What can I do as an Individual?Alongside the advertisement for Ulm University Days, the “Südwestpresse” has published tips on how every individual of the world can do a bit more. The suggestions are taken from the book “Ökosoziale Marktwirtschaft - Historie, Programm und Perspektive eines zukunftsfähigen globalen Wirtschaftssystems“ (Eco-Social Market Economy - History, Programme and Perspective of a Sustainable Global Economic System) edited by Franz Josef Radermacher, Josef Riegler and Hubert Weiger. The tips are easy to follow and therefore suitable for everyone. ”Pick two or three options that suit you. Once you’ve got into a routine, you can add a few more” the book’s authors write.
What can the individual do against resource wasting, climate change and social inequality? Here are the suggestions:
1. Eat less meat and fish on a long term basis
2. Take holidays near home
3. Leave the car at home now and again and keep monitoring your speed
4. For investors: invest in ethical funds, companies or products
5. Occasionally put the change in your wallet towards a good cause
6. Plant trees or support children and organisations that plant trees
7. Turn off the light, when no one is in the room
8. Read specialist books on globalisations, sustainability and the environment
9. Generally pay attention to the economical use of electricity, gas, oil and water
10. Use towels and bed sheets in hotels several times
11. Promote the principle of “donations instead of money gifts” for parties and events
12. Argue for a taxation on productivity
13. Demand taxation on all financial transactions, for example a 0.01% tax
14. Argue that not paying taxes is theft
15. Refuse to accept the term “redistribution” in connection with taxes
16. Argue for the benefit of achievement, personal responsibility and market
17. Demand the closure of tax havens
18. Make personal trips and energy-intensive activities climate neutral.
19. Develop more global empathy
20. Demand consistent eco-social responsibility at work
The article appeared alongside the advertisement for the Ulm University Days “Ideas against Brazilization” (in German), which takes place on 3rd - 4th February 2012. Find out more about Ulm University Days here (in German).
*** University Days is a collaborative project from the Global Marshall Plan Initiative and five other partner organisations. Interested individuals and local groups who would like to organise a University Day can contact the Initiative’s Project Office at hochschultage@globalmarshallplan.org
Biodiversity Crisis worse than Climate Change
During one of the preparation meetings for the UN Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which is expected to be launched in April 2012, Carsten Rahbek, the Director for the Centre for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate at the University of Copenhagen, claimed that the protection of biodiversity and its ecological balance is a bigger
challenge than mitigating the negative consequences of climate change.
Currently, biodiversity and the ecosystem situation are on red alert with species dying out 100 to 1000 times faster than natural rate, to the point that scientists are calling it the “sixth mass extinction”. The last mass extinction 65 million years ago caused the disappearance of dinosaurs and many other species, which can be traced back to the global climate and atmosphere changes. Rahbek blames this mass extinction on the resource competition of one species - humans - against all the rest.
The scientific and social consequences of species loss are enormous, and are almost always underestimated, stresses Christoph Görg, Head of the Department of Environmental Politics, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research.
After the UN expressed their support for the IPBES, experts had expected a launch in autumn 2011 but now it is hoped the panel will be set up at the UN Conference in Panama City in April 2012.
Görg says the situation is complicated but hopes the IPBES will succeed in increasing public awareness on a local and global level, and reconciliate and improve the existing species production mechanisms and conventions.
(Source: Sonnenseite; Images: Treehugger)
Climate changes MigrationThe rise in sea level mainly affects countries like the Netherlands or Bangladesh. Huge parts of these countries are below sea level. 
The film, made by Anna Cavazzini and Christoph Knorr, shows how the people in the two states handle the situation. The Netherlands can protect themselves very well by building dykes, polders or barrage locks, but often the only option for people in Bangladesh is to leave their domiciles and flee to areas with better living conditions.
Climate-induced migration is not really considered in public debate . There is no official definition for persons who have to flee because of climate change effects.
The film wants to bring more light to this issue and the effects of climate change, especially for developing countries.
(Pictures: Screenshot of the film)
Tunisian Deserts to Power European Homes by 2016The DESERTEC Foundation's vision of a future where the world’s deserts supply humankind with clean and sustainable
energy is one step closer to being realised with a new project called “TuNur”.
Using thousands of mirrors to track the Tunisian sun, the TuNur Concentrating Solar-thermal Power (CSP) plants will use the sun’s heat to generate electricity, eventually producing 2 Gigawatts of power.
The first phase is due to begin in 2014 and the first electricity exports are expected to reach Europe by 2016 via a new low-loss transmission line to Italy.
The project meets DESERTEC’s criteria and would serve as a blueprint for the development of future wind and solar projects in the Sahara. TuNur provides many socio-economic benefits for Tunisian, such as the economic development generated through local job creation and investment in the area. In comparison to Central Europe, Tunisian’s deserts offer an abundance of space and up to three times more solar radiation.
Once the project is up and running, the TuNur project will be able to provide clean electricity to 700,000 European homes day and night.
The DESERTEC Foundation strives for the global transition to renewable energy sources. Sufficient clean energy can be generated in the world’s deserts to supply humankind on a sustainable basis. Developed by an international network of politicians, academics and economists, the DESERTEC concept, which is like the Global Marshall Plan a project by the German Association Club of Rome, aims at promoting the generation of electricity using solar and wind energy and can be implemented worldwide since suitable deserts can be found on all the inhabited continent of the Earth.
(Source: Sonnenseite. Image source: Nur Energie)
Farming MoneyA new study, published, among others, by WEED (World Economy, Ecology & Development) and coordinated by Friends of the Earth Europe, examines and evaluates the European financial actors in the market of agricultural commodities.
During the recent tumultuous course of the financial markets, agricultural commodity futures have become increasingly attractive to financial investors and speculators. This leads to prices no longer being solely driven by supply and demand, but also increasingly by the actions of financial speculators and the performance of their investments.
Financial transactions with agricultural commodities are leading to higher prices for consumers. High food prices hit the most vulnerable the hardest and threatens their right to food. Farmers are also affected by rapid price swings, because farm viability is threatened, making it more difficult for them to maintain a predictable income.
The study recommends a set of key measures to regulate EU financial markets and tighten corporate policies on financial services and investments in food commodity derivatives and
land deals.
In this context WEED developed, in conjunction with Misereor and Oxfam, a Background Paper about the commodity business of the Deutsche Bank. The bank is at the fore in this field: just the 45 funds investigated at the beginning of 2011 were worth almost an estimated 5 billion dollars.
The Background Paper was published with a press release that asks the Deutsche Bank to withdraw from this business.
Read the full study and the Background Paper (in German).
(Pictures: WEED)
Call for Application: Winter School and Conference "Limits to Growth"In order to give fresh impetus to the debate about the Limits to Growth, the Volkswagen Foundation organizes a Winter School. It aims to foster new thinking and the development of different models in this context.
The Winter School “Limits to Growth Revisited” is directed specifically at 60 highly talented young scholars from related disciplines. The Foundation intends to grant this selected group of academics the opportunity to create networks with scholars from other research communities.
At the end of the Winter School shall stand a position paper along with system models containing new hypotheses, ideas, and questions. These results will be presented at an international conferenceon “Limits to Growth” on November 28 to November 29, 2012 in Hanover.
The conference is held by the Volkswagen Foundation and Dennis Meadows together with high ranking international experts from various disciplines on the “Limits to Growth” topics.
The following themes will be the starting point for discussion at this Winter School:
a) What questions have not been resolved since 1972?
b) What are new questions that are not dealt with in the report?
c) How should one rewrite the “Limits to Growth” study at the beginning of the 21st century?
Applications are to be submitted before April 30, 2012.
Here you can get the Call for Applications and further information.
(Pictures: arte.tv, Volkswagen Foundation)
International Green Week Berlin
Last Friday’s International Green Week has already placed groundbreaking emphasis on the international food and agriculture policies. At the 4th International Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Summit, organised within this context, ministers for agriculture from 64 nations developed strategies for global food security. In doing so, they highlighted the role of a sustainable and productive agriculture and in their closing statement committed themselves to an agriculture which was consistently orientated towards the principles of resource conservation and sustainability. Investments and more secure access to land and water should be made possible for small farmers. Loss and wastage of food must be reduced. The conclusion of the Berlin Agriculture Ministers' Summit should give impetus to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, which takes place in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.
Before the summit 800 representatives from politics and economy to science and civil society gathered to swap ideas with agriculture ministers on the theme of “Food security through sustainable growth – Agricultural Use of scarce resources.” The general director of the World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, called for a comprehensive partnership to fight hunger, support women, and for the access to and efficient use of water. The EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, importantly point outs that the responsibility for sustainability lies not only on the production side, but also on the part of the consumer. For Kenya’s Minister for Agriculture, Sally Jemng’etich Kosgei, it is especially important to establish the necessary infrastructure, so that in emergency situations food can be brought from surplus food regions to those lacking food. The Chinese Vice Agriculture Minister Yuxiang Zhang considers food security in his country as good. For him industrialisation and urbanisation represent the reason for a drop in arable areas. To prevent production and after crop loses, the government have invested in pest-resistant plant species and flood protection, as well as cold storage. Indonesia’s Minister for Agriculture Asyraf Suswono called for better international cooperation in the research for more productive and nutritious varieties. Above all his country backs the delivery of self-sufficiency through new production areas and improved irrigation systems. The Brazilian Minister for Agriculture, Jorge Mendes Ribero Filho, emphasised that cultivators do not damage but preserve the environment and stressed that in his government production and environmental protection are put on equal footing.
At the International Business Panel food and agricultural industries expressed their views. The organisers want to promote their work with their newly founded association “The Global Forum for Food and Agriculture Berlin”, introduced at the start of the event, to improve the global food supply for the future
The mission statement of “Green Economy” represents for all participants the answer to the current problems. This economy includes the ecological sustainability, economic profitability and social inclusion. At the same time, it constitutes no conflict to growth and is also not a luxury, as the Deputy General Director of the World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Fernanda Guerrieri informed.
The European president for John Deere, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, stressed the importance of training, as “in order to ensure sustainable food throughout the world, there is a necessary requirement of considerable coordination, above all for small farmers”.
Read the full article here (in German)
(Image source: International Green Week)
2012 Top 100 Best NGOs
The Global Journal has released its list of the Top 100 Best NGOs, the first international ranking of its kind. Attempting to overcome outdated clichés and limited understanding of what an NGO is and does, the Global Journal focuses on the increasing global influence NGOs have on social changes.
Awarding Wikimedia Foundation with the number one spot, the magazine names it “a quintessential example of the power of a great idea well executed”. Wikimedia’s most famous 
initiative, Wikipedia, receives praise for how it has revolutionised the way the world obtains information, and how it quickly became the largest collection of shared knowledge in human history.
Humanitarian organisation, CARE, took the seventh spot and was commended for its expertise that span over 65 years. With more than 95% of its work force made up of local personnel, the organisation continues to align their projects with the individual needs of the population.
Top 10
#01 - Wikimedia Foundation
#02 - Partners In Health
#03 - Oxfam
#04 - BRAC
#05 - International Rescue Committee
#06 - PATH, #07 - CARE International
#08 - Médecins Sans Frontières
#09 - Danish Refugee Council
#10 - Ushahidi
View the Top 100 Best NGOs full list here.
Read the full article on CARE here.
(Image source: The Global Journal)
2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for AllUN Secretary Ban Ki Moon proclaimed 2012 the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) at the World Future Energy Summit, following the Second Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
The Second Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the 14th to 15th January 2012. Attended by representatives from more than 150 states, it was decided that the organisation’s total budget for 2012 will be increased to around 28.4 million US dollars.
Last year Germany contributed 4 million US dollars to the IRENA Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC) in Bonn, and news that Chinese prime minster, Wen Jiabao, is keen to join, highlights the organisation’s growing importance.
Following the Second Assembly, the World Future Energy Summit was held in Abu Dhabi from the 16th to 19th January 2012. With the Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabo, numerous energy ministers and over 26,000 visitors and 3000 delegates from around 140 countries attending the summit, the 2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for All served as an important starting point. By 2030 the UN initiative aims to ensure universal access to modern energy services and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
(Source: Sonnenseite. Image source: World Future Energy Summit)
Open Letter to Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of GermanyDear Ms. Merkel,
I truly believe that Germany can, presently, significantly help to achieve two extraordinarily important and interrelated goals: maintaining peace on the planet and building a better and sustainable world.
You might legitimately ask: why Germany? And not the United States? Or the 'emerging' great powers of Brazil, Russia, India and China (the so-called BRICs)?
To be sure, the United States is the biggest economy and the mightiest nation on earth, and the four 'emerging' powers mentioned above are, on the whole and for various reasons, more influential than Germany in world affairs.
But also, the United States is primarily an empire defending its interests, and, with the partial exception of Brazil, which plays a leading role in Latin America, and Russia, whose influence in Central Asia and in the Middle East is undeniable, the four BRICs are more concerned about internal matters, such as promoting economic growth and maximizing per cap income.
That leaves Europe as a potential, but not actual, major player, or actor, in the world. Potential, but not actual, because the present-day Europe is divided, and going through a massive financial crisis, when what is needed is a strong and well-integrated Europe. That Europe, let us have the courage of saying it loud and clear, has to be: the United States of Europe, which does not exist for the time being.
So, it must be built.
As the biggest European economy, a flourishing democracy, the country in Europe that has by far the healthiest finances, and for historical reasons, Germany has to be - with the help of France and other countries - at the forefront, or cutting edge, of the efforts to create, as rapidly as possible, in fifteen years at the latest, the United States of Europe which has become, owing to the relative rise of the East, and the concomitant decline of the West, an unquestionable necessity.
The US has recently decided to shift its primary geopolitical focus to the Asia-Pacific region. That shift carries, between the US and China, a significant risk of confrontation that could degenerate into violent conflict, and the nightmarish scenario of a third world war pitting East against West cannot be entirely excluded.
An independent and politically, economically and diplomatically powerful United States of Europe could act effectively to prevent that apocalyptic catastrophe from occurring. After all, Europe, being the continent that gave birth to United States, has the strongest affinities with it: the United States of America would 'listen' to the United States of Europe.
So, Dear Ms. Merkel, this is one of the two reasons I took the liberty of writing to you: Germany, helping the creation of a strong and politically united Europe, can contribute effectively to the maintenance of peace on our planet.
But there is a second reason which is equally, if not more, important: I am convinced - partly owing to my long association with the Global Marshall Plan Initiative, an international German NGO - that Germany can also play a significant role in the building of a better and sustainable world. Please allow me to briefly explain.
At this start of 2012, the Western world has been, for three years at least, in the clutches of a serious economic and financial crisis, which has caused tens of millions of people to lose their jobs, houses and, more importantly, hopes for a better future. There has been a lot of discussion about what to do to: how to promote GDP growth, reduce large budgetary deficits, increase employment, raise per cap income, and so on. These are all legitimate subjects as long as the problem is indeed a serious economic and financial crisis.
But is it really? What if it is not? What if the world is experiencing something deeper and more comprehensive? What if the world is experiencing a Crisis of Civilization that has economic, political, ecological, cultural, moral, ethical and philosophical dimensions?
To the extent that that is true, and I strongly believe that it is, and I am far from being the only one, efforts to build a better and sustainable world will involve simultaneously dealing with the negative aspects of the old system (or paradigm), and introducing the positive elements of the new system.
Among the former are, as you well know, inter alia: global warming, nuclear proliferation, militarization, inequality, poverty, speculation, corruption, greed, hypocrisy and (especially in the United States) the deterioration of democracy by money in politics.
The latter include: privileging quality over quantity, giving the heart equal status with reason, replacing GDP growth and per cap income by well-being and happiness, sharing more equally vital energetic and natural resources, putting the needs of society as a whole before those of individuals, outlawing war - like slavery in the 19th century-, establishing peace as an enforceable universal human right, and prioritizing solidarity and cooperation.
Dear Ms. Merkel, I believe that Germany has, presently, an extraordinary opportunity to make a significant contribution to these two essential and overarching goals that I wrote about in this letter. I am sure you will not want to miss it.
Yours sincerely,
Zeki Ergas
zeki.ergas@netplus.ch
www.penromand.ch
Climate Change Measures with Health and Agricultural Benefits
Published in journal Science, a new study led by Drew Shindell of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), examined around 400 control measures based on proven technology. After analysing the measures, whose effects are recorded in the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) GAINS model, they selected the 14 that would have the greatest environmental benefit. As well as lessening the effects of climate change, reducing emissions, such as black carbon and methane, which harm both human and plant health, has, what Shidell labels, “win-win” benefits.
Scientists discovered the measures would give Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia the greatest protection against global warming; Bangladesh, Nepal and India the biggest reductions in premature deaths; Iran, Pakistan and Jordan most improvement in agricultural production and southern Asia and the Sahel region of Africa the most beneficial changes to precipitation patterns. However since black carbon and methane are emitted from many sources, multiple infrastructure upgrades are required to implement the methods.
Shindell points out that many countries obviously prioritise public health and food supplies over climate change action, but knowing these measures also have environmental benefits may motivate such countries to implement them.
Read the full article here or download the paper here.
(Image source: fotolia)
World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012
This week the DESA, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, has released its flagship report on the world economy, World Economic Situation and Prospects. The report predicts economic slowdown to continue into 2012 and 2013 and gives the United Nations baseline forecast for the growth of world gross product (WGP) as 2.6 per cent for 2012 and 3.2 per cent for 2013, a rate below the pre-crisis pace of global growth.
The DESA attributes this to the failure of developed countries to respond to unemployment and debt, as seen in the example of the USA and the euro zone. It expects the economies of developing countries to grow by an average of 5.4 per cent in 2012 and 5.8 per cent in 2013, with countries such as India and China continuing to expand.
The report also proposes several policy directions to prevent a double-dip recession.
Read the full report here.
Damaging Earthquakes Database 2011: The Year in Review
2011 saw the largest two earthquakes, economically speaking, in the history Japan and New Zealand. The M9.0 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that occurred on 11th March 2011 became the most expensive earthquake ever to occur, resulting in $400-700 billion USD in total losses and causing approximately 19000 deaths. Whilst in Christchurch, New Zealand, the M6.3 earthquake cost around $15-20 billion USD in damages.
Other catastrophic and costly earthquakes were suffered in Turkey in October, in the India-Nepal-Tibet region in September, in China in the Yunnan and Xinjiang provinces and in the USA.
The CATDAT Yearly Review of Damaging Earthquakes in 2011 presents the socio-economic effects of the year’s most damaging earthquakes, and uses information from a database that the University of Adelaide has built up since 2003, through collecting earthquake, flood and other natural disaster loss data. The 2011 report showcases the work that CATDAT, in collaboration with earthquake-report.com/SOS Earthquakes, is doing.
Read the CATDAT Damaging Earthquakes Database 2011 – The Year in Review here.
(Images source: www.cedim.de)
Everyone has the Opportunity to Add their own CompetenciesThanks to the commitment of local groups and the lectures and events they organise, slowly but surely more and more people and other groups are getting informed about and having their awareness raised on global imbalances and the necessity and possibility of eco social frameworks. As an integrative platform, the Initiative invites all interested people to get involved. Everyone has the opportunity to add their own competencies. What’s more right at the beginning of 2012, there will be some exciting possibilities to broaden your horizons and get to know the Global Marshall Plan Initiative on a local level.
The following invitations are great examples, because all the groups meet on a regular basis and are looking forward to meeting new interested fellow campaigners. Visit the local group’s area on our Website and check out when your local group is next meeting !
Opening Event of the Local Group of Frankfurt, January 23rd, 7:30pm
In Frankfurt, the newly-established local group looks for further members by offering a lecture and subsequent discussion. For the New Year’s opening, the local group has invited Stefan Otto, a journalist who specialises in economics, to speak about the topic “World with a future” – Paths towards an equitable globalization by means of the eco-social market economy. Anyone who wants to do more than just separate garbage is highly recommended to participate in this event. Afterwards, the participants will have the chance to network and exchange own ideas. You can find more here (German). If you are interested in joining, contact the group at rhein-main@globalmarshallplan.org.
Local group meeting in DĂĽsseldorf, 1st February 2012
The group looks forward to their two upcoming events. People who are interested in active support are very welcome!
For the 24th of February, they are organizing a screening of the film Die Biosprit-Lüge (the bioful lie) with a discussion afterwards. Furthermore, under the title Sind wir wirklich noch zu retten? - Konzepte für eine Zukunft (Are we still to the rescue? – Concepts for a future), on the 6th of March, Niko Paech, professor of economics and economics reviewer, will explain why magical expansion has no future and how development fails at the urge of growth. After his presentation, there will be a panel discussion. You can find more about it here (in German). At www.netzwerk-oese.de (German) you can find the Website of the group as well as further information about the meeting.
Local meeting in Nuernberg, at the 7th of Februray 2012, 7:30 pm
The local group of Nürnberg also encourages all those interested to come along to their meeting. An exchange about past activities, upcoming events and the group’s participations, as well as discussions about current developments concerning sustainability and eco-social market economy are on the agenda for the meeting. If you are interested, contact Manuela Forster at manuelaforster@web.de. .
*** If you are interested in organising projects and events to raise awareness, or if you are interested in engaging with a local group in your region, just contact Gisela Wohlfahrt at the coordination office of the Initiative via E-Mail. ***
(Image source: www.netzwerk-oese.de)
Global Marshall Plan on Radio and One-Week Event to Encourage Sustainable ThinkingOn the 8th December, Andreas Gutzan, member of the Karlsruhe University’s Global Marshall Plan group, was a guest on Karlsruhe’s campus radio station “Radio KIT”.
“Exam pressure and modular curriculums make learning like an obstacle course; you’ve got to stay damn on the ball, so that nothing cracks. Since it is already anything but mundane, it means a huge commitment if/when undergrads campaign for a common good. Because oft hat, the local University radio station of Karslruhe wants to call attention towards these dedicated students by the new collum „Engagier Dich!“ (Commit yourself)."
Because of the various exciting events organized, the reporters of KIT Radio decided to present the local Global Marshall Plan student group. That was convenient, because the student group organized in the same week various events under the titel “Nachhaltiges Denken” (Sustainable Thinking). Listen to the podcast here (German).
As already mentioned, from the 5th to the 9th of December, Karlsruhe’s local group made use of the pre-Christmas atmosphere and encouraged the city’s inhabitants to think about sustainability. Under the title Nachhaltiges Denken (sustainable thinking), the student group organized an exciting week of awareness-raising events.
The rooms were always packed with students of various disciplines, local citizens, and people from across the world ranging in ages. The topics addressed also displayed a certain balance: Out of environment, politics, economic and technique – the themes attracted people throughout the week.
First, there was a lecture about Land Grabbing, the phenomenon of the New Land – and Agriculture Investments in Africa, a global ecological and ethical discourse. Furthermore Götz Werner, anthrophosoph and founder of a huge enterprise, spoke about the unconditional basic income. Moreover, there were lectures about mini-hydroelectric plants at the Amazonas and the Carbon Footprint of the energy branches.
To give the participants a balance between input and output, a common Save the World- evening has been organized at the local University’s student center, allowing time and room for discussions. The week concluded in a screening of the movie Let's Make Money, an economic-critical production, supporting the participants with further impulses. Altogether, the group was very satisfied with the event; the huge demand mirrored in the numbers of visitors, as well as established cooperations.
Here you can find more about Karlsruhe’s local group.
(Picture source: Facebook-Page of the local group of Karlsruhe, Radio KIT)
Collective Intelligence: The Way out of the Crisis?Elke Esders, qualified political scientist, has been working as a Political Adviser to the European Parliament for twenty years. Moreover she works as a freelance coach, partner at RobinsonHenry and is an official supporter of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative. With her present text, she provides the third article in our new series.
Collective intelligence: the Way out of the Crisis?
"Times of crisis set forces in motion that can lead to astounding results. To which I would like to cite the following two national meetings: the National Assembly, also known as the “Anthill”, in Iceland in November 2009 and the “G1000 Summit” in Belgium in November 2011.
Characterising these examples of national citizen movements are the following: a high degree of self-organisation and professionalism; preparing relevant studies in advance to ensure the population is represented; a will to generate diversity of opinion to best find a way out of the crisis and learn from one another on a global level; a reliance on participatory group work methods and appropriately trained coaches and group leaders; and offering to cooperate on policies rather than protesting and thus only minor press coverage due to a rather “soft” approach.
How politics accepts these offers of cooperation remains to be seen. But by all means, a seed for change has been placed through these national movements.
How can involving all possible opinions work out without ending in argument and chaos? Where do we end up when everyone has a say? We’d never make any decisions! Well, apparently so!
Let’s examine the criteria for success to getting results from a greater diversity of opinion…”
Read the full article by Elke Esders here.
*** The Initiative exists above all from the enthusiasm of its supporters and their willingness to contribute their own personal skills. Individuals, groups and organisations work do all possible to implement common needs. Our Initiative’s newsletter is received by more than 10,000 interested individuals each month and publicises activities, projects and content from our network, serving as mouthpiece for the Initiative.***
Animals Cannot Adapt to Temperature Increases
Birds and butterflies are suffering from climate change, a new study shows. In the last two decades, the global temperature has increased faster than animals have been able to adapt, causing many to slowly migrate north for their necessary temperature requirements.
Oliver Schweiger from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) warns, “some species of butterfly could become extinct due to climate change. Most species will not completely die out, only in certain regions.”
The international study provides the first evidence that climate change is causing a considerable shift in the habitats and communities of animals. Analysing data collected from volunteer monitoring networks, the scientists found that on average butterflies are travelling 135km north to build nests and birds 212km.
The study has also indicates that the gap between the two groups is widening. Furthermore when analysing each country individually, the results vary greatly, with the average temperature of the habitat of birds in Sweden increasing significantly, while hardly changing at all in the Czech Republic. There has been little shift in the average temperature of butterflies’ habitat in Great Britain, yet scientists note a drastic hike in temperature in the Netherlands.
The results are especially alarming as birds and butterflies are one of the most widespread and mobile groups of animals and scientists warn that the more specialised a species, the more threatened by the shift.
(Source: UmweltDialog)
(Image sources: UmweltDialog; Digital Photography School)
Some Interesting New Studies
Keeping track of a changing environment: From Rio to Rio+20
A new set of statistics from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shows the changes in the Earth’s environment in the last twenty years. The indicator report reveals the basics, highlighting the rapid build-up of more greenhouse gases, the disappearance of biodiversity and roughly a 40% increase in the use of natural resources, even faster than the global population growth rate. But the report also emphasises how dramatic and dangerous the direction we are heading in is and how certain parts of the world population could be threatened by it.
Click here for the full article or here to read the complete UNEP report (110 pages).
Essential Interventions, Commodities and Guidelines for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
How can a country with a very limited health budget mostly efficiently fight against infant and maternal mortality? Which measures have been particularly proven in recent years? The study released last week from the World Heath Organisation (WHO), the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Heath (PMNCH) and the international Aga Khan University entitled “Essential Interventions, Commodities and Guidelines for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Heath” proposes to answer this questions. Both doctors and scientists as well as professional organisations contributed to the study and altogether the authors analysed 50,000 scientific articles to determine the effectiveness of 142 different types of intervention.
Download the study here.
“That was great fun!”: Volunteering in Germany
Volunteering is an important part of our civil society. In Germany around 23 million people work as volunteers, helping not only large organisations but also small local associations and initiatives.
The study “Volunteering in Germany” carried out by betterplace.lab and commissioned by ING DiBa (Bankunternehmen), examines the development of volunteering in recent years, the motivation behind it and the impacts voluntary work has on society.
One conclusion, among others, is an increasing importance of digital media in volunteering. Social networks are now part of everyday life and offer new ways to promote involvement in the future.
Download the comprehensive study here. (in German)
Who benefits from the abundance of natural resources? Call for more balance in natural resources policies
Many resource-rich countries are among the poorest in the world. Although a high supply of raw materials can provide an important development impetus, far too often only small groups and elites profit. Not only internal factors such as poor governance and weak institutions are issues - to the point that the abundance of natural resources is often a curse - but also external conditions like unequal power relations or a lack of ethics are relevant.
The new study from the SÜDWIND Institute, “Who benefits from the abundance of natural resources?” asks the question, who really benefits and demands more balance in natural resources policies.
Click here or email info@suedwind-institut.de to order the study in German for €5.
Financial Transaction TaxThe debate over the introduction of a financial transaction tax in the Eurozone continues. As an important potential source of funds to combat poverty in our world, we watch anxiously to see how and whether the introduction of the tax in 2012 now will go ahead. Here are the latest developments at a glace.
The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy fuelled the debate further, when he announced he would introduce the taxes single-handily if necessary. Great Britain spoke out against the tax, if it will not be applied worldwide. German national newspaper, The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, read Sarkozy’s behaviour as a campaign manoeuvre given the imminent presidential elections. At the same time labelling his solo effort as economic nonsense since it would involve a relocation of financial operations to other countries. Should such a shift not take place, then it only could when the tax rate fell extremely low, which would in turn make a farce of the tax. The paper concludes that Sarkozy practices “symbolic politics”.
The Italian paper, La Stampa, warned against Great Britian’s behaviour and the risk that the rest of the European countries would alone go it alone with the tax. British prime minister, David Cameron’s “adherence to Thatcher script’s defending the City” was heavily criticised. Apparently the more Cameron sticks to this, the more Merkel and Sarkozy’s cooperation is strengthened.
The liberal Swiss daily paper Le Temps views the French plan, which the transaction tax alone if it came to it, as “futile”. Above all Sarkozy’s U-turn was criticised, since few years ago he was completely against the tax. However, today the relatively “old” concept of a Tobin Tax is relevant once more. Although Le Temps does not consider the tax a solution for Europe, but predicts that it will drive up the price of capital and thus damage the economy, instead calling for “coordinated and collective approach”.
(Source: EuroTopics der Bundeszentrale fĂĽr politische Bildung)
What are our Goals for 2012?
Just a few days ago the first anniversary of the revolution in Tunisia was celebrated. Facebook cofounder, Sean Parker, said in January 2011 “people are connected like never before. We only just beginning to understand how much power every one of us is equipped with.” Considered retrospectively, everyone is aware of the implications of his words – the upheaval lead to the “Arab Spring” and prompted the Occupy Movement and worldwide “outrage”. In the mean time, people rise up everywhere, informing about injustices and connecting with global actions, all working towards the much citied “tipping point”, the point at which the critical number is reached and the system toppled.
Our initiative also is working towards a change in the system – a worldwide eco-social 
market economy. Through information and identifying alternatives, we carry out important lobby work for a World in Balance. At our joint annual meeting, we discussed the most important issues and triggers for the coming months. One theme was the question “what comes after the crisis?!”.
In November, at the invitation of the coordination committee, various information providers with well-developed research papers met to address the financial crisis. Here you can find the extensive paper by Herrn Professor Radermacher and other participants, and a somewhat shorter paper with cartoons illustrated by Herrn Dr. Solte can be found here (German). We will continue to work on this coordination’s process.
For the coming year the coordination office and committee invite all supporters to share any suggestions on which topics the initiative should address in 2012? What are the issues 20 years after the conference on sustainability in Rio and 40 years after the publication of “The Limits of Growth”? Discuss your ideas and plans for 2012 with another supporters on Facebook or write us an E-Mail. What should the Global Marshall Plan Initiative look like in 2012? What should be done and how do we want to bring it together?
We look forward to many interesting suggestions for the Initiative. Let’s join together in 2012 for a World in Balance!
(Image sources: chart about the goals of the Initiative at the annual meeting 2011, annual meeting 2011 in Augsburg, Infostand of the local goup of Munich at the Fairena-Fair in Munich in Oktober 2011)
Hot off the Press: A New Flyer for the Global Marshall Plan Initiative
The Global Marshall Plan Initiative breathes and lives from the exchange and motivation between people, and from the promulgation of a sustainable way of thinking for a world in balance. More than 20.000 flyers could have been distributed in the last year alone!
To offer even more people the possibility to inform others about a world in balance and to win them over for the idea of the Global Marshall Plan, the initiative's flyers have been updated. With updated content and adjustments made in response to current challenges, the new edition flyers are now in stock at the Global Marshall Plan Foundation.
You can order the new flyer free of charge (plus shipping costs) on our website or download the PDF version there.
As well as the regular Global Marshall Plan flyer, detailing the background and the ideas of the Global Marshall Plan, we have now designed an official flyer for the Global Marshall Plan book subscription. This new flyer gives an updated list of books, now containing 42 titles, and invites you to participate in our campaign “5 Euros against ignorance”.
Now it’s your turn to get active and make use of these tools! Order a pile of our flyers for distribution or help us to translate them into other languages. So far, the new flyers are only available in German. Therefore we are looking for committed native speakers who are interested in helping us translate the flyer into English, French, Spanish and other languages.
If you are interested in helping with the translation please contact us at uebersetzung@globalmarshallplan.org With your help, we could reach out to even more people and show them how commitment can help create a better world!
We send a big Thank You to our supporter Sandro Behrndt who made the layout for the new flyer.
(Pictures: Cover of the Global Marshall Plan Flyer, first page of the Abo-Flyers, inside of the Global Marshall Plan Flyer)
Take Advantage of the Opportunity to attend the first official Global Marshall Plan Workshop!The coordination office of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative is organising the first one-day workshop on the Global Marshall Plan on May 12, 2012.
The workshop will be a shorter version of the Global Marshall Plan Academy and is an ideal opportunity to get to know the Initiative. Participants will engage intensively with the Global Marshall Plan Initiative and they will learn how to transform their interest in the challenges of globalisation into action. They will be able to discuss topics of global relevance and be inspired by the intiative's current projects.
Depending on the feedback and output of this Workshop-Design, as well as of the demand by international supporters, there is also the possibility to hold the workshop in English instead of German.
Interested? Then register for the workshop before April 15, 2012. More information can be found here (in German).
Rio+20 Zero Draft Outcome Document ReleasedThe zero draft document, the official document outlining the goals of the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), has been released. Whilst the document is still in the draft stages, with the first set of discussions planned for 25-27th January at the UN Headquarters in New York, and is expected to be modified, it currently reinforces the UN Member States’ commitment to work together for a sustainable future.
Asking Member States to reaffirm the Rio Principles, the zero draft also examines the progress of the outcomes implemented from past conferences and tries to identify where the gaps lie, and furthermore aims to bring the fundamental need for widespread public participation in decision-making to the attention of the Member States.
The draft identifies the theme “Green Economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication” as a means to achieve sustainable development, emphasising the green economy as a decision-making framework to encourage the consideration of the three pillars of sustainable development in both public and private realms of decision-making. The document explains that the green economy should not threaten any country, but rather create an international knowledge-sharing platform, which aids the design and implementation of green economic policies, tailored to each country’s specific needs, and in particular helping developing countries build their green economies.
Furthermore the document details plans to strengthen the Commission on Sustainable Development or to transform it into a Sustainable Development Council and likewise proposes to expand the UNEP or transform it into a UN specialised agency for the environment.
Read the full document here.
(Picture source: Bank of Natural Capital)
Transparency International: Corruption Perceptions Index 2011 published
Transparency International has published its Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2011. The CPI measures the perceived levels of public sector corruption in 183 countries and territories around the world. Countries are ranked on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 10 (very clean). The newest CPI is lead by New Zealand (9,5), Denmark (9,4), Finland (9,4), Sweden (9,3) and Singapore (9,2). Public sector officials and politicians in those countries are perceived as the most upright. The lowest scores went to countries such as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (1,6), Afghanistan and Myanmar (1,5). At the bottom of the worldwide ranking were Somalia (1,0) and North Korea (1,0), which this year appears in the CPI for the first time.
The country ranking draws on assessments and opinion surveys carried out by independent and reputable institutions. These surveys and assessments include questions related to the bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds, and the effectiveness of public sector anti-corruption efforts. Perceptions are used because corruption is to a great extent a hidden activity that is difficult to measure. Over time, perceptions have proved to be a reliable estimate of corruption.
Transparency International used the launch of the new CPI to direct some serious criticism towards governments as well: “Public sector governance that puts the interests of its citizens first is a responsibility that transcends borders. Governments must act accordingly. For their part, citizens need to continue demanding better performance from their leaders. If we work together, the situation shown by this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index can improve. These are our countries and our future.”
Browse the Webpage of the newest CPI!
(Picture sources: cpi.transparency.org, transparency.de)
The Relation of Population Growth and Climate Change
The development of the population has a big influence on how people can adopt to the challenges of climate change.
Consumers have more Influence than they are aware ofIn recent times, the behaviour of consumers has changed dramatically.
More and more customers attach importance to sustainable products,
compliance with social standards and fair trade. “Responsibility” has
become an important factor in consumerism. But how much influence does
the consumer really have on sustainable production and the welfare of
producers in developing countries?
Cultural
scientist Prof. Dr. Ludger Heidbrink has published a new book,
entitled: “Die Verantwortung des Konsumenten“ (The Responsibility of the
consumer). The edition offers an updated view on the limits of growth
and develops ideas for the design of a sustainable future. The key
message is that consumers have more power and influence than they would
expect. The product chosen in supermarkets has an influence on the
global market and when more and more people chose organic and fair trade
products, a strong signal is sent to the producers.
The
majority of Germans surveyed confirm that they would be willing to pay
higher prices for their groceries if that would encourage
environmentally friendly and fair methods of production. But the sales
volumes indicate that the market share of these products is still very
low. Professor Heidbrink explains the discrepancy between the ambition
to shop more responsibly and the real shopping behaviour with everyday
problems such as lack of time or the comparison of prices, which often
shows organic products to be more expensive.
But the consumer
really does have the power to change things. A buying decision in Europe can
lead indirectly to improved living conditions for people in Africa. On
the other hand, the boycott of a company or a specific product can lead
to changes in their production cycle or even drive the product out of
the market. But often there first needs to be an outright scandal before
the majority of consumers decide to start a boycott. In this respect,
consumers still need to demonstrate more responsibility in the future.
Read more (in German)!
The End of the China CycleIn 30 years, China has developed into an economic superpower and by 2025 will be the second largest economy in terms of
GDP. But there are many factors pointing to a reversal of fortune: China's one-child policy, rapidly aging population, shrinking labour force, inflation and high export and transportation costs result in a declining share of the global market in many industries.
The study “The end of the China cycle”, conducted by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, concludes that "Foreign companies that have outsourced some of their production to China would be well-advised to reevaluate their manufacturing strategy". Rising costs are eroding China’s competitive cost advantage.
Nevertheless, China still offers opportunities for companies. For example, it is increasingly offering tax incentives and land purchase discounts to benefit its central and western regions, as well as high- and green-tech projects.
To learn more about the study click here.
(Bild: Roland Berger)
