More Encouragement

I am so excited! The movement to fight climate change is growing and growing. It is so encouraging to see individuals from both the public and private sectors making this issue a priority. The latest - a carpet tile executive commited to greening his company, and encouraging other businesses to do the same. Check it out: Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet.

Also of note: Wolfowitz gone, World Bank seeks new identity: "The entire international economic architecture established after World War II... is buckling..." I'll say! This is the post-cold war world. Maybe even post post-cold war. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund are waaaaaay outdated in their policies and practices (two different things, of course). Anybody who knows what I studied in college probably already knows how I feel about this. I also think it's interesting that the U.S./Bush administration thinks it should continue to choose the president of the Bank when a) poor judgement in picking people for leadership roles is now the norm, and b) the U.S. contribution to the Bank is less than other countries.

And that brings me to Al Gore's latest book, the Assault on Reason; a book which I had actually dreamed of writing myself, and which I certainly want to read ASAP. Al Gore is much better as an activist than a politician. He has a lot to say about the Bush administration - but this stuff needs to be said, without fear of impunity.

Live from New York!

This is so exciting - world leaders and many of the leading urban cities in the world are joining together with multinational banks and other companies to retrofit older buildings to make them much more energy efficient and contribute that much less to climate change. This is incredible! I am also very proud because among the participatory cities, both Chicago and Tokyo have signed on.

(International Herald Tribune) Coalition to invest billions to save energy
(New York Times) Global Coalition to Make Buildings Energy Efficient

Read this article!

in its entirely. please.

It's not about RED STATES or BLUE STATES anymore. It's about a GREEN COUNTRY: The Power of Green

World Briefing

Reports of failed states and war-torn societies dominates most of the news on sub-Saharan Africa, but there are also great examples of highly successful states. Here are three:

For one, Botswana is highly successful - with steady elections since the 1960s, a functioning economy and a government that offers social services; plus, they've refused aid from the World Bank and the IMF, choosing instead to have full control over their government and policies.

The upper region of Somalia, Somaliland, is "The Other Somalia: An Island of Stability in a Sea of Chaos." Although not internationally recognized as independent, they have a separate goverment, currency and passport from the rest of Somalia. They have a functioning economy and even offer social services. Clan violence, which plagues the rest of Somalia, has largely been solved by a legislative system that includes clan elders and elected representatives. And again, they have done all of this without international aid.

In Niger, "Trees and Crops [are Turning] Back the Desert." What a victory for the people and the environment!