CHINA is using an “iron hand”, in a silk glove (of an extra $12 billion) to achieve energy efficiency targets.
The hard line is being taken after it was revealed that energy use rose 3.2% in the first quarter compared to last year, reversing the decline in the energy used to produce each dollar of gross domestic product.
This is seen as a major setback in China’s push to cut energy use by 20% by the end of this year from 2006.
Premier Wen Jiabao held a nationwide videoconference and used the occasion to direct government officials to wield an “iron hand” and shut down inefficient enterprises. China Daily, in reporting on the videoconference, stated the Chinese government had also earmarked an extra $12 billion to pay for upgrades and other measures to reach its energy efficiency goals.
The government pledged to shut down hundreds of smaller coal-fired power plants, below standard steel mills and smelting plants, cement works, aluminum manufacturers, glass factories and paper mills.
Friday, 16 July 2010
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Garden for growth
A new gardening project in Senegal is addressing issues of food security, poverty and climate change. 'Super Vegetable Gardens' are hoping to help small-scale farmers throughout Senegal and in tropical areas around the world.
The 'super vegetable gardens' initiatve has been running in Senegal for just over a year and there are now more than 150 such gardens throughout the country.
It is the result of 30 years of research that was first field tested in Niger in 2007, as a collaboration between the international aid group Pro-Natura and the French firm JTS Seeds.
"It is very, very new. The only obstacle is linked to the type of person taking care of the garden. It works exceedingly well technically, but you have to spend two hours per day to feed a family of ten people," says Guy Reinaud, president of Pro-Natura.
Each 60-square-meter garden starts with a simple kit - a toolbox for farmers. Inside is a selection of organic, non-genetically-modified seeds for fruits and vegetables including cabbage, tomatoes, carrots and melons. The kit also includes soil conditioners, such as fertilizers, and growing equipment, like plastic veils to protect the plants.
The 'super vegetable gardens' initiatve has been running in Senegal for just over a year and there are now more than 150 such gardens throughout the country.
It is the result of 30 years of research that was first field tested in Niger in 2007, as a collaboration between the international aid group Pro-Natura and the French firm JTS Seeds.
"It is very, very new. The only obstacle is linked to the type of person taking care of the garden. It works exceedingly well technically, but you have to spend two hours per day to feed a family of ten people," says Guy Reinaud, president of Pro-Natura.
Each 60-square-meter garden starts with a simple kit - a toolbox for farmers. Inside is a selection of organic, non-genetically-modified seeds for fruits and vegetables including cabbage, tomatoes, carrots and melons. The kit also includes soil conditioners, such as fertilizers, and growing equipment, like plastic veils to protect the plants.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Is it science?
Sergey Brin, the Google co-founder, is helping to search for a cure to Parkinson's disease ... tests show he has a pre-disposition to the disease. What's interesting is that he is doing it by turning normal 'scientific method' on its head.
Scientists usually work by creating a hypothesis and then conducting experiments and collecting data to prove or disprove that hypothesis.
Brin's approach is to work with 10,000 sufferers of Parkinson's, gathering data about them, their lifestyles and their condition .. and then looking for patterns that might create a hypothesis.
This is, in effect, a new approach to science made possible by the ability of computers to store and analyse vast amounts of data. Is it science? Well, yes. In effect, Brin's hypothesis is that the data collection and analysis project will identify patterns, connections or trends. If he proves this, its good - and very useful - science!
Scientists usually work by creating a hypothesis and then conducting experiments and collecting data to prove or disprove that hypothesis.
Brin's approach is to work with 10,000 sufferers of Parkinson's, gathering data about them, their lifestyles and their condition .. and then looking for patterns that might create a hypothesis.
This is, in effect, a new approach to science made possible by the ability of computers to store and analyse vast amounts of data. Is it science? Well, yes. In effect, Brin's hypothesis is that the data collection and analysis project will identify patterns, connections or trends. If he proves this, its good - and very useful - science!
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Failed States
I've just been in Pakistan. In fact, I'm posting this from Abu Dhabi airport while in transit on the way back home.
While I was there one of the local newspapers published some think tank's list of failed states (measured on a range of criteria such as security, access to education, wage levels, health, etc).
Somalia topped the list, followed by Zimbabwe ... with Pakistan at No 8.
Did it feel 'failed'? Well, unfortunately it did, rather. I met some great people but most of them are bewildered and frustrated by an environment in which vast natural resources go untapped, small companies grow into comfortable slightly bigger companies and then stop, corruption is rife, many good jobs are 'political' appointments, the government often bails out failed companies (leaving no incentive to turn it round), only those whose parents can afford to pay for it get a good education, and so on.
The situation is not hopeless ... but its going to take a bold leader to take on this 'climate of cosiness' and create rewards for real success (not just commercial success).
That leader has not emerged yet!
While I was there one of the local newspapers published some think tank's list of failed states (measured on a range of criteria such as security, access to education, wage levels, health, etc).
Somalia topped the list, followed by Zimbabwe ... with Pakistan at No 8.
Did it feel 'failed'? Well, unfortunately it did, rather. I met some great people but most of them are bewildered and frustrated by an environment in which vast natural resources go untapped, small companies grow into comfortable slightly bigger companies and then stop, corruption is rife, many good jobs are 'political' appointments, the government often bails out failed companies (leaving no incentive to turn it round), only those whose parents can afford to pay for it get a good education, and so on.
The situation is not hopeless ... but its going to take a bold leader to take on this 'climate of cosiness' and create rewards for real success (not just commercial success).
That leader has not emerged yet!
Thursday, 17 June 2010
A Community building a Future
Today I was on Bhit island (just off Karachi in Pakistan) talking to representatives of the Baba Bhit (two islands making up one community) Fishermen Educational Society.
Baba Bhit is a community of fisherfolk who, until recently, had a literacy level of zero and an uncertain future. They land their catches at Karachi fishing harbour where 'middlemen' take a significant cut of the proceeds.
In the last 5 years, they have:
1. Established the Educational Society which has itself started a school - for boys and girls - on the island and recruited teachers from the mainland
2. Worked with a micro-finance bank to provide a 'branchless bank' on the island where fishermen can deposit and withdraw funds (within a certain agreed 'float') using chip & pin technology.
3. Established a plan for their own landing site, chillstore, market hall and shrimp peeling plant so that they can sell direct to processors, add value, employ women and - hopefully - secure permission to export to the UK
This is productivity in action!
I was there with UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) and we hope to be able to help them with some funding for number 3. It is always better to help those who are helping themselves.
Baba Bhit is a community of fisherfolk who, until recently, had a literacy level of zero and an uncertain future. They land their catches at Karachi fishing harbour where 'middlemen' take a significant cut of the proceeds.
In the last 5 years, they have:
1. Established the Educational Society which has itself started a school - for boys and girls - on the island and recruited teachers from the mainland
2. Worked with a micro-finance bank to provide a 'branchless bank' on the island where fishermen can deposit and withdraw funds (within a certain agreed 'float') using chip & pin technology.
3. Established a plan for their own landing site, chillstore, market hall and shrimp peeling plant so that they can sell direct to processors, add value, employ women and - hopefully - secure permission to export to the UK
This is productivity in action!
I was there with UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) and we hope to be able to help them with some funding for number 3. It is always better to help those who are helping themselves.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Can New Zealand match Australia?
The poor old New Zealanders work among the longest hours in the OECD but have relatively low pay.
To address this, they naturally compare themselves witrh their nearest neighbours and matching Australian levels of productivity has become a kind of holy grail.
Australia has the advantage, however, of vast mineral wealth.
New Zealand, therefore, has to think and act smarter - taking advantage of its own advantages. Perhaps prime amongst these is New Zealand's smaller size. This should give it the flexibility it needs to to transform the economy, using their own impressive natural and human resources.
Of course, only time will tell whether they can pull this off.
To address this, they naturally compare themselves witrh their nearest neighbours and matching Australian levels of productivity has become a kind of holy grail.
Australia has the advantage, however, of vast mineral wealth.
New Zealand, therefore, has to think and act smarter - taking advantage of its own advantages. Perhaps prime amongst these is New Zealand's smaller size. This should give it the flexibility it needs to to transform the economy, using their own impressive natural and human resources.
Of course, only time will tell whether they can pull this off.
Friday, 4 June 2010
Measure what?
Last month the Washington Post ran a story about an employee in Alexandria, VA having to work so much harder (in effect doing the work of two men) due to the recession forcing companies to opt for 'greater productivity'.
This confusion of 'productivity' and 'production' is understandable ... since it reflects the difficulties of measuring productivity in appropriate ways. If this company has indeed made workers work longer hours - for the same money - then productivity ... measured as output per dollar ... has gone up, but productivity ... measured as output per person hour ... has not.
So, we need to be careful about making decisions or judgements on productivity figures without understanding the basis of calculation (and the underlying 'truth').
This confusion of 'productivity' and 'production' is understandable ... since it reflects the difficulties of measuring productivity in appropriate ways. If this company has indeed made workers work longer hours - for the same money - then productivity ... measured as output per dollar ... has gone up, but productivity ... measured as output per person hour ... has not.
So, we need to be careful about making decisions or judgements on productivity figures without understanding the basis of calculation (and the underlying 'truth').
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