As I’ve confessed here before, I am something of a weather geek. I watch the weather, track the weather, watch weather disaster shows on tv, consult the weather channel frequently, and think about the weather.

I actually studied the weather in college and grad school in the early 1970s, and learned about the greenhouse effect and global warming long before it became a popular media subject.

The amount of carbon dioxide human activity pumps into the atmosphere has only increased dramatically since then, of course. As has general awareness of the issue. And since today is a day when bloggers are invited to blog action day on climate change (see blogactionday.org for more info) participate in a global project to bring more attention to this issue, I am compelled to share what I believe I know for sure. (Sorry Oprah!)

What I believe I know for sure about global warming:

1. There has been a dramatic rise in CO2 in the last three centuries of human history. While there are short term variations, the graph below shows an unmistakable exponential increase over time since 1700. This is not a scam, it is not a conspiracy, it is simply data. Period. It’s not political, it’s not left or right, it’s just data. Data doesn’t care about our debates and arguments. It just exists. It doesn’t lie, it doesn’t care whether we listen or not. It just is.

2. If you look at the graph, you see that the dramatic rise started around the mid-19th century. What happened at that time? The industrial revolution, of course. Just as it dramatically altered the human experience, it dramatically changed the extent to which human activity produced CO2, and the only place for it to go was the atmosphere.  I think there is a lot of evidence that human activity is contributing significantly to CO2 level increases. It’s not the only cause, of course, but it is a contributing factor.

3. The global warming effect that gets the most airtime is rising sea levels. While that would be catastrophic for much of humanity because they live next to the sea, I think there are worse things to worry about. Like the release of methane, released into the atmosphere from melting permafrost, from the ocean as water temperature rises.  And methane traps heat radiating from the earth (which is where our heat comes from as opposed from direct solar radiation) 20 times more efficiently than CO2. At certain levels, it actually begins to burn. As in massive fire. The atmosphere ablaze? Now that would be bad. Even worse than rising water.

3. Given that data clearly shows that global temperatures (see right hand graph above) are on a rising trend, wouldn’t we humans want to do everything we can to keep our actions in check so we aren’t fouling our own nest? Disrespecting the only home we have? Can’t we live without consuming so much, satisfying our every desire or fancy? Can we bring it down a notch? Might it actually improve our quality of life? Beginning with us. Me. You?

4. And in the end, as this video shows, we may as well do whatever we can to take action to save our planet, because it’s a win-win or lose-lose proposition.  Please take the 10 minutes to watch this video. Do it for me. Do it for you. Do it for the future of humanity.

A propósito del Blog Action Day

Hace unas semanas ví, en el dominical Punto Final, un reportaje sobre la iniciativa de Eduardo Gold, científico peruano que tiene una iniciativa, poco usual pero muy interesante, para combatir el deshielo de nuestros glaciares andinos. ¿De qué se trata? Esta es su propuesta: pintar de blanco todas las montañas y cerros de nuestra cordillera, para enfriar el planeta.

Puede sonar trillada esta idea, pero el mismo Gold se ha encargado de comprobar su validez. En el video que les presento a continuación, hace una pequeña prueba con una roca, pintándola toda de blanco. Sólo es cuestión de esperar unos minutos para medir la temperatura del área pintada de la roca, compararla con la que no lo está, y comenzar a imaginarnos el impacto que podría tener este pequeño accionar en la temperatura de este planeta.

Para mí, ha sido muy gratificante saber que esta idea nació aquí, que es posible resarcir, al menos un poco, los graves efectos que el calentamiento global tiene en cada parte del mundo. Aquí, en particular, nos está dejando sin nevados y lagunas adyacentes a éstos, rápidamente, sin que nos demos cuenta. En mi último viaje a Huaraz, miré con nostalgia por la ventana del bus al Pastoruri que, antaño, fuera blanco y que ahora va siendo color tierra progresivamente. Es por esa nostalgia y por la conciencia ambiental que quiero promover, desde esta humilde plataforma, la iniciativa de Gold y su grupo de Glaciares Perú.

Les dejo los vídeos (partes 1 y 2) del reportaje de Punto Final sobre la iniciativa:

Gente, ¡tenemos que hacer algo para detener este perjudicial cambio!

Enlaces

Sitio | Glaciares Perú
Foto y reportaje | Living in Peru: Global warming disappears glaciers in Peru mountains

And this year is all about Climate Change. I could write a long piece about how important it is that we start to respect the planet we live on. But instead I’ll leave it to this chap, who has an argument that I can’t find a hole in:

I use the word awesome far too much. But I think this video is more than worthy.

Happy Blog Action Day 2009. Here’s to change.

Como diz a letra da música Relicário: O mundo está ao contrário e ninguém reparou. Mas…será mesmo que ninguém reparou!? Se ainda não reparou vai começar a reparar.

Não vai demorar muito e quando sairmos de casa levaremos uma malinha junto, com uma muda de roupa para uma possível troca durante o dia. Não duvido que já tenha gente fazendo isso. Também, não sabemos mais em que estação do ano estamos, pois em um único dia é capaz de fazer as quatro.

Hoje de manhã indo trabalhar, uma chuva que Deus dava, quase parei o carro com medo de dirigir na Marginal Pinheiros: vidros embaçados, água subindo (não a ponto de alagar, mas de dar belos rodopios na pista dependendo de quem estivesse dirigindo), um vento gelado. Sai de casa com um casaco de frio.
Ontem sai de blusa, mas à tarde me ferrei…um calor de “rachar o coco”. Pensava na Lívia: Ê vida boa, de férias em Pipa-RN, com uma praia maravilhosa uma brisinha boa e eu aqui dentro desses escritório com um ar condicionado no mínimo. Se bem que à noite já deu aquela esfriadinha.
Terça frio…gente do céu, assim não há organismo que aguente, nem com muita Vitamina C. Para pegar uma gripe é daqui para alí.

É, se o mundo não está 100% ao contrário vai ficar rapidinho, e se, ainda existe alguém que não reparou nisso, esse alguém com certeza não fez, não faz e nem pensa em fazer alguma coisa para reverter a situação.

The Obama administration is hoping to win new commitments to fight global warming from China and India in back-to-back summits next month, the Guardian has learned, including the first Indian emissions trading scheme.

The US hopes the new commitments will breathe life into the moribund negotiations to seal a global treaty on climate change in Copenhagen in December, by setting out what action each country will take. But many observers say such bilateral deals also risk seriously weakening any Copenhagen agreement by allowing the idea of a global limit on greenhouse gas emissions to be abandoned.

The Guardian

So, as part of Blog Action Day 2009, which is focusing on climate change, I bring you news that the US administration is back, taking some kind of a leadership role in climate change by talking to India and China. The notion that somehow what the US, Europe and Canada do in response to climate change is pointless because China and India are not going to participate is misleadingly inaccurate, sometimes deliberately so. I had written in June about India’s very ambitious solar policy, and China has similar, fairly comprehensive programs on climate change.

The concern that bilateral talks will somehow sabotage the multilateral Copenhagen negotiations is, I think, overstated. More talk is always better, and good things happen when the world’s most high profile polluter signals its willingness to talk, and even initiate talks with countries whose development paths are at a critical stage.

I have not been super hopeful about how things are going to turn out in the next few years. But things have changed quite a bit in the past year. The US appear to have their own climate bill brewing. Europe makes the right noises and has a head start,making the mistakes early. Unfortunately, Canada has given up the ghost thanks to our troglodyte oil man administration. Our main hope now is that the US passes a strong enough bill to affect Canada. Or there is an election leading to a change in administration and Mr Michael Ignatieff and the “liberals” are true to their word on a new, sustainable energy policy.

Canada is now the worst laggard, having extremely high per capita emissions and policy to increase these emissions while actively sabotaging climate talks. We emit a full 2% of all global warming contributors while accounting for about 0.5% of the world’s population. It is understandable given our development path how we got there, but not trying to fix it is criminally negligent and morally bankrupt.

Apparently, the Canadian people could care less, polls indicate that the business as usual administration is increasing its support among Canadians. What is the average Canadian’s responsibility if he/she knowingly supports policy that could lead to mass homelessness, flooding, starvation, wars, species extinction, etc?

On Climate blog action day, I am sad to report that my adoptive country will do nothing but soldier on in its destructive behaviour. No point calling my local MP, she agrees with me!

Blog Action Day is the right moment to share the findings of recent research on climate change!

The Network for Business Sustainability has looked at over 200 studies since 1997 on climate change adaptation.The research project’s findings are structured in four reports: concepts&theories, current practices, case studies and tools, knowledge gaps&future research and I will present some of the most important research findings and their implications for managers.

• As there is no agreed definition of business adaptation to climate change and theories on adaptation are still underdeveloped, the research study emphasizes the need to develop shared definitions which should be the result of a collaborative effort between firms, academia, government and NGO’s. The adaptation discussion should also become mainstream within the firm, the sector, and in multi-sectoral platforms.

• Business adaptation to climate change differs across sectors in terms of risks, opportunities, strategies and tools. Several sectors are leaders in adaptation to climate change: the insurance sector is a leader in risk assessment, the agriculture and tourism sector are leaders in their awareness of climate impact. Consequently, the Network for Business Sustainability advises managers, especially from leading organizations to collaborate within/across sectors in order to share knowledge and develop solutions.

• Unfortunately,  the third report clearly states that :”In general, business is taking a ‘wait-and-see’ approach, with adapters being the exception rather than the rule.” but the researchers warn that such an approach comes with great risks.

• Existing tools deal mostly with risk management (risk frameworks, scenario tools, decision trees, costing tools, computer simulation tools) but there is a need to develop tools for risk modelling and opportunity assessment. Moreover, there is a need to undertake real adaptation measures and strategies beyond short-term measurements and GHG (Green House Gas) mitigation.

More about climate change:

COP15 , the United Nations Climate Change Conference,December 2009.

Interview with the Danish Minister, Connie Hedegaard

What can you do?(the European Union’s website on climate action)

Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change

I don’t often talk (blog) about personal opinions on global matters like Climate Change, but in the spirit of Blog Action Day and climate change on the agenda I thought I ought to.

As the topic of climate change edges rapidly higher on everyone’s agenda it seems we can no longer avoid it or push the environmental snooze button.

With marked increase in media attention, hype and all to frequent evidence of climatic catastrophes, the full consequence of our man-made actions are forcing conscientious people to pay attention.

Focus and attention is no more obvious than right at our company – UBM. This is not an sucking up exercise to gain brownie points (or Wiki points for that matter), it’s merely something I’ve observed over the course of ~12 months. I love observing people, habits, cultures and adaptation from influence. I guess I can self-confess to being obsessive about observation and working out behavioural impacts and reasononings. Anyway, over the last two years I’ve noticed many changes in my immediate work space vacinity. Some of the changes are subtle some profound but overall I believe it’s making an impact albeit minuscule in the grand scheme of things. And its impact is not just at work but home too.

I want to dedicate this Blog Action Day post to three sets of people:

1. The company ‘environmentalists’ – for commissioning the company initiatives and enforcing them and irrespective of their own personal agendas,
2. My colleagues – who’ve adapted really well to the cultural changes and partcipated unreservedly and finally
3. Me – for committing time to write this post and present my obbservations (see below).

So on with my obsessive observations then. At my work (UBM Live) here are 10 areas where I’ve observed changes (environment and economical): see a few snaps below

1. Lift antrums – automated light on/off switches
2. Toilets – automatic on/off lights switches and manual time sensitive bathroom water faucets
3. Fewer paper waste bins as well as dedicated paper-only waste bins
4. Waste separation buckets for better recycling (plastics, cups)
5. Sugar sachets replaced with dispensers (less waste) in our canteen
6. Email signatures discouraging pointless printing of emails
7. Better optimised websites for print versions aimed at reducing uneccessary paper wastage.
8. Facilitiy provision to encourage commuting by bicycle and ride-to-work schemes to encourage cycle commuting
9. Centralised ‘Climate Day’ initiatives aimed at making employees more aware of its waste production and its effects on the environment
10. First exhibition to be awareded carbon neutral status in Europe.

Naturally there is always room for improvement. So whilst we’re making fantastic in-roads into reducing our waste and there is more room for improvement:

1. Continue to make improvement to cycling to work culture perhaps by offering incentives for employees
2. More senior management encouragement of healthy social events aimed at Corporate Social Responsibility
3. Lift cancel button (LOL) – just had to say that
4. Environment awareness campaigns and better disposal monitoring.

With our company’s collective effort we’ve managed to save a huge amount on wastage (tonnage) in 2009. These initiatives stand testiment to UBM’s committment to its corporate responsibility at protecting the environment in the fight against climate change.

As part of the company-wide initiative our bloggers are supporting Blog Action Day (on Climate Change) so why not check out my colleagues’ post too.

If you would like to read similar posts on this subject from some of my colleagues, please click on any of the links below:

• The Alarmist
• FSE fire’s Weblog
• These Digital Times
• TheSecurityLion
• Zerochampion
• KBB News

Blog Action Day: bike facilities

Blog Action Day: waste bins

Blog Action Day: automatic stopping faucet

Blog Action Day: light sensor

Blog Action Day: sugar dispensers

Blog Action Day: waste sort

als mir mein bruder- ein nicht-blogger aber klimaschützer- vom diesjährigen blog action day zum thema klimawandel erzählt hat, war klar, dass ich mich beteiligen würde. und auch, dass in diesen blog eintrag mal ein bisschen mehr arbeit fließen muss als in die sonstigen kurzen kritzeleien der letzten zeit. die verbindung zum thema reisen war auch bald klar. durch all den trubel der letzten zeit kam das nachdenken über das thema natürlich doch zu kurz, aber deutliche worte lassen sich dennoch finden.

reisen schadet

welch klimakatastrophe nämlich ist das fliegen! das klima der gerechtigkeit blog zum beispiel hat dazu eine eigene kategorie, so malerisch kondensstreifen am blauen himmel auch aussehen, so schlimm ist doch ihre eigentliche bedeutung. in einem focus artikel vom märz 2007 wurde berichtet, wie sehr die fliegerei dem klima schadet. einleuchtend, aber ganz lässt sich auf das fliegen eben nicht verzichten. aus geschäftlichen gründen vielleicht, weil für bestimmte dinge persönliche anwesenheit an einem anderen ort der welt unerlässlich ist. oder weil man bestimmte orte der welt sonst einfach nicht zu sehen bekommt. für den einen ist dies wichtiger als für andere, klar. ich bin jemand, der nicht aufs reisen, und damit aufs fliegen verzichten kann.

reisen hilft

flugzeuge bringen einen nämlich auch an orte, an denen besonders deutlich wird, wie schön diese erde ist, und was es zu schützen gilt! was wir nämlich verlieren, wenn der meeresspiegel ansteigt und ganze inselgruppen untergehen (von holland ganz zu schweigen). wenn gletscher schmelzen und einfach verschwinden. wenn üppig grüne und blühende natur verdorrt und vertrocknet. das kann ich mir beim wandern in der eifel vielleicht ein wenig vorstellen, aber durchaus besser, wenn ich an einem finnische see sitze oder auf einem neuseeländischen gletscher rumkraxle oder beim segeln an einer winzigen karibikinsel an land schwimme oder wenn ich ein alpenpanorama in mich aufsauge.

indem man an diese orte fliegt, trägt man zur gefahr ihrer zerstörung bei, aber wird eben auch sensibilisiert dafür, was intakte natur ist, wie wertvoll sie ist. und doch bleibt schlechtes gewissen…

wiedergutmachen

deswegen haben sich organisationen gegründet, die sich um dieses schlechte gewissen kümmern- um leute, für die fliegen unerlässlich ist, die aber etwas wieder gut machen wollen. wie zum beispiel atmosfair. dort heißt es:

Für Menschen, denen Klimaschutz wichtig ist, gibt es jetzt ein Angebot: „atmosfair“. Mithilfe eines Emissionsrechners lässt sich feststellen, wie viel Klimagase Ihre Reise verursacht. Dafür zahlt der atmosfair-Kunde so viel, dass damit die Menge klimaschädlicher Gase an anderer Stelle vermieden werden kann, die eine vergleichbare Klimawirkung haben wie die Emissionen des Flugzeugs. Zwar lässt sich der Schaden, der für die Umwelt durch einen Flug entsteht, nicht ungeschehen machen – genauso wenig wie eine Plombe einen kranken Zahn heilen kann. Doch in beiden Fällen ist ein Reparaturversuch ohne Zweifel besser als die Hoffnung, durch Aussitzen werde sich das Problem schon irgendwie von selbst lösen.

abrechnen

auf meiner rechnung für dieses jahr stehen zwei flüge nach münchen und zurück, einmal stockholm, in kürze havanna. danach noch ein paar dienstreisen, innereuropäisch. relativ wenig für meine standards, aber 7500 kg CO2! ein kühlschrank verbraucht 100 kg im jahr, ein mensch in indien hat einen jahresverbrauch von 900 kg CO2. für 179 euro kann ich diese flüge kompensieren- atmosfair investiert für mich in klimaschutzprojekte wie solarküchenbau in indien oder ein kleines wasserkraftwerk in honduras. ich werde das machen. mir sind die flüge, das fliegen, das sehen der welt wichtig.

retten kann ich die welt nicht, wenn ich 179 euro überweise… aber wenn das alle machen würden?

Metafísica é uma visão humana, uma visão que “extrapolar”, vai além do físico que foi contado na historinha anterior.

Mudanças ambientais refletem/refletiram/refletirão mudanças pessoais!

– Ein?

Se considerarmos os elementos terra, água, ar e fogo teremos respectivamente as seguintes correspondências: matéria/concretude/molécula, emoções/sentimentos/sensações, pensamentos/mente/idéias e espírito/energia/calor/luz. Conseguiram projetar ou visualizar alguma coisa?

Pois, se não conseguiram vou facilitar (ou induzir, quem sabe?!).
Lembram de como foi muito divulgada a notícia do buraco da camada de ozônio gerada por gases clorofluorcarbonados (CFCs) e esse buraco faria com que a incidência dos raios solares, transformaria o Sol de amigo para inimigo de todos? Isso gerou um documento internacional. E depois dos gases de efeito estufa oriundo da queima de combustíveis fósseis (fósseis já forma vida!) poluindo o ar (ou a mente?!). Veio o protocolo de Quioto que até hoje gera polêmica.

Outro problema ambiental que anda em destaque atualmente são os resíduos sólidos ou lixo, para quem preferir, pois é… De onde vem tudo o que produzimos e consumimos? É tudo matéria, a matéria-prima é o que vem do solo, das rochas, os materiais (a terra?!).

Mais um: qual tem sido o maior “medo” de que algo desapareça? Um recurso que antes não recebia muita importância, que foi destratado e que anda imensamente poluído. E sem ela não há vida! É a água (emoções/sentimentos?!) que anda em alta, têm ocorrido muitas negociações e estudos a respeito dela… Dizem até que ela será motivo de conflitos (acho que já foi e continua sendo)… a falta de água, a poluição… E vai faltar água? Com tanto mar, com oceanos imensos, geleiras derretendo, os rios, aqüíferos? Com a reciclagem da água pelo ciclo hidrológico (mais um ciclo!)… É, a água não vai acabar! O imenso problema está na qualidade da água. É bom que pensemos na qualidade da água metafísica.

E o calor? E o frio? Só o que as pessoas percebem em todo canto é o clima? Ou só começam a se ligar por causa do clima? As mudanças climáticas que gerarão mudanças ambientais, certamente… O calor pode vir de dentro e extravasar (vulcões em erupção que por vezes geram terremotos e maremotos) e ainda pode vir de fora, com o Sol.
As mudanças ambientais requerem mudança na humanidade. Não sei se listar o que é certo e o que é errado fazer ou um “manual de comportamento para as mudanças ambientais” serviriam de alguma coisa, afinal, temos protocolos e leis que vivem sendo quebrados.
Acredito que só consciência pode mudar algo. Consciência dos atos, das reações às ações. É a coisa mais simples de se obter e, parece que tem sido a meta mais complexa para a humanidade!

Blogactionday proposa a tots els bloquers que  el proper 15 d’octubre facin una entrada al seu bloc sobre algun aspecte del canvi climàtic.

Aquesta acció es porta a terme des del 2007 i l’any passat va aconseguir 12 mil entrades i el tema fou la lluita contra la pobresa. Enguany es tracta de superar aquesta xifra en una acció conjunta a nivell mundial entorn al canvi climàtic.

Per participar-hi, cal primer registrar el teu bloc a la web oficial del BlogActionDay i afegir un banner al teu bloc. El dia 15 hauràs de fer una entrada, posant un enllaç a la plana oficial i marcant el post que facis amb l’etiqueta BAD09

Ves esmolant el teu bloc, el 15 d’octubre tens una cita amb el planeta.

bald gibts wieder richtigen content, für heute aber noch mal ein video, ein wichtiges für alle blogger!

Las movilizaciones por una buena causa como el mítico “no a la guerra” o “nunca mais”, así como los lacitos contra el cáncer de mama o contra el sida apaciguan las conciencias y nos permiten apoyar o protestar una cuestión concreta.

 

Parece evidente que si internet está acaparando todos los campos de comunicación también haga cibercampañas. Movilizarse por una buena causa a través de la red, siendo los blogs un medio de comunicación libre, es una buena idea pero ¿hasta qué punto son efectivas estas campañas?.

 

El 15 de octubre se realizó el Blog Action Day contra la pobreza en mundo. Los bloggers participantes tenían que publicar una entrada, video o posdcast que tratara sobre la pobreza, con la posibilidad de donar los ingresos que se obtenían en  publicidad durante ese día a una institución de beneficencia relacionada con la pobreza.

 

Como esta acción muchas otras ya han tenido lugar en la red a través de asociaciones consolidadas como el Blog Day o el Blog Action Day u otras puntuales. Pero se cuestiona un asunto y es que está claro que nadie con un poco de ética y moral está a favor del hambre en el mundo o a favor de las guerras, por lo tanto hacerlo público en facebook o en un blog tan solo evidencia nuestra buena causa. En realidad son palabras bonitas a favor o en rebelión de algo cuando lo que realmente efectivo es la propia acción para conseguir algo.

 

La primera cibercampaña en que los dueños de webblogs en castellano se unían por una causa se realizó en 2002, y exigía responsabilidades tras el vertido del Prestige. Es verdad que muchos de los más veteranos bloggers que ya existían se unieron a la causa, pero también es verdad que pocos de ellos, al igual que pocos de los que se manifestaron con el “nunca mais”, fueron a ayudar a limpiar los restos del Prestige en las playas. Pero aunque muchas de estas cobercampañas no salgan de la red, está claro que el hecho de expresar nuestra disconformidad y apoyar una buena causa es eficaz.

 

La buenas intenciones son muy fuertes y poderosas con lo que poner un cartel u hacer un llamamiento general por una buena causa crea un tráfico y una influencia que puede ayudar.  

 

Por esto, os invito a todos a participar el próximo 20 de noviembre (día universal del niño) en una blogocampaña contra la pornografía infantil.

 

Muchas campañas ya están viendo sus éxitos como la creada para salvar a José Carlos Lázaro, un niño de seis años que sufre una enfermedad rara (andrenoleucodistrofia) y necesita un transplante de médula ósea.  La web “una vida para Carlos” explica como realizar donativos. De momento llevan unos 415.000 euros, la mitad donada por particulares. Lástima que las experiencias negativas que hemos tenido todos por culpa de las malas prácticas y timos de muchas de las conocidas ONG’s haga que, a los que somos más escépticos, nos cueste creer dónde van a parar realmente esta generosa cantidad de dinero.

Aún así unirse y movilizarse por una buena causa a través de los blogs con un simple mensaje de apoyo es una gran ayuda.

Well it seems that all went very well for BlogAction Day. I was pleased to take part in it all with my blog here to help the cause. Here is the 12 Hr. blogtalkradio show from yesterday :

BlogActionDay BlogtalkRadio Show

As I stated in my previous post, I would be showcasing some charitable organizations that send proceeds to through eBay Giving works program. You will find below two links each to the organizations, the first is the link to the eBay Giving works program for that organization and the second will be the main website for the organization.

November is Fight Against Poverty month through eBay Giving Works. There maybe a few organizations that you are compelled to donate to if you wish. I personally feel that this is something that should not just be done on one day but continuously in order to reduce and stamp out poverty.

Join me in the fight!

Project Contact Africa ~ eBay Mission Fish Link
Project Contact Africa

Children’s Hunger Fund ~ eBay Mission Fish Link
Children’s Hunger Fund

Kiva ~ eBay Mission Fish Link

Good video on how it is important to teach poor countries to be self-sufficient through rural economy.  Giving the necessary resources to people in poor countries so they can help themselves is the key to ending poverty.  Many third world countries who have been given loans to start businesses have proven to be successful.  The best way to end poverty is through education.  This video is inspiring.

http://blogactionday.org/js/ee1fe4421fce3e3b645afedd4dc0c875144bf717

Students, here is a really great video on how poor countries can be helped using education.

Blogactionday.org is encouraging the international community to discuss, look at,and find solutions to end poverty around the world.  Let us be a part of this movement to end poverty through education, action, and movement.  Do your part now by voicing your opinion, share your story, and give your ideas about poverty.

According to Poverty.com, “About 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes. Yet there is plenty of food in the world for everyone. The problem is that hungry people are trapped in severe poverty. They lack the money to buy enough food to nourish themselves. Being constantly malnourished, they become weaker and often sick. This makes them increasingly less able to work, which then makes them even poorer and hungrier. This downward spiral often continues until death for them and their families.”

Realistically, it would be a challenge to completely end hunger everywhere.  However, what we can do is to help decrease the amount of people who are living in poverty.  I think it would be easier to do this in America instead of a third world country.  In America, we already have governmental agencies in place to help people who are struggling financially and who can not afford health care or grocery.  We have mediacare and medicaid for people in need.  We have foodstamps, HUD, and WIC to help low income people.  Of course, these systems are not without flaws, but at least we have it available for people.  In contrast, many third world countries do not have these governmental agencies where their people can turn to for help. To decrease the percentage of people living in poverty in these country requires assistance from the more industrialized nation to send help or aid. 

What is the answer to poverty?  This is a difficult question because every situation and place is unique.  However, the most important thing to remember is that we all have to do something however big or small.  Sending donations of clothing, food, or money is helpful if it goes straight to the people instead of to corrupt agencies or government where the people who are suffering are not getting what they need.

To end poverty, it is going to take more people to stand up and fight for those who can not do it themselves. Through activism, education, and awareness we can do something about it. If we all sit back and think only about our comfort and welfare without further regard for the needs of others then we will never end poverty.  We can all start all in our own community and identify the areas of need whether it is in our neighborhood, church, or school.  Being aware of those around us, can help us see who needs help.  Even if we can help one person a day or week or month, that is one less person living in poverty.  If all of us will commit to helping one person then pretty soon that can turn into a large number. 

To end poverty we have to all work together as a community, nation and world.

What am I doing to help fight poverty?  What have I done to help fight poverty? 

1.  Taken my club kids to the homeless shelter to volunteer to serve food.  We have made a long time commitment to the shelter for the rest of the year.  While we were there we notice they needed to stock up on can foods so we are going to have a can food, clothing drive, and blanket drive to donateto the shelter.

2. October 18th my club kids and I are going to prep low income houses and get it ready to paint on October 25 the which is the National Make a Difference Day.

3.  My students and I have collected school supplies for kids in the poor neighborhoods of Iraq. We have former students from our school who are serving in the army and they are stationed in Iraq.  They wrote home and told us about the needs of the community they patrol so we are doing our part.

http://blogactionday.org/js/ee1fe4421fce3e3b645afedd4dc0c875144bf717

Hoje o tema é triste e muito preocupante. No intuito de participar da mobilização proposta pelo Blog Action Day 2008 e de juntar nossa voz à milhares de vozes no mundo todo no dia de hoje para discutir sobre a pobreza, tema deste ano, publico este texto aqui na esperança de sensibilizar nossos leitores.

A pobreza pode ser entendida como a carência extrema de recursos, bens e serviços essenciais para a nossa sobrevivência. Hoje, aproximadamente metade da população mundial vive em situação de pobreza. Todos os anos cerca de 50 mil pessoas por dia) morrem por razões relacionadas com a pobreza, sendo a maioria mulheres e crianças. Os números são alarmantes e na hora pergunta-se:

Quais são as causas primeiras da pobreza? O que está sendo feito para erradicá-la?
Mas as respostas não são simples…

A pobreza não resulta de uma única causa mas de um conjunto de fatores. A condição de pobreza também é geradora de outros dos principais problemas sócio-econômicos e por isso combater a pobreza é combater este conjunto de fatores de forma coordenada. Em 2000, a ONU – Organização das Nações Unidas, ao analisar os maiores problemas mundiais, estabeleceu 8 Objetivos do Milênio que são 8 Jeitos de Mudar o Mundo. Divulgo estes objetivos abaixo pois acredito muito que na busca por alcançá-los, poderemos melhorar a pobreza e as condições de vida das pessoas no mundo.

Uma das metas dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio (ODM) é diminuir em 50% o índice de pobreza no mundo até o ano de 2015. Infelizmente, de 2000 para cá muita coisa mudou, e problemas graves como a crise alimentar e as mudanças climáticas vieram para ameaçar o êxito no cumprimento dos ODMs, segundo Ban Ki-moon, secretário-geral da ONU.

A apresentação de novas iniciativas são essenciais e a intervenção governamental é decisiva para os resultados esperados. Mas você também pode fazer a sua parte. Veja quais são as medidas para melhorar o ambiente social e a situação dos pobres:

1) Habitação econômica e regeneração urbana.
2) Educação acessível.
3) Cuidados de saúde acessíveis.
4) Ajuda para encontrar emprego.
5) Subsidiar o emprego para grupos que normalmente tenham dificuldade em consegui-lo.
6) Encorajar a participação política e a colaboração comunitária. VOCÊ PODE!
7) Trabalho social e voluntário. VOCÊ PODE!

Até o momento, temos 12,413 Blogs particpantes, que juntos possuem 13,309,706 assinates de seus feeds. Dá para atingir muita gente…

No ano passado, primeiro ano do Blog Action Day, o tema foi Meio Ambiente, e os resultados foram expressivos. Queremos repetir a receita ano após ano, e fomentar a discussão sbre temas importantes, vistos por uma multiplicidade de ângulos que enriquecem a cadeia de informação e conhecimento que se forma com um simples ato individual. Para saber melhor como participar, dea uma olhadinha na prévia que eu dei lá no blogConsultoria.
Corre postar o seu, divulgar pra quem for, fazer a sua parte.
Ainda dá tempo!

Participe do Blog Action Day 2008!

Judith Maxwell (2008-01-28), former head of the Economic Council of Canada and Canadian Policy Research Networks, claimed that the high concentration of at-risk Canadians live in highly disadvantaged neighbourhoods of poverty by postal code. In 2008 the Canadian national poverty rate remained at c. 16% where we’ve been stuck for eight years. Maxwell claims that religions, some social-minded businesses and countless volunteers who constitute civil society are revitalizing desperately poor neighbourhoods, tackling homelessness and letting governments know that the current policies prevent people from escaping poverty.

read more | digg story

Maxwell, Judith. 2008-01-28. “Forget policy makers, civic leaders are spearheading the fight to end poverty.” Globe and Mail.

In the spirit of Blog Action Day’s focus on poverty, a shift in the normal topics for my blog, sort of.

Sometime last year I heard a piece on the radio focusing on homeless people in California and there was one family that stood out in my mind. This family had school-aged children and although they were homeless, they chose to live in a hilly area and spent what little money they had on a laptop computer so their children could do their homework at night by accessing a open internet bubble. They believed their children could break the circle of poverty if they could do well in school, to get a good education.

Is access to the internet integral to our students’ success in the classroom today? I think most would say yes. So what are we doing to ensure that access to our students? Are we making sure they know where their free access is? Public libraries, local colleges/universities or businesses that might give them access? We see free internet in so many places, the coffee shop, bookstore, even Bakers Square, but a computer is still needed.

Our school does allow students to check out laptop computers, and those laptops do have wireless cards in them, but do they know where to go? Schools need to be sure that our students have the access they need to meet the requirements we are putting forth – we can help break the cycle of poverty but only if we don’t discourage and overwhelm those who already face so many challenges.

Beyond access, there are issues food and shelter. While these are formidable issues, we can get involved. From donating time and food to places like Feed America to clicking to donate cups of food with The Hunger Site and Free Rice to knitting (or donating supplies to create) blankets (Warm Up America) for those in need, we can make a difference now.

Poverty affects us all, in the present and the future, and it does not take miracles to break the cycle.