Currently Working on Another Social Issue Monday, Jul 13 2009 

1 foodshortages 6:43 am

For the past month I have been working with my group members from S.F.U. to tackle the Homelessness issue in the Tri-Cities area.
This is another passion of mine, as everyone deserves a home. It should be a basic fundamental right of all citizens in a community!

Without a home, a person faces many obstacles and hurdles. Think about it, when you go apply for a job, what do employers need? References and an address! When you look for a place to rent, what do landlords want? References and previous addresses. So this dramatically hinders a homeless individuals chance to improve their living conditions. Landlords and employers all have a lack of awareness on homeless individuals. The stigma and perceptions of homelessness individual of being all addicts, is truly false, some yes, but not all.

Through this project I have learned there are families with young children and hard working individuals who work full time, but have to resort to staying in shelters, as they cannot afford the rental prices in today’s economy. Truly providing a person with a home will boost their self confidence and self esteem to look for a job, as at least they could write an address down on the application rather than explaining their circumstances. We all collectively have to come up with a solution to this problem rather than leaving these individuals on the streets.

Please have a look at our blog:

http://helpthehomeless.wordpress.com/

I would be working on our group blog for the next month, so this blog would remain open and regularly checked but not constantly updated.
Please feel free to comment or make any suggestions.
I thank you for your support and feedback.

Sincerely
John Gill

 

Must see Clip! Monday, Jun 15 2009 

1 foodshortages 10:18 pm

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty.html

A very interesting video using Statistics to define the poverty issues. It explains how this issues is affecting the world at large. He uses simple graphics of a means to explain complex and boring data.
Have a look, its quite interesting.

 

Creative Videos Monday, Jun 15 2009 

1 foodshortages 10:09 pm

http://www.ted.com/themes/rethinking_poverty.html

The best and the brightest of the World are invited to speak on matters in their field.
You are only allowed as a presenter if you are invited and truly have something revolutionary to say.
It is a place for academics and industry specialist to present its findings.

I think this is a great way to get ideas out and get people to thinking.
These videos should be supplemented as educational materials in High Schools to get students thinking about the world issues we face.

 

Political Promises Monday, Jun 15 2009 

1 foodshortages 9:31 am

http://bcelection.policyalternatives.ca/category/poverty-inequality/

Other blog that focuses on reducing poverty in Ontario region.

 

One Hope Monday, Jun 15 2009 

1 foodshortages 9:28 am

http://www.makepovertyhistory.ca/en/about

This is an example where local community members join together to outline ways to help the poverty issue.
It has a varitey of local support of organizations, but clearly no government affliations or help.
The key feature it is using the social medium to spread awarness of the issues at hand. It uses various celebrities to promote their message by having a section that allows them to post their views and opinions.
A very neat and key feature.

The campaign was launched in Canada in 2005 with the support of a wide cross-section of public interest and faith groups, trade unions, students, academics, literary, artistic and sports leaders. National campaigns are now active in over 100 countries.

Make Poverty History’s has a clear outline to how to eradicate the poverty issues:
MORE AND BETTER AID
TRADE JUSTICE
CANCEL THE DEBT
END CHILD POVERTY IN CANADA to help those in need.

The impact is difficult to measure because there are no metrics or indicators in place. It seems to be only a way to facilitate information, which is great in its own sense.
A second aspect that will allow the success of this organization is that it be aligned with a government agency to give it credibilty. It has done extremely well on creating a buzz, but it lacks government support.
Also its objectives are valid points, but vague in the sense how countries should go about organizing them, a system needs to be in place to help mitigate the debt, it cannot be just removed. For example, the money that is being repaid is put back into the communities for roads and structural improvements.
But what it does well is it creates awarness among the public of the issues.

 

A Job Offer to Make a Difference Monday, Jun 15 2009 

1 foodshortages 8:24 am

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTHRJOBS/0,,contentMDK:20519640~pagePK:64262408~piPK:64262191~theSitePK:1058433~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y~isCURL:Y,00.html

The World Bank is accepting applications for Young Professionals Program to mentor. This is a great opportunity to get involved and learn the ropes of an organization that is working towards reducing poverty.

A Few Criteria’s :

1) Be 32 years of age or Younger.

2) A Masters Degree Completed

3) Be fluent in English

4)Specialize in a field relevant to the World Bank’s operations such as economics, finance, education, public health, social sciences, engineering, urban planning, and natural resource management

5)Have significant relevant professional experience or continued academic study at the doctoral level

 

A Bank that Care’s! Monday, Jun 15 2009 

1 foodshortages 8:11 am

The World Bank is not a Bank in the literal sense, but rather an organization that has a sole mission of reducing poverty.
Its 20 billion annual fund are distributed around third world countries due to the support of major countries around the globe.

The great thing about this organization is that it is a central agency that has the support of 184 member countries that helps it function.
A key feature is that it utilizes public and private partnerships inorder to start economic growth in 3′rd world countries. It provides a bridge of sort and regulates any disputes that may occur in the future.

Furthermore, it support all parties involved. Investments made by companies are secured and expedited by this joint alliance.
So it is a huge incentive to join with a reputable organization as World Bank.

The impact is huge as it is a central agency that allows all countries to pool there money together to help all those regions that are in dire need. By involving all private partnership as well ensures that this is idea is sustainable, not to mention it has a deep history since its inception after WW2.

The involvement of all countries allow them to survive for the long term. Also since it reaches a global audience it has a huge potential to last until the future.

However the only concern is, countries reduce its contributions as it is now during the world recession period.
A major concern that I have is that the beauricratic nature the organization may have, since it has many members and any initative such as which country to help or which programs to initate will have to go through a voting process before it is implemented, this may take quite some time.

Although this is a great thing all the ideas are thought out, it may be programs all get stuck in the planning phase and are not implemented. Furthermore, due to politics that may be involved, some regions may be neglected (due to conflict of interest or government/regime issues).

A suggestion, maybe by limiting there scope such as helping one region at a time may fast track any problems that they may foresee and prevent them from spreading too thin, by focusing in regions that are in immediate danger.

The World Bank has a clear Social Value Proposition and that is to reduce poverty. Having this ensure all that are involved are clear about the goal and vision that they are working towards.

http://www.bicusa.org/en/Institution.5.aspx

 

Ideas coming together. Monday, Jun 8 2009 

1 foodshortages 9:20 pm

The World Social Forum (WSF) is an open space where social movements, NGOs and other Civil Society Organization (CSO) around the world meet together to debate ideas and thoughts surrounding the problems and negative impacts of the current global trends. Poverty and other issues are often discussed.

http://www.bicusa.org/en/Article.11019.aspx

 

A Farm In the Sky? Monday, Jun 8 2009 

1 foodshortages 9:08 pm

A video that proposes a way to help secure our future food supply by building Vertical Farms.
I would hope we could build these Vertical Farms in 3′rd World countries to alleviate the poverty issues.
This could help employ the villagers and ensure the local and world food supply is safe for the years to come.

http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/april-2009/daily-planet-april-23-2009/#clip164926

 

Help Friday, Jun 5 2009 

1 gdover 3:58 pm

Help…something to think about

A short slide that puts things in perspective for you about the reality of poverty and you.

 

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