Money for Nothing: Three ways the G20 could deliver up to $280 billion for poor countries.

Interesting new Oxfam paper, Money for Nothing: Three ways the G20 could deliver up to $280 billion for poor countries.

Using bamboo in humanitarian situations: a manual

Bamboo is widely used around the world for construction purposes, including in disaster-prone tropical regions. There can be many benefits to using bamboo, including supporting the local economy post-disaster (as bamboo tends to be grown at the community level), using and strengthening existing community skills (bamboo construction knowledge is widespread in many tropical disaster zones), it is often a cheaper option, it is strong if used correctly, there are vast bamboo stocks in many countries (especially tropical regions) and it grows very fast compared to timber or alternate natural materials.

The boy who harnessed the wind

Great TED.com talk by William Kamkwamba from Malawi on building a windmill for his family when he was 14. Wired article here and William’s blog here.

Dreams from his mother

Interesting opinion piece in the New York Times about Obama’s mother’s (Ann Dunham Soetoro) work as an anthropologist in Central Java.

Lifesaver water filter

Check out this TED talk by engineer Michael Pritchard, who invented a portable water filter that filters down to 15 nanometers. While the initial cost looks high (over $100), running costs are only .5c per day. The comments and discussion that follow the video are interesting.

Peepoo bags

If you haven’t heard of peepoo bags, check it out now!! Promises to revolutionise sanitation, and potentially offers a real solution for the 2.6 billion people without access to hygienic toilets. They’ve thought of everything: biodegradable, cheap, breaks down fast, turns into fertiliser, light, and can be used anywhere …

RegNet Seminar: gender health inequalities

RegNet Seminar: ‘Addressing Gender Health Inequalities in Timor-Leste: Governance Reform and The Right to Health‘. Ms Clíonadh O’Keeffe, PhD Candidate, Global Women’s Studies, School of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway. Coombs Extension Lecture Theatre (Building 8, room 1.04), 12.30pm – 1.30pm, Tuesday, 28 July 2009.

The political economy of foreign aid: the ‘why’ and the ‘how’

Seminar, Bob Douglas Lecture Theatre, NCEPH (entrance via Eggleston Road). Kizzy Gandy, PhD student. The political economy of foreign aid: the ‘why’ and the ‘how’. 21 April 2009, 12.30pm – 1.30pm.

Addressing HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence

The Research School of Humanities presented the Work-in-Progress Seminar Series on 3rd April. Professor Rosemary Jolly, Department of English, IPPH & SARC, Queen’s University spoke on “Implicit Lies, Stigma, and Silence: the humanities’ crucial contribution to addressing HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence effectively’.

Professor Jolly says, “This paper developed out of my work on highly stigmatized issues, such as gender-based violence and STI co-infection, within the context of deeply impoverished communities affected by histories of compounded trauma and structural oppression in the form of colonialism and racism. It attempts to outline what critical theory drawn from the humanities can bring to our understanding of the stigmatized subject of HIV/GBV.”
A recording of the audio can be be downloaded here.

‘Zero Tolerance’ with exceptions?: The UN and NGO response to peacekeeping

The ANU Gender, Sexuality and Culture Seminar Series. Gabrielle Simm (PhD Candidate) on “‘Zero Tolerance’ with exceptions?: The UN and NGO response to peacekeeping“. 1.00 – 2.30pm, Monday 6 April 2009, Seminar Room C, Top Floor, RSPAS Coombs Building.