By hosting both the Football World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games in recent years, Brazil put the focus of the world’s attention firmly upon itself. In the resulting spotlight, many Brazilian citizens took the unique opportunity to voice concerns to the Brazilian government, with the wider world audience looking on. Protests and reform movements abounded in the past decade as a rapidly widening middle class made unprecedented demands in Brazil’s increasingly mobile and globally integrated society.
Among these movements, students and teachers in Brazil banded together to protest deficiencies in an education system that has long underserved Brazil’s citizens. In 2016, protestors occupied hundreds of schools nationwide to bring attention to the country’s needs.
In response to the protests and upheavals of the past few years, governments at every level in Brazil are beginning initiatives to address educational shortfalls. In many areas, education reforms in Brazil look familiar to readers from the United States. Ideas like performance pay for teachers and turning school management over to private charter organizations are spreading throughout the country at a rapid rate.
Application of the new American-inspired techniques is inconsistent however, and most education reforms in Brazil are still too new to evaluate effectively. In particular, schools in large urban centers are innovating at a faster rate than systems in less developed areas of the country. Regardless, enthusiasm is high. Many of the movements are being fueled by the personal initiative of teachers, who are in some ways pulling their more conservative institutions forward with them.
Technology in Brazilian schools shows a similarly inconsistent yet hopeful picture. Schools in Rio de Janeiro, for example, are leaders in educational technology use in South America. In Sao Paulo, South America’s largest city, one nonprofit foundation leads an initiative to translate and implement the Khan Academy materials for use in Brazilian schools. This popular online curriculum and method now features in hundreds of Brazilian schools reaching over 70,000 students.
In addition to the visible presence of the popular video-based curriculum, officials at the Lemann Foundation are even more excited about the potential for the support material and quality measurement features of the Khan Academy method. They see these “back end” features as creating real lasting value for future advances in Brazil’s schools.
Still, regions outside of the country’s largest cities have not progressed as quickly. Internet speeds to schools in Brazil are one unexpected challenge. While Brazil is a world leader in mobile internet infrastructure, most connections to schools do not reach the 2Mbps threshold considered ideal for the delivery of online materials. Fortunately, one potential solution to this challenge is on the way. KALite, a compressed, offline version of the Khan Academy materials, is now being implemented in areas with less robust infrastructure.
Some of these tech-heavy initiatives are showing early signs of success. Brazilian students using these self-paced, interactive tools are more likely to show up to class, and anecdotal reports indicate a higher level of morale and enthusiasm as well.
Brazil instituted compulsory primary education in the 1980s, after the end of military rule. In many ways, that change was impressively successful. Literacy rates, for example, are far higher today than in the latter half of the 20th century, and enrollment has strongly improved. Still, educational attainment lags behind nations at a similar stage of development. Brazil’s education system is ranked 105th in quality out of 122 nations by the World Economic Forum.
As time passes, results from more structural changes will be seen as well, and time will tell whether the legacy of these education reforms in Brazil will garner the same attention as the sporting events that precipitated their beginning.
– Paul Robertson
Photo: Flickr
What is a Senator?
Since 1787, the U.S. Senate has existed to bring representation to individual states and a minority opinion to the United States of America. Senators are an integral part of the news cycle. They are a voice for the electorate. They are composers of history. But what is a senator?
America is a country of democracy and relative stability in spite of bipartisanship. Surrounded by a world in which many are starving and living in poverty, however, it is important to look at the basics. Doing so gives Americans the ability to make a difference to those less fortunate. This is made possible by having a population of 323 million speak through elected representatives.
Qualifications of a U.S. Senator
The qualifications of a U.S. senator are simple. A senator must be at least 30 years old, must have been a U.S. citizen for nine years and must be a resident of the state which he or she is elected to represent. Their terms last for six years and there is no limit to the number of terms, as long as it is the will of the population in the senator’s state. Each state has two elected senators, who exist to bring individual voice and to be a part of the vital checks-and-balances system. This goes some of the way to answering the question ‘what is a senator?’.
Responsibilities of a Senator
The most important job of a U.S. senator is to be the voice of his or her constituents. As the accountable party to the state, a U.S. senator is responsible for voting on legislation that is to the benefit of the state as a whole. It also means that senators are responsible for taking phone calls, reading letters and meeting with his or her constituents.
In addition to their responsibility to the state, senators also serve on committees. Committees exist to examine major sectors of American life, including energy, health and the U.S. budget. It is a Senator’s responsibility to meet with lobbyists and determine amendments to existing legislation through the committee on which they serve.
U.S. senators also introduce and vote on legislation. Once a bill is introduced, it must be examined by the Senate. If it passes muster, the bill will then go to the House of Representatives (or vice versa). If the bill passes both houses of Congress, it will then go to the President of the United States to become a law.
What is a Senator?
So, what is a senator? A senator is someone that individuals elect to ensure that the country is going in a direction in which they want it to go. A senator is a voice for the state; an elected official responsible for ensuring the protection of human rights.
Unfortunately, much of the world does not have that same representation. The U.S has the power to create change and it starts with individual voices.
It is essential to exercise the right to vote and voice opinions through elected officials. Once senators are in office, citizens can write letters, email or call them to hold them accountable. They can make sure they are carrying out the state’s interest as well as using their position for good in the world.
– Eric Paulsen
Photo: Flickr
Credit Access in China Receives Strong Government Support
Consumer credit has experienced rapid growth since the market economy began in-depth reforms in 1998. It is common for individual home buyers to seek extended mortgage loans, which are currently among the best assets in commercial banks of China. The use of credit cards is also increasingly popular. However, for national banking systems and policy regulators, there are quite a few challenging issues for improving credit access in China.
In 2015, the World Bank reported that about 79 percent of adults in China had at least one bank account. Central bank credit information systems have information on more than 21 million entrepreneurs and nearly a billion customers. Bank loans are becoming more popular among rural families. Due to the considerably high rate of account penetration in China, financial infrastructure urges fast development.
Furthermore, China is expected to continue reducing financial leverage. The Central Bank has a series of loans and bonds for poverty alleviation, which also provide financial support to the rural disadvantaged groups. For banks of China, reforming rural credit cooperatives and developing new types of financial organizations should be strongly supported, as they are a significant force for inclusive finance.
While China has made substantial progress in inclusive finance, some issues still require further concern. Central Bank governor Xiao-Chuan Zhou has expressed his worries on three systematic financial risks: the credit risk in micro-finance, the high-leveraging ratio and liquidity in the economy and the cross-market and cross-regional shadow banking associated with financial crimes.
Last but not least, some financial exclusion issues caused by de-risking cannot be ignored. For instance, a few large cross-nation banks closed some outlets in Africa due to insufficient support on operations in those regions, which could cause some negative impacts. Advancement of digital technology on credit access in China may help to mitigate the derisking pressures.
While improving credit access in China received strong governmental support, the national banking systems and financial regulations are still far from perfect. Besides the nationwide scheme on “social credit” by 2020, a variety of other measures to promote investment and reduce risks on financial products must also be regulated.
– Xin Gao
Photo: Flickr
2021 Promises Prosperous Development Projects in Zambia
With most of these projects gaining momentum, the outcome for 2021 shouldn’t be a surprise. Development projects in Zambia are not only helping to improve the lives of locals, but also to allow the nation to compete on a global scale.
– Tara Jackson
Photo: Flickr
Humanitarian Aid to Mali
The Bamako Agreement
The 2016 Mali Humanitarian Response Plan followed a peace and reconciliation agreement the year prior, otherwise known as the Bamako Agreement. The Bamako Agreement was a response to the continued violence from a 2012 uprising of Tuareg-led rebels. It sought to bring peace between separatists and Mali loyalists and to provide better representation in government affairs.
However, due to limited funding, the Bamako Agreement did not immediately live up to its potential. One of the most negatively affected areas was Mali’s healthcare sector. Mali is a country in which only 24 percent of citizens have access to improved sanitation and 6,000 died from HIV/AIDS in 2016. As a result, access to proper healthcare is a major concern. Underfunding following the Bamako Agreement was reflected by health concerns such as increased infant mortality and the spread of disease.
Not willing to accept a failed Bamako Agreement, the 2016 allocation of funds sought to improve humanitarian aid to Mali. This was done by allocating funds appropriately to the most urgent needs such as health, water and nutrition. It also created a more coordinated success strategy between humanitarian groups.
Humanitarian Aid to Mali: Moving Forward
While the situation in Mali remains perilous, there are encouraging signs of a turnaround. The country is stabilized compared to the time before the Bamako Agreement. The $354 million dispersed in a scrupulous manner will have lasting benefits for the people of Mali.
By further coordinating humanitarian aid to Mali, organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have the resources to make a difference. The WHO is seeking additional funds from the U.S. to improve health information systems, increase access to health clinics and create better responses to calamities. The need is clear and the U.S. should increase aid efforts to better an improving, but still volatile, situation in Mali.
– Eric Paulsen
Photo: Flickr
Tumultuous Times Spark Education Reforms in Brazil
Among these movements, students and teachers in Brazil banded together to protest deficiencies in an education system that has long underserved Brazil’s citizens. In 2016, protestors occupied hundreds of schools nationwide to bring attention to the country’s needs.
In response to the protests and upheavals of the past few years, governments at every level in Brazil are beginning initiatives to address educational shortfalls. In many areas, education reforms in Brazil look familiar to readers from the United States. Ideas like performance pay for teachers and turning school management over to private charter organizations are spreading throughout the country at a rapid rate.
Application of the new American-inspired techniques is inconsistent however, and most education reforms in Brazil are still too new to evaluate effectively. In particular, schools in large urban centers are innovating at a faster rate than systems in less developed areas of the country. Regardless, enthusiasm is high. Many of the movements are being fueled by the personal initiative of teachers, who are in some ways pulling their more conservative institutions forward with them.
Technology in Brazilian schools shows a similarly inconsistent yet hopeful picture. Schools in Rio de Janeiro, for example, are leaders in educational technology use in South America. In Sao Paulo, South America’s largest city, one nonprofit foundation leads an initiative to translate and implement the Khan Academy materials for use in Brazilian schools. This popular online curriculum and method now features in hundreds of Brazilian schools reaching over 70,000 students.
In addition to the visible presence of the popular video-based curriculum, officials at the Lemann Foundation are even more excited about the potential for the support material and quality measurement features of the Khan Academy method. They see these “back end” features as creating real lasting value for future advances in Brazil’s schools.
Still, regions outside of the country’s largest cities have not progressed as quickly. Internet speeds to schools in Brazil are one unexpected challenge. While Brazil is a world leader in mobile internet infrastructure, most connections to schools do not reach the 2Mbps threshold considered ideal for the delivery of online materials. Fortunately, one potential solution to this challenge is on the way. KALite, a compressed, offline version of the Khan Academy materials, is now being implemented in areas with less robust infrastructure.
Some of these tech-heavy initiatives are showing early signs of success. Brazilian students using these self-paced, interactive tools are more likely to show up to class, and anecdotal reports indicate a higher level of morale and enthusiasm as well.
Brazil instituted compulsory primary education in the 1980s, after the end of military rule. In many ways, that change was impressively successful. Literacy rates, for example, are far higher today than in the latter half of the 20th century, and enrollment has strongly improved. Still, educational attainment lags behind nations at a similar stage of development. Brazil’s education system is ranked 105th in quality out of 122 nations by the World Economic Forum.
As time passes, results from more structural changes will be seen as well, and time will tell whether the legacy of these education reforms in Brazil will garner the same attention as the sporting events that precipitated their beginning.
– Paul Robertson
Photo: Flickr
Sustainable Agriculture in Mexico: Exporting Practices Worldwide
As home to the largest city in the Americas before the arrival of modern European settlers, Central Mexico has supported large-scale agriculture for over a thousand years. Later, in the twentieth century, Mexico was central to the Green Revolution that brought increased production and yields to feed a rapidly growing world population. Continuing this tradition today, advances in sustainable agriculture in Mexico are combining knowledge from both historical practices and modern innovations to assist farmers worldwide with the challenges of the 21st century.
Mexico was at the forefront of efforts in the middle of the last century to create higher yielding strains of both wheat and maize that fueled the Green Revolution. The International Center for the Improvement of Corn and Wheat (CIMMYT) was the leading institution in this work, focusing on the imminent problems of feeding an exploding world population. While CIMMYT’s work on crop yields was hugely successful, additional challenges have arisen in the years since.
Still in operation, the Center now focuses on initiatives to tackle the problems of a warming earth. These new efforts expand the work of CIMMYT into the development of grain varieties that can withstand the challenges of climate disruption and a still-growing population. As happened before, CIMMYT’s work is once again being exported beyond Mexico to solve the same problems in other countries.
Long before the Green Revolution and the advent of climate change, however, the predecessors of modern Mexican farmers developed technologies that allowed them to make effective use of difficult growing conditions and to farm in even marginal environments. Agricultural development experts are revisiting a number of these ancient practices and learning techniques that could power increased agricultural production in the future.
Intercropping, a technique that involves planting multiple crops close together, is a common feature of sustainable agriculture in Mexico, as practiced by indigenous groups. The cafetal, a system of growing plants under the shade of higher canopy trees along with ground cover crops, is already familiar to many westerners through the marketing of “shade-grown coffee.” The cafetal technique does far more than produce high-quality coffee in a sustainable fashion; it is a sophisticated method that renews soils and allows for a much higher diversity of crop yields when compared to ordinary plantation systems.
A similar system, the milpa, is much older and dates to some of the earliest civilizations in the Western hemisphere. Milpa farming is an intercropped system of corn, beans and squash that allows each plant to contribute to the success of the surrounding crops. Intercropped systems such as the milpa and the cafetal can yield up to 50 percent more produce than single crop plantings over the same area.
Along with research into indigenous systems and the large-scale institutional work of CIMMYT, smaller startup programs are also taking advantage of Mexico’s long growing season and diverse range of climates. One such program is The Biochar Company. Mexico is one of the pilot locations for this program that emphasizes biomass-based charcoal production. Not only is the product itself sustainable, but it enriches soils and increases regeneration rates when used as a soil additive.
All of these systems, whether 21st century innovations or time-honored indigenous techniques, are increasing the ability of agricultural methods to solve modern challenges. With its long history of success and the vast institutional knowledge of its farmers, sustainable agriculture in Mexico will remain a leader in food science and agricultural development well into the future.
– Paul Robertson
Photo: Flickr
4 Development Projects in Namibia
Scaling up Community Resilience to Climate Variability
Namibia has consistently faced problems over the years relating to water scarcity. In 2013, the country fought an intense drought that endangered one million of the 2.3 million people living there. As one of the driest countries in Southern Africa, Namibian farmers depend on rainy seasons to make a living. It did not arrive in 2013.
This UNDP project focuses on enhancing protective measures to ensure food and water security despite climate variations. The project focuses specifically on women and children. Close to 80 percent of the 4,000 involved households are led by women. The project also includes children from 75 Namibian schools.
The project will result in the use of sustainable agricultural practices and the restoration of wells and floodwater pools by the end of 2019.
Sustainable Management of Namibia’s Forested Lands (NAFOLA)
Namibia’s forests are vital to its citizens. In such a dry climate, forests promote biodiversity and water conservation, prevent soil erosion and provide food and resources for the Namibian people. Through this five-year project, the goal is to strengthen 11 community forests and promote community use and management of the resources NAFOLA provides.
This is one of the development projects in Namibia that also promotes sustainable agriculture and livestock practices. In turn, it aims to put less pressure on forest resources.
The Global Fund Grant to Combat Tuberculosis
Namibia ranks fourth on the list of countries worst affected by tuberculosis (TB). In 2014, 9,882 people were diagnosed with the disease, a 7 percent decrease from 2013.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has given a $25.6 million grant to the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services to fight Tuberculosis within the country. This project includes enhancing patient quality of care and management of those living with TB and HIV as well as Multi-Drug Resistant TB.
Protected Areas System Strengthening to Sustainably Address New Management Challenges in Namibia (PASS Namibia)
Namibia is home to 21 Protected Areas consisting of forests, deserts and grasslands. These areas are also hosts to a diversity of species which includes mammals, birds and amphibians. Furthermore, 44 percent of this land is under conservation management.
This project was initiated in an effort to make Namibia a more advanced tourist destination. Not only does environmental tourism boost local economies, but it can also provide much-needed revenue to keep up with conservation efforts. The project also hopes to gain support for the implementation of an institutional framework by 2018 that will prolong conservation efforts.
The support of development projects in Namibia can make a significant difference for the citizens who live there. These projects will give Namibians a more sustainable and secure future.
– Megan Burtis
Photo: Flickr
Seeds of Sustainable Agriculture in Guatemala
In terms of agriculture, its main exports are fruits, vegetables and flowers. It also grows and exports a vast amount of biofuel substances, such as corn and sugar. Coupled with poverty and a strong penchant for agriculture in the economy, sustainable agriculture in Guatemala has grown as a viable method to fight poverty and continue growth.
Semilla Nueva Creating Sustainable Agriculture in Guatemala
Chronic malnutrition is a defining issue in Guatemala, especially for the rural poor. Of the entire population, it affects 50 percent. One organization that works towards sustainable agriculture in Guatemala is Semilla Nueva. Its name literally means “New Seed”.
Semilla Nueva focuses on working within the current system and making a staple food more nutritious. Its solution focuses on a more sustainable and healthier corn that has more nutrients than previous seeds. By using high-quality seeds, it has been able to prevent 845 cases of malnutrition since 2016.
A student named Darren received a grant from the Interexchange Foundation to volunteer in sustainable agriculture in Guatemala. In a detailed account, he describes working with Semilla Nueva. Its 52 farmers use small, inexpensive techniques such as green manures and no-till farming. These techniques greatly increase a farmer’s yield and reduce carbon emissions.
Addressing Chronic Malnutrition
Another group devoted to sustainable agriculture in Guatemala is USAID. The program is active in over 2500 communities focused in the Western Highlands of the country. In this region, chronic malnutrition for children under five is at 67 percent. This USAID program also works to increase employment through more labor-intensive crops and improve productivity in food staples such as corn and beans. In 2013 alone, it reduced malnutrition by seven percent and generated $20.3 million in sales for agriculture products.
While Guatemala faces the issues of malnutrition, certain programs continue to force this difficulty into the past. Moving past the simple donations of goods, these groups teach Guatemalans how to maneuver their own lives and take off the financial burden of those struggling.
– Nick McGuire
Photo: Flickr
Sustainable Agriculture in Belize Resorts to Ancient Practices
With practices used for over two thousand years, known as Milpa, the villages perform a control burn to restore soil and replenish carbon. Short term annuals are planted to fill the open space as plantains, avocados, fruits, fiber plants, leguminous trees and cocoa are planted and set to grow. After five to eight years, when the canopy closes, annuals are replaced with vanilla, coffee, ginger, allspice and other understory plants. This cycle of burning and planting continues every 15 to 30 years.
This ancient practice is different than the current “slash and burn” method that only plants the highest paying crops, such as corn and rice, and negates the need for crops as “nitrogen fixers” and wildlife habitats. This form also plants in steep terrain without swales or terrace, increasing the likeliness of soil erosion. This slash and burn method undermines the soil and potential future agriculture growth.
Governments and organizations are working to educate and remove this irresponsible practice and replace it with other forms of sustainable agriculture in Belize. Projects Abroad works in Belize on tropical agroforestry and sustainable farming, allowing for individuals to work on the processing of cacao and developing agroforestry systems that mimic the rainforest that originally grew in Belize.
Sustainable Harvest International-Belize (SHIB) delivers a five-year extensive training program that teaches impoverished families how to farm with sustainable practices while also providing for their families. This program works on family nutrition, sustainable and holistic farming, promoting soil conservation through the reduction of external additives and crop diversification. These methods tie into strategies that the Horizon 2030 development plan uses to promote sustainable agriculture in Belize.
The U.N. reported that the Horizon 2030 development strategy is progressing agriculture practices by teaching sustainable farming in schools, increasing finances for farmers with low-interest loans, developing agricultural insurance for crop losses, supporting communal farming operations and increasing investments in technology regarding irrigation, seeds and green pesticides. These are a few of the goals implemented to reach more sustainable farming practices in Belize.
Through these efforts, Belize could experience a shift from farming that is detrimental to the environment to sustainable agriculture that will bolster the economy and livelihoods of the people of Belize.
– Bronti DeRoche
Photo: Flickr
Human Rights in North Korea Need Major Improvement
Currently ruled by Kim Jong-Un and the Worker’s Party of Korea, North Korea is one of the most oppressive countries in the world. Its leaders and government are adamant about isolating the country to ensure loyalty to North Korea and its communist way of life. In order to do this, many human rights are stripped from individuals living there. Although it is difficult to understand everything about the country given the secrecy and protection that is enforced, there are certain things about human rights in North Korea that have been uncovered.
Top 10 Facts About Human Rights in North Korea.
In consideration of these facts about human rights in North Korea, it is clear that rights of the citizens are extremely limited. However, although human rights in North Korea may be lacking, there has been some improvement. North Korea’s leadership has ongoing engagement with U.N. human rights treaty bodies. These include the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women.
Committees like these and other organizations are constantly working to spread awareness and improve human rights conditions within North Korea. Further progress is needed in order to dramatically change living conditions in the country, but it is fortunate that measures are already being taken to improve the rights of North Koreans.
– McCall Robison
Photo: Flickr