who is helping who anyway? and who owns what?

i believe change comes from within, both in an individual and a collective sense. to that effect i often question the effectiveness of international aid because the change of imposed on people. i do not mean to say that positive change is not good but in this way, is it sustainable?

the solution i would like to find is that groups of people with a common goal in countries seeking assistance might have the opportunity to find what they need from international aid – that they might be given the chance to ask for it. the way i understand it just now, groups are approached by organisations from well meaning countries and asked what they feel they need to grow stronger. in order to acheive the most positively from this arrangement the groups seeking to be assisted must ask cleverly for what they think the other organisation is looking to assist.

to this end the true needs and wishes of the group in need of assistance is never trully met. i would like to explore avenues where there are less restrictions on the assistance and that the people looking to progress their groups – whether it be a small community, an enterprise or educational facility – are in control of what they receive and in what way they use that.

will this will enable them to feel a sense of ownership? this is the question i would like to explore more – what is ownership anyway?

Question 3: What mix is needed between “new” and “appropriate” technologies and “new” (perhaps old) systems of development?

Referring to a Practical Action article Can new technology help reduce the impact of climate change?.

Question 2: What is the difference between power and strength?

To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget. ~ arundhati roy

This is easily one of the quotes which aligns most closely with my values but someone once asked me “Laura, what is the difference between power and strength?” I know the answer but I have not yet been able to give a succinct explanation. I will attempt to do so over the course of the coming days.

Question 1: what are our human rights?

My thoughts for the next couple of days will be focussed on our human rights; what they are in real terms, how they are practically implemented. In particular I will focus on those which relate to energy use, water collection and equality.