Global Warming – Africa

Climate situation is critical in Africa where it clearly appears that the arid areas of Africa are becoming even drier and coastal water level is increased and therefore creates a heightened risk of flooding, which altogether cause problems for agriculture and population. If this problem continues to get worse not only the average life span but also the fight against poverty whitch is said to have halved during the year 2015^th. For years the world has tried to help Africa with the economy in an attempt to create a kind of global equality, and where today there is lot of aid organizations such as UNICEF and a lot of others, and then we will have other problems which create an extremely difficult situation for both organizations and Africa.

One might think that despite all the problems of diseases and viruses that Africa has been affected by can be enough, Africa is, after all, a country which is largely innocent of global warming. It is said today that Africa is the continent that suffers most from global warming, it is because Africa has the poorest countries in the world which makes it difficult for countries to work against global catastrophes, unlike Europe, which in all cases, good economy and opportunities to support their country at almost 100%, not only that but also adapt to problems that arise. If we for example were to pretend that there would be a giant wave of water in Europe  we could take shelter in our homes because we have a good enought economy to use sustainable materials for buildings, on the other hand, if you would look at Africa’s most building structures you would see that they would not keep so well and therefore creating a higher amount of death counts during a natural disaster. And this is just one of the cases where economy might kick in.

What can the world do about this? Well the question has always been a major problem and say there’s not much Africa can do about it, because they neither cause the global warming effect nor have the economy enough to help other countries in order to reduce the problem, so it is up to other countries trying to help create a good environment for the whole world, which will not only help them but also life span for everything and everyone in the world and a much safer environment. Another problem to be solved is the distribution of the economy so that not only money sent to Africa and disappears on unnecessary things. These measures would then be an attempt to increase democracy in Africa, people also have a large application, and it is after all the people affected. Increased democracy will lead to better economics of distribution, city and state even more global cooperation, which hopefully will create a better environment.

// Levis

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I am so proud to tell you about this photo that I received from Palestine. This is what you can see there right now.

No one is alone in this world, not anymore. This project shows how a simple idea can move the world and hopefully bring everyone closer and open the eyes.

Please support our friends at www.sendamessage.nl

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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.

Read more here http://arne-vestergaard.dk/default.aspx?pageid=208

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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



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http://www.sendamessage.nl

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The musical stages two moving and exciting stories in parallel plots. The audience looks behind the scenes of the presidential election in 2008 and follows the career of the present US president Barack Obama. The main character is presented less on a political level, but rather as an emotional person who fights for a new, more forgiving and peaceful world and a better future. At the same time, the viewer experiences the societal events from the point of view of a multi-cultural apartment-sharing community in Chicago. Caused by the prevailing tight political and economic situation, societal and social frictions and emotions arise. The people are given new hope by the new spirit of the age.

Author and composer Randall Hutchins works with the best Afro-American singers and actors of the German musical scene. He produces inter alia for “The very Best of Black Gospel”, “Musical the Gift” and he participated in “Starlight Express” as a musician. In “HOPE”, he combines an affectionately arranged mix regarding taste and aesthetics of different music styles in the field of Pop, Soul, Gospel, HipHop and Rock. The diversified mixture of catchy melodies electrifies the audience right from the beginning. Undoubtedly, the songs have what it takes to become hits.

For “HOPE”, 30 world-class artists, singers, dancers and actors perform on stage. They participate in the production with great enthusiasm and dedication. “The spirit of the show is carried by the spirit of the entire team”, praises the producer Roberto Emmanuele. Della Miles and Jimmie Wilson, known as the dream duo of the Michael Jackson musical “Sisterella”, as well as Dynelle Rhodes, the original lead singer of the Weather Girls, join the cast as soloists. They are supported by well-known performers who are leads in “Cats”, “The Lion King” and “We will rock you”. The rehearsals took place inter alia at mediaArt FORUM in Bad Soden.

The production is realized in German and English, so that the story line can be followed by everyone.

On percussion: the audience sitting on specially developed musical chairsIn the course of the musical, the audience develops to co-musicians. For they sit on a musical instrument with an astoundingly high sound quality. Approximately 1200 of the 2000 available seats in the domed hall of the venue Jahrhunderthalle will be equipped with design chairs which house the smallest set of drums worldwide. The special construction of this musical furniture allows for a distinctive bass and snare sound. The people play while sitting, drumming with their hands on the percussion surface. Inspired by this characteristic sound, Roberto Emmanuele and his partner Patrick Strese call the innovation “BAFF musical furniture”. The other musical spectators do not sit quietly on their chairs either. They are handed out rattles, so that the sound of “HOPE” will fill the entire hall. The producers want all people to have access to music as a strong medium.

As early as in September, the musical company enthused about 45,000 viewers with a first musical foretaste during a successful performance at Commerzbank Arena next to stars like Bob Geldorf and Samy Deluxe. After only a short period of time, the entire stadium swung and clapped along to songs never heard before like “Rock the Vote”. Experts of the German music scene praised the high level of the American Pop music and certified the sound to have “Earth Wind and Fire quality”. The most important concert organizer worldwide, Fritz Rau, says: “Respect and two thumbs up for this musical”. According to the slogan “Yes we can”, the musical is to tour in Germany after having premiered in Frankfurt.

Tickets for the premiere can be purchased via the ticket seller EVENTIM within the price scope of 40 to 149 Euros in several seat categories. Following the premiere, a VIP premiere party will take place, at which special culinary refreshments will be served to the guests and the musical performers can be experienced up close in an “unplugged performance”. The VIP tickets can be bought for 99 Euros directly from the HOPE production.

Important note from the HOPE production team:
The “HOPE musical production” does not pursue any political interests with their production. Being artists, we merely stage a piece of attitude to life of the “historic year 2008″ with topics still prevailing today as well as good entertainment and music!

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Africa – a continent of 54 countries
The average Swede knows a lot about America from a lifetime of watching American TV-series and films. Or rather, the average Swede is very familiar with the images of America – be they positive or negative – that are spread all over the world by Americans.

Asked about what comes to mind when thinking of Africa, it is very likely that the average Swede will mention phenomena such as war, famine, disease and dictatorship. Asked about the source of these perceptions of what Africa is, the answer will probably be news reports, reportages, and films. Probe deeper and you will find that the journalist, the experts, authors and filmmakers that provided these narrow minded versions of Africa – a continent of 54 countries and more than 900 million people – nine and a half times out of ten, are not Africans.

What we read in the papers, watch on our TVs and at the movies influence the way we view the world and the people inhabiting it. Those who come out looking best, or at least are portrayed with nuance and complexity, are those who are in control of the representations of themselves. The losers, those who come out as one-dimensional victims or villains, are those whose voices are not easily heard on the international mainstream media arena. Asking for more sensibility when talking about Africa does not mean asking that voices talking about abuse, injustice and suffering be silenced. It is a question of asking for stories that considers countries, societies, people and situations in all their complexity.

Reshape the image of Africa
There is indeed an urgent need for Africans in Africa and the Diaspora to reclaim and reshape the images of Africa and Africans. While there is no lack of African storytellers in the form of journalists, writers, filmmakers, actors etc, the challenge is to create an international platform for their stories, or rather, to ensure that there is space for them on existing international mainstream media platforms.

The lack of African representations of Africa on TV, the big screen and in the written press, save for the occasional festival and other exceptions, is not just a problem for Africans but for anyone who relies on mass media to form their views and opinions. An African pro-verb says that “Until the tale of the hunt is told by the lion, it will always glorify the hunter”. One could add that “Until the day the hunter hears the lion’s account, the hunter will remain misinformed”.

Katarina Hedrén, Johannesburg

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However, we cannot claim that the Convention has achieved what needs to be achieved. For wxample, we don´t live in a world where children’s best interests are the primary consideration in all decisions affecting them – as demanded by Article 3 of the Convention.

Climate change is maybe the biggest challenge for humanity, ever. Lack of water, floods and other disasters already have an immense effect on peoples lifes, especially  in developing countries. In fact, climate issues  affects  childrens health more than anything else.

It´s definitely a step forward to see that MR-dagarna will focus on climate issues. I look forward to the seminars.

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But look beneath the institution, and you will find something that shapes it, which is shaping much more than the bank. Look nearby within the same city, Dhaka, and you will also discover this in another organizational heavyweight, BRAC.

And if you lift your head up away from the ground level of practice and institutions to Bangladesh; you will see a picture of a nation where changes speak for themselves. It is the only country that is on its way to reach the MDGs. It has put itself on the world map for gender equality.

There is a quiet revolution afoot in these lowlands and something called Social Business has everything to do with it. In a country where 10 years ago, a rickshaw driver interviewed on the street would not have wanted his daughter to go into education. Now the contrary is common. A shift in attitude has happened.

Change at this level does not come overnight. It has taken nearly 4 decades. But I believe that these kinds of attitudes, as they embed themselves, are fomenting the destiny of the nation.

So what lies underneath Grameen? And underneath the BRAC phenomenon? And even under Social Business?

I believe it is a simple dedication to keep asking a very simple question: “What creates poverty and what can we do to transform it?” I have come to think that the simpler the question, the longer its staying power over the years. If you are relentless about a quest, you are likely to achieve it.

I also believe that if you want to transform a system, you have to work with the whole system. It is hard. You have to experiment. You have to have staying power. You cannot short cut this approach. I think that there should be no surprise when real change is not achieved if there is no clear intention at the start.  So those who succeeded are likely to have been relentless in their quest.

So here is the opportunity that London Creative Labs invites you to take up with us: keep the simple question about poverty alive, experiment with prototypes, scale up what works, be relentless, think deeply systemically. Unleash the power of Social Business to transform society.

Sofia Bustamante

Sofia’s vision is that we can address societal challenges systemically rapidly through Social Business. Inspired by Grameen and BRAC in Bangladesh, LondonCreative Labs invites us to innovate disruptively together now.

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