Treating Rising Food Prices: Time, Financial Investments, and Care

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David Loyn of the BBC recently reported on a meeting in Rome between the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and delegates after “the price of grain hit a two-year high at a time of year when the harvest in the northern hemisphere should be pushing prices down.” Following the release of this article the BBC opened up a debate under their Have Your Say section asking readers to comment on rising food prices in their region. Comments varied from ‘yes’ to criticisms of society as a whole, yet the undermining cause of rising food prices can be treated by investing time, financial resources, and attention, to the agricultural sector.

 

Time, or more specifically, patience, is a key investment to ensure careful monitoring over food supplies like grain. Nature itself takes time to develop what has become agricultural commodities such as apples and oranges but patience is closely linked to financial investments in the field of agriculture to ensure farmers a sustainable existence and better development of the land. Ultimately, none of this matters if the political will is not present. Related to patience, care, or rather the will to foster, plays a vital role when it comes to developing and monitoring food commodities like grain. Like raising an infant, hoping for the best outcome without actually devoting time and resources towards that outcome, is not a secure way of ensuring the future. Just as children may stall in terms of growth, so too will food prices fluctuate. By monitoring agriculture around the world it becomes easier to recognize events like the rising cost of grain, and alter practices to ensure a better outcome, such as lower food prices. With that said treating rising food prices is not the same as ‘curing’ them altogether.     

 

Peace For One Day – One Filmmaker’s Legacy

Source: http://www.odemagazine.com/blogs/readers_blog/2431/peace_pioneer

Peace For One Day is a campaign to promote peace around the world. It’s objective is best defined by the organization’s Introduction to Peace One Day page as

to engage all sectors of society, including governments, organisations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organisations and individuals in observance of 21 September, through the practical manifestation of non-violence and ceasefire in accordance with UN GA Resolution 55/282, and encourage action on Peace Day that creates a united and sustainable world.

I first became aware of this organization by an email from Coca-Cola offering me the incentive of a free “Peace For One Day” mp3 and the knowledge that they would donate $5 dollars for the cause if I redeemed 500 iCoke Points. After making my small contribution I immediately wanted to know more. I logged on to http://peaceoneday.org/en/welcome and navigated my way to their Introduction page, linked above. Established in 1999 by filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, Peace For One Day has been an international force aimed at promoting “conflict resolution, global citizenship, human rights and the link between sustainability and peace, using Peace Day 21 September as a focus” as written in a letter from Jeremy explaining his mission. Ultimately, the ambition of this group is to make a global impact.

We want to reach 3 billion people with the message of Peace Day by 2012, and we are working with governments, the UN system, non-governmental organisations, schools and corporations to achieve that; but ultimately it is your support that will help make it a reality. As Ahmad Fawzi (now Director of News Media at the UN) said at our launch in 1999, ‘It is the peoples of this world who can create peace.’

-Letter From Jeremy Excerpt

Using new platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter on the Internet, this quest for peace for one day will transcend political borders. If you are interested in learning more please visit the links embedded above or the icoke link here: http://www.icoke.ca/extras/entertainment/peace-one-day

 

Loaning Today, For A Better Tomorrow

Image via CrunchBase

If you have never heard of microloans or microcredit, then you likely have never heard of Kiva. While an average student may receive thousands of dollars to fund postsecondary education in parts of Canada like Ontario, Kiva connects those willing to loan as little as $25 dollars to those whose dependence on that loan can support activities like basket-weaving to repay that loan and sustain their family.

According to Kiva’s About Kiva page,

Kiva was born of the following beliefs:

• People are by nature generous, and will help others if given the opportunity to do so in a transparent, accountable way.
• The poor are highly motivated and can be very successful when given an opportunity.
• By connecting people we can create relationships beyond financial transactions, and build a global community expressing support and encouragement of one another.

Source: http://www.kiva.org/about/how

By partnering with companies and groups in 204 countries around the world who agree not to charge high interest rates, Kiva is able to loan money to those who need it most and it is that noble intention that makes a difference in the lives of ordinary civilians trying to survive.

*Note: 204 country fact derived from http://www.kiva.org/about/facts

 

Cyber Crime Around The World: UN Investigation In Jamaica

According to the subtext of this video, “Experts claim that every three seconds, fraud is committed on-line.” Even though you may consider cyber crime to be the sole issue of fairly modernized countries capable of hosting a large Internet following and hence a large group of online predators, it has become a global issue with the spread of the World Wide Web.

Cyber Crime Around The World: UN Investigation …, posted with vodpod

 

Can flags be used to collect solar energy?

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This morning I heard John Oakley, the host of a morning radio show on AM 640 Toronto Radio, blatantly express the possibility of using flags to collect solar energy. The remark occurred after a local politician was said to be stepping down, but still wanted to continue a project constructing the largest flag in the world. In the past, solar panels were not considered to be ‘flexible’, but in today’s market flexible solar panels exist.

Hence the creation of a flag with solar panels at the back, and the country’s banner at the front, should not hinder the flag’s natural movement in the wind. Considering the fact that sunlight is prevalent in some parts of the world more than others, such as in countries near the equator, this could just be one way to harvest energy and show your national pride at the same time.

As ridiculous as it may initially seem, there is a market for such a product. Schools, government buildings, and large offices are just a few examples. Once the product is designed and the technology is validated via testing to ensure sustainability and safety, the potential outcome could alter the way we look at a seemingly ordinary flag pole.

For more information on the fundamentals behind solar panels, please see this article on the solar cell:

http://www.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm

 

World Environment Day

Image by bamalibrarylady via Flickr

As mentioned in a previous blog entry, Rwanda has already made the eco-friendly move of banning plastic shopping bags. Yesterday, they were the host country of World Environment Day 2010. For those who are not aware of this yearly event the following quote from Achim Steiner, United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Executive Director, provides some insight into the significance of holding this event.

Let WED 2010 be a moment– of many moments in 2010– when the history books record that the world took note, seized the opportunities and deployed its collective knowledge, abundant science and technology, financial acumen and prowess, intelligence and compassion to build a global society with value-environmental, social and economic.

For more information on this yearly event please visit: http://www.unep.org/wed/2010/english/.