"The citizen's life is made possible only by due performance of his function in the place he fills; and he cannot wholly free himself from the beliefs and sentiments generated by the vital connections hence arising between himself and his society.... To cut himself off in thought from all his relationships of race, and country, and citizenship -- to get rid of all those interests, prejudices, likings, superstitions, generated in him by the life of his own society and his own time -- to look on all the changes societies have undergone and are undergoing, without reference to nationality, or creed, or personal welfare; is what the average man cannot do at all, and what the exceptional man can do very imperfectly."
World Urban Forum 5: The Right to the City-Bridging the Urban Divide
In the space of a few short years, the World Urban Forum has turned into the world's premier conference on cities. The Forum was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing problems facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.
Since the first meeting in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002, the Forum has grown in size and stature as it travelled to Barcelona in 2004, Vancouver 2006, and Nanjing in 2008.
With half of humanity already living in towns and cities, it is projected that in the next 50 years, two-thirds of us will be living in towns and cities. A major challenge is to minimize burgeoning poverty in cities, improve access of the urban poor to basic facilities such as shelter, clean water and sanitation and to achieve environmentally friendly, sustainable urban growth and development.
UN-HABITAT and the Government of Brazil have started preparations for the fifth session scheduled in Rio de Janeiro 22 - 26 March 2010. The Forum is one of the most open and inclusive gatherings of its kind on the international stage. It brings together government leaders, ministers, mayors, diplomats, members of national, regional and international associations of local governments, non-governmental and community organizations, professionals, academics, grassroots women's organizations, youth and slum dwellers groups as partners working for better cities. The fifth session in Rio builds on the lessons and successes of the previous four events.
"Brazil, like other countries in the world, became essentially urban during the twentieth century. Today, in Brazil, but also throughout the world, we need to rethink and renegotiate the fundamental bases of the city we want," said Marcos Caramuru de Paiva, the Brazilian Consul General in Shanghai. Speaking to delegates in Nanjing, he added: "Our home planet is only one, we change addresses but consume the same globalized products, we travel the same way, we use the same natural resources and we develop together."
The theme for Rio 2010, The right to the City - “ bridging the urban divide is in harmony with UN-HABITAT's flagship report, State of the World's Cities 2010-2011.
Toolkit, is to offer a helping hand to policy makers and senior executives in developing nations by endowing them with comprehensive information about what, how and when to do to embark successfully on the road to e-government.
This Toolkit aims to demystify the concept of e-government and to strengthen its understanding by all those involved in planning and execution of e-government projects. The toolkit offers an action framework for all stakeholders in developing nations, including parliamentarians, government executives, national institutions and non-governmental organisations, and guides them through various phases in their e-government initiatives.
For developing nations, especially countries at the nascent stages of building an e-government infrastructure, it is vital to understand where they stand in terms of their e-readiness, to reflect upon the intrinsic components of an e-government action plan and to learn lessons from the success and failure of various e-government initiatives undertaken by other countries, developed or developing.
During the preparation of the Toolkit, the endeavour was to address all possible aspects for initiating, implementing and sustaining e-government programmes in any developing nation: from defining the very concept of e-government to legislative and regulatory frameworks. Further, a number of case studies have been discussed to exemplify the successful e-government initiatives, the challenges faced and the way they were addressed.
The objective, through this Toolkit, is to offer a helping hand to policy makers and senior executives in developing nations by endowing them with comprehensive information about what, how and when to do to embark successfully on the road to e-government.
The challenge with securing some of that capital for revitalizing our economies and creating jobs rests with providing sufficient confidence against the risk of loss to principle; along with a reasonably competitive rate of return. Governments more than any other entity have the ability to provide this confidence against the risk of loss to principle; based on "Full faith in taxing powers."
As such, governments should take the lead and make necessary investments or guarantees for investments in infrastructure projects such transportation, energy, and cultural institutions that will attract other investors, new business, create jobs and make communities more inclusive and sustainable for this and future generations.
Obviously, this will not be a welcome propositions by many. Primarily because investments of this type are not usually well planned; therefore, they are often characterized by opponents as spending rather than an investment.
I make the argument that they should be design as investments. Returns should be calculated based on the triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial. Comparing those returns against competing options or doing nothing at all should serve as the foundation for action or inaction. The truth is, there is not going to be a significant increase in economic activity without a major increase in demand for a good or service. Only governments have the ability to initiate such spending at this time.
There are real and established demands for infrastructure development, improvements and rehabilitation all across the world. Making those investments will ensure the attractiviness and competitiveness of communities.
Leaders must come to understand the new dynamics of corporations means less employees and smaller entities. New sources of revenues will depend on developing their market for domestic and international tourist traffic and spending; attracting knowledge workers, and entreprenuers.
Communities must begin to explore and harvest their cultural and historical identity as products for tourist. Investment must be made in information and communications technologies, better housing; cultural attractions; and public space to attract knowledge workers and entreprenuers.
The internet allows once rural and inaccessible communities to be just as competitive as some urban communities for knowledge workers and entreprenurers. Investment in security and public space can make lower income urban communities attractive as well. UNEP Green Economy Initiative serves as a road map for economic development and job creation based on investment in sustainable development. The Millennium Development Goals provides a road map to opportunities in developing countries.
Developing countries will do well to learn from the experience of New York city back in the mid 70's when it underwent one of the worst fiscal crisis in its history. At the time, a plan was put into place by Mr. Felix Rohatyn and this provided the confidence needed by investors to purchase bonds issued by New York city and over come the financial crisis.
Mr. Rohatyn strategy for NYC was very simple; if implemented by developing countries today, they will find much needed financial capital available from the private sector for investment in their public works projects.
Capacity Day 2007; Leadership Matters: Vision, Effectiveness and Accountability.
Back in 2007, I had the privilege of attending Capacity Day 2007; Leadership Matters: Vision, Effectiveness and Accountability. The event was sponsored by the World Bank Institute in Washington.
That was back when returns on real estate were outperforming some stock markets; banks made easy money with no risks taking mortgage applications and selling off the loans to be collaterialized. Loans that were later stripped and traded as derivatives. Factories produced to meet related demand from the real estate inspired economic growth or bubble as we have come realize. Job security and equity in real estate allowed consumers to indulge. All of this provided governments with revenues to cover their budgets.
Well times have changed. Given the current global economic challenges, I believe we can all learn a little something from what was shared at that event.
Capacity Day 2007 brought together prominent world leaders, educators, heads of organizations and institutions to identify through dialog and the sharing of real world experiences the qualities of good leadership; conditions necessary for such leaders to succeed and how the international community can best support them in development.
The event was moderated by former BBC anchor Martyn Lewis. Among the speakers were Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Xue Lan, executive associate dean of the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University in China, and Haja Nirina Razafinjatovo, minister of national education and scientific research in Madagascar.
It was divided into four thematic sessions:
New leadership teams in fragile states
Institutionalizing leadership development in middle-income countries
Leadership development through accountability and results
Building an agenda for more effective leadership development.
Leadership as understood by the average person is normally defined differently based on culture. The body of knowledge on leadership shared at the event revealed that certain leadership characteristics that are useful in one field or culture are likely to be useful in another. An important distinction has been the increase in appreciation for the influence on leaders from the environments within they work.
Innovative Cities - Learning is the key to urban development
Cities are the predecessors of nation states. They are the generators of innovation, art and culture; and the engines for our world’s economic, political and social stability.
This publication explores the risks faced by cities; urban poverty, deprivation and social exclusion, increase in crime, health problems, and political and social unrest. It also looks at the negative consequences of rapid and poorly planned urbanization and the potential impact from climate change.
The underlying question posed throughout this report is how can we harness the positive aspects of urbanization to promote social inclusion, smarter growth and thus contribute to our collective stability and prosperity? Answers to that question can be found within the numerous case studies that are provided to raise awareness and galvanize support for problem solving and collaboration.
Functioning cities are the foundation for investment and development. This drives economies, creates employment, and powers markets. Although challenging, the global financial crisis should be viewed as a opportunity to invest in making cities more functional to meet the needs of current and future generations.
The UN-HABITAT’s supports national and local governments, professionals and the private sector work towards urban solutions and reinventing cities, while involving communities.
UN-HABITAT "World Urban Campaign" advocates better design and better planning for urban spaces, safer and healthier communities, and more equitable and inclusive urban governance in order to attain better quality of life for everyone. It will be about reinventing cities together as one global community.
The reinvention of cities around the world provides new opportunities for reviving the global job market for urban professionals. It starts with the developers, bankers, lawyers, architects, planners, surveyors, engineers and landscape architects.
I first watched these videos over ten years ago. They had and continue to have an impact on my thinking.
This is a story about human origins, migration and evolution that is based on genetics. As someone who has long been fascinated by human history and culture, this work by Dr. Wells added a new dimension to my understanding and appreciation.
Looking at the San Bushman in Video #2 & #3, it is hard to miss the strong facial features some of these Africans share with Asians and others.
I have long seen the faces Africans in many of the people from different races I have encountered during my lifetime. It is reassuring in video #12 to hear others honestly make similar observation about a group of people that do not share the exact same racial, ethnic or cultural background as themselves.
These videos are made further interesting with the analysis provided by professionals from other disciplines within the Social Sciences.
Makes you wonder about the strength of arguments that serve as foundations for ethnic cleansing, wars and the fight for territories, and racial supremacy.
In the framework of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014), UNESCO and the Thomson Foundation have published a training manual and resource kit urging media practitioners to take a closer look at a few theme based priorities and inquire how best education can respond to related ongoing and future challenges.
"The role that media can play in development goes beyond reporting news and events," said Abdul Waheed Khan, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, in a recent address to a consultative group on journalism training and excellence. "It contributes to the freedom of expression and the plurality of information, to engage and empower communities and to underpin sustainable development and good governance."
The first five chapters in Section 1 of the publication provide basic information on climate change, forests and fisheries, fresh water, biodiversity and pollution. In Section 2, the idea of sustainable development is placed in a wider context setting out some of the questions that any skeptical journalist would ask; hints on persuading editors to run a relevant story and on making the subject matter attractive to editors and to readers. The third and last section moves towards the future by taking a glimpse into reported best practices; imagining what people would have to give up to accelerate gains for a stable, peaceful, contented . . . in one word “sustainable” living.
A DVD containing films and audio clips and a CD-ROM of information resources are additions to the publication that will come useful in any training, round table or dialogue on the subject matter.
“UNESCO is the lead coordinating UN agency designated to ensure the implementation of the Decade objectives: to integrate into all aspects of education and learning the principles, values and practices that can fulfill the world’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” said Nicholas Burnett, Assistant Director-General for Education. “The aim is to encourage changes in behavior that will create a more sustainable future in terms of environmental integrity, economic viability, and a just society for present and future generations.”
This legal survey, published by UNESCO’s Office in Quito, compares the existing right to information laws in 11 Latin American countries: including, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.
Peace and stability are the foundation of economic development and growth. They provide the confidence necessary for improve consumer sentiment, local and international investment, and needed human capital.
The report by the United Nations Secretary-General High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change is a superhighway to peace and prosperity. Poverty and the violation of human rights set the conditions necessary to ignite and sustain conflicts. Investing in economic development and respecting human rights reduces the probability of conflicts
UNESCO’s “Final Report on Damage Assessment in Babylon”, released 9 July, provides an exhaustive technical evaluation of present conditions at the renowned archaeological site in Iraq and lists recommendations for its future protection, restoration and management. More >>
