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THIS MONTH'S SPOTLIGHT: ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINTS
Ecological footprints of an individual is defined as the
amount of land required to sustain his/her metabolism;
that is, to provide the raw materials fed on, and process
the waste products excreted.
GDRC has been researching on ecological footprints extensively,
and the outputs are available online at:
http://www.gdrc.org/uem/footprints/
within the Urban environmental Management programme pages.
We do need to remember that environmental footprints are not
an 'exact science'. But footprints are useful, however from
three points of view (a) to shock, to generate awareness -
focusing on urban lifestyles and living, resource utilization
etc. (b) to build scenarios: if criteria used to define the
footprints are changed, or resource utilization reduced,
how does it affect the footprints? and (c) to evaluate and
monitor policies and programmes. What footprints have
particular policies and programmes generated? If their
structure is changed/modified, or new policies put inplace,
how are footprints affected?
FOCUS ON GDRC: LEARNING LESSONS
A key question that GDRC constantly asks is "So what?" It
is not the confrontational 'So what?!?' , but the starting
point for three very critical questions that leads the way
to better action on the ground. These are (1) So what is
happening? (2) So what does it mean to me? (3) So what do
I do? The answer to the first question builds the scenario,
the second understand the impacts, and third suggests
action to be undertaken. GDRC's 15 programmes keep these
three simple, but important questions in mind when they
are being developed.
WHAT'S NEW AT GDRC'S WEBSITE?
- All GDRC: GDRC launches its new online newsletter, "GDRC Mosaic"
- All GDRC: GDRC announces its realigned and comprehensive capacity building policy.
- Urban Environmental Management: City Networks - Asian Network of Major Cities 21
- Urban Environmental Management: Footprints - many new related concepts such as 'virtual water', 'energy footprints', 'food miles' etc. were added.
- Urban Environmental Management: New theme page on 'Green Construction'
- Urban Environmental Management: Energy Management - Energy in Agenda 21
- Microfinance: Credit Access for Women - Women Vision International
- NGO Cafe: Bungee Jumps - NGO databases and directories
- Gender and Development: Gender and ICTs - Gender Evaluation Methodology for Internet and ICTs
ABOUT GDRC MOSAIC
The "GDRC Mosaic" is a monthly email newsletter that provides
information bites, and summarizes programme activities of
GDRC, including new items added to the website.
To subscribe: http://www.gdrc.org/about/newsletter.html
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe-mosaic@gdrc.org
Comments, suggestions and contributions: mosaic@gdrc.org
CONTACT ADDRESS:
Global Development Research Center
5-13-3-1601, Nakano-cho, Miyakojima-ku,
Osaka 534-0027, Japan
Tel / Fax: +(81-6) 6925-8005
mosaic@gdrc.org
http://www.gdrc.org/
© 2003-2005, GDRC. All rights reserved.
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