Climate Change is Big Business
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Friday, 28 September 07 - 12:02 PM (GMT +12:00) By John Dierckx in Sustainability & Social Justice |
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I recently stumbled upon the two reports issued by Lehman Brothers, a New York based merchant bank. The reports provide a great overview of the business implications related to climate change.
The reports can be downloaded here:
- The Business Of Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities
(February 2007) - The Business of Climate Change II: Policy is Accelerating With Major Implications for Companies and Investors
(September 2007)
A definite recommend for those with an interest in the subject.
Africans on the Future of Africa
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Thursday, 02 August 07 - 08:28 PM (GMT +12:00) By John Dierckx in Sustainability & Social Justice |
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I was pleased to be notified that today TED.com was premiering the first online talks from this year's TEDGlobal: "Africa: The Next Chapter." The talks from the conference are now offered as they happened. Some of these talks were real eye openers and I recommend anyone with an interest in the subject to listen to what these people have to say.
Four talks to kick things off:
Euvin Nadoo set the scene on day one, describing a continent poised to light up. He goes beyond the normal paths and presents us a continent, made up of 54 countries (something we so often seem to forget) that should be considered as a vast pool of opportunities.
George Ayittey roused the audience, jumped between criticism of Africa's "hippo generation" (the current establishment and leaders) and an inspiring appeal for the "cheetah generation" to rise (the new generation of Africans that take matters into their own hands).
Comparing current aid initiatives to trying to fill up a leaky bowl. He makes you ask whether we are and should help the people or the leaders. He pleads the leaders that have been creating "vampire states" that suck the life out of economies and rip off the people.
He pleads that we learn to understand the people, and that in order to do that we need to learn where to find these people: in the informal and traditional industries. We need to listen, learn and understand and support the "cheetah generation" in their initiatves to take matters into their own hands.
Ngozi Okono-Iweala, the final speaker, provided a tour-de-force, telling powerful personal stories and showing how the different pieces of the aid vs trade argument, which had animated the conference all week, could be reconciled. "When it is you, you don't care if it is aid or trade" as long as it makes you or your loved ones better.
She points out how newly emerging "aid-entrepeneurs" are more than once unfamiliar and alone and how on the other hand Africans appear to be unable to take charge and involve these well meaning parties. She outlines a need to help the helpers help Africa better so that that god will cab be leveraged.
This requires a more balanced approach involving aid, governments, private sector, and the individuals. She pleads for more emphasis on infra-structure and aid not as something humanitarian but as a a catalyst for growth. Finally and in a very charming way she pleads to support the development of opportunities for women.
19-year-old William Kamkwamba won a standing ovation for his 3-minute interview, revealing how as a 14-year-old he had solved his parents' energy needs in a village with no electricity. It was short but a so sweet last video.
It is not often that I am blown away but yet again TED.com has done it. One of my favorite sites. And all of a sudden the letter by A.M. Sall that was published some time ago made so much more sense.
Let me know what you thought of the videos.
Mixed Thoughts on the Africa Issue
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Thursday, 05 July 07 - 11:57 PM (GMT +12:00) By John Dierckx in Sustainability & Social Justice |
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In one of the previous posts I published a letter that was sent to me by A.M. Sall. In his letter he refers to leadership as one of the missing components missing in Africa. Leaders that can actually take Africa forward. Over the weekend I rented the movie Ghandi which I had seen many years ago and back than was very impressed with. It got me thinking again on the exchanges that had been taking place in respect of the great injustice in Africa and what to do about it. Let it be clear that I do not claim to have the solution.
In a follow up email to Anders Anderson in MyLinkedinPowerForum I wrote amongst others:
I was not talking about charity and philantropy, I was talking about justice, I was talking about how we all should be ashamed looking to those development areas, sitting on our leather desk chairs, browisig through catalogues of the latest goodies, while there are just a few hours flying away people that could make good use of anything we regard as "outdated" cause who'd wana work on an "old 512 MB Ram" computer.
If you wanna call it charity, fine, I would say it is a possibility or better yet opportunity, for those micro entrepreneurs to expand their reaches, get in contact with those that can offer support, assistance, training and whatever more, not because of compassion but to develop these economies to a state of maturity, to a state of economic and social well being, to giove them access to venture capital and opportunities to develop.
The other way around: so many here are talking about being creative and creative problem solving, creative solutions and you name it. Has anyone ever considered what we mist likely can learn from those that had to struggle for their lives and livelihood. Those that now manage must have had more creativity than any one of us can imagine: they not only managed to survive but they managed to built something while all the odds were against them. These are leaders, but they are linked out leaders. We should not be compassionate we should be ashamed, we should not just be "teaching them" we should learn and start treating them as equals.
If charity or philanthropy comes into that equation than it is not to feed them but to give them an opportunity to fish (yes not learning how to fish) If they survived they are probably well ahead of all of us when it comes to the fishing skills: ever tried to catch a fish in an empty pond? Apparently they could, so who should be teaching who? Charity and philanthropy perhaps as a first step to get them going, but is it really philanthropy or is it a appeal to justice, an opportunity to address that incredible sense of injustice we continue to let exist. An opportunity to address the collective shame we should have for letting it exist.
So we are talking about the same things Anders, from a different angle we come to the same ideas.
Charity and Philanthropy, can assist but are never an answer. As log as we define it in these terms, we fail to see that we should not be compassionate and try to help: we should be ashamed of the injustice and try to make it right in whatever way.What I do believe that in the right way they can be a first step forward for them and us.
Furthermore, in terms of creativity, these people should not just be seen as at the bottom of the pyramid communities that deserve to be given the opportunities "to learn how to fish for themselves". Heck - and perhaps this helps those with the what's in it for me gene - these people are the other way around very likely a great opportunity to us, to learn from , to trade with , as the new no bullshit business leaders, that have learned their skills from trying to survive, not a loss of a millions, because a few deals went wrong, no surviving liteally as a human, family, extended family, community and nation. So here is our opportunity: an untapped and forgotten force of true creatives, people that found a way to turn rubbish into food, into things that matter, not for the sake of money but for the sake of the well being of themselves and those around them.
My examples were not more than random thoughts, I am not the right person to talk about the how, I was here to talk about the what. And to appeal to all of us, each in his or her own way and within their possibilities and capabilities and to recognise what a great opportunity and resource we are missing out on.
Prior to that Anders had posted a very moving and to the point post which I will put on here as well:
Dialogue continues.
Yes, you identify their needs to connect in order to develop their micro enterprising - and all what we talk about here is referred to Business to the "BOP" - Base of the Pyramid.
The key in relation to justice is that the rules should be leveled to be the same for all - to move in markets in the same conditions leads to move in the markets with equaling opportunities. So - it is opportunities that should be distributed, not physical matter such as computers etc in the first place. And, designing and mass-producing in millions the $100 laptop is a far better thing than old ones.
I am talking about the experience all the fellows during my Ugandan time shared - they were so fed up with "aid" - locking in rather than inviting in. A form of neo-colonialism. They're tired of that.
Inclusive Society/Markets means that they are free to export their goodies to our corners of the world, and at the same time kill all subsidies for the domestic markets here. Where sustainability demands from us as customers leads to fair and sustainable trade, and creating a chain of only winners in the end.
Open up the trade, and then *invest* in the entrepreneurs ready to take their destiny in their own hands - to create empowered entrepreneurs spreading prosperity in their own communities by their own creative organizing and action, and not just you and me, John, but the whole world will prosper - and peace will prevail.
E. g. see the link www.kiva.org to put an example of what I talk about.
Digest all the links I sent in the last mails. It is all about creating business models - businesses with a cause, using business as a means to solve sustainability-related problems, such as absolute poverty.
http://www.sustainopreneurship. info for definition,
http://www.sustainopreneurship. biz for blogging.
Different angles, but same mission, yes.
Anders Andersson makes a strong point here that appears to be in line with what the thoughts of A.M. Small are when it comes to provide aid. I was now at the point of having several lines of thought:
- AM Sall pointing out the lack of good leadership in Africa
- AM Sall pointing out the detrimental effects of of aid especially where it comes to self perception
- Anders Andersson pointing out that we should avoid the semantics and work towards creating sustainable business models
- Myself being on a cross roads, where I think that Africa already has a lot of potential creative leadership in house but it is not being recognised as such
- That aid is not a problem if it assists in establishing economic independence and leadership
All in all a mixed set of ideas and notions that I have been digesting over the past days. We all seem to be sailing for the same destination but our courses seem to differ. Reading A.M. Sall's letter to Tony Blair and Anders' response to my posts I certainly felt like I had to reconsider some of the things I had posted, probably mostly from an engaged and emotional point of view.
Whilst still feel the the whole Africa issue should be treated by non-Africans from a perspective of injustice instead of compassion, there is a valid point in looking at what opportunities we can create instead of relentlessly providing aid. I think it is a fair comment that Africans are not waiting for aid but for opportunities. That notion especially sprung to mind after watching the movie Ghandi.
Making the Fisherman believe in his own skills and capabilities again
The ideas that have been forwarded in all those emails and posts were all about teaching and enabling the fisherman how to fish. The movie Ghandi and Ghandi's ideas as presented in this movie brought me to the idea that it does not stop there. Things can only change if the people of Africa start believing in themselves again.
In the movie, which follows the life of Gandhi, there is this moving scene. Gandhi sits down with his faithful companion and friend from Europe who has been his right hand man for quite some time. Gandhi advises his friend that the best thing he can do to support the cause is to say yes to his assignment offer in Fiji and leave. Gandhi explains to his friend that his presence could still lead to thinking that there is a white man needed to get things organised. The only way things can really change is when Indians believe again and see that they can change things for themselves. Hence the suggestion that it is probably the best thing for the cause to leave and go on a new mission somewhere else.In its extremest form this would mean withdrawing from any outside assistance. African learning that they can do it themselves. But whom will they believe? AM Sall points out some very valuable points here when he concludes that Africa needs strong leaders and the detrimental effects of aid, Anders appears to have a valuable inroad, by creating opportunities instead of providing aid and pointing towards micro loans, cell phones and 'linking in the linkedout".
So what is stopping them. In a more practical sense most likely resources and people with valuable ideas that will help persons, families, communities, provinces and even nations. Could it maybe be that by actively promoting these opportunities, by actively investing in opportunities in these countries, we could turn a tide of self-belief for these nations and at the same time grow a new breed of leaders that will make these fishermen actually believe that they can fish again.
I don't like not having the answers (yet) and I can only say that in a very specific sense Anders Andersson and AM Sall have provided me with many new thoughts and ideas. All I can hope for is that they will lead to some practicable solutions and that I can contribute somehow: it doesn't have to be massive, one at a time will do for me.
More to follow on this topic. For now I would be keen to hear others' thoughts as well.
Africa, Compassion, Aid: No Thanks
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Tuesday, 26 June 07 - 11:23 PM (GMT +12:00) By John Dierckx in Sustainability & Social Justice |
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It is not often that I am blown away by letter sent in by readers of this blog.
This one I would like to share in its entirety and just not respond to at this stage. I think it offers everyone genuinely concerned with the African situation an alternative look on things from the perspective of someone that has been there, that has loved there and in his own way is working hard to contribute to move forward.
Thank you very much indeed.
I have closely studied your LinkedIn profile. I know you are a
good man, a man anyone would be "glad to call 'friend'" (Michael Pokocky).
I have also read your MLPF post on Anders' "Connecting the Linked Out" and,
of course visited your awesome blog. And I was struck by these few words on
the blog: "the disgraceful and shameful situation in Africa". You know, John,
I am an African, but not a very "typical" one, I'm afraid.
To see what I mean by that could you please spend a few minutes on this
"Open Letter" I wrote Mr Tony Blair, but never got to publishing. Well, I guess
it's too late, now! (The title is: "No, thanks, Mr Blair"). I know you must be a very
busy man and this letter is not precisely a short one, but I am sure we have so
much in common that you'll probably find my ideas quite "reasonable".
Here is my LinkedIn profile (I would really love to network and exchange with you:
We are both on MLPF and I also play guitar!) and here goes the "Open Letter":
No, Thanks, Mr Blair !
I feel terribly sad when I hear you talking about poverty in Africa and making it
YOUR problem (burden?). I hope you won't consider this as "ingratitude" coming
from an African.
Mr. Blair, countries and even continents are just like individuals: real change can
only first come from the inside and then appear on the outside, for the whole wide
world to see.
All this talk about anti-imperialism, anti-neocolonialism, which has now taken on
the guise of anti-globalization is simply hot air. Personally, I am staunchly and even
"fanatically" pro-Globalization". And I firmly believe you only have yourself to blame for
whatever happens to you, whether you are an individual, a country, or even a "race"
(whatever that means).
Mr Blair, your Africa Commission is probably no "imperialistic ploy" - anyway who
has time for THAT in this 21st Century, really!
We are quite prepared to believe you feel "sorry" for us.
You are probably - no, not probably, CERTAINLY - a good man, a "soul whose
intentions are good", but, no, thanks, Africa does not want to be on the receiving end
of anyone's pity, compassion, money, or help.
Don't you realize that being on the receiving end is a terrible blow to anyone's - even
Africans' - self-esteem?
Leadership
It is often said that Africa's problem is leadership. I couldn't agree more. But it has also
been said that "People have the leaders they deserve". My own take on this will be a bit
more blunt: "Bad people have bad leaders and good people have good leaders"
Good people will never allow themselves to be "led" by bad people and Africans will have
to change themselves if they want good leadership. But THAT is Africa's problem.
African leaders
All keen students of the African political scene have noted that African leaders prefer
their people to be as poor as possible, to have just enough to stay alive, so that they can
be more easily bribed, or their votes more easily bought in countries where brutal force
cannot be used. Do you realize that in some so-called democratic countries in Africa votes
are bought for as little as $10 (£5), or even less?
African political leaders are parasites of the worst kind: they only thrive and prosper in
filth and destitution. That is why you will always see them wallowing in the murky mire of
abject mendicancy in their dealings with the "international community" - never mind a few
occasional half-hearted "protests".
In this regard, I am sure you know that some countries do their best to be classified as
LDC's so as to enjoy the dubious "benefits" of being in this category even though
technically they should not be in there.
When all is said and done, African leaders love to be aided. They have no qualms
about literally capitalizing on Africa's much flaunted "poverty". They use aid money
to buy people's good will through massive corruption and stay in power indefinitely.
This system can be extremely refined, with the creation of Ministries of National
Solidarity, National Solidarity Funds, Offices, or Agencies, which, to all intents and
purposes, simply amounts to institutionalizing corruption.
With leaders like that, Africa certainly doesn't need enemies!
Perception
Mr. Blair, you speak about children and future generations. But if European/American
children perceive of themselves as the "aid-givers" and African children as "the aided",
both will grow up with this idea. This will be a real, long-term disaster, specially for
the future of the World: this perception will be almost impossible to change and
the most pathetic casualty will be Africa's self-image. The damage will be permanent.
We all know the power of perceptions. And I have been in the "Personal Development"
industry long enough to realize that what really matters is not what happens to you but
the way you PERCEIVE it.
The way forward
As stated earlier on, the solution to the problem lies within ourselves. Only Africans
can solve Africa's problems.
Meanwhile, we can suggest the following three-pronged solution:
1. Let Africans take their destinies in their own hands, as INDIVIDUALS. Beware of
all leaders, be they political, religious, social etc. Charismatic leaders are dangerous,
anti-progressive; they block people's movement towards personal development.
As individuals, we must be more self-centric (note that I am not saying self-centred,
or selfish), and "reprogram our belief systems".
2. Publicise individual African success stories to serve as role models for young
Africans. Successful Africans will be living proof to other Africans that it is possible
to "make it", even if you are an African.
3. Develop trade. There is more dignity in trade and exchange than in one-way gifts
and handouts even - or should I say "especially" - if these are sincere and well-meaning.
As a friend of mine likes to say: " We are tired of being helped"!
So I once more say to you: "No thanks, Mr. Blair and please don't take it badly!",
which I'm sure you won't, after reading this open letter.
A.M.Sall, former Senegalese diplomat (Counsellor at The Embassy of Senegal in
London), now an Author, Translator, Infopreneur, and Success Mindset Philosopher.
Thanks a lot, John, and
Warmest greetings from St-Louis, Senegal, West Africa
A.M.Sall
Managing Director
Amsall Communications
Website: Translation Trophy
Blog: Translator Power
LinkedIn Profile
Milagros y sueño todavía
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Thursday, 21 June 07 - 12:57 AM (GMT +12:00) By John Dierckx in Sustainability & Social Justice |
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Miracles, and I still have a dream.
Today two completely non related events eventuated: I was looking for a CD and stumbled upon one of my favorite CD's, Carlos Santana, Milagro, which is the Spanish word for Miracle.
I put it in my computer t listen to it while checking my email and find a post of my good friend Anders Abrahamsson to the MyLinkedinPowerForum, a yahoo group of Linkedin users.
In an end note: All those who would like to connect to the rest of theThe Milagro Album: Miracles through Music and Solidarity
world, should dedicate the rest of their lifetime to *get Internet*
all over the world.
There are four billion people who live below four dollars a day.
Be the winning company of the 21st century and see that as a huge
untapped market - e. g. of Internet services!
See the Internetography over at the dedicated hubpage;
http://hubpages.com/hub/networki ng
Fact remains: It is only those who have access to Internet who can get
"linked in".
So - who will join me to get the "BOP" - base of the (economic)
pyramid, the "linked out" - online?
http://hubpages.com/hub/hotworld
Answer here on MLPF, and I think we can get a conversation that in the
end will change the world!
The Milagro Album is a live album and it deals with the big issues of love, devotion to the cause, about how "WE can make this work", there's songs about how Life is Worth Living, about solidarity and helping others , or at least that is what I feel when I listen to this fantastic album. The album makes me wanna get involved and actually seems to work on your feeling when you have to look in the mirror and have to ask: What am I actually doing?
In that sense, the claim on the album that "we heal the people with music" seems to have some validity. More importantly Carlos Santana actually lives the promise through the Milagro Foundation.
Connecting the "Linked Out"
As you can imagine reading Anders' message, my own philosophy of giving (see here and here) and than finding someone tat wants to "link in" the "linked out".
Just imagine how fantastic that would be if......
If it would help these people get a voice, if we actually listened and most importantly if it could bring us an opportunity to actually help these people Anders is referring to.
If we really are a network with such incredibly acclaimed business people in here should this not be a piece of cake? It doesn't have to happen today but look at it, all each member has to do is get a hold of 364 computers in the coming two years, or raise enough funds to buy these. And the computers don't even need to be state of the art, what about thinking what you do with your "old" one that only has 512 MB ram ad windows XP instead of vista, so you will "need" to replace. Or if you have some extra cash, buy one of the auction sites. To name just two ideas. Heck set all those advertisement proceeds aside for something really worth while or use your "network to raise some funds.
Anders, can you lease provide a central bank account in the near future.
Sueño todavía: I still have a Dream
And of course while there are a lot here that can probably get their quota and don't feel it, there are others that cannot afford such luxuries. There are other ways.
Anders is a muso, so am I. What about a Linkedin album with the proceeds going to this or another valuable cause. I like Anders' idea of connecting the unconnected, because instead of supporting them you can actually get them to be independent.
How about a Linkedin solidarity album, to fight the injustice that Anders is really referring to. We are great at self branding wikis, blogs and you name all for the gloty of ourselves. Is Anders' idea not a call for a solidarity project? Not on a wiki but setting something up that could help people that deserve it because it is fair and just.
We could think in terms of justice instead of compassion and actually do something with it.
Ideas would be welcomed as well as offers for funding such a huge project, that could actually help a lot of people, not for the sake of networking but because it is a way towards independence and most of all justice!!!! We should all be ashamed of ourselves looking at development countries that are plagued by famine, war, aids and other atrocities.
Ideas would be welcome and Anders: Count me in ad let me know what I can do.
... More items are available in my News Archive
