In the World Bank’s latest bi-annual publication on the economic climate in Africa, called Africa’s Pulse, the organization asserted that economic growth in various African countries remains at seven percent or higher, making the region “one of the fastest-growing in the world.”
The publication stated that due to the improving global economic situation, high commodity prices, and increased foreign investment in several countries on the continent, prospects for continued economic growth remain very strong.
The World Bank did concede that in order to continue current levels of growth, higher levels of foreign investment in infrastructure, particularly in energy, were needed to push developing African nations forward. The report also cited increased levels of agricultural production and food security as the main concern in reducing poverty.
The World Bank Vice President of Africa, Makhtar Diop, said, “Without more electricity and higher agricultural productivity, Africa’s development future cannot prosper. The good news is that governments in Africa are intent on changing this.”
Africa’s Pulse specifically cited a boom in the industrialization of Africa’s natural resources, including mineral extraction, natural gas, oil, and mining as a vital factor in promoting continued economic growth, and expects that by 2020, all but four of five of all African countries will be participating in industrial mining of some kind.
The World Bank went on to acknowledge the importance of African governments using increasing revenues to re-invest money back into regional infrastructure, education, and health care.
Punam Chuahan-Pole, the co-author of Africa’s Pulse and economist at the World Bank stated, “If properly harnessed to unleash their full potential, these trends hold the promise of more growth, much less poverty, and accelerating shared prosperity for African countries in the foreseeable future.”
– Christina Kindlon
Source: World Bank
Top 5 Photos of Atrocity
In May of 2012, the Daily Mail posted an article regarding author Matthew White’s book, “The Great Big Book of Horrible Things” which ranks the worst atrocities in history. The rank lists World War II as number one, the regime of Genghis Khan as number two, Mao Zedong’s regime as number three, British India famines as number four, and the fall of the Ming Dynasty as number five. The Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin ranked as number seven, and the Atlantic slave trade as number ten. (The list of all ten is available on Daily Mail.) On another source, the worst atrocities are ranked based on death tolls marking WWII as number one, the regime of China’s Mao Zedong as number two, Soviet Union’s Stalin regime as number three, WWI as number four, and the Russian Civil War as number five.
For the purpose of objectivity, it is important to note that all atrocities are significant and that these calculations seem mostly based on numerical and statistical measures. The presented list below will rank the top five photos of atrocity based on a combination of measures: timeliness (1945-present), death tolls, and global-scale emotional significance.
1) WWII led to approximately 55 million deaths (including the Holocaust)
(the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki)
2) (1949-1987) During China’s Mao Zedong regime, approximately 40 million lives were lost
(Famine during the Great Leap Forward)
3) (1975-1979) Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge/Pol Pot regime caused approximately between 1.7 to 2 million deaths.
4) (1994) Rwanda’s genocide led to approximately 800,000 deaths
5) (1980-1989) The Soviet-Afghani War which led to approximately 1, 500,000 deaths
– Leen Abdallah
Sources: The Hemoclysm, Religious Tolerance
Photos: Daily Mail, Google, Google, Google, Google
Growth of Sustainable Coffee and Global Poverty Reduction
In both unexpected and unprecedented turn of events, 2012 saw a huge increase in the amount of growth of sustainable coffee imported from developing nations. Sales of the environmentally friendly Rainforest Alliance certified coffee jumped from 3.3 percent global output in 2011 to an astounding 4.5 percent in 2012, and imports of the certified coffee jumped 18 percent in the United States and Canada; effectively shifting the paradigm of business efficacy in regards to the future of sustainably sourced products.
The increase in 2012 sales is thanks in part to the efforts of Rainforest Alliance and Fair-Trade USA, two US-based non-profits that work to both train and certify overseas growers in techniques that encourage sustainable farming practices. These two non-profits have also sought to change public demands for products that promote responsible environmental stewardship abroad. Surprisingly, the growth of sustainable coffee has been bolstered primarily by its sales to US-based fast food companies such as Caribou Coffee Co. and McDonald’s USA, which recently shifted 100 percent of their espresso coffee beans to be sourced from Rainforest Alliance certified coffee growers.
In regards to the huge growth of sustainable coffee, Rainforest Alliance’s press release remarked that “Over 118,000 coffee farms covering almost 800,000 acres (323,500 hectares) are now Rainforest Alliance Certified and meet rigorous standards for best practices and environmental and social sustainability.”
By empowering farmers in developing nations to produce crops using environmentally sustainable methods such as those utilized by Rainforest Alliance certified coffee growers, American consumers can – through their purchasing power – effectively mitigate the systemic global poverty afflicting many South American countries. Furthermore, as the growth of sustainable coffee provides increased economic incentives for many residents of the global south, global poverty levels will continue to contract as certified coffee sales expand.
– Brian Turner
Source: Chicago Tribune
Photo: Select Drinks
Isle of Man Commits to Eradicating Polio
The Isle of Man’s International Development Committee of the Council of Ministers has announced its intentions to contribute £30,000 annually for the next three years to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Rotary International, partnered with the World Health Organization, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF, will utilize the funds to finally rid the world of this preventable disease.
International health organizations have worked diligently to eliminate 99 percent of polio cases; however, they are determined to completely wipe out the disease. Polio is completely preventable with a vaccine, but some people living in poor areas of the world still do not have access to it. Those affected by polio are often young children less than five years old.
Phil Gawne MHK, Chairman of the International Development Committee, is passionate about long-term commitment because polio is a disease that is primarily found in children. The Isle of Man’s donations will go towards providing vaccines for millions of these impoverished children, thus making the end of polio an even more attainable goal. By pledging to give money for three years, Gawne says his country is ensuring that the polio initiative is successful.
Despite the current debates over funding foreign aid programs, Minister Gawne enthusiastic about the role Isle of Man in playing in ending polio. This issue will also be discussed at the Global Vaccine Summit in Abu Dhabi in the next few days. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, along with the Prince of Abu Dhabi, will educate attendees on how to stop the transmission of polio by 2014 and the importance of immunization.
Minister Gawne is proud that his country is able to look at solutions for global programs rather than only those that affect his homeland. According to Gawne, the Isle of Man is “fully committed to playing its part in efforts to create a more sustainable future for all of the world’s citizens.”
– Mary Penn
Source: Isle of Man
Photo: UNICEF
Second Green Revolution in India
For India, the issue of food security has been a chronic blight that has plagued the 1 billion strong nation ever since its beginnings. Recently, the government has launched a comprehensive program aimed at alleviating the widespread malnutrition and low birth weights of many infants and children. In a bold move to add even more momentum and resources toward the fight against food insecurity, the Department of Agriculture has launched the Second Green Revolution in India.
The Second Green Revolution in India was celebrated during the farming festival of Uzhavar Thiruvizha, which will last until May 20th. During the festival, organized by the Department of Agriculture and Ministers from varying levels of Indian Government, farmers were invited to take part in educational seminars covering issues such as water usage, soil testing, and pest control. In addition to the educational aspects of the Uzavar Thiruvizha, 114 farmers also received financial assistance and farming assets valued at 72.42 lakhs.
In regards to the overall goals of the Second Green Revolution in India, Joint Director of Agriculture Mohammed Kalimullah Sherif remarked that “Under the ‘Second Green Revolution’ underway in the State, it has been planned to double the crop production and increase the revenue of farmers threefold over a period of three years ending 2015.”
Government investments such as the Uzhavar Thiruvizha highlight the ongoing commitment of the Indian government in tackling future food security challenges and alleviating chronic malnutrition. Furthermore, through the coordinated efforts of the Second Green Revolution in India, the mission of doubling current agricultural outputs is a goal that has never been more attainable.
– Brian Turner
Source The Hindu
Photo DeshGujarat
World Bank Places Africa as One of the World’s Fastest Growing Regions
In the World Bank’s latest bi-annual publication on the economic climate in Africa, called Africa’s Pulse, the organization asserted that economic growth in various African countries remains at seven percent or higher, making the region “one of the fastest-growing in the world.”
The publication stated that due to the improving global economic situation, high commodity prices, and increased foreign investment in several countries on the continent, prospects for continued economic growth remain very strong.
The World Bank did concede that in order to continue current levels of growth, higher levels of foreign investment in infrastructure, particularly in energy, were needed to push developing African nations forward. The report also cited increased levels of agricultural production and food security as the main concern in reducing poverty.
The World Bank Vice President of Africa, Makhtar Diop, said, “Without more electricity and higher agricultural productivity, Africa’s development future cannot prosper. The good news is that governments in Africa are intent on changing this.”
Africa’s Pulse specifically cited a boom in the industrialization of Africa’s natural resources, including mineral extraction, natural gas, oil, and mining as a vital factor in promoting continued economic growth, and expects that by 2020, all but four of five of all African countries will be participating in industrial mining of some kind.
The World Bank went on to acknowledge the importance of African governments using increasing revenues to re-invest money back into regional infrastructure, education, and health care.
Punam Chuahan-Pole, the co-author of Africa’s Pulse and economist at the World Bank stated, “If properly harnessed to unleash their full potential, these trends hold the promise of more growth, much less poverty, and accelerating shared prosperity for African countries in the foreseeable future.”
– Christina Kindlon
Source: World Bank
Mitchell Besser’s TED Talk on Mothers Helping Mothers Fight HIV
– Caiqing Jin (Kelly)
Source: TED Talk
U.S. Solar Company Expands International Development to Latin America
SolarReserve, a U.S.-based solar company, has announced its expansion into Latin America for international development purposes. The company opened up an additional office in Santiago, Chile, as part of an effort to “provide cost-effective, clean energy solutions worldwide.”
SolarReserve plans to focus primarily on solar energy opportunities in the growing mining sector throughout the region, and will also be developing large-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) projects, as well as photovoltaic projects.
Company CEO, Kevin Smith, stated that the move to Latin America was a logical next step considering the benefits of clean energy development in the region, including the abundant solar insulation, inclusionary energy policies, and the expanding mining sector. He also said that although hydropower and wind power are already established sources of clean energy in Latin America, solar is only more recently gaining a foothold.
Smith also stated that SolarReserve hopes the installation of solar energy will help provide a more consistent and reliable energy source to the region, along with a cleaner source of power from an environmental standpoint.
– Christina Kindlon
Source: Power Engineering
Half of Syria Will Be in Need of Aid, Says UN
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, nearly half of the population of Syria will be in need of foreign aid by the end of 2013. With nearly 8,000 people per day leaving the country with no sign of impending political compromise or end to the fighting, the UN estimates that there will be 3.5 million refugees by the end of the year, and 10 million in dire need of aid – with half of those being children.
The commissioner claimed that although he has been involved with long civil wars in the past, including refugee situations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the current crisis in Syria is the most serious he has ever seen, calling it “the worst humanitarian disaster since the end of the cold war.”
The situation is being compounded by already-low levels of foreign aid to organizations working to bring relief to refugees in the area. Unicef reported being underfunded by 70%, and the commissioner stated that foreign powers are unable to provide aid due to current economic conditions.
Besides the Syrian refugees who have fled the country for bordering nations, nearly three million Syrians remain displaced within the country’s borders and thus have very few opportunities for providing basic necessities, like consistent food and clean water – not to mention access to electricity.
The commissioner also noted the geopolitical implications of the Syrian civil war, saying that the stress placed on neighboring nations Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq are very serious, saying “it’s the most dangerous of all crises.”
– Christina Kindlon
Source: Guardian
Dance Away World Hunger with Zumba
Zumba Fitness has launched, “The Great Calorie Drive”, encouraging participants to not only burn calories but donate them as well as they dance away world hunger. Zumba is a dance fitness program based on world rhythms and choreography and is working with Feeding America and The United Nations World Food Program.
The program invites individuals to “give the world a reason to dance” and to donate calories burned to Feeding America and the World Food Program. Zumba Fitness CEO, Alberto Perlman believes hunger is one of the world’s greatest solvable problems, and they are eager to do what they can to combat it. They hope to be able to touch millions of lives through this program.
The campaign will donate the equivalent of the average amount of calories burned per class, which is around 750, to Feeding America and the World Food Program from now until June 13. They would like to reach the goal of 2.6 billion calories, which will translate into roughly 3.5 million meals for the world’s hungry.
In order to promote the program, Zumba released a PSA featuring performing artist Lil John and multi-platinum selling artist Phillip Phillips. The PSA featured an inspirational look into how average people can make a huge difference in the lives of many while bringing us closer to eradicating a problem that affects millions of people worldwide.
The program will work through a free mobile app available on smartphones. The app will direct people to their nearest Zumba class where they will check in on the phone and the calories will be automatically donated towards, “The Great Calorie Drive”. Additionally, Zumba will be offering limited-edition apparel and accessories. Thirty percent of those proceeds will also go towards Feeding America and the World Food Program.
– Caitlin Zusy
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Photo: NewsWire
$27 Sparked a Global Development Phenomenon
The source of funding was from Professor Muhammad Yunus. He loaned out money on the belief that the key to fighting global poverty was through economically empowering the world’s poorest people. So he started with a $27 loan and went on to create the Grameen Bank. His idea became known as microfinance and the Grameen Bank has become the global standard for microfinance. The interview above shares some of Professor Yunus’ vision for fighting global poverty.
Small loans have changed the way the world’s poor participate in the global economy. Entrepreneurs all over the world with ideas have access to funds and credit that was previously unavailable to them. The results have been remarkable with most loaning institutions boasting over 99 percent repayment rates. Those that previous struggling on $1.25 a day can now afford to send their children to school and expand their business and afford luxuries like electricity.
For his outstanding efforts in microfinance and global development, Professor Yunus was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal. This is the highest level of honor Congress can award an individual person. Only 153 of these have been awarded since their establishment in 1776. Professor Yunus joins the ranks of George Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other trailblazers who have impacted and benefited humanity in tremendous ways.
To get involved or find out more about microfinance and global development, check out Professor Yunus’ website or Kiva.
– Amanda Kloeppel
Source: UN Foundation