Revista Mensual y Gratuita
Nº101, enero 2012
Transformations
Much more than Keynesian policies to face the global crisis
It is not about reactivating the pre-crisis concentration dynamic, but instead about transforming it. Keynesian policies can help only if they are part of a strategy that aims to exiting the crisis into a fair and sustainable development.
They want the resources but not the people
With the crisis xenophobia reemerges in Europe and the United States. Immigrants are rejected ignoring their contribution to development and without taking into account that central countries are the main responsible for generating backwardness and poverty in those African and Latin-American countries that expel migrants. This occurred through the enormous extraction of resources and the dismantling of local societies and institutions. Surely this monumental holdup did not favor all European and American citizens equally; thus they should focus their frustration towards those responsible for larceny, not towards its victims.
The courage behind a responsible no
The power of those who manage a company, organization or government attracts smarmy ‘yes’s’ and pushes away responsible ‘no’s’. It is easier or less risky to join the parade of those who adulate than to point out a disagreement, a mistake, a warning on possible negative consequences of a decision that is to be taken. At the other end, those who systematically oppose a certain initiative multiply the ‘no’s’ to such an extent that they are extremely exposed to emptying them of meaning and credibility.
Cares and troubles
Six centuries before the Christian era, a wise man taught how to overcome cares and troubles. He said that overcoming cares and troubles was possible for he who knows and who sees however not for he who does not know nor does not see. But, he wondered, what is it a person must know and see in order for him to let go of his problems and concerns? And there one of his masterly reflections was beginning.
Sustainable communities: decent housing and employment
This article addresses an important local intervention to solve situations of inequality and poverty: sustainable communities that integrate in the same initiative well-planned housing solutions with measures to create decent employment. What does this inititative involve? How to organize them? Who could lead the way? What is their meaning and which the implications of dedicating solutions of excellence to mobilize low-income sectors?
Representatives who do not represent us
In a representative democracy, those who govern do it in the name and on behalf of the interests, needs and emotions of those who appointed them. However, one of the most critical and common challenges faced by contemporary democracies, is that those representatives end up not representing their voters appropriately: the direction and priorities chosen by people represented by them are not respected, thus compromising the political foundation of the government with this detour from the requested mandate; this representation gap may have several explanations.
Tax Havens, Evils of our Time
Since the.mid-1970s, much more than US$5 trillion have illegally exited poor countries. In the second half of the 1990s, funds amounting to almost one third of the GDP of the Sub-Saharan African nations were sent overseas. Likewise, 50% of the net worth of Latin America’s wealthiest has been fleeing annually. Three percent of those capital flights originates in political corruption; one third, comes from organized crime, while 60% to 65% of that wealth is derived from illegal schemes orchestrated by individuals and large corporations: the rich send to tax havens twice as much money as politicians and organized crime together.
Becoming Preoccupied, Understanding, Transforming
At all times, but even more when problems blow up (a crisis being a huge, traumatic explosion), we need to worry about what reality shows, understand the logic of what goes on, and strive to transform the dynamics leading to the problems we have decided to face.
Conditional cash transfer programs: achievements and limitations
Conditional Cash Transfer Programs (CCTPs) have become widely known and arouse enthusiasm. They must be analyzed, however, to assess their achievements and limitations, and determine whether those hopes are well-founded or they are being expected to deliver more than what they are actually prepared to offer, given their generally scarce resources and the hardships faced by Latin America’s education and health care services, the pillars on which CCTPs are based.
Confused, yes; stupid, not.
Unfortunately, corporate reputation is managed more on the basis of public relations than on the basis of responsible practices. Within this context, some suggest that the name Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is outdated and should be changed by that of Sustainability. Is it possible to change its nature by changing its name?
What's new
Ways to Donate
12/08/2010
Adjusting the course: Getting out of the crisis towards sustainable development
Opinion Sur Collection
18/04/2010
New E-books
Introducing three new additions to our collection
23/09/2009
Getting out of the Crisis towards a sustainable development
STORM: The ways of the crisis and the ways out of it
International Crisis: Adjusting the Course and Improving the Systemic Functioning
