Baha'i Humor overheard during the conference:
"My doctor's dissertation was on that subject and I have expert knowledge".
"I read a book on that and the solution is....".
JohnK
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Friday 7:30pm Keynote Statistics Identified
- Children make up 42% of the population of Bhangledesh and climate change puts 12% of them at risk.
- Mozambique's children make up 51% of their population and climate change puts 17% of them at risk.
- 2.6 billion people in the world lack proper sanitation.
- 1 billion people live in "slum" areas
- 3 billion people use wood as fuel for cooking and heating that also contributes to carbon emissions
- 96% of world disasters have occured in developing nations.
(Statistics from Carol Stern - UNICEF)
Baha'i SED Main Conference 7:30 p.m.
The Keynote address was offered by Ms. Carol Stern, of UNICEF. After a short introduction of her family background, Stern made a case for a children's project of UNICEF. Stern mentioned that in any society, children are vulnerable to any challenge. Climate change now taking place wil affect children in a negative way in developing countries. Climate change could impact on regional water supplies - water needed for life support as well as maintaining hygene. Also affected would be agriculture sectors which supplies nutrition to people but more importantly to children who are most vulnerable to malnutrition. Both would have affect on family education programs, social integration processes and economic development. Food security is a necessity if dietary needs are to be met and food security is threatened with climate change.
UNICEF initiates programs that reduce these vulnerablities. UNICEF has provided insecticide-impregnated netting used over beds to address malaria infections. UNICEF provides assistance in rain-water harvesting that offers a buffer when drought conditions exist. Out of 6.8 Billion people on the earth, approximately 2.6 Billion lack proper sanitation facilities and therefore prone to health problems and dehydration. 96% of world disasters occure in developing countries.
Stern closed with a UNICEF project called "Believe in Zero". An inspiring instructional video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrF_iq1-QtY . Briefly, Stern reported that there are approximately 25,000 children that die every day due to poor water conditions. by becoming involved in the Believe in Zero project, we all can reduce that number to zero.
JohnK
The Keynote address was offered by Ms. Carol Stern, of UNICEF. After a short introduction of her family background, Stern made a case for a children's project of UNICEF. Stern mentioned that in any society, children are vulnerable to any challenge. Climate change now taking place wil affect children in a negative way in developing countries. Climate change could impact on regional water supplies - water needed for life support as well as maintaining hygene. Also affected would be agriculture sectors which supplies nutrition to people but more importantly to children who are most vulnerable to malnutrition. Both would have affect on family education programs, social integration processes and economic development. Food security is a necessity if dietary needs are to be met and food security is threatened with climate change.
UNICEF initiates programs that reduce these vulnerablities. UNICEF has provided insecticide-impregnated netting used over beds to address malaria infections. UNICEF provides assistance in rain-water harvesting that offers a buffer when drought conditions exist. Out of 6.8 Billion people on the earth, approximately 2.6 Billion lack proper sanitation facilities and therefore prone to health problems and dehydration. 96% of world disasters occure in developing countries.
Stern closed with a UNICEF project called "Believe in Zero". An inspiring instructional video can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrF_iq1-QtY . Briefly, Stern reported that there are approximately 25,000 children that die every day due to poor water conditions. by becoming involved in the Believe in Zero project, we all can reduce that number to zero.
JohnK
Friday a.m. Pre-Conference Session:
Certain breakout sessions involved discussions about Education and Social Economic Development (SED). A relationship between advancing educational opportunities will effect an advancement in economic development for those areas. An obvious point taken is that if education is provided, then there should be changes in behavior... and that these changes in behavior will affect the community. A point made was that education does not necessarily teach skills... and that educationa and skills are two separate but complementary development processes. What then is the relationship between education and skills? As I consider these, education affects individual and community intangeables - social unity, accord and civility. Skills, on the otherhand and of course in my opinion, affects economic tangeables of wealth and prosperity in a material way. Any other thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.
During the Pre-Conference sessions, it was expressed that there needed to be an easy access to the Internet as this could allow participants to access Scriptures, Messages and communications that directly impact upon the consultation subject. I am wondering if Baha'is during consultation on any subject could benefit by having computers available for instant research? would this be a constructive addition to the consultative process, would this be too distracting or otherwise interrupt the flow and exchange of ideas? What would the ground rules include if Baha'i Groups, Assemblies and others be if such an idea were implemented?
Certain breakout sessions involved discussions about Education and Social Economic Development (SED). A relationship between advancing educational opportunities will effect an advancement in economic development for those areas. An obvious point taken is that if education is provided, then there should be changes in behavior... and that these changes in behavior will affect the community. A point made was that education does not necessarily teach skills... and that educationa and skills are two separate but complementary development processes. What then is the relationship between education and skills? As I consider these, education affects individual and community intangeables - social unity, accord and civility. Skills, on the otherhand and of course in my opinion, affects economic tangeables of wealth and prosperity in a material way. Any other thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.
During the Pre-Conference sessions, it was expressed that there needed to be an easy access to the Internet as this could allow participants to access Scriptures, Messages and communications that directly impact upon the consultation subject. I am wondering if Baha'is during consultation on any subject could benefit by having computers available for instant research? would this be a constructive addition to the consultative process, would this be too distracting or otherwise interrupt the flow and exchange of ideas? What would the ground rules include if Baha'i Groups, Assemblies and others be if such an idea were implemented?
The Baha'i SED Conference involved a "pre-conference session that started from Wednesday evening and will last to Friday afternoon. Two parallel sessions were offered by Erica Tousaint (sp?) and Peter Adriance.
Erica's session (which I am not attending) covers building and maintaining unity in Baha'i Communities. Talking with some of the attendees of this session, I understood some of the main points being covered involved the idea that within the Baha'i Communities, we are all learning by trial and error. With this implication comes the idea that no one person knows the way to the building of that future Baha'i Society that must come - we are all learning this as we go. As one of the persons I've talked to regarding this presentation, and to paraphrase badly 'in the Baha'i Faith, their is no morality police' and thus when conducting their lives, Baha'is should maintain their own rows when plowing.
The other parallel session involved a rather "open-ended program where attendees could get whatever their focus of interest was. Attendees at this session were mostly interested in an "international" program but I did meet another gentlemen (Clay) who is a plumber by trade and is currently developing a Baha'i Camp that would teach Alternative Energy, Consultation Skills, Diversity Training and more ( see http://www.thundereagleridge.org). He is quite far along with his project and much personal time and energy has been spent.
Other attendees I would classify as "professionals" - those whose occupations mandate implementations of SED projects - Not offically "Baha'i" but perhaps Baha'i Inspired. These professionals would be considered administrators and not necessarily "hands-on" in a litteral sense. It occurs to me that the general interest in SED if for applications in far-off and distance/isolated localities - at least this is where the discussions are focused.
General discussions on my attended sessions were a discussion on how the Internet could be used in the promotion of SED activities. Some of the tools mentioned involved the expanding applications associated with Web2.0.
JohnK
Since the topic of this conference is Social Economic Development and features distinct perspectives of practioners representing the Baha'i Faith, my experiences involving travel and accomodations may be worth considering.
As I write this, the signs of (economic) contraction and disintegration are evident. Leaving for Detroit Metro Airport on Wednesday a.m. after a winter storm left the Michigan Interstates snow-covered on 1 of the 3 lanes. In Ohio, the Fulton County roads had not been plowed. Seems as if government serves may be presently sacrificed in light of economic constraints - civic complaints of a lack of tax revenue due to unemployment seem to be everywhere.
Expecting large crowds at Detroit Metro, Atlanta and Orlando Airports at this holiday season, I was interested to see that such crowds were simply not there. Attending previous conferences in the past during this season usually resulted in large crowds of people and longer waits getting thru various airport stations - a marked contrast this year for sure.
Transportation shuttles also were just a little more in disrepair. Shuttle door handles broken, heaters out of adjustment and vehicle appearances presented an obvious visual of a lack of resources all the way around.
The general consensus from the Staff of the Rosen Hotel indicates that business is down. The hotel receptionist areas and restaurant staff seemed to be at minimal level but still offered excellent service. There are additional signs that things are different this year - Ice Machines commonly found on each floor level were not working, bathroom fixtures leaking, room climate control systems not functioning as engineered.
These pre-conference reflections are not intended to convey that people are not doing their jobs...or otherwise shirking their responibilities. On the contrary, all persons that I have encountered have shown great service and accomodation. These reflections are intended to convey what is presently happening; that things simply do not work as they used to - perhaps and maybe due to the present economic condition that we and the rest of the world now find ourselves in.
Social Economic Development is a term that I find quite important to this present situation. How does one make all of this somehow better...how does a person of (any) faith rebuild what we now have to sustainable foundations...what is required of people in this day? I am sure that these questions will be addressed during the conference.
JohnK
As I write this, the signs of (economic) contraction and disintegration are evident. Leaving for Detroit Metro Airport on Wednesday a.m. after a winter storm left the Michigan Interstates snow-covered on 1 of the 3 lanes. In Ohio, the Fulton County roads had not been plowed. Seems as if government serves may be presently sacrificed in light of economic constraints - civic complaints of a lack of tax revenue due to unemployment seem to be everywhere.
Expecting large crowds at Detroit Metro, Atlanta and Orlando Airports at this holiday season, I was interested to see that such crowds were simply not there. Attending previous conferences in the past during this season usually resulted in large crowds of people and longer waits getting thru various airport stations - a marked contrast this year for sure.
Transportation shuttles also were just a little more in disrepair. Shuttle door handles broken, heaters out of adjustment and vehicle appearances presented an obvious visual of a lack of resources all the way around.
The general consensus from the Staff of the Rosen Hotel indicates that business is down. The hotel receptionist areas and restaurant staff seemed to be at minimal level but still offered excellent service. There are additional signs that things are different this year - Ice Machines commonly found on each floor level were not working, bathroom fixtures leaking, room climate control systems not functioning as engineered.
These pre-conference reflections are not intended to convey that people are not doing their jobs...or otherwise shirking their responibilities. On the contrary, all persons that I have encountered have shown great service and accomodation. These reflections are intended to convey what is presently happening; that things simply do not work as they used to - perhaps and maybe due to the present economic condition that we and the rest of the world now find ourselves in.
Social Economic Development is a term that I find quite important to this present situation. How does one make all of this somehow better...how does a person of (any) faith rebuild what we now have to sustainable foundations...what is required of people in this day? I am sure that these questions will be addressed during the conference.
JohnK
Baha'i SED Conference - Orlando '08
I am presently attending the Baha'i Social Economic Development Conference - 2008 held at the Rosen Hotel and Conference Center in Orlando, Floriada. The SED Conference's theme this year has centered around "sustainability" and involves presenters from various professions, SED skill levels and causes.
Information exchange is simplified using the tools of the Internet. This blog is my attempt to convey information, ideas, "flavors" and impressions gained from presentation attendance.
Please keep in mind as you read this blog that these postings represent MY personal understandings of the summaries of the varous presentations.
For those readers of this blog who wish to leave comment, please feel free to do so.
JohnK
Information exchange is simplified using the tools of the Internet. This blog is my attempt to convey information, ideas, "flavors" and impressions gained from presentation attendance.
Please keep in mind as you read this blog that these postings represent MY personal understandings of the summaries of the varous presentations.
For those readers of this blog who wish to leave comment, please feel free to do so.
JohnK
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