begin agreeing that a “politically binding” agreement in Copenhagen will be seen as a successful outcome.

We need to frame “politically binding” as unacceptable and play on the public’s historical mistrust of promises made by politicians while ensuring that we clarify the what distinguishes a “political” versus “legal” agreement.

Politically bindings are not enough

Politically binding is equivalent to a promise by a politician. As we know politicians are typically heavy on promises and light on action, regardless of the issue.

In Copenhagen, we do not need world leaders to promise to do something at some point in the future. We need them to sign on the dotted line to a legally binding agreement that holds politicians to account for their commitments.

The issue of climate change is too important to be dealt with through political promises. We need a legally binding agreement that makes it difficult for governments to ignore.

Concrete examples of “politically binding”

MARRIAGE
With all the travel and long hours that these negotiations demand, I am sure many of our spouses back home are wishing that marriage was only a politically binding commitment.

SPEEDING TICKETS
If 50 km/h maximum speed for cars were only politically binding and not legally, these places would be pretty dangerous places to walk around in, and you would certainly be worried for your kids. (courtesy WWF blog post)

TAXES
If politicians are willing to agree to “a politically binding” agreement on an important issue such as climate change, I am wondering if they would also be willing to make taxes in their country politically binding, instead of legally binding.

Revisiting the first known environmental problem – rethink and redo!

anders.abrahamsson — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:04:59 +0000

In a sense, this first of observed environmental concerns, has received lesser attention and has been overshadowed by greenhouse gas emissions leading to climate change and global warming. Still, it was the first issue of the modern environmental movement observed, with Rachel Carson’s ”Silent Spring”, the book was published 1962.

The book documented effects pesticides had on the environment, particularly on birds. DDT had been found to cause thinner egg shells and result in reproductive problems and death. Carson also accused the chemical industry to spread disinformation, and public officials of accepting industry claims uncritically. Silent Spring led to DDT being banned in 1972 in the United States.

Before that, there was a general increasing awareness first and foremost of air and water pollution following the industrial revolution, especially in post-WW2 society.

The air, land and water pollution problems are still there. Think of the landfills of Akkra, Ghana, of our used Thick TV sets and tube computer monitors, the plastic bags clogging the beaches of California, USA, or streets of Kampala, Uganda, or the algae blooming of the Baltic Sea. And all is related to our collective, common behaviour. What is needed is a big RE!

Recycle. If something can turn into something else, let it be.
Reuse. If something can be used as something else, let it happen.
Reduce. If something can be made more for less, let it come. If something is not corresponding to a genuine need, let it go.

And beyond:

Redesign. If we think of the end already from the beginning when we make stuff, from cradle to cradle, we are making the planet and ourselves healthier in resource use.

In the bottom line, we can summarize it:

Rethink.
And Redo.

Those are ultimately the two steps, that follows a holistic view concluding ”what goes around, comes around”. Think of your ecological footstep.

What do you leave behind you?

/Anders Abrahamsson

Anders is a serial sustainopreneur and has been the driving force in the conceptual development of Sustainopreneurship, and published its Wikipedia article in 2008. He has published a number of publications on this topic, and is currently authoring a popular book on subject, one blog post at a time. Founder of SLICE Services and Publishing.