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aeiOnline
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| Posted: 29 July 2004 at 5:07am | IP Logged
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Despite a good progress in living conditions, at least in the developed countries, through astronomical advancement in science (knowledge) and technology (applied knowledge), two of the gravest problems the world face to day are:
1) negative changes in environment (ozone, weather, water) being debated by experts and better it should be left to them;
2) Pathetic life of 2.8 billion people (around 40% of the world population) living on less than 2 dollars a day.
There are other problems also but these two are more effective in pushing the world to an early eco-collapse. The problem of environment change is technically complex on which only well trained experts can deliberate though awareness of its consequences would help public participation required to minimize the negative effects.
The primitive living conditions forced on majority of humanity, however, is more obvious and almost every thinking mind can contributes towards its solution.
If we look at the historical cycles of world leadership, we have no option but agree with the fact that the current era, the information age, presents man�s cruelty at its zenith � There Is So Much To Share But Too Little Is Shared. The world is virtually being ruled by an �elite class� of tiny minority � 586 billionaires and 7.7 millionaires; allowing the 20% of the world's population (1.2+ billion) to consume 86% of the world's goods while 80% of the world population (4.8+ billion) have to make do with only 14% of the world�s goods. Here again this 14% share is so unevenly distributed that makes a great majority of the world population to live in abject poverty and �well-designed� ignorance.
Poverty and Humanity
Poverty is in fact perpetuated by denying the opportunities to earn through tight control over natural resources and imposed restrictions in developing human skills of those who are marked by the �elite ruler� to remain poor. No wonder despite spending billions of dollars over many decades on poverty alleviation programmes of faulty designs, the population of those forced to live in poverty and ignorance is increasing and not decreasing. And this calls for a new thinking if the world intellectuals and intelligentsia want to slow down the process that is pushing the world to eco-collapse on fast pace.
This vicious circle is well protected through proxy leadership in countries designed to be kept poor so that resources and wealth of their due share should continue diverting to the �elite class� and its supporters.
There is a silver lining in the dark clouds � networking by ICT means. This can create a global social set up wherein every generous person with means can contribute in uplifting the wretched souls, anywhere in the world. Even sparing one dollar a day (365/year) can work wonder � if only a million people accept the idea, it will pool 365 million for the poor per year or 3.65 billion over a decade. This money if spent on empowering by way of immediate relief and quality education, fantastic results could be achieved in less than a decade.
But this needs a thoughtful planning and direct interaction between the global citizens � ActionAid�s �Child Sponsorship� and �Grameen�s Telephone-Ladies� and �from begging to business�, together with ICT could make a right blend to achieve sure results. And there are enormous hurdles to cross over or by-pass in reaching out the most eligible beneficiary and help him improve his/her life.
Can we visualize and accept the �change� thus unleashed?
Can we, and should not we, think as to why the astronomical advancements in science and technology available within last one hundred years could not bring about positive change in lives of majority human population.
Why destruction of historical consequence through wars and manipulation has occurred within the last one hundred years � the most enlightened era of human history?
Why thousands of NGOs, loafty welfare programes and prizes, e.g. Nobel, could not bring about visible improvement in the life of majority population?
Isn�t it as fact that �He who dies with the most toys is still dead�?
Sadiq, Leader: unification and Connecto2Pakistan Clubs at Ecademy
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chris.macrae
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| Posted: 01 August 2004 at 12:28pm | IP Logged
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yes I would love to see a map of every successful type of povery network innovation:
grameen
action aid
what www.thp.org does
and see if there is a way to openly fit all these jigsaw pieces together. I supose this starts by having people nominated other povery action experiments that have grassrots movement in them
is that how you see it, or where do you see the start we can do in spaces such as this?
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aeiOnline
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| Posted: 01 August 2004 at 1:07pm | IP Logged
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I am on the look out to gather as much useful information as possible in this regard.
ActionAid is on the EU board of foreign aid, thp's president has affiliation with USAID hence I don't expect them to ignore powerful advice. And their programs are based on charity fundings, mostly if not entirely.
Grameen to me looks with conspicuous difference and they work like business entity - give loans on easy terms. They also accept funding, I know about some grants, and they call programs in other countries as their partners - have funded 3 projects in Pakistan ranging up to 29,000$ one of these run by Roshane Zafar, daughter of SM Zafar eminent lawyer who was minister in Ayub's cabinent (back in 60s). She worked in World Bank Pakistan in responsible position.
What I have in mind is purely independent of external influence so that it could be something like people to people. Even if we can work on 1-point agenda: quality education, it could be far reaching.
Suppose an institution of eminance in every target country, purely catering for poor, say for 1 in every million population; starting from pre-college level.
In Pakistani context, such an institution catering for 150 student should not cost more than say 1 million dollar per annum as recurring costs including rent to building. These 150 persons would be trained at masters level in 8 years and should be role-model and change-agent in their respective communities. They should be taught well thought syllabus to train them as a global citizen of peace and prosperity - no bias whatsoever!
Idea is raw and estimate preliminary. To start in 100 countries it will need around 100 million$. Tall order? I expect local matching grants from government and public participation should be also forthcoming!
But it has to be globally linked as per my earlier proposal.
Thank you.
Edited by aeiOnline on 01 August 2004 at 7:07pm
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chris.macrae
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| Posted: 01 August 2004 at 3:11pm | IP Logged
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thp is not your ordinary fundraiser
For example, it worked out that in many countries the rural poverty/hunger trap afflicted women most who were left to bring up families whilst having no opportunities to impact local governance. So it has fostered training and self-support networks from the grasrots up, and campaigned to change local government.
It has designed its intercity network over at least 25 years and its fundraisers in rich cities seem to have experience and depth of commitment that makes hring professionals and the like unnecessary. I would bet that thp is a benchmark for lowest cost in getting more revenue through from rich cities to poor rural areas.
Of course i am expecting bias in these here threads as BTC speaker Lynne Twist is as near a perfect fundraiser as western-originated charities are likely to find, thp takes on a lot of the relationship patterns she imprinted there for nigh on quarter a century.
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aeiOnline
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| Posted: 01 August 2004 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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Chris,
I have yet to study the thp to understand its full scope, what I wrote here is in comparison with Grameen which looks to me on better footing to effect change - gives stress on personal responsibility more and less on assistance, a sort of real effort on capacity building.
What I personally feel and have learned through experience on development work is risk of dependence - Have you read my item on 120 NGOs .... at Ecademy?
How we can make someone go unless standing on foot?
Thank you.
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chris.macrae
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| Posted: 01 August 2004 at 3:43pm | IP Logged
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I agree so thp's program is all about giving women self-confidence and a sustainable way out of what was imprisoning them below poverty level
Its mainly be run in India as far as I recall which I think was because theey saw a timing issue coming up with overhaul of the most local form of rurla government
I dont know how they choose counturies they help most, and indeed whether they are in Pakistan
Of course one good news about a development program that works is that once you know how the franchise works you can potentially multiply it in any locally matching context. Maybe we need a university of poverty to act a an open clearing house exchange ideas that have been tested to work
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aeiOnline
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| Posted: 01 August 2004 at 4:33pm | IP Logged
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Very high thinking and quick action indeed!
You will find me in full support of your ideas and actions. I am following the email I just received (yours and A's) and hopefully we can get the things going fast.
thp is not in Pakistan yet. It has to be there because of poverty and also Sen.
Can you please elaborate a little more on 'poverty university'? Thanks!
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chris.macrae
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| Posted: 01 August 2004 at 6:03pm | IP Logged
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Perhaps Poverty University is just a name that grabs attention, as well as helping to argue the case that deep practical things may need as much youth attention in a networking world as grand theory.
But the name also conveyed to me the idea that what we can search people/organsiations who have franchises that are helping poverty in one area that maybe could work in others - clearly grameen developed a microfinance model with relevance in many places; arguably thp's rural women's program is transferable, or at least has mobilisation lessons that would give another locality a quick start.
And when you look for something that might apply locally it helps to have many things at a single (universal) source:
1 clearing house of options which becomes well known as a one stop shop to click to
2 permission link to discuss an option with an original authority if it sounds as if it might work
3 searchers who know that if they come across a working model it will be welcomed as part of the university's communal collection
Moreover some of these models have a bank of quite tacit knowledge of how they work well or badly, and/or may require training
It seems to me that by being independent of any one interest, an open university conveys the right sort of idea. Perhaps its just a possible name for an idea you are building anyhow. Or perhaps your idea has content and fundraising/distribution arms and both need working at not necessarily the same group of volunteers.
I havent though this through well. Play with the name if you like it and forget if it gets in the way.
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aeiOnline
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| Posted: 01 August 2004 at 7:00pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Chris, It seems quite relevant and I will consider it with options as the stage comes.
Getting on well with 'A' and connected at Ecademy. He has told me of a Pakistani Mirza Baig at his university what a great place! Thank you, please.
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Be The Change Forums : Ideas for 2005 Events
Topic: A REAL POSITIVE ’CHANGE’ FOR THE HUMANS
