Featured Blog Posts – December 2009 Archive (16)

Bottom of the Pyramid Shelter - Technology to create employment and provide homes

Talk about an exciting time to be involved with the BoP. Since the world’s wealthiest philanthropist Bill Gates gave his speech about "creative capitalism" in Davos last Thursday, the development world has been abuzz with its interpretations and implications. But Switzerland is not the only place where headway is being made.

In 2000 a conference was organized in Seattle on Creating Digital Dividends at which Mr. Gates, in a keynote address, famously said that "poor people don't need… Continue

Added by moladi Formwork on December 21, 2009 at 16:25 — 1 Comment

Copenhagen climate change conference a monumental mess-up however there is hope

A statement of intent was all the politicians could come up with after 2 years of talk and a failure to collaborate and agree on a legally binding agreement over the past two weeks in Copenhagen.

World Business Council for Sustainable Development President Bjorn Stigson issued a stark warning to ministers on 17th December in Copenhagen: "You will not solve climate change without business at the table as an engaged, involved partner - Governments cannot deliver on the targets which… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on December 19, 2009 at 23:55 — No Comments

Doing Business but Suffering in Silence

According to the World Health Organisation, gender-based violence is a major public health and human rights problem throughout the world. Though the assault is carried on in the privacy of the home, the violation is widely seen as a "private" family affair, and for some - a normal part of life.

In Kenya, an estimated 49% of married women were physically abused by their husbands (Borwankar et. al, 2008). Though violence against women mainly occurs… Continue

Added by Fiona Mati on December 19, 2009 at 16:57 — 1 Comment

The Business Proposition of Africa's Population Boom: Problem or Potential?

Originally published at www.afribiz.info.

Shashank Bengali of McClatchey Newspapers wrote “Africa is gripped by one of the greatest population explosions ever recorded” in a recent article entitled, “Africa’s Perilous Baby Boom.” In fact, while it is widely reported that India’s population (1.6 billion projected) will surpass China’s population (1.4 billion projected) by 2050, Africa will beat both with a population close to two billion according… Continue

Added by Lauri Elliott on December 16, 2009 at 1:30 — No Comments

Corporate Volunteering: Top 7 Requests & the Bad, Better and Best Responses (2 of 7)

The following blog entry is a cross-post from my blog Realizing Your Worth.

  “We want an activity that can be done together as a team”

Companies want to engage their communities through employee volunteering programs. For most, this means calling a non-profit and scheduling an activity. But… Continue

Added by Chris Jarvis on December 14, 2009 at 13:43 — No Comments

Green is good regardless of what they do or don't do in Copenhagen

What to know more about green business, green urban development, green lifestyle, art, and architecture, food and sustainability, wildlife, ecosysystems, and conservation, climate change, and/or sustainable energy? then check out the 100 lectures available here at online college.

Be remarkable

Ian

Founder Differencemakers… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on December 13, 2009 at 23:30 — No Comments

Two Mission-Driven Food Businesses Collaborate To Beat The Recession

Two award-winning socially responsible enterprises, Dancing Deer, the women-led natural baking company and Equal Exchange, the worker-owned Fair Trade pioneer have joined forces to solve your gifting andholiday party needs--all while supporting some great causes. The "Taste of New England Gift Baskets" feature the award-winning Molasses Clove Cookies and other tasty treats from Dancing Deer complemented by some of Equal Exchange's most popular organic, Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolates. The… Continue

Added by David Martel on December 12, 2009 at 3:05 — No Comments

The ever-growing business case for CSR/sustainability

In a report for IBM Global Business Services, George Pohle and Jeff Hittner make some excellent points from a survey of 250 global leaders that clearly advocate the business case for CSR/Sustainability including:

“A growing body of evidence asserts that corporations can do well by doing good. Well-known companies have already proven that they can differentiate their brands and reputations as well as their products and services if they take responsibility for the well-being of the… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on December 9, 2009 at 5:54 — No Comments

A Twestival on Education

Some of you may have heard of Twestival, a gathering of social media people to collect funds for charity. It is an initiative from the worldwide Twitter community with a commitment of Social Media for Social Change (SM4SC). These events explore the exciting possibilities for change and raise money for charity. Global Twestival was organized for the first time on February 12, and collected 250K US$ to drill wells in Africa & Asia and provide many villages with fresh, clean DRINKING WATER for… Continue

Added by Christian DE NEEF on December 8, 2009 at 23:08 — No Comments

Is Wild Silk Africa's best kept secret?

When I tell people that Ethnic Supplies stocks fashion accessories made from wild silk one of the questions I get asked without fail is that

Is there enough for commercial purposes?

And the answer yes there is, in Madagascar. The best part is that there is a whole conservation project underway to protect Madagascar’s natural heritage.

Tapia, or Uapaca Bojeri, is the staple food of the wild Malagasy… Continue

Added by Ida Horner on December 8, 2009 at 18:30 — No Comments

Great insights about climate change from Green Post Economy

For some great insights into the issues facing Government and NGO representatives and others gathering in Copenhagen in the next few days please check out this excellent work by Green Post Economy.

Be remarkable

Ian

Founder Differencemakers Community

Partnering passionate people to change what’s normal for the good of… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on December 5, 2009 at 0:24 — No Comments

United Youth Development Organization

Dear All,

UYDO stands for United Youth Development Organization. I like the spirit of organizations such as UYDO. I came to know them while studying Development Management at the London School of Economics. I would like to have your opionion on the initiative and especially how to improve it. Below you can find some more info and the link to the website.

____________________________________________________________________

The United Youth Development… Continue

Added by Mario Ferro on December 4, 2009 at 11:22 — No Comments

Policy Note: Business Innovation to Fight Climate Change and Poverty

The Growing Inclusive Markets Initiative of the UNDP have produced a briefing note on "Business Innovation to Fight Climate… Continue

Added by Business Fights Poverty on December 4, 2009 at 1:00 — No Comments

How fast will carbon-free energy occur?

This story was posted today on the Green Streets blog and Sustainable Communities, courtesy of Nature.

Added by Glenn R. Meyers on December 3, 2009 at 21:05 — No Comments

It seems most politicians don't yet understand we live in an age of collaboration

I watched an interview yesterday with Tony Abbott the newly elected leader of the major political party in Australia not in government. He said "our job is to oppose the government." He later in the interview tried to correct himself by saying "our job is to hold the government to account."

Mr. Abbott got elected after extraordinary scenes in his party where one minute they were supporting the governments climate change bill and then they weren't. These decisions and indecision… Continue

Added by Ian Berry on December 2, 2009 at 4:58 — No Comments

Climate and Food Security Go Hand in Hand by Jay Naidoo chair GAIN board, Khaleej Times

As world leaders in Copenhagen struggle for an ambitious deal, let's not forget that it is the future of our children that is at stake. Hurricanes, floods, heat waves and droughts wreak havoc when they strike, but in the desolation they leave behind it is relatively easy to reconstruct a road or a house. A human life is lost forever.… Continue

Added by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition on December 1, 2009 at 15:31 — No Comments