Most people have heard the old Indian parable of how six blind men construe an elephant to be respectively a wall, spear, snake, tree, fan, and a rope because of their physical experience with the animal. A lesson of the parable is that people can easily interpret the same concept in different ways based on their own experiences. Interpretations can be so dissimilar as to lead … [Read more...] about Delivering Sustainable Infrastructure
Yes, we can!… Measure Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture!
When we talk about women’s empowerment, it is difficult to grasp what we actually mean. Does it refer to women’s attitude towards gender violence? Or does it mean women’s economic independence and decision-making power? Does it perhaps imply access to productive resources, education and other opportunities? Or might it mean control over time? Or does it concern all these … [Read more...] about Yes, we can!… Measure Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture!
How an innovative resettlement plan helped improve lives in Brazil
The Mané Dendê River Basin in the western part of Salvador (the capital of Bahia) has a population of about 44,000. Eighty percent of households in the area have incomes below the minimum wage, and 32 percent of the Salvador population lives in informal settlements, sometimes in areas prone to flooding and with poor access to public services. This Environmental Sanitation … [Read more...] about How an innovative resettlement plan helped improve lives in Brazil
Do electric cars really reduce CO2 emissions?
Countries such as Chile and Jamaica are encouraging the deployment of electric cars, even while they produce electricity from fossil fuels. While it may seem counterintuitive, promoting electric vehicles in countries where electricity comes from coal does help to fight climate change. The key is to consider the long-term in the analysis. Let me explain. Some argue that it … [Read more...] about Do electric cars really reduce CO2 emissions?
Mangroves, the biological link between environmental protection and economic development
Jane and Arturo enjoyed a tasty lobster and a pina colada while soaking their feet in the turquoise waters of Hispaniola Island, relaxing after a sightseeing trip where they spotted migratory birds and dived alongside manatees within green and thick mangroves. Little did they know that, throughout its life, that lobster had passed several phases of its growth in these … [Read more...] about Mangroves, the biological link between environmental protection and economic development