Our Future Planet News

Travelling the sustainable path

Thursday, 18 March 2010 13:55

Public transport could replace millions of cars in tomorrow’s future planet. Giles Crosse spoke to Heather Allen, Sustainable Development Senior Manager for the International Organisation for Public Transport, about the future.

“We must take a systems approach and consider transport as a system rather than a modal battle ground,” she says, describing the key change we should make to get sustainable public transport working.  

Democracy in disarray?

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 08:30

So long the shining example in modern political thinking, whether democracy is really working seems increasingly under the spotlight. Giles Crosse looks at the problems.

For many years now, democracy has been seen as the best political system to create equality, freedom and opportunity. Without these elements it’s tough to deliver equitable living for global citizens.

The Bigger Picture: A response to the current feed-in tariff/ PV debate in the UK

Friday, 12 March 2010 10:05

By Miguel Mendonça, Author and Sustainability Advocate

If the question is, what is the cheapest method of saving a ton of carbon today, then solar PV is not going to be the answer. If the question is instead, how do we solve the challenge of sustainability, then solar PV has a major part to play. Therefore, I do not have much to say directly on cost arguments. With tongue in cheek however, I might invite all those who oppose solar PV on the grounds of cost to spend the next year buying only the cheapest food, alcohol, clothing and household goods. They may quickly come to the conclusion that value is not found in cost alone.

Equality in education: Creating a level playing field in formative years is vital, but many people are denied a fair education from the start.

Thursday, 11 March 2010 14:03

Our Future Planet analyses the situation.

Sadly, many of our planet’s children are still denied the right to a worthwhile education. This isn’t just happening in developing or disaster stricken countries. Developed nations are still failing to tackle poverty, gender inequality and racism.

And the obvious effect is a generation of disincentivised individuals already pushed to the margins of global society. Poor education impacts directly on minimised job opportunities, involvement in crime, drugs or high rates of child birth and mortality.

Stopping slavery: Slavery still exists, despite global efforts to end the practice.

Monday, 08 March 2010 21:52

Giles Crosse investigates how this can happen in today’s supposedly civilised world.

For people in developed countries, slavery may seem something from a previous century, or something that exists only at tribal levels in far flung territories.

But a harsher reality is the practice continues, if shrouded, in both developed and developing world societies. Within the EU, migrant workers, immigrants or asylum seekers sold into the sex trade from Eastern Europe into major Western cities represent a tip of the iceberg.