We’ve donated via one of our favourite charities, Action Aid. There are of course many ways to donate, this is just one.
Jane
PS: I’ve also just heard from Sarah at Plan. She says, ‘We have worked in Haiti for 36 years, and the projects and communities we work with in the South of the country have been heavily affected. We need help with our emergency response and long-term support. The website address is www.plan-international.org
It’s been a while since I last posted here, largely due to the hectically busy second half of last year: editors4change had several large, long-running projects that just about took all hands on deck. Watch forthcoming case studies to find out what we’ve been working on with our clients and the important publications that came out of those efforts.
Partly as a result of the increased volume of work, we have also welcomed on board two new editors, Jane Belton and Ros Patching, both bringing an abundance of experience and some essential new specialist areas of interest and skills. Check out their team profiles for more details.
One of my resolutions is to post more regularly this year, so watch this space. More soon!
Jane
Given my background in economics, but frustration at the inhumane approach to development taken by many economists, I’ve long taken an interest in the work of the new economics foundation (nef). Here is another interesting report from the organisation advocating a radically differing approach to national accounting – National Accounts of Well-being: bringing real wealth onto the balance sheet
With the world financial crisis, poverty and the threat of climate change, it is increasingly apparent that economic growth alone is unlikely to lead to global stability or widespread health and happiness. The report authors (J Michaleson, S Abdallah and N Steuer) ask if it is possible to redesign national accounts to better measure people’s well-being and go on to present a working model of how National Accounts of Well-being could work. Check it out.
Jane
The draft G20 communique leaked at the weekend makes little reference to climate change and according to the Guardian … ’appears to be vague on the subject of how green the $2tn (£1.4tn) stimulus package agreed by world leaders should be’. Climatologist James Hansen is not impressed, telling the newspaper, ‘If this is the best they can do, then their “planet in peril” rhetoric is probably just that – empty rhetoric’. A story we’ll be watching in the coming days …
See Climate change experts call on G20 members to commit to action
Jane
editors4change has decided to put its money where its mouth is and has just commenced sponsoring a child through Action Aid. Our little boy is called Anner Andres Pesantez Cueva and he is part of a rural community in an area called Chinchaysuyo in Ecuador. We understand that priorities for Ayuda en Accion Ecuador and Peru, working in partnership with two local organisations, will be to improve access to clean water (just half the population has access to safe drinking water), healthcare and better quality education. We’ve written our first letter, more updates soon!
Jane
Voluntary organisations can’t make up for the impact of the global recession on Southern Africa, but they can make a difference to some people’s lives. A conference organised by ACTSA (Action for Southern Africa) will look at how British organisations and individuals can work with partners in Southern Africa to create jobs through trade and tourism, and create links among people working in health and education. It will take place in London on 26 June. ACTSA is the successsor organisation of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and the conference will also mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the AAM.
Christabel
© editors4change 2008
