The Millennium Development Goals: It's Time for a "People's Plan of Action"

Recognizing that "individuals, companies and non-governmental organizations need to stand alongside their governments to advance the best solutions to extreme poverty, to sustain public engagement and to hold their governments accountable," through a "people's plan of action" a group of Young Global Leaders have made action-oriented pledges to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015.

One such individual, Ayla Goksel, through the Husnu M. Ozyegin Foundation, has pledged by 2014 to provide access to sustainable income-generating activities for 1,600 people in rural Turkey and to ensure 27,000 children have access to education in primary and secondary schools and programs built by the Foundation. This pledge supports MDG1 on poverty and productive employment, and MDG2 on education.

In addition, Ms Goksel has pledged by 2011, through the Mother Child Education Foundation (ACEV), to impact approximately 1 million families in Turkey through increased awareness of early childhood development and education; to raise US$ 20 million for these activities; to provide preschool, parenting and literacy education to 400,000 young children, parents and illiterate women; and to train 2,500 new volunteer instructors for this program, thereby contributing to MDG2 on primary education, MDG3 on gender equality, MDG4 on child health and MDG8 on building a global partnership for development.

Justice for All

International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) describes itself as an independent, non-profit NGO that "strives to protect due process and achieve fair trials for the accused throughout the world. In countries where governmental commitment to human rights principles has, as of yet, failed to meet its practical goal, IBJ fills the gap between human rights legislation and domestic implementation." Learn more about IBJ's important work.

IBJ MISSION STATEMENT:
"In recognition of the fundamental principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Bridges to Justice (IBJ) is dedicated to protecting the basic legal rights of ordinary citizens in developing countries. Specifically IBJ works to guarantee all citizens the right to competent legal respresentation, the right to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment, and the right to a fair trial."

A Medical Miracle? It's Your Beeswax!

The Concise Oxford English Dictionary (11th edition) defines "Propolis" as: n. a red or brown resinous substance collected by honeybees from tree buds for constructing and varnishing honeycombs. The term comes from the Greek propolis meaning "suburb" from pro "before" and polis "city".
Brazilian propolis has been found to be a remarkable supplement to cancer therapy. The Journal of the American Apitherapy Society gives details of the use of propolis in cancer treatment. "A literature review finds that propolis’s pharmacological properties make it safe and effective as an adjunct for patients receiving cancer treatment:
• Biological therapy. Biological therapy works hand in hand with the immune system. Propolis’s biological activities such as anti-tumoral activity, DNA protection, free-radicals scavenging, and immune stimulation act in synergy with each other and with conventional chemotherapy medication.
• Synergy with chemotherapy. Antioxidants may boost the effects of anti-carcinogenic drugs, thus enabling a decrease in the administered dose and in turn leading to a reduction in side effects. They may also influence the response to chemotherapy.
• Anti-inflammatory activity. This results from propolis’s inhibitory effect on prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and histamine release.
• Healing activity. Propolis promotes epithelial formation as well as vascular and fibroblastic neoformation of the connective tissue.
• Antimicrobial activity. Propolis’s flavonoids and phenolic acids are pharmacologically active compounds that have effects on bacteria, fungi, and viruses."
Source: “Biological Therapy Using Propolis as Nutritional Supplement in Cancer Treatment,” J. Galvao et al., International Journal of Cancer Research 3:1 (2007), pp. 43-53.
Read more: "Brazilian Propolis: A Promising Adjunct to Dental Care, Cancer Treatment, Vaccines" by José Alexandre S. Abreu, Brazil

Engines Can Turn Waste into Value

Commercial customers all over the world are discovering the new ways to capture and use gas to meet energy needs through onsite power generation, all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One prime example is General Electric's Jenbacher gas engines.

In Australia, the Jenbacher gas engine business has contributed to several of the country's largest coal mine methane projects, including a power plant commissioned in 2008 operating on Jenbacher coal mine methane gas engines. The methane-rich gas coming from the mine is used to generate onsite power at Anglo Coal's Moranbah North mine in the state of Queensland, helping to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas that escapes into the atmosphere. Through the capture and use of mine gas, the Moranbah North project will deliver significant environmental benefits, reducing about 1.5 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year.

In Mexico, Jenbacher engines are at the heart of a newly expanded landfill gas-to-energy project, hailed by President Felipe Calderón as “a model renewable energy project” for Latin America. The 12 MW project converts gas from the Simeprode landfill near Monterrey into electricity, which is used to support the solid waste facility's operations as well as Monterrey‘s light-rail system during the day and city street lights at night.

In a sprawling commercial tomato greenhouse outside of Amsterdam, the world's first commercial 24-cylinder gas engine is in operation. The Royal Pride Holland project is made possible by two Jenbacher units, which were installed in a pilot project to demonstrate the engine's commercial viability for the horticultural industry. It highlights the increased emphasis on combined heat and power in Europe as the region increases its focus on energy efficiency.

Thousands of miles to the east, Jenbacher gas engines are at work in a far different way, using biogas created from chicken manure to generate power and heat at a large chicken farm north of Beijing.

The plant is the first of its type in China, and could pave the way for similar applications in the future. Providing 14,600 MWh of electricity per year, the project is designed to help reduce suburban electricity shortages. By using the biogas for power generation instead of coal, the new project is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 95,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year.

Harnessing the Earth's Resources Efficiently and Equitably

“Environmental issues have the power to unify groups with seemingly irreconcilable differences. Shared concerns about resources and conservation can help resolve even bitter conflicts.”
Environmental Scientist Saleem H. Ali believes “the environment itself can be a powerful force in resolving conflicts, even between groups who seem diametrically opposed over how the world’s limited resources should be used.” Moreover, Ali says natural resources can be a positive force in alleviating poverty. Read more about this remarkable “emerging explorer” who argues we can manage our desire for resources while safeguarding the environment and alleviating poverty!

2010 Is the International Year of Biodiversity: This Is Good News for the Planet

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, a celebration of life on Earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. This is good news for the planet, highlighting steps that have already been taken and those that can yet be taken to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, “restoring lost and damaged ecosystems - from forests and freshwaters to mangroves and wetlands - can trigger multi-million dollar returns, generate jobs and combat poverty.” It maintains that “far from being a tax on growth and development, many environmental investments in degraded, nature-based assets can generate substantial and multiple returns.” These include restoring water flows to rivers and lakes, improved soil stability and fertility vital for agriculture and combating climate change by sequestrating and storing carbon from the atmosphere.

And governments worldwide are already taking action. For instance, initial studies compiled by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity indicate that restoration of grasslands, woodlands and forests offer some of the highest rates of returns. Examples include:

• The Turkish city of Istanbul has increased the number of people served with wastewater treatment over 20 years from a few hundred thousand to over nine million ‑ 95% of the population ‑ by rehabilitating and cleaning river banks, relocating polluting industries, installing water treatment works and re-establishing river-side vegetation.


• In Vietnam, planting and protecting nearly 12,000 hectares of mangroves has cost just over $1 million but saved annual expenditure on dyke maintenance of well over $7 million.


• In Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, strict law enforcement has helped restore the critically endangered mountain gorilla population back to a slight increase in the Virungas National Park ‑ and is generating large revenues from tourism.


• Restoration of over 500 hectares of mangroves in India's Andhra Pradesh region has increased the population of edible crabs and fodder for livestock thereby boosting local incomes while increasing biodiversity such as otter and birds, at a cost of only $3 million over seven years.


• Coastal ecosystems in Biscayne Bay, Florida have been restored for annual benefit worth $1.7 million.


• Banning unsustainable fishing methods, reintroductions of native fish species and re-planting of native aquatic grasses have transformed the once highly polluted and degraded Lake Hong in China. Since 2003, water quality has improved dramatically, rare birds like the Oriental White Stork have returned after 20 years and fisher folk have seen incomes triple.

Beyond governments, businesses are also lending a helping hand. Cimpor’s Conservancy in South Africa has eradicated some 65% of invasive plants. In addition, a large portion of this successful clearing exercise has seen the reintroduction of indigenous grasses that serve as a major food source for certain birds. In Brazil, the company’s quarry in Atlantic Forest area, one of the most endangered tropical biomes in the world, and considered as one of the largest biodiversity repositories globally, is being carefully rehabilitated. CEMEX is also doing conservation and restoration in Costa Rica, Mexico and France, among other places, to keep its quarries and surrounding areas healthy. Mondi has a sustainable wetlands program in South Africa, and Syngenta has one in Spain. Lafarge protects onsite wildlife and biodiversity.

And the list goes on. All of these drops in the bucket eventually overflow and the result is a healthier world with greater biodiversity benefitting all inhabitants.

According to Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director: "The ecological infrastructure of the planet is generating services to humanity worth by some estimates over $70 trillion a year, perhaps substantially more.” Due to the impact of biodiversity on all our lives, 2010 is thus THE year to undertake biodiversity efforts and highlight what has already been done.

Eco-tourism Builds Livelihoods and Bolsters Whale Shark Populations

Eco-tourism has changed everyone's life in Donsol, Philippines. It is helping build livelihoods for local residents while bolstering whale shark populations. CNN reports on this shift in nature's balance -- from destruction to preservation -- in this remote area:

"Welcome to Donsol, the home of the gentle giants," Alan Amanse says, smiling broadly at us as we awkwardly scramble onto the traditional fishing boat.

"We have something that must be followed; the rules about whale shark interaction."

He's delivered this speech countless times, but says he never tires of seeing newcomers' eager faces. Donsol in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines, was once a sleepy fishing village; now it buzzes with excited tourists who flock here for what many later describe as a life-changing experience -- swimming with the largest fish in the ocean, the whale shark.

I have to admit, I was filled with childish excitement I hadn't experienced in years.
"If I say 'Ok, let's rock and roll', it's time to get in the water; that's my magic word, 'rock and roll'," Alan tells us, perched on the edge of the boat, a devilish twinkle in his eyes.

He and the crew are experts at whale shark spotting, able to scan what to us looks like a blank horizon for signs of the sharks below the surface. Small boats filled with tourists dot the tricolor waters, the shoreline rolling hills of emerald green.

"Look, look right there," Alan points at what to me initially looks like nothing.

"Wow! Its huge, 3-meters-long, about 20 meters in front of us," I shrieked as I began to make out the dark shape moving alongside our boat.

We jumped in, but only just barely caught a glimpse of the whale shark before it disappeared into the depths of the ocean. I should note at this stage that, despite my initial reaction, 3 meters isn't a "huge" whale shark -- they can grow up to 20 meters in length.

In fact at 3 meters they are still considered young, and seeing small ones is a rarity we are told. The whale shark interactions are closely regulated; 6 tourists per boat, 1 boat per whale shark, and no more than 30 boats in the water at a time. Plus, we're briefed to swim 3 meters away from the head and body, 4 meters away from the tail -- one powerful inadvertent hit can cause serious damage.

We had a professional underwater cameraman, Rico, added on to our crew for the day. I envied his lung capacity, his ability to free dive for minutes alongside these majestic creatures, filming them from all angles while I gasped for air and struggled to keep up.

We end up spotting a total of four whale sharks, the last one huge and right underneath our boat. It stayed close to the surface as if bemused by the attention and splashing.

I managed to dive down and see its gentle eyes, upturned mouth formed into a permanent smile. All I could think was, "Wow". That short moment I had was special, as if nothing existed but me and this graceful animal.

Eco-tourism has changed everyone's life in Donsol. Alan tells us how he used to have to take on odd jobs -- driving a tricycle taxi, construction work, playing guitar at bars -- to make ends meet. Now he makes six times what he used to, enough money to put his two children through school, even university.

Like most people in these parts, Alan used to view whale sharks as pests, constantly getting caught up in fishing nets and overturning boats. He says they were also hunted by villagers from other areas.

"Before I am not thinking that we need to save the whale shark because we don't have an idea of the whale shark," he admits.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, whale sharks are coveted in many countries. Their meat can sell for up to $17 per kilo, their fins a staggering $800.

The attitude towards whale sharks here changed nearly overnight. Credited with helping to make that happen is Dave Duran, a charismatic, passionate cameraman turned diver. Twelve years ago he shot footage of the whale sharks and brought it to international spotlight, to the attention of the World Wildlife Fund, marine biologists and scientists.

Suddenly Donsol became a major research destination. Little is known about whale sharks, a major part of preserving the species is understanding their migratory routes and breeding habits. Within three months of Dave going public with his footage, the Philippine government issued a ban on fishing whale sharks.

"If we were just late for about a month or so the story would have been different," he tells us. "Maybe now we would be seeing whale sharks being slaughtered here, right on this beach."

Eco Solutions have covered many stories in the ongoing battle of preservation vs. destruction. Here the balance shifted in favor of nature. "It's just a matter of luck," Dave says. "We gave [the people of Donsol] some sort of hope that eco-tourism could work in Donsol and they believed it."

South Africa Hopes Cup Will Runneth Over

The World Cup has everyone in South Africa excited, the New York Times reports, even people with little to be excited about:

The World Cup begins here on Friday with excitement at so elevated a level that even many of the unhappy are happy. Tshepo Makwala, a laborer, has no job, no prospects, and, worst of all, no ticket to any of the 64 games. Still, it thrills him that soccer’s biggest event is for the first time taking place in Africa. “This isn’t one for the Guinness Book of Records; it’s for the Guinness Book of Miracles,” he said.

A Cape Town native said in Vietnam that he had never seen the country so excited. After all, ten years ago, it would have been unthinkable that Soweto could host a World Cup football match, an announcer said during an otherwise desultory match between the Netherland and Denmark.

The Cup is a watershed moment in South Africa’s long march upward since the end of apartheid and hopefully a much-needed tonic for the country’s economy. Critics have condemned the spectacle of such a poor nation spending billions of dollars it could be using to house the poor and overhaul decrepit infrastructure. But cities rarely host marquee sporting events for the immediate economic impact. In fact, they usually lose money. The hope, rather, is that the event gives the city the kind of exposure ad campaigns cannot buy. Thus did Singapore decide to lure Formula 1. Ditto Abu Dhabi.

There is evidence already that the Cup is help South Africa reach a class of visitors that might not otherwise have put it on their itinerary. Visa reported Monday that South Africa saw a 34 percent increase in inbound tourism spending during the first quarter of 2010. With any luck, they’ll be back even if the World Cup won’t.

An Eco-friendly Family Adventure across the World

One CNN website editor's choice is "An eco-friendly family adventure across the world", the story of Dario Schworer, a 42-year-old climatologist and mountain guide, and his family. Their aim: to promote eco-friendly ways of life. He, his 33-year-old wife Sabine Schworer-Ammaun, and their three children started out seven years ago with the goal of climbing the highest peaks on all continents and crossing the oceans using only non-motorized transport. They have a sailboat and otherwise walk or cycle to their next destination.

"We are collecting good examples of dealing with climate change and living in harmony with nature and spreading such ideas," Schworer told CNN. "We want to help people cope [who are] affected by global warming and inspiring children for the future."

"Great achievements can be done in harmony with nature," Schworer said. "But we must respect nature."

Among other things, they have collected 22 tonnes of trash, taught people in Ecuador to use the sun's rays to purify water and collected trash in the mountains of Nepal with school children, and visited 47 countries. They have also interacted with 45,000 children in South America, Australia and Asia, giving presentations about the importance of recycling and using alternative energy like solar and wind power.

"Since our belief is the need to respect nature, we travel only when conditions are good," Schworer said.

Read the full article on CNN's website at http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/06/09/family.travel.adventure/index.html?hpt=Mid

More Good News from Africa

More good news came out of Africa on Sunday, with South African President Zuma saying that the upcoming World Cup hosted by his country is uniting South Africa.

Zuma spoke in a press conference on Sunday, five days before the tournament opens, and said "The enthusiasm, joy and excitement that has engulfed the entire nation in recent weeks has not been witnessed since president Nelson Mandela was released from prison [in 1990]."

"The explosion of national pride has been a priceless benefit. It's clear that millions of our people look upon this tournament with hope, pride and sense of belonging.

"The South African flag has become the most popular item on the shopping list of South Africans and this augurs well for our nation-building," he continued.

The country appears ready to take on the challenge of hosting such a huge and historic event.