Development Aid...

Written by former Harvard economist Dr Jeffrey Sachs, the report calls for much higher spending on development. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who received the report from Dr Sachs, said the goals of the project were not utopian but "eminently achievable".

"Many countries are making real progress in achieving them but other are not moving fast enough," he said. BBC developing world correspondent David Loyn says the report is an attempt to engage real change in the UN to go along with grandiose declarations.

"The system is not working right now, let's be clear," Dr Sachs said. "The overwhelmingly reality on our planet is that impoverished people get sick and die for lack of access to basic practical means that could help keep them alive and do more than that - help them achieve livelihoods and escape from poverty."

Dr Sachs singled out malaria, which kills as many people as in the whole Indian Ocean wave disaster every month and could be easily remedied by such measures as the provision of mosquito nets. "Every month, 150,000 children in Africa, if not more, are dying from the silent tsunami of malaria, a largely preventable and utterly treatable disease," he said.

Dr Sachs added that the resources needed were well within the means of the world's richest nations. But only five nations - Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden - have met self-imposed targets of providing 0.7% of GNP for development assistance. The report will recommend that some well-governed poor countries should be fast-tracked for aid, whereas others with poor human rights records should get no large-scale aid.

However, the tying of aid to a list of demands over how well countries are run has been highly controversial. Middle-income countries with pockets of extreme poverty, such as China, Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa, should eliminate those pockets, the report adds. But Dr Sachs' solutions are not as radical as some observers would like, he adds.

For example, the report falls short of demanding something which he himself has separately called for - for African countries to take the debt issue into their own hands and stop paying interest on bad debts. ...

Conheca o Mundo onde Vive...

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Welcome!!

This is my new place in the net.

My "old" and dear site (with more than one year) had to canceled due to server shutdown. You can complain to this guy... dody@nomadlife.org :) (Just kidding! He is really not responsible for the shutdown, I think the excessive sucess of aiesec.ws was the responsable for the shutdown! too much traffic! :) Dody did and is doing a good work!)

Anyway, the spirit is the same!! The "old" site is available in this adress Http://archive.aiesec.ws/joseparreira.aiesec.ws/ With all the contends! (Of course my CV is outdated...since life does not stop...;)....Iam since April 2005 teaching in Angola in an University)...

O "velho" site esta (nao vou por acentos porque este site, por agora, nao os reproduz, de qualquer das formas se vier a publicar algo em portugues e nao se perceber muito bem, podem sempre seleccionar a opcao comment e depois post coment para lerem o texto num portugues correcto) disponivel em Http://archive.aiesec.ws/joseparreira.aiesec.ws/ com todo o conteudo disponivel! :) (Claro, que o CV esta desactualizado....a vida nao para....estou desde Abril de 2005 a leccionar em Angola, numa Universidade)....

So, here I am....this place is not so good as the other (at first glance), with no "gems" section and all...but again, I intent to put here lots of thoughts and news.....and of course everybody can join!....any trouble just contact me also at Zparreira@gmail.com or Z_parreira@hotmail.com ...

Best regards.... :)

See you in Nomadlife!!

Jose Parreira Http://archive.aiesec.ws/joseparreira.aiesec.ws/

This link is not available anymore...2008...but I will try to recover it...meanwhile here is some of my favourite posts of the previous website...

Learn how to live in peace with Uncertainty...

Human beings, generally, have the profound necessity to have their world really well organised, controlled...to be able to explain everything...and also to understand everything that happens...to be able to have our feelings and actions and in the end our life... completely controlled and defined...

Usually we fear uncertainty...we fear the unknown...it is part of our survival instinct...that links us to our more animal part....

I believe this fact can really limitate our actions and in the end our ability to live life like we really desire....how many times we dont do things, act in certain way...we really want, just because we are afraid of the consequences...in others and in ourselves?

...we fear to get hurt in any way...so we choose the easiest way... we feel that what looks more complex is more difficult....we reduce/limitate our thoughts and actions just because it is more comfortable and easy to act in that way... To this I say....once again...I want to free myself...to learn how to live in peace with uncertainty...

Because anyway that is the way life is in reality...chaos is important...here there is no absolute truths ..only when we accept uncertainty can change occur...there is the need to be confused sometimes to dont know what to do.... dont be able to explain and understand some things...accept that naturally...and again let it flow.... naturally...you can not control everything....dont lose your balance.....or again, lose it to learn.... and to be sure that you want to get back to that balance.....

Also sometimes ....think deeper....talk...discuss..... emerge...again.... take that step which you want to take...despite not knowing what you are going to find....this is the way to keep constantly evolving...to keep learning....choosing naturally..... life is a continuous transformation....a continuous path towards a very distant perfection.... continuous learning process....and to be closer and closer to what we can call a really developed human being...to save ourselves from self- destruction and from pointless life....also resulting from predatory actions........

Personally, I am only sure (in the moment) ....about the relevance to respect the truth and the disciple of non- violence (very broad concept.... essentially to be able to not send/awake any kind of bad, futile and pointless energy in others and in yourself Also to be able to maintain certain connection/relation and sensitivity to the world and to the people, and feelings which you dont like...so you can also help them).... ...let the immense, dynamic, relative, negative, positive, diverse and complex multitude of forces and life flow naturally around you... every action/ non action has consequences...

Just really give relevance to what you feel that your inner voice (try to respect your unique truth at any given unique moment) tells you to be worry about and be above everything else around you... what is petty, worldly, earthly, pathetic...less important....remember....life is to futile already!! do what you really want...Also independent of pubic opinion....

Love life!!!!...enjoy!... we just have to choose what to do with the time that is given to us...dont suffer with things you can not alter/control...Also we can not solve all misunderstandings...free also yourself from that burden... ... remember....this way is most of the times the most difficult and fascinating path... (I am most of the times painfully aware/ even ashamed of my failings) ...to follow...it requires lots of courage and discipline...at every moment/decision just stop a moment and ask yourself what you value the most???.....

try to respect your truth with the answer and act accordingly....and keep a positive attitude....if you let things flow...most probably you will sail in the way .....you feel really good about ...in peace....and you will realise that you need very little to be happy and in harmony with yourself...dont worry ....you are going to be going to be fine anyway (everything will pass anyway)....let it flow...let it be...free yourself...dont choose.....

Be attached only to life and to your truth!....dont be afraid even to lose your life....if that happens while performing your duty!......be yourself!...

Ask yourself... if by any chance I die now, Will I die happy?......

The Challenge of "Development"....

The challenge of development is linked with the elimination of pressing and widespread needs and the prevention of sudden misery. It is not only the challenge of putting people above some defined poverty line...but also to provide them the possibility/freedom to live above the dignity line and ultimately live the life, which they have reasons to value.

Feeling that democracy is the way, but only in the real sense of the term. So to fight the limitations of the actual reality of many democracies, promoting peoples empowered participation, decentralisation, a free, frequent and open public debate, should be a challenge to everybody (but especially to public policies).

The immense gap between the values of the Constitution/basic rules and principles of a country and the actual reality has to be diminished. As someone has once said he live in a highly unconstitutional world... My feeling is that the right way will emerge if the latent and powerful mass of human beings that is still not participating (and often relying on informal and corrupt systems) is to come forward and express their wishes. Promoting effective communication and co-operation also the use of new technologies can be important, especially to break physical barriers.

A democracy will only be actually called that if also the media are completely free and independent to be a vehicle for everyone to be able to express their will. There is also the need to reduce the monetary and all types of constrains and blockages, which appear in many cases when people want to express ideas and ambitious, letting the truth flow freely and an open, free and informed debate be promoted.

These actions will for sure enhance the feeling of belonginess and ownership in the people when they think about the government and their decisions. Acting locally and thinking globally.... seems to be a correct course of action, so that the real concept of global Village...can be achieved. It seems inevitable to drive in that path, but is the way you do it and the way you behave that can assert for the later success or failure... maybe the notion of global, tolerant and diverse humanity is more appropriate.

Always the behaviour/actions of the people can complicate or tremendously simplify solutions and processes (there seems to be always a way to find gaps in any set of rules and corrupt the system, so what is missing is a correct human development and mindset). We as human beings, have the capacity and intelligence to see that the survival of the fittest the jungle law can not be our law as rational animals (realising our interdependency in various levels).

"The world is like the human body: if one part aches, the rest will feel it; if any part is hurt, the whole will suffer."

Working to improve our world and our beings has to be the essential course of action, also searching a balance between us and the other living things in this planet, recognising the subjacent complementarily and interdependency. Sometimes some of the other living things with all their irrationality (despite having also so many other better qualities and capacities) can be more pure and innocent than our specie... which sometimes act in such a horrible way.

Fighting the many times, under development human mind must be, for me, a real concern (open your mind and expand your horizons and thoughts). If we stop to think about many of our actions, behaviours, and lifes we can realise the futility and insignificance attached to them, so what the point of living without following our deepest desires and promoting good feelings and energies? Why be afraid anyway?

As I heard somewhere people live like they were never going to die and die like they had never lived... Especially if you live in a country like India you realise the relativity ( in time and space...from being to being...) of all concepts, analysis, interpretations, feelings, situations, actions.... ....even in an individual level people tend to adapt (physical and psychological) to the situations.

Many times living happy in such hard conditions. But to provide the conditions (education, information, health, food and water security and active participation in a democracy) and opportunities for every human being to be able to explore and live the life, which they have reasons to value is, for me an essential aspect. As once somebody said, freedom has thousands of delights, which the slaves, even if happy, will never experience (also if you dont have "information", you dont care...being a kind of "slave" , living artificially?)....

Perfection is not a characteristic of human beings (and maybe of nothing at all) but we can sure drive through that path. One can easily perceive the universality of some concepts defined in this reflection, not just to the entire developing world but also to the socalled developed countries.

Also because the parameters which can assert the success of a society are also relative and are to be discussed by all in a really open and public debate. You can apply concepts and notions underlined here in every local or more global situation.

Life is a meaning on itself.

Our inner voice and dreams can be the most powerful driving forces...

Jose Parreira

"Simple" Happiness...

For how long have you been without realising the immense beauty around you, in every moment? The concept of "simple" and perfect happiness is a bit about the power/gift of enjoying life in every second you have....to live...I could write for hours ...about it....purity...truth....lightness...balance...no worries...living naturally.... no attachments....while attached to everything around you and the things you really value....to help you follow the path your heart really desires.....no pressures...how natural and beautiful the course of live and death is.....love ....as a way of freeing yourself from suffering.....mind control over body....right positive mental attitude ....silence and meditation.....peace...harmony...

It is often said that the Civilised way of life uplifts the man from the beast in him to spiritual height. When today all-around primordial established values, that sustain inner joy and beauty, are being uprooted while the materialistic philosophy is gaining even more ground and people are feeling alienated, can we call it a Civilised way of life?

"Life is a Bliss: taste it" Mother Teresa

Quanto tempo ja tiveste sem apreciar toda a enorme beleza que te rodeia, em cada momento?...o conceito de simples e perfeita felicidade é um pouco sobre o poder/dom de apreciarmos a vida em cada segundo que temos para viver...podia escrever por horas....pureza...verdade...leveza...equilibrio...sem preocupacoes...vivendo naturalmente...sem estarmos dependentes de nada....mas ao mesmo tempo estando dependente de tudo o que nos rodeia e do que mais valorizamos....ajuda a seguir o caminho que o teu coracao realmente deseja....sem pressoes.....como o curso da vida e morte e tao natural e belo....amor ...como forma de nos libertarmos do sofrimento....controlo da mente sobre o corpo.....correcta e positiva atitute mental.......silencio....meditacao....paz...harmonia.....

Diz-se muitas vezes que uma forma de vida civilizada conduz o homem, da besta animal em si ate um estado espiritual mais elevado. Quando hoje no mundo todos os valores mais basicos e primordiais, que susteem a verdadeira beleza e alegria interior, estao esquecidos....e a filosofia materialista ganha cada vez mais terreno.....e as pessaos sentem-se alienadas....poderemos chamar a isto uma vida civilizada?? ...

...fez-me muito bem....mudar de ares ...conhecer novos espacos neste nosso mundo tão lindo.....abstrair-me de muita coisa ... sentir a simple happiness.....tanta beleza neste mundo que quase não aguento.....conhecer novas pessoas....sentir-me novamente um cavaleiro andante.....cada vez mais proximo de uma continua PAZ.....

especialmente num momento .....quando estava a estudar numa esplanada...a apreciar toda a beleza da natureza ....uma joaninha veio ter comigo....deixei que ela me guiasse.....fui em direccao ao farol....o vento a levar-me ....a paisagem a consumir-me.....senti as lagrimas a correr.....pois nao aguentava...tanta beleza.....e novamente e com todo o seu esplendor .....senti-me a voar.....acima deste mundo.....como se pudesse esmaga-lo........e eis que surge uma mulher que amo....e eu fico cansado de tanta felicidade....sinto-me vivo....e irradiando uma assustadora energia positiva... continua a respeitar a tua verdade e a evoluir....