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Plant a tree in Madagascar and see it grow on-line! - TH!NK ABOUT IT

July 20, 2010

Planet Action joins forces with the NGO Vakanala in its approach of reforestation and fighting against global warming in Madagascar. How? Through an annual provision of observation imagery and geographic information. This information will enable Vakanala to visualize the progress of their reforestation projects and to monitor the donors’ development efforts in a transparent way.
Planet Action is an initiative launched by Spot Image, a leader in the market for satellite imagery. Planet Actions goal is to encourage the Earth observation industry and geographic information professionals to support local projects searching for adaptive solutions to climate change problems. The products and materials available to these professionals – satellite images, geographic information systems, image processing and display software – are indispensable for studying the impact of global warming on our planet, on local and global scales.

Vakanala project called "Biosphere Reserve of Manambolo: Reforestation as a tools of rural development in Madagascar" is visible in the website of Planet Action . This page will be documented, illustrated and updated under the responsibility of our scientific coordinator Jérôme Lebeau, expert in conservation, monitoring, restoration of biodiversity and rural crowd sourcing. Jérôme is the man behind the http://fire.vakanala.org/ which provide a Google 3D spatial and temporal representation of fires that occurs In Madagascar and Comorros Islands. Fires are detected from two satelittes by NASA and University of Maryland, throught The Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS). Data are collected for Madagascar and dispatch by Conservation International Fire Altert Project.

To be expected on the Vakanala Planet Action page: The monitoring of plants for reforestation; monitoring of biodiversity through géophotographie and GPS field survey. All carried out directly by the rural communities.

The population in the village of Manambolo, the pilot site in Madagascar, is already surprisingly sensitive to the interest of forest conservation as an essential asset to their development. Anxious to preserve their "forest capital" and aware of the massive increase in traffic of illegal wood and slash and burn activity in the country, they have appealed to the NGO Vakanala for the establishment of a sustainable management of their resources.

The project that Vakanala team has proposed to the community is in line with the program "Man and Biosphere (MAB) of the UNESCO. This form of protected area has the objective to integrate both conservation of natural resources (and hence biodiversity), and sustainable development of local populations into one single process. Launched in the early 1970s, it targets the ecological, social and economic dimensions of biodiversity loss and the reduction of this loss. It uses its World Network of Biosphere Reserves as vehicles for knowledge-sharing, research and monitoring, education and training, and participatory decision-making.

Vakanala project is funded entirely with online donations and crowd funding. Until July 30 2010 (10 days left), the project is part of Global Giving Open Challenge to finance the reforestation of 3 fragments of forest in the south part of the Island by the establishment of a community plant nursery. These fragments, the last remnants of natural forests which covered the Island before our era, are of paramount importance : it is first real sanctuary for the unique biodiversity of Madagascar, which it is a last refuge, but it is also a natural resource vital to the survival of rural communities to which they provide many services, natural raw materials, natural storage of rainwater, soil fertility, fight against desertification, and many others.

We hope to have a permanent place in the Global Giving green open challenge.
The principle of Global Giving competition: you make an online donation and if the total donations received by Vakanala reached U.S. $ 4,000 from at least 50 donors, we will be able to submit several projects permanently on the Global Giving web site, and we will receive additional funding of U.S.$10 000.
Some of our projects that will need their place on Global Giving to implement a Biosphere Reserve in the village of Manambolo are:

ecological studies (endangered species, soil erosion)

the socio-economic studies (development of a specific economic model)

the intercommunication between the communities, the region and the Ministry of Environment to obtain a classification of this area as a 'Biosphere Reserve' protected Area,

the design of a plan for the sustainable management of the future protected area,

the establishment of long term funding mechanisms to continue the present and initiate future actions of Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Development.

Please Take part in this adventure of conservation of the unique biodiversity of Madagascar and create opportunities to increase resources revenue to the local community. A symbolic donation is within the reach of all. You can be sure that every penny that you donate is a penny that goes towards reforestation and tree planting projects. Off course for now we await the first rains (by september 2010)… If you give during the Global giving Competition, we will mark your tree on Google Earth and you will see it grow online. Donate by clicking this link http://goto.gg/5824 and pass the message to your friends.

Andriankoto Ratozamanana via development.thinkaboutit.eu

Related note on this blog: We plant trees for you and for our world - TH!NK ABOUT IT

Filed under // Andriankoto Environmental Concerns Environmental Justice Planet Action TED 2009 Fellow World Environment Action World Environment Organization climate Change reforestation vakan'ala

Posted by Andriankoto Ratozamanana

Comments [2]

We plant trees for you and for our world - TH!NK ABOUT IT

July 7, 2010

We are the first generation that has the knowledge and means to collaborate globally to solve poverty while ensuring respect for the environment and the dignity for the people. Web is the ideal tool to cooperate together and solve the crises that the world is facing today.

During eight weeks, supporters of NGO Vakanala have conffirmed the power of social networks and its effectiveness in the fight against climate change, proving the importance of individual action and how individual actions when multiplied can make a difference to the planet.

On behalf of the local community, my team (Vakanala) would like to thank all its fans for their support during the tournament "Humanity Calls". Indeed, the local community of Manambolo through the NGO Vakanala received 1,098 votes at the friendly competition for the environment sponsored by Ebay Green Team. Thank you very much!

This result gives us the 10th place out of 145 participating non profit and has raised U.S. $ 2,351.73 equivalent to more than 5 million Malagasy Ariary.

That was possible with the great support of my fellow TED fellow, Tin Ho Chow and his team at Big New Ideas who worked on the design of Humanity Calls, a social giving platform that helps raise funds for nonprofits through an online tournament.

As we are pioneering the system of "Fundraising/voting" competition in Madagascar, we are also thankful for the advise and personal donation from my fellow TED fellows Darius Weems and Logan Smalley. Logan took time to share with me his experience and tips from DGW ( Darius Goes West). Their experience on "fundraising 2.0" helped us so much.

Photo: TED Fellow Darius Weems and Me at TED 2009

Thanks to all of you, more than 1,800 trees will be planted in the south part of Madagascar, for a total target of 10,000 trees for the year 2010. The use of these funds will be communicated transparently on Vakanala website. The first trees will be planted arround September, when the first rain drops.

Today I am thrilled to announce that Vakanala have been chosen to participate in the GlobalGiving Green Open Challenge for July 2010.

Between July 5 to July 30, 2010, Vakanala will be working to raise a minimum of $4,000 from at least 50 donors to fund a plant nursery, which will guarantees the sustainability of our reforestation project in Manambolo. Check out our project design: http://goto.gg/5824

This amount will ensure a permanent spot on GlobalGiving’s website, which would allow us the opportunity to grow greatly and expand as an organization.

With all the economic sanctions that our country "Madagascar" is facing, especially from European Union, from African union and from US , plus the economic recession, we have planned to succeed our project with "crowd funding" approaches and mobilize resources outside institutions. We have also worked on the scales and will work from small but sustainable developement project at the time.

How Can you help ?

We know that you can introduce us to a program or people that helps/ fund startup organisations or simply donate to us via our Global Giving web page.Your help is very much needed ... and will be appraeciated greatly. In addition the project that gets most support or from the most donors will win up to $ 10 000, so every donation counts! And I am counting on you all!

What is GlobalGiving?

The website Global Giving allows philanthropists to establish a direct contact with organizations in developing countries to effectively participate in their activities either through donations and / or expertise.

GlobalGiving is an organization that helps organizations like Vakanala to mobilize supports for their work in communities worldwide by offering a Web page and online tools to help them raise funds online.

About NGO VAKANALA

"Vakanala" means " Pearls of Forest" in Malagasy language.

Vakanala, is a nonprofit organization based in Antananarivo that has set a goal to preserve the many little fragments of primary forests of Madagascar with sustainable reforestation.

These fragments, the last remnants of natural forests which covered the Island before our era, are of paramount importance : it is first real sanctuary for the unique biodiversity of Madagascar, which is it last refuge, but it is also a natural resource vital to the survival of rural communities to which they provide many services, natural raw materials, natural storage of rainwater, soil fertility, fight against desertification, and many others.

Follow Vakanala on twitter @vakanala, join Vakanala Facebook Group or contact us by email. Thank you all for your continued support.

via development.thinkaboutit.eu

Filed under // Andriankoto Environmental Concerns Environmental Justice Humanitycalls Madagascar TED 2009 Fellow World Environment Action World Environment Organization crowdfunding environment think3 vakan'ala

Posted by Andriankoto Ratozamanana

Comments [3]

The power of one vote can change Madagascar into a bread basket and medicine cabinet to the world - TH!NK ABOUT IT

May 10, 2010

I love my home country Madagascar more than any other place in earth. It is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world’s plant and animal species, of which more than 80% of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

Every year in this Island country, two hundred acre of forest is lost because of slash-and-burn agriculture, logging, and the production of fuelwood and charcoal for cooking fires… and the damage on the environment is irreparable.

Vakan'ala, a non-profit organization based in Madagascar take actions using ICT tools and social media to raise awareness on this issue. The organisation is part of an amazing tournament, the first online social giving tournament to support an environmental cause sponsored by ebay and named ebay tournament for the environement.

After reading this note, in few clicks you can help grow trees in Madagascar and make difference. Individuals like you and me - via Himanitycall.org - have the possibility to drive-up the tournament cash pool through contributions, vote and help engage others through your Facebook and Twitter page and help the only malagasy organisation at the tournament to win.

There is a Controversial list about the importance of casting a vote. I simply believe on today amazing possibility for a solitary vote from every one of us to change the world and improve lives of millions people in Madagascar by simply planting trees.

The UNEP (UNEP) in partnership with Treehugger ask bloggers to write a blog post about"'The importance of individual action to celebrate World Environment Day, and how individual actions when multiplied can make a difference to the planet" Please vote for Vakan'Ala in the eBay Tournament for the Environment, share this link --> http://bit.ly/cNFYnU #HumanityCalls, because that is something every one of us can do.

This year 2010, International year of Biodiversity, the online community from around the world can join force and help Vakan’ala to preserve the remaining fragment of primary forest in Madagascar and what they contain. Vakan'Ala can restore missing forest and endemic tree species while taking into consideration the needs of Malagasy rural people leaving near primary forest with less than 1 dollar a day.

It's sounds like a dream but you have the power to make it real if you give your vote to Vakan'ala

Malagasy blogger Andriankoto Ratozamanana decided he needed to do more than type to improve the standard of living and reforest in Madagascar. He is part of http://www.vakanala.org team, an NGO which contributes to harnessing natural resources of the planet and ameliorating exploited habitats.

via development.thinkaboutit.eu

Filed under // Andriankoto Environmental Concerns Madagascar TED 2009 Fellow World Environment Action World Environment Organization vakan'ala

Posted by Andriankoto Ratozamanana

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World Environment Action _ in 30 seconds

May 9, 2010

Also on youtube, flickr, facebook.

http://w-e-a.org

http://dev.w-e-a.org/ushahidi

(in Alpha development as we speak 9 May 2010)

"

What if reporting an environmental problem was as simple as sending a message?

What if the world knew about every environmental problem and we were taking action together?

What if we were rewarded for doing good?

This is the World Environment Action, w-e-a.org

TAKE ACTION

"

We are now looking for developers and tech-savvy environmental activists -> Volunteers !? Get in touch.

Made in Nairobi Kenya, at the *IHub_ by Cesar Harada

Music : Modeselektor, Hello Mom, "Vote or Die"

Thanks to : Joshua Musau, Jessica Colaco, Nana Nduati, Angela Nicole.

Filed under // Advertising Development Economy Green Kenya Nairobi Philosophy WEA World Environment Organization

Posted by Cesar Harada

Comments [2]

World Environment Action, Concept draft

April 21, 2010

Dear fellows, TEDsters around the world.

It's Cesar Harada TED Fellow 2010 Long Beach. Right now I am at the IHub in the vibrant Nairobi Kenya, building the prototype of the World Environment Action (WEA) website (soon on-line). The idea is to "Puts every local initiative and its global impact on the same map". Based on Ushahidi, we want to create a powerful crowd-sourcing database to empower the transformation of the United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP) based here in Nairobi, into the the World Environment Organization (WEO, that doesn't exist yet) and re-think global environmental governance in a more distributed and efficient way, a bottom up approach, for people, for nature.

I just made the concept video draft above, it is very sketchy : I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK -> PLEASE COMMENT.

I am not presenting you something finished, I want to know how you feel about the idea, the system, the interface, your comments will greatly shape the proposal.

You can also flick through the slideshow on the original google docs right here : http://tinyurl.com/WEO-nairobi

In about 10 days I will present a more detailed proposal, a mockup and a business plan to the head of the UNDP and at the UNEP. I need the sharpness and creativity of the TED community to put together "IDEAS WORTH SPREADING", for a purpose.

Thank you very much for your time.

Filed under // Open_Sailing open sailing Africa Cesar Development Economy Harada IHub Kickstarter Mashup Nairobi Prezi UN UNDP UNEP WEA WEO WTO World Environment Action World Environment Organization ushahidi

Posted by Cesar Harada

Comments [6]

Dreaming of type 1 civilization?

January 19, 2010

Thanks to Will Moller for the link.

As defined by Michio Kaku :
- Type-1 civilization : is capable of harnessing the entire power of a planet, and dominate its processes, including its weather, geothermal energy, etc. It should be able to construct facilities anywhere it wants to on the planet.
- Type-2 civilization : is capable of harnessing the power of its local star, and subsidiary planets.
- Type-3 civilization can become inter-stellar/multi-stellar, capable of expanding across multiple star systems, and eventually the entire galaxy. (Star Trek is one exemple of Type-III Civilization)
We are currently at the zero-point-something mark on this scale.

As a 2010 TED fellow, we are collectively required to adress the question "what the world needs now?".

The world leaders had the same requirements at the COP15 Copenhagen summit.
Each of us has the opportunity everyday in each of our most insignificant actions - they are significant.
What a humbling question.

The first thing that pops to my mind is how difficult it is to link that different scales of actions : the global political decision and the everyday individual behavior changes in little gestures. Maybe we need to proceed the other way round this time?

Would it be possible? A peaceful working global interoperability?
- Knowledge : People need to know about it.
- Desire : the proposed world need to desirable, ethical social model.
- Capacity : everyone needs to be able to participate in their own ways within earth limits.
I am working on this with this nascent project : the World Environment Organization and I am looking for programmers and lawyers for that (the website is very very bad for now, lots of work to do, contact me).

But the real question is : is a Type 1 civilzation even desirable?
The type 1 civilization Michio Kaku describes has :
- a type 1 language : english (an everyone speaks another native land language).
- a type 1 monetary system (a global currency + capitalism).
- a type 1 political system (democracry + republic).
hummmm...... I think only americans agree with themselves on this. What does a chinese, an indian, a brazilian, cuban, french, arabic, persian, african person think about supremacy? Portuguese, English, French, Japanese have attempted it not long ago, Americans are doing it now... I think this "type 1 thinking" contradicts with the values of tolerance and cohesive forces necessary for the making a durable type 1 civilization. Haven't all empires collapsed? Diversity is the driving force for competition, evolution and civilizational progress, we can't wish for ONE dominant system, there wouldn't be any more progress, just an unstoppable normative force. Myself being a japanese descent I am very surprised Kaku advocates a totalitarian type 1 civilization, as if plurality wasn't thinkable, only American domination... How sad...

As Michio Kaku describes it, the type 1 civilization is a civilization of absolute control : control over the planet, processes, including its weather, geothermal energy. So it is human domination over "nature". Which is also a questionnable desire. And Kaku suggests that's only achievable with a type 1 language, 1 monetary and 1 political system. I think this way of thinking is dangerous. Think about linguistics : why do we have so many words, so many languages, so many dialects... Why do Eskimos have so many different words to describe "snow"? Why do we have every week new artificial computer and artificial languages? Diversity is a fact, and is necessary. Kaku suggests each will have his/her own local language + english, but the fact is that local languages tend to disappear on the long term.

Kaku interestingly simplified the options for accessing the type 1 civilization conditional to :

- positive "integration forces" with tolerance, multi-cultural fabric on one hand ;

- and on the other hand "disintegration forces" : "weapons of mass destruction, germ weapons, terrorism..."

I think it is a good simplification, it does help : we need to concentrate on minimizing the disintegration forces, and maximizing integration forces. On this we can all agree, but it only is valid if no country has a domination desire... and he himself clearly declares he has!

Kaku also takes the example of the European Union, and falsely explains its inception as a counter-measure to the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is not true! Europe was born after the war as a space of political cooperation, to ensure peace - and later only - to improve economic condition. Thanks to American help on this, by the way.

The US is very different, it is a very recent rich colonized land, from which the natives have largely been subject to what many qualify a genocide. Europe is a land of a much higher diversity of languages, economies and political systems than the US today, and according to the recent economic crisis, Europe happens to be more stable and resilient. Still the US is now a dominant economic, political, military and cultural entity.

The US alone wont make the entire world access this type 1 civilization by forcing its normative military power, economy, language and values. There will be no global acceptance of the US type 1 civilization project. That would create too much friction. I like to think civilization type 0 transitioning to a civilization type 1 as the moment a plane breaks the sound barrier, or brakes itself. (video explaining sonic boom).

If our "civilization type 0" tries to transition to "civilization type 1" without enough velocity and cohesion it will fail like the early supersonic flights dramatic attempts. And we got only one chance!!!

We wont transition to type 1 civilization by forcing the entire world to speak the same language, use the same currency, have the same political ideas.

We wont transition to type 1 civilization by dominating the nature.

We wont transition to type 1 civilization with our actual political democratic system inability to change efficiently individual everyday little gestures.

We wont transition to type 1 civilization if each of us doesn't have the knowledge, desire and capacity to be on that flight.

Today, "I have a dream" has been published on http://www.ted.com (which is also why I post here today):

http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_luther_king_jr_i_have_a_dream.html

Today the American president is a black man.

The dream is becoming a reality. Maybe.

I have a dream that we will all enter type 1 civilization with cohesion in our diversity of languages, currencies, political ideas.

I have a dream that we will enter type 1 civilization in harmony with nature, not dominating it.

I have a dream that each of our everyday gestures would reflect our many better political systems.

I have a dream that, not only a rich minority, but all of us will enter type 1 civilization with the capacity, knowledge and desire to, in their own ways.

Filed under // Black Cesar Civilization Desire Discourse Dream Europe Genocide Harada Ideology Kaku Linguistics Michio Politics TED TED 2010 fellow World Environment Organization

Posted by Cesar Harada

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World Environment Organization

Plant a tree in Madagascar and see it grow on-line! - TH!NK ABOUT IT

We plant trees for you and for our world - TH!NK ABOUT IT

The power of one vote can change Madagascar into a bread basket and medicine cabinet to the world - TH!NK ABOUT IT

World Environment Action _ in 30 seconds

World Environment Action, Concept draft

Dreaming of type 1 civilization?