NextBillion.net - Development Through Enterprise - The Policy Agenda - Comments

Affordable Housing For Streetchildren In Phillipines

Ivan Paton — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:52:14 -0500

Dear Mr. McClean, I saw your comment expressing interest in affordable housing for streetchildren in the Philippines. I would like to offer a suggestion. Have you considered using shipping containers? They have many advantages for conversion to affordable housing. They are structurally sound. They are stackable and can be used in multi-level developments. They can be welded or bolted together depending on the level of permanence required. They can be pre-fabricated in countries where labour is competitive and shipped worldwide. The exteriors can be clad with a permanent product like James Hardies weatherboard (50 year guarantee) and the finished product could be such that the residents or neighbourhood would have no idea that the structures were made of steel shipping containers. Rainwater could be harvested into permanent storage tanks that could provide the residents with most if not all of their water needs free of charge. If the budget allowed it then alternative energy systems could also be fitted - wind or thermal turbines, and solar panels and most of the energy requirements could be met this way. I would be interested to know more about Global Family and what you do as well. Yours sincerely Ivan M. Paton (ivanpaton@hotmail.com)

PURCHASE PLASTIC HOUSE?

IAN Maclean — Sun, 04 May 2008 06:21:51 -0500

GREETINGS FROM THE PHILIPPINES: I want to build a plastic building facility to house homeless street children here in the Philippines. Please email me details and cost to purchase. Kindest regards, Ian McLean, Chairman GLOBAL FAMILY

techical know-how of plastic home

Mohamed Haniff — Sun, 04 May 2008 01:10:06 -0500

I would like to know the various aspects of plastic homes built in Venezuela. kindly, send details of the same for import of such homes to India.

Other Innovative Educational Models - In the Same Context

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:03:03 -0500

The proposed solution seems viable and innovative. I should highlight here other innovative education models that has been notably successful...the one being a Foundation that has been providing a robust platform for upliftment of the less privileged slum kids in Mumbai region, India. It runs its several centers across the region and has been providing high-quality education and leadership programs to the children living in slums. Additionally this model has been successful in: providing the civic participation access to learning; creatively using existing school and other resources; and development of Teaching Aids for the kids. (I've been involved in one of its novel program where they help flourish mentor relationships between kids and professionals from corporate world). I guess we need more such models at the grass-root levels... +Keep The Faith.

Out of poverty

Kapur Ghimire` — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:27:59 -0500

Dear Paul, I was listing to NPR and came to know about the things that you have done for farmers of Nepal. Like Krishna Bahadur Thapa. I, myself is from Nepal. My inner desire is to go back to Nepal or any third world country and teach them the basics of sanitation/ healthy living. I have inherited some land from my father and I would like to go back and turn that into a model village for the world to know that the change is not for bad. Since, you have done and you know so much about urban developments. I would be enlighten to learn a bit from you so I could share you wisdom with others to elevate their lives. Thank you and hope you could understand my feelings. Kapur Ghimire

Food crisis article

Steve Cisler — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:53:40 -0500

I just read an excellent analysis of the many reasons for the food crisis, not just the production of biofuels which is being blamed now by EU and U.S. critics. The author, Rob Lyons of Spiked, would agree with Sharman that making the billions of small farmer more productive is one important aspect. http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php?/site/article/4977/ "Food price crisis: feasting on apocalyptic porn Observers and officials are using reports of a food crisis to scaremonger about everything from population growth to modern technology."

MisReading the Food Crisis

James Sharman — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:03:23 -0500

Paul Collier's article on "Thinking Big" concerning "food shortages" unfortunately falls into the convenient trap of applying an industrial mindset to agriculture. Studies have proven the HIGHER productivity of SMALL farms when diversity of crops is taken into account. The monocultures and chemically intensive methods of industrial agricultural models have resulted in a wide range of human health, environmental and social problems that are well-documented. Similarly, genetic engineering will not address the issues of deep sustainability and food security. Genuine food security requires a comprehensive approach within a framework of sustainability that treats small farmers as entrepreneurs and creates enabling environments for sustainable agriculture in its many nuanced forms and dimensions.

In the past whenever there

Eddie — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:45:36 -0500

In the past whenever there are 'public events' or charity shows such as Live Aid, one often wonders how the money is spent. We assume in the warmth of our houses that it will be wisely invested and given to the needy, but I guess we forget that the real progress is made by the people who educate and work their butts off to help people under these extreme circumstances. If only governments worked to build community with less wealthy countries rather than give handouts and forget the real issues, maybe we wouldn't have those problems. Anyway, enjoyed your post.

nedd mosquito nets of our state Chhattisgrah India

Shabbir Hussain — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:45:54 -0500

Sir, I founded my new organization(CAM Foundation) for my small one of state of India called Chhattisgrah almost 90% of land covered by forest area and people are dying due to malaria and snake bite and my foundation work for this only purpose Sir how can I get free bed nets for them to whom I contact please show me the way to help my poor tribal peoples. Regards Shabbir

alternative source of energy

Debashish Bramha — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:40:58 -0500

Dear Sir, An interesting topic regarding the energy problem, we have seen some companies in India doing good business with wind energy, tidal waves and solar energy. I think small windmills can be produces and can be installed in all villages in the developing countries and power can be produced. The benefits are as follows: 1. It takes little space. 2.You don't require cultivating Bio fuel seeds, which take firm land. 3.Low Technology required. 4. Cost of ownership is minimum. 5. Minimum emission. Please visit the www.suzlon.com This can be replicated in a micro manner. Warm Regards, Debashish Bramha. http://debashishbramha.blogspot.com

No out of poverty

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:50:48 -0500

I read your review of "Out of Poverty" and am afraid that we are mistaken in believing that the good things we can do to help smallholders improve their lot really does amount to an escape from poverty. Unfortunately, it usually does not. The improvement of the conditions of the very poorest people by means of intensifying agriculture on very small holdings (in this case, usually a couple of acres) by means, for example, of better crops, treadle pumps, and drips sytems, does not, and cannot ever, bring the expanding population of people depending on these tiny holdings "out of poverty". Do the calculations: at the end of the day, the 9 remaining members of the family Polak cites as his key example are earning exactly $1.06 dollars a day. Although their lives have improved, they are still living in extreme poverty, dollar-a-day poor, and, after having more kids on that land, will be even poorer. The only one who actually got out of poverty was the man who left the land to work in the Middle East and was sending money back to his folks in Nepal. Intensification of production on smallholdings can only get people out of poverty if it quickly leads them (if possible, all of them) to actually leave the land and get work that will provide a decent living. This is the real dilemma that so many of us working with very small farmers must face. We can help in the near term to improve their condition some (albeit they will still be horribly poor), but with the next generation of children, and more subdivision of the land, their poverty will only increase. The fear I have is that this is really "forever poor" not "out of poverty, quickly, and permanently." Again, do the numbers. I am afraid the book needs another title.

38th St. Gallen Symposium

Nitin Rao — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:49:32 -0500

If any NextBillion.net readers will be attending the 38th St. Gallen's Symposium in Switzerland, I would look forward to meeting up.
-Nitin

Excellent

Yaseen — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:48:35 -0500

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. I am 16 and in school. This really sheds light on matters of poverty in our beloved country. Thank you

SAME STUFF DIFFERENT DAY

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:24:23 -0500

this is same problem with naija.. you want to create wealth..but Nigeria should BUILD these tricyles instead of importing them. That's part of our problem. we import everything thereby SENDING money ABROAD!!! the govement should subsidize a BUY NIGERIAN program to help people build faith in Nigerian made items. I cant understand how Nigerian's think. THere's already a lot of traffic and congestion.. so here comes a naija guy who builds a HOME MADE Helicopter.. WHY ARE INVESTORS NOT JUMPING ALL OVER THIS????? Allieviate Lagos Traffic..... but alas, Nigerians don't want Nigerian made. Colonial Mentality - Still at it's best. 48 years later

Inquiry about jobs in Amul Dairy

Dr.Shanti Prakash Srivastava — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:56:29 -0500

Respected Sir, Let me introduce myself,I am Dr.Shanti Prakash Srivastava.I have Ph.D degree in Animal Husbandary and Dairy. I have worked as a Senior Research Fellow in projets on Goats and Poultry for six years. I want to find jobs in Amul Dairy. Withregards, Waiting for favourable reply from you. Sincerely yours Dr.Shanti Prakash