Health: Infrastructure: Habitat

"Learning is finding out what we all ready know. Doing is demonstrating that we know it.
Teaching is helping others realize they know as well as you. We are all learners, doers, and teachers."
from Illusions by Richard Bach

UN Human Settlements Program
"The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all"

TGI: Taking It Global
"TakingITGlobal.org is an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. It is now the world's most popular online community for young people interested in making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month."

Events

World Urban Forum: WUF3 Vancouver, Canada, June 19-23, 2006
"The World Urban Forum was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies and policies. It is projected that in the next fifty years, two-thirds of humanity will be living in towns and cities. A major challenge is to minimize burgeoning poverty in cities, improve the urban poor's access to basic facilities such as shelter, clean water and sanitation and achieve environment-friendly, sustainable urban growth and development.… The third session of the World Urban Forum (WUFIII) will be hosted by the Government of Canada. It will take place in Vancouver, Canada, from 19 to 23 June 2006 and have as its main theme, Our Future: Sustainable Cities Ð Turning Ideas into Action."

Youth & World Urban Forum (WUFY) Vancouver, Canada, June 19-23, 2006
"…this, is going to be a forum for youth. We want you to be there, to be included in every meeting. You are going to be part of all the discussions, on how it is that we can build shelters, and how it in fact we can help social inclusion, and how in fact we can make sure that there is health care and education, and hope for everyone.… World Urban Forum and Youth Organizing Committee (WUFY) who will hold over a dozen World Urban Cafe JAM Sessions to engage communities in slums and impoverished human settlements in Asia, Africa, India and Latin America." One of the world's least-empowered groups is urban youth. Of the estimated one billion slum dwellers worldwide, more than 50% are under the age of 25.

Habitat JAM Online Dec. 1,2,3, 2005
JAM Postings Available Read-Only Until the World Urban Forum is Held in June 2006
" The Habitat JAM will encourage a far-reaching dialogue that cuts across the borders and silos of politics, culture, economics, social class and expertise, to extract concrete solutions to the urgent and controversial issues facing our rapidly urbanizing planet.… Habitat JAM, taking place online as a prelude to the third session of the World Urban Forum being held in June 2006. The JAM is a consultation about the challenges facing a rapidly urbanizing planet. What does the future hold for our cities? "

"There are JAMMERs registered from all 191 UN-member countries. With a total of 459,402 page hits, the most popular forums are: Forum 1 ( "Slums"), which remains in the lead with 2,842 posts. Forum 4 ("Environment") and Forum 7 ("The Future") continue to battle for the second spot. Forum 4 remains in second place with 2,710 posts and Forum 7 comes in at 2,562 posts. "

Unfortunately since the JAM site, IAmTheJAM.com, is member-only it cannot be searched by google. I encourage the organizers to make a google search available on site as the built-in search mechanism appears to allow no advanced searching of any kind and returns only ten results at a time. Alternately it would be good to make all postings available in an xml/rss format so that analysis of the discussion remains in the public domain. The Google Search below searches only the JAM promotional site.

WWW HabitatJAM.com

• Improving the lives of slum dwellers.
  "How can we turn dialogue into better lives for one sixth of humanity?
  Close to one billion people live in slums worldwide. The vulnerable urban poor are denied adequate housing, political voice, safety, education and sufficient income. Yet, the poor and those who work diligently in these communities should be meaningful actors in improving their living conditions. How can we turn dialogue into action?"


• Sustainable access to water.
  " How can we find water faster and manage it more effectively?
  More than 40 percent of the world's population lacks basic sanitation, and more than one billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking water. With experts predicting that water shortages will be a key factor limiting development, who has the best practices that could write a different future?"


• Environmental sustainability.
  " How can we find water faster and manage it more effectively?
  More than 40 percent of the world's population lacks basic sanitation, and more than one billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking water. With experts predicting that water shortages will be a key factor limiting development, who has the best practices that could write a different future?"


• Safety and security.
  " How can you reduce your city's ecological footprint?
  Green design, green infrastructure, green buildings: are we on the verge of a new wave of urban environmental sustainability? In June 2005 over 50 mayors signed the Urban Environmental Accords, committing to 21 specific actions in seven environmental areas common to all the worldÕs large cities: water, energy, waste, urban design, transportation, urban nature, and environmental health. Innovative and inspiring projects from all over the world are presenting solutions to the problems of urban environmental sustainability. Share your experiences here, find common ground and submit ideas for action. Tell us your pick for the greenest city in the world and why."


• Finance and governance.
  " How can our citizen groups, companies, cooperatives, financial institutions and governments make our cities thrive?
  It takes money, political will, and organized citizens - like you - to help vitalize local economies, build financial security for families and make cities livable for billions of people. We need to include people and the environment in financial and business decisions. And we need, more than ever, new technologies to create opportunities, drive local economies, make our cities work, and keep citizens involved. How can we put our money where our policy is? Can we help the environment and make poverty history in cities?"


• Humanity: The Future of our Cities.
  " How can cities create a culture of safety and trust? Whether natural or man-made, assaults on families and communities create a climate of fear. But some cities are fighting back. How can community-wide planning reduce crime? How can disaster preparedness become part of planning for growth? Let's share our ideas for a safer, more prosperous, more open future."

References From The JAM

Global ePolicy Resource Network
"The Global ePolicy Resource Network (ePol-NET) provides a focal point for global efforts in support of national e-strategies for development. We bring together partners from a range of organisations around the world who contribute e-strategy and e-policy information and expertise for the benefit of individuals, organisations and governments in developing countries. The network provides ICT policymakers in developing countries with the depth and quality of information needed to develop effective national e-policies and e-strategies. Officially launched during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) that took place in Geneva in December of 2003, ePol-NET aims to have information and documents of the highest quality available while providing an efficient response to any queries directed toward the Secretariat."

Avoiding Extinction
"Neurophysiologist, psychiatrist, with iconoclastic views of current pathological human behaviour and have new concepts of its origins, development and possible extinction. This integrates wide range of disciplines from physical evolution to full self-consciousness. English-Canadian."

Fair trade is more important for Africa than aid, say ministers: Business Report: Media
"Johannesburg - Securing a deal to free world trade in agriculture was more important to lifting Africa out of poverty than efforts to boost aid, a British government minister and Lesotho's trade minister have said. "

West Island Project: Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Collaborative and Conservation Planning
"Environmental degradation is the root of many social problems Ð ranging from loss of health, livelihood and quality of life, to loss of homeland and environmental security The need for better environmental protection must be taken as urgent. While there are many manifestations of this problem that are literally life threatening, there is also a need for environmental management that protects quality of life and the aspects of communities and local environments that people cherish."

Oxford Journals: Community Development Journal
"Published four times a year and circulated in over 80 countries, the Community Development Journal provides an international forum for political, economic and social programmes, which link the activities of people with institutions and government. Dealing with the theory and practice of the policies, programmes and methods employed, the Community Development Journal covers a wide range of topics including community action, village, town, and regional planning, community studies and rural development."

Society for Conservation Biology, North America Section: The Steady State Economy as a Sustainable Alternative to Economic Growth
"The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) is an international professional organization dedicated to promoting the scientific study of the phenomena that affect the maintenance, loss, and restoration of biological diversity. The Society's membership comprises a wide range of people interested in the conservation and study of biological diversity: resource managers, educators, government and private conservation workers, and student"

The Science of Self: Consciousness Studies | Personal Development

Parliamentary Information Management Services UK (PIMS): Publicly-Created Money
"That this House is concerned at the growing difficulties of maintaining the higher levels of public spending on pensions, health, education and all the other public purposes an advanced society requires by taxation and public borrowing; notes that the proportion of publicly-created money in circulation has fallen from 20 per cent. of the money supply in 1964 to three per cent. today; believes that increasing the proportion of publicly-created money can provide a new means of financing public services; further notes that the use of publicly-created money can substantially cut the cost of public investment by eliminating the need to pay interest; considers that such a policy of using the public credit to finance public purposes can be adopted without any impact on inflation if suitable regulatory changes are made; and therefore urges the Treasury and the Treasury Select Committee to commission independent reviews on how to increase the proportion of publicly-created money in the economy and on the benefits of doing so and report them to this House."

Wikipedia: Cannabrick construction
"Cannabrick construction is construction using the woody inner core from the Cannabis Plant. This part of the plant is THC free (ie Hemp) and is used in housing construction. The silica leached from the soil by the plant combined with unslaked lime forms a chemical bond similar to cement which is fire and water proof."

Wikipedia: Reform of the United Nations
"In recent years there have been many calls for "reform" of the United Nations. But there is little clarity, let alone consensus, about what reform might mean in practice. Both those who want the UN to play a greater role in world affairs and those who want its role confined to humanitarian work or otherwise reduced use the term "UN reform" to refer to their ideas. The range of opinion extends from as far as those who want to eliminate the UN entirely, to those that want to make it into a full-fledged world government."

Environics Research Group
"The Environmental Monitor - This study is Canada's first syndicated tracking study to focus exclusively on environmental and natural resource issues. Inaugurated in 1987, the Environmental Monitor is based on an in-depth annual survey conducted each fall, plus quarterly tracking of the attitudes and opinions of a representative sample of 1,500 Canadian adults."

International Alliance of Inhabitants (INI)
"representatives of the inhabitantsÕ associations and social movements, communities, tenants, private house owners, homeless, people living in favelas and settlements, cooperatives, indigenous peoples and working class neighbourhoods of different world regions"

Peter H. Kahn, Jr.
"Peter H. Kahn, Jr. is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Adjunct Associate Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington. He is also Co-Director of The Mina Institute (Covelo, CA), an organization that seeks to promote, from an ethical perspective, the human relationship with nature and technology."

World Sustainability Leagues - Which Global Sectors Urgently Need Transforming?
"Simultaneous question: by societies of global market sectors : where are you taking future generations? Opinion index: -100 non-sustainability = killing off future generations, exhausting nature +100 sustainability = all gain from participating in this future vision. Game Rules: *Encourage testifiers - why index should go up or down; how segment overall sector into sustainable and non-sustainable *Global transparency: ask leaders to open innovation debates on poor scoring sectors"

Green Adventure
"To enable inner-city people, in particular those of us who are socially and economically disadvantaged, to create and take part in practical community projects which promote sustainable development thereby empowering us to improve the quality of life for ourselves, our communities and future generations."

Corporation 2020: Designing for Social Purpose
"What would a corporation look like that was designed to seamlesslyÊintegrate both social and financial purpose?Ê Corporation 2020 is a new multi-stakeholder initiative that seeks to answer this question.Ê Its goal is to create corporate designs where social purpose moves from the periphery to the heart of future organizations."

Womend and HIV/AIDS: Confronting the Crisis .pdf
"A Joint Report by UNAIDS / UNFPA / UNIFEM. HIV/AIDS is no longer striking primarily men. Today, more than 20 years into the epidemic, women account for nearly half the 40 million people living with HIV worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, 57 per cent of adults with HIV are women, and young women aged 15 to 24 are more than three times as likely to be infected as young men. Despite this alarming trend, women know less than men about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and how to prevent infection, and what little they do know is often rendered useless by the discrimination and violence they face."

Globe Dialog Centre
"The Global Dialogue Center was founded with a deep sense of gratitude and a strong belief that we all need each other to contribute our best to a world struggling to become more. We are fully committed to making the Global Dialogue Center's virtual facility a catalyst and sanctuary dedicated to the creation of a more loving, healthy, sustainable and mutualistic world ---- one where we all benefit and no one is harmed. We are working to achieve these ideals to make our contribution:"

Globe Foundation of Canada
"Located in Vancouver, Canada, the GLOBE Foundation is a private, not-for-profit foundation created to help environmental firms, corporate environmental managers, and financial institutions capitalize on international opportunities in the business of the environment. "

The Renewal of Islam
"This group is to show Islam is always evolving and Allah is constantly in conversation with us.Ê We are the Messengers of Allah and in our lives there is a Message and in our actions there is a Message too.Ê No one knows in ten thousand years what will be remembered about you but let it be good things...."

Taking It Global
"TakingITGlobal.org is an online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. It is now the world's most popular online community for young people interested in making a difference, with hundreds of thousands of unique visitors each month."

information ecology archives
"co-facilitation of peaceful, creative, participatory global transition to knowledge-based societies, economies, and environments - and to the as-yet-unfulfilled promise of a new millennium"

African House
"Cannabis Homes made from Cannabricks, appropriate affordable housing for South Africa."

Club of Rome: Global Think Tank and Centre of Innovation and Initiative
"The Club of Rome is a global think tank and centre of innovation and initiative. As a non-profit, non govermental organisation (NGO), it brings together scientists, economists, businessmen, international high civil servants, heads of state and former heads of state from all five continents who are convinced that the future of humankind is not determined once and for all and that each human being can contribute to the improvement of our societies. "

International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
"The International Association for Public Participation, working through it members, helps organizations and communities around the world improve their decisions by involving those people who are affected by those decisions."

Independent Media Marketplace
I appears that you can order independent Magazines, Books, Videos, and Audio productions.

Currents of Awareness News
"COA News is a non-profit online news network featuring diverse, credible independent news organizations. COA News can best be described as the portal to independent news media."

International Organization for Migration ( IOM-OIM )
"After half a century of worldwide operational experience, IOM has become the leading international organization working with migrants and governments to provide humane responses to migration challenges. Established in 1951 as an intergovernmental organization to resettle European displaced persons, refugees and migrants, IOM has now grown to encompass a variety of migration management activities throughout the world."

Kanata Forum: Ottawa's Cold Winters Provide a Solution to Our Energy Problems .pdf
"The solution is to use the cold winter air to chill the ground deep under our feet, and then recover that cold for summer air conditioning."

Kanata Forum: Comparing Nuclear and Renewable Energy Options .pdf
"The top left graph shows the anticipated growth of carbon dioxide emissions as projected by the Energy Council of Canada (www.energy.ca). The other three graphs are ÒWhat if?Ó projections based on the adoption of (1) a policy of building nuclear reactors for producing electric power, (2) a policy of employing HEAT networks (urban heat storage) as well as nuclear reactors, and (3) a policy of using renewable sources of energy rather than nuclear or coal sources."

Kanata Forum: Feasibility of Seasonal Storage .pdf
"Seasonal storage of heat and cold is not new. It has been used for thousands of years in the form of ice houses for storing ice, and for decades in the form of ground source heat pumps (GSHP's). It is sometimes mistakenly believed that the latter employ heat that comes from deep underground but that is not true. Rock is a good insulator and there are many kilometres of rock between the surface and deep sources of heat, so the heat that is extracted by GSHP's is solar heat that has been absorbed in the summer and stored until it is extracted in the winter."

Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE)
"BALLE is a growing alliance of independently operated local business networks dedicated to building Local Living Economies."

Vancouver Nude Garden Party
"Our world cannot afford another millenium like the previous one. Maybe not even another century. Who knows - we might be toast in another 25 years. The ecosystem cannot sustain the city culture as it is. That's why we have to change the city culture."

Washington District of Columbia: Neightbourhood Action
"Neighborhood Action brings neighbors together and gives them a voice in setting priorities for the city and the communities they call home. In each ward, Neighborhood Planning Coordinators help residents envision goals for their community and find the best way to achieve these goals. Neighborhood Service Coordinators work closely with residents and service agencies to solve persistent and difficult problems such as high crime areas and abandoned buildings. Outreach Coordinators work to help residents become involved and stay informed about the priority issues in their community."

Gender and Disaster Network
"The Gender and Disaster Network is an educational project initiated by women and men interested in gender relations in disaster contexts. It emerged from an early morning meeting during the July 1997 Natural Hazards Research and Applications Center workshop in Denver, Colorado. Understanding that communication technology is not fully accessible and that we work in many languages and contexts, we hope to utilize the Internet in the support of a global network of researchers and practitioners."

AIDS Awareness Campaign -- Stories from Africa
"In July 2005, a team of American journalists, writers, and photographers embarked on a six- to eight-month overland journey through the heart of Africa. They are examining the impact of HIV/AIDS in rural and urban communities, while studying the growing role Internet technology can play in arresting the current pandemic. The team aims to increase awareness, understanding, and support for HIV/AIDS-related issues both within Africa and on the international stage by publicizing the work carried out by dedicated individuals and organizations in newspapers, and magazines and on the Internet. This will enhance local efforts to empower individuals, local community-based organizations, and entire communities to talk openly about the disease, while strengthening the capacity for self-help and promoting self-reliance."

Permaculture Research Institute
"Sprouts provide quality nutrients and, by weight, are the richest source of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants of all fresh food; in fact, they have a much greater nutrient content than the original seed. Sprouts are fast growing and very econonical."