Collective responsibility for sustainable livelihoods

The second launch of ‘Beyond Economics’ took place in The Hague on 11 December 2009 and was inspired by the third issue of Development Vol 52. The Hague seminar hinged on the question of whether economics itself has to change or whether the existing economic principles just need to be more efficiently put into practice perhaps with better, more people-centred and environmentally friendly policy.

From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth

During the launch of Development 52.3 ‘Beyond Economics’, which was held in New York on 29-31 October 2009, Assistant Editor Laura Fano Morrissey interviewed David Korten, president and founder of the People-Centered Development Forum and author of numerous books includingAgenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth, The Great Turning and When Corporations Rule the World.

Another economics borne?

‘There is another economics waiting be borne. It would take efficiency off the pedestal and stress theimportance of alternative measures’, Stephen Marglin, Harvard University. This is one of the quotes from the Beyond Economics Meeting in New York report.

The need to reconnect value with values

Firstly we have to realize that something can be economically profitable, economically right but ethically or morally wrong. Civil society organizations should not only make their arguments in saying ‘this is the more economic way to proceed, that it’s better because we can show that the benefits exceed the costs’. There are also spaces to make ethical and moral arguments.

Renewable energy: a top priority in fighting climate change

I think the main thing is that if we don’t address the climate crisis there will be very severe dislocations of economic lives as well as people’s lives. And much of that, the brunt of that will be borne by poor people partly because of the way in which the climate crisis will unfold but partly because we have fewer resources with which the poor can cope. So I think from the perspective of the poor is very important that we respond to the climate crisis and avoid as much of the danger to the...

South Africa and the global economic crisis

Assistant Editor Laura Fano interviewed Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen, who could not attend the launch of Development 52.3 ‘Beyond Economics’ in New York, on the effects of the global economic crisis in South Africa. Ebrahim is an independent researcher and a part-time research associate at the Centre for Poverty, Employment and Growth at South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council.

Civil society activism in Morocco: ‘much ado about Nothing’

18/11/2009 On the 13th of November, 2009, Knowledge Programme Civil Society in West Asia organised a seminar on the Moroccan civil society for the political scientist and researcher Dr. Francesco Cavatorta. Dr. Cavatorta is attached to School of Law and Government, Dublin State University and Knowledge Programme Civil Society in West Asia. The seminar was attended by participants from Hivos, University of Amsterdam, Press Now and IKV Pax Christi. The presentation and conclusions provided a p...

Never waste a crisis

The launch of the development journal issue 52.3 followed by a SID HIVOS UNDESA International Policy Seminar ‘Responding to the interlocked financial, climate and care crises’ fostered a lively set of discussions of mainstream neo classical economic thinking, visions for alternative forms of economies, as well as the new frameworks for sustainable human development.

A way out of the crisis: Radical Ecological Democracy

In the continuing discussions around Beyond Economics Development Vol 52 no 3 Assistant Editor Laura Fano interviewed Ashish Kothari, founding member of the Indian environmental group Kalpavriksh (www.kalpavriksh.org) and former co-chair of the IUCN Strategic Direction on Governance, Equity and Livelihoods in Relation to Protected Areas.