Thursday, November 27, 2008

How To Spray Paint A Bmx Bike Frame

How much eliminate poverty? Schizophrenia technocrats development

Not everyone agrees that the best way to cure the misery of the world is to reach yet another "overall objective", developed by economists at financial institutions that have major responsibilities of the current development status. In this blog, the schizophrenia of a small group of development economists (and some famous singer and actor) is questioned.

Schizophrenia technocrats: We establish such
that to solve the problems of poverty in the world is sufficient to achieve the Millennium Development Goals the United Nations. These objectives, approved by the UN General Assembly in 2001, replacing the previous attempts to provide quantitative targets for development to be achieved within a specified time and with the aim of guiding the international strategies for development.

study Sanjay Reddy and Antoine heute "Global Development Goals: The Folly of Technocratic Pretensions" (in Italian. "Global Development Goals: The Folly of Technocratic Claim"), respectively, researchers at Columbia University and the Revenue Watch Institute of New York, points out that the approaches exist to identify the best strategies for achieving the Millennium Goals are inaccurate due to the fact that rely on assumptions about a little justifiable and quality of statistics is very low. In particular, the study highlights the risks that such an approach may have the estimates in informing and shaping its policy actions (investments in the development of beneficiary countries).

The cost to reach the MDGs was estimated by UNDP (UN Development Agency) of $ 50 billion per year (2002), as the sum of the resources needed to achieve individual goals. The World Bank and UNDP have subsequently attempted to estimate these costs more detail: for Objective 1 (reducing poverty and malnutrition) between 54 and 62 billion while the other goals would cost between 35 and 76 billion per year. Another report to UNDP estimates that the first objective are to invest at least $ 76 billion (well above previous estimates. Each calculation and 'being done on the basis of previously published studies and estimates and in most countries, there are adequate data to justify these estimates.

These estimates and strategies that accompany them do not take into account the risks that may have an unexpected shock during the period of application of a certain approach.

The risks of these approaches are significant in the process of decision-making on long periods of time and a periodic review and adjustment can only limit the damage. Therefore

and 'doubtful that solutions to complex problems can be known by a single group of experienced technocrats. And that this does not help the work to identify actions and policies relevant and applicable. These solutions can be identified only by an experience of iron that matures with experience in the field and by collecting data and instances of those who work in this area on the ground and not locked up in the air-conditioned offices of the United Nations.

Source: Global Development Goals: The Folly of Technocratic Pretensions "p.22, Development Policy Review 26 (1), 2008:.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Wristband Colour Meanings

The future of development cooperation: a blog on the move

A blog moving

The blog becomes a space to grow with an opinion, share it and bring it to maturity, before turning in a petition for change. With your contribution you put into motion the blogs ...

on this blog ask the help of volunteers, experts, officials, students and politicians about the future of development cooperation, starting from some basic questions:

1. The Italian government has cut funds for the Italian Development Cooperation with the finance of 2009 (a cut of € 479 million, bringing the share of GDP devoted to cooperation 0.10% in 2009) and 'acceptable? what are the consequences of this cut?

2. Less money should encourage a more 'efficient and reduce waste: where are the waste? how to reduce them?

3. What are the best ways to deliver aid to development in poor countries? The United Nations Agencies? Non-Governmental Organizations? Through direct support to the budgets of recipient governments?

Put your blog on the move. Send a comment.


What future for international development cooperation?
Brief on the current context

the face of Berlusconi's government to cut funds for cooperation development, particularly those for non-governmental organizations, should perhaps reconsider cooperation-as is done today-is really the best way to raise
m iliardi of people from poverty campaign and the unsanitary of the squalid suburbs of the countries of the world so-called "third party". Therefore, on this blog we open a window on the world of cooperation, looking to the future and thinking back to when, how and why it should be done:

The current context:
1) For more than 50 years, we apply in the North to solve the problems of the South: the results are very disappointing, now a small increase in the cost of oil or rice corresponds to an increase of millions of poor. Policies for cooperation despite the great efforts and large funds have therefore not fulfilled the promises made (see the blog: How much eliminate poverty? )

2) The poor (about one billion people) live with one or $ 2 per day. This tells us very little about their health and well-being and even less if the handful of dollars is sufficient to ensure a decent life, taking into account price fluctuations;

3) The aid to international cooperation by governments and '
total increasing but the money is being spent growing organizations through UN type (with high costs), or data directly to the governments of third world countries without being able to control how money is spent and often feeding power groups not interested in improving.

4) The mode 'more' recent allocation of public funds for development cooperation have been implementing a privatization process by the aid, taxpayers pay taxes that are used in part to give economic aid to governments of poor countries under form of projects. Most of these projects are run by private consultancy firms whose principal and interest 'to make profit. The tax money (about one third) are then reinvested in private companies in rich countries.

5) Part of the funds (now reduced to the bone) is given to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in fact become a tool of governments (paradoxically) to make development cooperation. The difference lies in the fact that the work of NGOs is not 'dictated by profit but by the motivation to build bridges of solidarity' with the countries and communities 'more' poor third world.


We invite you to ask questions and to externalize your doubts, or to add parts to the speech ... for starting the blog.






Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Plan B How Much Does It Cost?

Press - The gazette on November 9, 2008 - Article by Giannino Dian sull'ADSL to Taglio di Po

Cuttack

I tagliolesi are persistently complain about the lack of fast internet line (ADSL). What is the situation and what they are doing together? "The only way to resolve this longstanding problem that worries many citizens of Cuttack - the Alderman says Alberto Fioravanti - is to bring the optical fiber that is currently placed under the state highway 309 Romea until the main cabin located on a Puccini (just off the avenue JF Kennedy). For years Telecom has set up a project to do the job, unfortunately the project, despite the repeated assurances it has never been funded by telephone company itself. A nothing served to collect signatures from citizens, a City Council agenda to request the intervention and several meetings occurred between the municipal administration and technical managers of Telecom. In August 2008, following a meeting requested by the City, the technicians Telecom proposed to participate, economically, the costs to perform the surgery because the company was never able to fully fund it. "
What are the implications for the City share the costs for the surgery? "Knowing that we can not remain in this situation of great distress for the economic activities but also for private citizens - continues Fioravanti - And aware that there is no alternative, the council has responsibly decided to accede to the request for the execution of the intervention by making economic participation Telecom Then we go at their own expense, the excavation (400 m) the laying of the line Kennedy Avenue from the new roundabout (opposite the shopping center building) to the intersection with Via A. Time. To date we have already met with the company which will be tasked to do the job and we made the necessary inspections to determine the economic value of which, presumably, will be about 16 000 euro, VAT included.

According to her, when they can start work? "We are ready to commit appointed the firm to carry out the excavation, but we are waiting for Telecom, as well as our legitimate request, we submit a memorandum of understanding that they are clear about the commitments that both sides are assumed to avoid unpleasant surprises during construction. We were assured - the commissioner concludes Fioravanti - that the official act will be ready soon, so we hope that work can be carried out within the year and that the activation of the long awaited ADSL service to take place, as promised by Telecom, in the early months of next year 2009. "

Giannino Dian


Published on 9 / 1