This new section was created to expose SAGA members to different perspectives surrounding the various issues of our world. It's purpose is NOT to tell you what is right or wrong;
but rather to get you thinking. Therefore, over time, you might find that we will post opposing opinions on the same subject. This was intended because it represents poverty's complexity and mankind's diversity.
Hopefully we'll learn something together as this section progresses and use that knowledge to change the world around us; because development does not just happen in third world countries - it happens internally as well.
Another New SAGA Feature!!
This section is going to promote "simple life-saving ideas" that most Canadians don't know about (I'd say probably around 95%). The ideas are practical, sustainable and
genius. Western science and technology are used to solve developing countries' problems - but they do so while using local resources and the local perspective.
Each week we will promote an idea that has already saved millions of lives or could save millions of lives. Please share this knowledge with others.
Apr 27: Elephant Pepper Created By: Wildlife Conservation Society
Elephants can become a dangerous problem for African farmers living near wildlife reserves. They raid food crops, destroy grain sheds and compete for water resources. But to solve the problem you just have to realise that elephants hate chilli pepper.
Jan 8: Q-Drum Created By: Hans Hendrikse
Fetching water with a new type of plastic barrel - one which has a donut's hole in the middle and rolls on the ground. So simple that a child can pull 50L while having fun.
Jan 1: Peer-to-Peer philanthropy Created By: Kiva.org
A new twist to microfinance that allows you to get directly involved in choosing which person/business you support overseas. Can start with loans as small as $25.
Dec 21: Phase-Change Incubator Created By: Amy Smith
A low-cost, low-maintenance device that tests for microorganisms in water supplies without using electricity.
Dec 8: Pot-in-pot Refrigerator Created By: Mohammed Bah Abba
An ingenious technique that requires no external energy supply to preserve fruit, vegetables and other perishables in hot, arid climates.
Nov 29: Oral Rehydration Therapy Created By: World Health Organization
ORT is "potentially the most important medical discovery of the 20th century",
The Lancet Medical Journal
Nov 17: Malian Peanut Sheller Created By: The Full Belly Project
An affordable, hand-powered peanut shelling machine.
Apr 26: ZIMBABWE: Malaria down by 40 percent
By: IRIN (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)
Here is some "happy news" about the developing world. Enjoy!
The number of malaria cases in the crisis-ridden country has dropped by 40 percent in the last two years, from three million in 2004 to 1.8 million last year, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Jan 8: World's 10 Most Dangerous Places for Children. Click here to see list
By: Megan Rowling
Reuters AlertNet asked 112 humanitarian experts, policymakers, aid workers and journalists to name three places they considered to be the world's most dangerous for children. The places they chose are not always in the headlines we see.
Jan 1: 1977 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech - Amnesty International
By: Mümtaz Soysal
It has been 29 years ago since Amnesty International was awarded this prize but its inspirational messages still hold true. And if you have time I
suggest browsing through some of the other Nobel Laureates acceptance speeches - especially those in the Literature section because some of them are quite profound.
Dec 21: Kingdom Come: Striking the Balance between Celebrities & Causes
By: Jonathan Greenblatt (WorldChanging.com)
This is one of the most well-articulated articles describing this recent phenomenon I have ever read. It is optimistic, which I like, but it also delves into the complexity.
"At the same time, we must resist the trend toward the over-simplification of these great problems... [we] must not be led to believe that activism ends at the cash register or remote control. Watching a Jay-Z interview on Nightline is a start, but little more than that"
P.S. If you have some spare time to browse around the web I suggest spending some time on WorldChanging.com because despite its male-dominated faults it makes you think.
Dec 8: Scientists Say Malaria Fuels AIDS Spread in Africa
By: Reuters
I am a science student so I know intimately that these two diseases kill way too many people!! And now there is actually some scientific evidence that shows they work in synergy against the human immune system. It is interesting and if you want to see the full research paper pick up the latest version of the journal Science.
Nov 29: The Walt Disney Circle - Refining Personal and Corporate Goals
Adapted from: R. Dilts (Change Management Toolbook)
Walt Disney has been known as one of the most outstanding and most successful business leaders of the 20th century. Like Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, he has not only influenced our way of processing information he has also changed the way we perceive reality. The secret of his nearly unlimited creativity is...
Nov 17: Spread the Net: Rick Mercer, Belinda Stronach, and Jeffery Sachs
By: Rick Mercer (CBC Comedian's Blog)
Malaria is spread by mosquitoes. If there is a war that Canadians can get behind it’s the war on mosquitoes. We spend enough of our time coming up with ways to kill them at home, let’s spread the love in Africa.
Nov 6: Three interesting pieces on China and Development
China in Africa: Never too late to scramble
By: The Economist print edition
China is rapidly buying up Africa's oil, metals and farm produce. That fuels China's surging economic growth, but how good is it for Africa?
China will offer $5B in loans plus double aid to Africa
By: By Ben Blanchard (Reuters AlertNet)
An article about this past weekend's Africa - China summit which featured close to 50 countries.
Tiger versus Dragon: The Debate Heats Up
By: Nury Vittachi (OneWorld UK)
China is ahead on economic growth, but India's democracy and creativity could be its secret weapon.
Oct 30: Climate Change Turns Up Heat On Food Aid
By: Megan Rowling (Reuters AlertNet blogger)
Since the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change got published in London today, I thought would include this short article. The part about a "meat aid safety net" is really innovative and I love ideas like that.
Oct 23: Engineers Without Borders: Letters From the Field (Zambia)
By: Paul Slomp
Interesting letters home from long-time EWB overseas volunteer Paul Slomp while he was in Zambia. He is now currently in Kigali, Rwanda and if you wish to send him a personal message it is going to be possible on Fri Oct 27th as the local EWB will be corresponding with him via the internet. Also check out the other overseas volunteers
Oct 16: "Slum Ecology: Inequality Intensifies the Earth's Natural Forces"
By: Mike Davis (Orion)
Cities have absorbed nearly two-thirds of the global population explosion since 1950, and are currently adding a million babies and migrants each week... In this process of rampant urbanization, the planet has become marked by the runaway growth of slums, characterized by overcrowding, poor or informal housing, inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, and insecurity of tenure.
Oct 9: "The Life of a Virus Hunter" By: Geoffrey Cowley (Newsweek)
Profiling Peter Piot, the Director of the UNAIDS, and describing his 25 years as an HIV/AIDS fighter. He has watched the epidemic grow from five cases to 40 million.
“If we’ve learned anything in 25 years, it’s that communities can take control of this problem. Our role isn’t to rescue them. It’s to support them.“
Apr 26: Judgement on Genocide - Watch Mock Trial Verdict
After 17 years in power, Omar al-Bashir is still the president of volatile Sudan. He has been given the dubious distinction of being named the worst dictator in the world and his reluctance to allow international humanitarian support into the area of Darfur should be deemed criminal. In fact, his deliberate and systematic attacks upon his own people have forced the humanitarian community to create a war crimes trial so that his actions do not go unpunished.
Omar al-Bashir and members of his government are being indicted with Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide, and Violation of the Laws and Customs of War.
Numerous internationally respected figures have taken part in this trial including Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Prize winner for Literature in 1986 and David Kilgour, Canadian Member of Parliment for 27 years. Meanwhile Dr. Gloria White-Hammond delievers one of the emotional and heart-wrenching speeches I have ever heard on the crisis.
Jan 8: Videos on the use of Microbicides Against AIDS.
In the fight against the spread of HIV the talk of microbicides being a realistic answer is heating up since the best hopes for a vaccine is likely more than 15 years away. The leaders in this field are The Population Council with their product Carraguard. It is an inexpensive, non-toxic, non-contraceptive product that is safe to use with latex condoms and is actually make from seaweed. Phase III Clinical Trials are currently underway in South Africa on 6000 women with results expected later this year.
The first microbicides, like the first AIDS vaccines, are likely to be only partially effective. Yet even these early efforts may have a crucial role to play in combating AIDS. For people who currently have no way of protecting themselves from HIV—such as women who cannot negotiate condom use with their partners or who wish to become pregnant —even partially effective methods could save millions of lives.
See here for Factsheet
Jan 1: The Earth
Institute at Columbia University
The Earth Institute is creating an interesting collection of development projects that are both culturally specific and technologically advanced. Their most famous idea is the Millennium Villages Project but there are many other innovative ideas that also deal with many of the complex issues that persist on our planet.
Dec 21: Mediastorm.org
This multimedia site has many unique video documentaries. Bloodline by Kristen Ashburn caught my attention and is a graphic and heartbreaking
portrayal of people affected by the AIDS pandemic. I actually found it the night before my virology exam and it gave purpose to what I was studying in my textbooks.
Dec 8: Sarah McLachlan: World on Fire Video
This music video costs $150 000 to make.
Nov 29: Taking It Global
TakingITGlobal.org is an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access info, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. It is now the world's most popular online community for young people interested in making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month.
Nov 17: UN Millennium Project - About the 8 MDGs
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the world's time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions: income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion. The MDG targets also promote gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability. (Basically if we succeed in meeting the MDGs, then our SAGA dreams will have become reality.)
Nov 6: Edward Burtynsky
An award-winning Canadian photographer with some amazing pictures of what goes on inside China's factories - the scale of production is unbelievable!! There are also photographs that vividly show the environmental damage that this manufacturing creates. (If you want more... there is even a video from the TED.com website)
Oct 30: Science and Development Network
SciDev.net aims to provide reliable and authoritative information about science and technology for the developing world. Their goal is to help both individuals and
organizations in developing countries make informed decisions about how science and technology can improve economic and social development.
This is achieved through our free-access website, and by building regional networks of individuals and institutions who share our goals. We also organise regional training workshops in the developing world.
Oct 23: Reuters AlertNet
Reuters AlertNet is a humanitarian news network that aims to keep relief professionals and the wider public up-to-date on humanitarian crises around the globe. It
attracts upwards of four million users a year and has a network of 400 contributing humanitarian organizations.
Oct 16: TED.com: Technology Education Design
This is amazing website featuring presentations from the world's most fascinating people that are making headlines around the world. I got addicted to it and posted some of my favourites - but check the link because there is more!!
TED Talks: Jacqueline Novogratz
Acumen Fund founder Jacqueline Novogratz persuasively argues for a new approach to foreign aid: "The question isn't 'how do we fix this?'
The question is 'How can we help Africans to do this for themselves?'"
TED Talks: Iqbal Quadir
Iqbal Quadir is co-founder of GrameenPhone, an innovative wireless company offering services to poor rural villages in Bangladesh. In this talk, he explains the triple impact of bringing cell phone service to rural areas
(connecting the village to the world, creating business opportunities, and generating over time a culture of entrepreneurship.)
TED Talks: Hans Rosling
Hans Rosling is professor of international health at Sweden's world-renowned Karolinska Institute, and founder of Gapminder, a non-profit that brings vital global data to life. With the drama and urgency of a sportscaster, he debunks a few myths about the "developing" world.
TED Talks: Larry Brilliant
TEDPrize winner Larry Brilliant is an epidemiologist who led the successful WHO campaign to eradicate Smallpox. He was recently named Executive Director of the Google Foundation.
TED Talks: Amy Smith
MIT engineer Amy Smith designs ingenious low-cost devices to tackle tough problems in developing countries. She received a MacArthur "Genius" Grant in 2004, and was the first woman to win MIT's famed Lemelson Prize. In this talk, she explains the vision behind her inventions, which include eco-friendly charcoal and a laboratory incubator that doesn't require electricity.
TED Talks: Cameron Sinclair
TEDPrize winner Cameron Sinclair is founder of Architecture for Humanity, and author of Design Like You Give A Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises. In this presentation, he demonstrates the need for a design response to humanitarian crises, and unveils his TEDPrize wish: to create a community that actively embraces open-source design to generate innovative and sustainable living standards for all.
TED Talks: Sir Ken Robinson
Sir Ken Robinson is author of Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative, and a leading expert on innovation and human resources. In this talk, he makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it.
Oct 9: Miniature-Earth.com
If the world's population were reduced to 100 - it would look something like this.
Oct 9: HIV/AIDS Picture Change: Webumentary
A multimedia project that aims to generate greater Canadian support in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Brand-new Idea: "SAGA Library"
You can now borrow of any of the recommended books from the reading list below!! Alex personally has a copy of all the books listed so if you interested in any of them just give him a shout and for a small deposit it is yours for two weeks!!
April: How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas
By: David Bornstein
How to Change the World tells the stories of people around the globe who are solving many of the world's most intractable problems. Full of hope and energy, exciting solutions and compelling characters, this book shows how a growing wave of "social entrepreneurs"- individuals with initiative, creativity, savvy and determination- are reshaping the world for the better. These individuals - from doctors to lawyers, from engineers to journalists - are successfully demonstrating that one person with a powerful idea and a passionate drive to succeed can bring positive changes to the lives of thousands or even millions.
(quoted from the back cover)
January: Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest Of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure The World
By: Tracy Kidder
At the center of Mountains Beyond Mountains stands Paul Farmer. Doctor, Harvard professor, renowned infectious-disease specialist, anthropologist, the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant, world-class Robin Hood, Farmer was brought up in a bus and on a boat, and in medical school found his life’s calling: to diagnose and cure infectious diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. This magnificent book shows how radical change can be fostered in situations that seem insurmountable, and it also shows how a meaningful life can be created, as Farmer—brilliant, charismatic, charming, both a leader in international health and a doctor who finds time to make house calls in Boston and the mountains of Haiti—blasts through convention to get results.
Mountains Beyond Mountains takes us from Harvard to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia as Farmer changes minds and practices through his dedication to the philosophy that "the only real nation is humanity" - a philosophy that is embodied in the small public charity he founded, Partners In Health. He enlists the help of the Gates Foundation, George Soros, the U.N.’s World Health Organization, and others in his quest to cure the world. At the heart of this book is the example of a life based on hope, and on an understanding of the truth of the Haitian proverb “Beyond mountains there are mountains”: as you solve one problem, another problem presents itself, and so you go on and try to solve that one too.
Tracy Kidder has won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the Robert
F. Kennedy Award, among other literary prizes.
(quoted from the back cover)
December: How Soccer Explains the World: An unlikely theory of globalization
By: Franklin Foer
Soccer is much more than a game, or even a way of life. It is a perfect window into the cross-currents of today's world, with all its joys and its sorrows. In this remarkable insightful, wide-ranging work of reportage, Franklin Foer takes us on a suprising tour through the world of soccer, shining a spotlight on the clash of civilizations, the international economy, and just about everything in between. [It] is an utterly original book that makes sense of our troubled times.
(quoted from the back cover)
November: A Short History of Progress
By: Ronald Wright *he is coming to the UofA in Jan 2007 (see below)
Each time history repeats itself, so it's said, the price goes up. The twentieth century was a time of runaway growth in human numbers, consumption, and technology, placing a colossal load on all natural systems, especially earth, air, and water -
the very elements of life. The great question of the twenty-first century is how, or whether, this can go on.
In A Short History of Progress, Ronald Wright shows how our modern predicament is as old as civilization, a 10,000-year experiment we unleashed but have seldom controlled. Only by understanding the patterns of progress and disaster that humanity has repeated around the world since the Stone Age can we recognize the experiment's inherent dangers, and, with luck and wisdom, shape its outcome.
(quoted from the back cover)
*Note: This is a short read as it is only 132 pages
Ronald Wright is an award-winning novelist, historian, and essayist. He has won the Globe and Mail, the Sunday Times, and the New York Times book of the year. Also he will be the
Keynote Speaker for International Week 2007 - Jan 29th at noon.
October: The End of Poverty: How we can make it happen in our lifetime
By: Jeffery Sachs
For the first time in history, our generation has the opportunity to end extreme poverty in the world's most desperate nations. But how can we stop the cycle of bad health, bad debt and bad luck that holds back more than a billion people?
Jeffery Sachs, Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and 'probably the most important economist in the world' (New York Times) has the answers.
He has traveled and worked in over 100 countries across the globe - from Africa to India, Poland to Bolivia - advising leaders on economic development and poverty reduction.
Here he lays out how poverty has been beaten in the past, how - in realistic, attainable steps - we can make a real difference for the one-fifth of humanity who still live in extreme poverty,
how they can find partnership with their wealthy counterparts to escape the poverty trap, how little it will actually cost, and how everyone can help.
(quoted from the back cover)
|
