Development and Developing Countries

Development is a process that refers to improving economic performance, living standards and other factors that affect the well-being of the people living in a country. The determination of whether a country has become “developed” is often based on a combination of development indicators.

The Impending Decline of the USA As a World Power

The Second World War ended in 1945 by the dropping of two Atomic Bombs on Japan. This feat itself needs scrutiny and is the start of the decline of the West. Japan, it has been conclusively proved was a defeated nation at the start of 1945, yet the USA thought it fit to Atom bomb Japan.

Year Of The Protester? I Protest!

Why are we always championing people willing to tear everything down but not those who wish to bring something positive into this world. When I read that the “Person of the Year” was the protester… my eyes went red…. my collar tightened and I started to blow steam out the top of my head (or did I just dream that?). I did get really upset and instead of complaining about it, I thought I would try to make my point of what is needed most in the world today. Please send me your thoughts.

The Middle East and Iran: A Dangerous Conundrum

The Middle East has been of strategic importance to the west since oil was found there but it become more and more unstable as the years go by. The Arab Spring has done us, in the west, no favours, and now Iran provides the supreme challenge by threatening to acquire nukes. But that is not all pan Arab alliance supporting radical Islam in also on the cards and that is really scary…

On Chinese Currency, Be Careful What You Wish For

China lets the Yuan trade more freely. In consequence, we risk losing the dollar’s strategic advantages.

Insights Into Japanese Consumers And The Cute Factor – With Matthew Alt and Brian Salsberg

In some ways news coming out of Japan seems to paint a less than rosy picture, but to hear two American expatriates – Matthew Alt of AltJapan and Brian Salsberg of McKinsey and Company – talk about their daily lives while offering views of the country they have come to love, brings perhaps a much needed perspective to examining Japan as a whole. Alt is awaiting the release of his new book, ‘Yurei Attack,’ forthcoming this summer, and again treated us with a discerning analysis of contemporary Japanese culture. Salsberg, a principal at one of the world’s largest management consulting firms, provided a comprehensive portrayal of the Japanese consumer, a subject that’s often at the focal point of his professional research in the last five years. Both felt fortunate to partake in Tokyo life, a cosmopolitan city that – as they both agreed – is still one of the greatest, if not the greatest city in the world.

Moving Ahead With the Western Climate Initiative

Carbon Finance recently reported that the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) has decided to give priority to the creation of carbon credits within the participating WCI jurisdictions over the importation of offsets from international programmes such as the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). And at the end of February 2012, the WCI parties released their final recommendations for the future of the offsetting system with the aim of establishing an efficient system consistent across all the participating jurisdictions. This is a positive development with regards to the WCI given that several states have already formally withdrawn from the initiative.

Escape London

London is an awesome city, and nobody can deny her of that. It’s a vibrant city, it’s crowded, it’s congested, things are always moving (apart from the traffic). Noise, people, colours, flashing lights… all those wonderful and not so wonderful things that make it the city it is. It’s really a love and hate relationship for people living and working in London. At least for me it is. Some people embrace the whole living in London thing because there’s always entertainment at your doorstep. But some people just get in and get out right after work. I am the latter.

Volunteer Tourism – An Experience With a Difference

As people increasingly began to explore other nations and their cultures, opportunists struck gold by satisfying the urge of tourists looking to experience the world. It was a win-win for both tourists and tourism organizations; while one made money, the other felt happy that S/He added to the economy of the country that they visited. Little did they know that theirs was a negative influence on the local people, their culture and of course their environment!

India’s Love Affair With Gold

India has a love affair with gold, and it goes beyond buying small “pretties” to adorn the body. In India, the dream is to acquire gold – and as much of it – as you can afford. For there, gold isn’t merely a component of jewelry, it’s a wearable display of riches.