Monday, December 20, 2010

Achieving New International Order (4): Central Role for Developed and Developing Countries Citizens

Matters Arising from Previous Posts

With participants from 23 Countries – US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, France, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Cote d’ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Brazil, Peru and largest readership coming from US, France and Russia, it is clear that this Blog’s content has substance and our cause – Help make World Poverty History, has merit.

Our Blog Statistics in not encouraging. We are happy with participants coming form 23 Countries in 7 of 8 Regions Worldwide. This is evidence that our cause is indeed perceived as Global and it would have been wrong and self defeating to focus on Nigeria and Africa.

We have 3 Followers, this could be more. We have few repeat readers. Had this been increasing rather than dwindling and had followers and repeat readers responded to our repeated call for interactive participation, we would have been happier. We perceive that UN Agencies and US Government Agencies are part of the repeat readers from the US – our largest block of Participants from any of the 23 Countries. Should this eventually be the case and should the UN Agencies and US Government Agencies sometimes in the New Year take steps to establish Positive Working Relationship with our Organization, our effort would be rewarded and in ways that deliver Sustainable Benefits to Citizens on both Developed and developing Countries sides, particularly the Poor, whose numbers are increasing in the millions on both Developed and Developing Countries sides as direct consequence of inadequate effort towards the solution to Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism problems on the ground from Village to Global levels.

The Low Repeat Readers and No Interactive Discussions underline the daunting challenges we are facing with Blog Visibility and Blog Participation, that is making us dis-spirited. We are considering putting the Blog on “Technical Suspension” after today’s Posting to enable us reflect deeply on practical solutions to these daunting challenges before continuing with further Postings in the New Year, guided by the outcome of our reflections.

To assist us with these reflections, we invite each of the 3 Followers and each of our repeat readers to please respond to above concerns, either by sharing their comments and views on “What we are currently doing wrong?”, “Suggestions on ways and means of overcoming these challenges”? with other Blog Participants or sending same direct to us at ispeabuja@yahoo.co.uk

Please note that we discuss solutions to very sensitive issues based on our real experience in continuing constructive engagement of relevant National and International Stakeholders in select Developed / Developing Countries and International Institutions. Many benefiting from current decayed systems do not want change we seek and many that could benefit from change we seek lack the Soft Competencies – Character, Courage and Mindset to publicly join our cause.

During the last week, the only two articles read were on New International Order (3) and MDGs' .

The earlier articles on New International Order (3), New International Order (2), New International Order (1), Global Agenda, Implementing G20 Declarations and Strengthening Advocacy Systems provide background material for deeper understanding of fundamental issues discussed in this week’s article.

Today’s Article:

Achieving New International Order (4): Central Role for Developed and Developing Countries Citizens

Until we accept and cooperate with the law of gravity, we can’t fly. Until we accept and cooperate with the law of economics, we can’t succeed with business at individual, corporate or country levels. Until citizens in both Developed and Developing Countries get the idea that Good Thinking breed Good Products; Good Politics breed Good Economics; Good Human Rights breeds Good Service Delivery – and Vice Versa; it would be an uphill task finding and implementing successful and sustainable solutions to Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism Problems on the ground from Village to Global levels.

According to Selwyn Huges “The Scientist who does not sit down before the facts, is not prepared to give up every preconceived notion and follow to whatever end nature will lead him / her will learn nothing. He / She has to know that he / she doesn’t know in order to know”. The opening sentence in the UK Commission for Africa Report 2005 is an Ogbo (Nigerian Language) Proverb “Not to know is bad. Not to wish to know is worse”.

The implication of these two quotations is wide ranging, some of which are; after 50 years of International Development Cooperation, the overarching lessons learnt is that concerned authorities on Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides have learnt no lessons from lessons learnt; that as long as fundamental issues of correct: diagnosis, prescription, surgery and recovery management are not effectively addressed, the work towards tackling Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism problems on the ground would at best achieve little that is not sustainable and at worst achieve nothing – with ultimate catastrophic consequences for all concerned.

If these fundamental issues are to be effectively tackled, all relevant authorities need to recognize that:-
1.    True All Round Development should aim at minimum certain levels of organization, orientation and discipline, if the Citizens in each Developed Country and each Developing Country are to be the MOVING FORCE Driving Socio-economic and Political TRANSFORMATION of their respective Societies.
2.    Service delivery should aim at promoting and protecting the Right of each Citizen to be Served Right by each Government Ministry, Department, Agency, particularly the Poor within the Country’s National Development Vision Initiatives and the Poor in Countries benefiting form the Countries International Development Vision Initiatives.
3.    The future of our children, our people, our country, our continent and our planet greatly depends on making our governing systems (public service / civil service) work properly for one and all – worldwide.
4.    The UK Commission for Africa Report 2005, UK International Development White Paper 2006; US National Security Strategy; UN 2010 MDG Summit Global Action Plan and similar Ambitious Programs will remain mere Political Statements until the Documents are fully converted into Village to Global Strategies, Policies, Programs, Projects in ways that seek to have Positive Attitude, Positive Focus and Positive Action: P-Square, in line and on sustainable basis in the research, planning, statistics, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and assessment of every provision in each of these documents and in ways that help make poverty history in Africa, Europe and Worldwide. Having P-Square in line; is a Be-attitude not a Do-attitude. The Doing comes out of the Being and the Being propels the MOVING FORVCE described above. This way, it encourages all concerned stakeholders at sub-national, national and international levels on Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides, to simultaneously:-
a.      Move away from focus on complex problems and passing blame and move towards focus on practical solutions and opportunities.
b.       Move away from Arithmetic and Academic Research Model and move towards Geometric and Development Research Model.
c.       Move away from focus on working Harder and move towards focus on working SMARTer.
d.       Move away from Policies, Programs, Projects with inadequate depth, comprehensiveness and inclusiveness and move towards Policies, Programs, Projects with adequate depth, comprehensiveness and inclusiveness.
e.      Move away from Low Policies, Programs, Projects Linkages, Interconnectivity and Interdependence and move towards High Policies, Programs, Projects Linkages, Interconnectivity and Interdependence.
f.         Move away from weak Policies, Programs, Projects Coordination, Integration, Synergy and Effectiveness and move towards Strong Policies, Programs, Projects Coordination, Integration, Synergy and Effectiveness.

In the preface of 2006 UK International Development White Paper, Hillary Benn, then UK Secretary of State for International Development, wrote “in the end governance – from global right down to the village level – is about people and their relationships, one with another, more than it is about formal institutions”.

The leaked US Diplomacy Documents has put on the front burner in the international arena, the serious flaws and failures in these relationships. The US will be doing great disservice to US Citizens and Citizens of other Countries – Rich and Poor across the World, should the Obama Administration, US Congress / Senate and US Citizens ; the Trinity that make up US Presidency; fail to accept these serious flaws and failures and move forward by taking positive action steps towards correct diagnosis, prescription, surgery and recovery management; necessary to transform these flaws and failures into sustainable success.

In the work towards getting governance and globalization right from global right down to village levels, on both Developed and Developing Countries sides, the prospects of success has never been so bright. We are so near to making World Poverty History, yet so far away from making World Poverty History. We are so near to sustainable solutions to Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism problems, yet so far away from sustainable solutions to Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism problems. The fundamental issues are too important to be left to Developed and Developing Countries Governments and International Institutions Leadership alone to solve – the Citizens of both Developed and Developing Countries need to get better involved. Going on Protests, Demonstrations and Civil Disorder is simply focus on problems and passing blame that is clearly the wrong approach.

Will these Citizens adopt a new solutions and opportunities focused approach? Will these Citizens arise and contribute their quota towards the sustainable solutions to these real and complex problems? Would these Citizens continue to look on wishing success would just be left to happen? Citizens on both Developed and Developing Countries sides need to appreciate that they have Choice to make; that No Choice is a Choice and that we all on both Developed and Developing Countries sides will have to live  with the consequences or rewards of the Choice we make in the work towards tackling Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism problems on the ground.

We urge all to remember that as long as Ordered Change is refused, Disordered Change become inevitable – with ultimate catastrophic consequences.

Appendix

If you want to participate in the implementation of ideas and suggestions generated from discussions on this Platform, we invite you to join Multidisciplinary Professionals Community of Practice on Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability, MPCOP-PE&ES and Comprehensive Systemic Reform, CSR Project. Please send 3PCM and CSR Project enquiry to ispeabuja@yahoo.co.uk

List of Topics for Next 10 Weeks.
New Topic Posted Every Monday

1.    Achieving New International Order (2): Central Role for Researchers and Reporters 6 December 2010 Ref 6/2010
2.    Achieving New International Order (3):  Central Role for Political Leaders, Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers 13 December 2010 Ref 7/2010
3.    Achieving New International Order (4): Central Role for Developed and Developing Countries Citizens 20 December 2010 Ref 8/2010
4.    Achieving New International Order (5): Rethinking, Redesigning, Rebuilding Government Accountability and Whistleblower Reform  27 December 2010 Ref 9/2010
5.    New Year; New Hope for International / National Development Cooperation 3 January 2011 Ref 1/2011
6.    Elections, Economic Growth and Pro Poor Institutional Reforms 10 January 2011 Ref 2/2011
7.    International Development Cooperation (1): Need to Standardize Evaluation Approach 17 January 2011 Ref 3/2011
8.    International Development Cooperation (2): Need to Standardize Program Approach 24 January 2011 Ref 4/2011
9.    Reorganization, Reorientation and Discipline of National, Regional, Global Professional Bodies with Central Role in achieving National Visions and World Visions 31 January 2011 Ref 5/2011
10.                       Transforming Policy, Program, Project Failure into Success 7 February 2011 Ref 6/2011

Together we can help make our World a
Better Place
to Live, Work and Recreate for Citizens and Immigrants in all Countries Rich and Poor.


Monday, December 13, 2010

Achieving New International Order (3): Central Role for Political Leaders, Religious Leaders and Traditional Leaders

Matters Arising from Previous Posts

With participants from 23 Countries – US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, France, Croatia, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Cote d’ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Brazil, Peru and largest readership coming from US, France and Russia, it is clear that this Blog’s content has substance and our cause – Help make World Poverty History, has merit.

This Blog continues to make slow but steady progress. We keep pressing forward. We hope to attract and retain very soon, the attention of:-
1.    Media Executives of National and International Media in the Countries where we have readers, currently 23.
2.    Governments of Countries where we have readers
3.    Institutional Heads, Senior Administrators, Senior Technocrats of International Institutions operating in Countries where we have readers.

We also hope to rapidly increase the number of Countries where we have readers and the number of readers in each of these Countries.

During the last week, some previous articles were read. The most popular were articles on New International Order (1), New International Order (2) and MDGs’ at 10.

These popular articles and earlier articles on Global Agenda, Implementing G20 Declarations and Strengthening Advocacy Systems provide background material for deeper understanding of fundamental issues discussed in this week’s article.

It appears some readers are not aware that New Articles are posted every Monday. We are getting increasing number of Participants that are repeat readers every Monday. If you are visiting this Blog for the first time, we encourage you to join the increasing list of repeat readers every Monday.

We encourage all readers to please visit the Blog every Monday from 10.00 GMT when new articles are posted and to comment on aspects of any article of interest to the reader. The only comment we have received thus far, is a Commendation in response to the MDGs’ at 10 article. Our repeat readers are either Active Development Change Champions or Potential Development Change Champions.

Either way, our view is that each repeat reader has expertise, experience and exposure to share with other Participants, and could do this through expressing their thoughts / reflections on points of interest in past and current articles.

We urge all Participants, particularly repeat readers, who are genuinely motivated to join like minds, in the great work towards improving Leadership Responsiveness, Followership Responsiveness, Development Effectiveness and Development Impact in the implementation and monitoring implementation of National Visions and World Visions Ambitions on Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides, to please let this much needed interactions / active participation begin now. We further urge both repeat readers and first timers to please help bring ongoing discussions on this Blog to the attention of others.


Today’s Article:

Achieving New International Order (3): Central Role for Political Leaders, Religious Leaders and Traditional Leaders

In the work towards solving real and complex Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism Problems on the ground at Sub-national, National, Regional and Global levels, it is easy to focus on problems and passing blame. It is difficult to correctly identify the direct and remote cause(s) of the problems. It is very difficult to correctly identify the practical solutions to correctly diagnosed real and complex problems on the ground. It is very, very difficult to correctly implement the correct prescription to correctly diagnosed real and complex problems on the ground.  It is very, very, very difficult to correctly monitor the implementation of the correct prescription to correctly diagnosed real and complex problems on the ground.

It is pertinent to note that New International Order Initiative started in 1973, 37 years later, the World is still grappling with fundamental issues that ought to have been resolved over 30 years ago. As long as Political Leaders, Religious Leaders and Traditional Leaders on both Developed and Developing Countries sides, continue to knowingly or unknowingly fail to undertake correct Diagnosis, Prescription, Surgery and Recovery Management, but continue to Rebrand and Reemploy the same factors responsible for Decayed Research, Planning, Statistics, Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Assessment Systems, to overhaul these Systems, while graciously anticipating a “Miraculous Outcome”, Sustainable Solutions to Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism Problems on the Ground on Developed, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides, would continue to elude the World, with ultimate catastrophic consequences to Governments, Institutions and Citizens across the World.

The Leaked US Diplomacy Documents make it imperative that US and Partner Countries recognize that “Security” is not just a mere word, but an acronym of different structures which makes up a sturdy foundation for its sustenance. To embrace an acronym without full and correct understanding by all relevant stakeholders of the true meaning of the acronym, as defined by each letter that makes it up and its spirit, is like trying to make solid shapes with water in its natural form – an exercise in futility.

The point we are making is that without sound understanding by all relevant stakeholders, of the importance of those fundamental structures that promote and protect National / Global Security; the probability is high that Scarce Resources – Influence, technical, Funding and Human, would continue to be wasted, Security Flaws and Failures would continue to increase and Countries – Developed and Developing would continue to grapple with avoidable retrogression in some / all Sectors, though severity of impact would naturally vary form one Developed Country to another, one Developing Country to another and one International Institution to another.

Let No One assume that the US, UK or any other Developed Country has adequate numbers of Security and Non Security Experts with adequate levels of  Hard Competencies – Learning and Skills and Soft Competencies – Character, Courage and Mindset required to successfully overhaul National / Global Security Systems of both Developed and Developing Countries worldwide and in ways that help solve on sustainable basis Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism problems on the ground, while delivering proportional Sustainable Benefits to Citizens on both developed and Developing Countries sides.

In discussing frank and truthful political solutions, economic solutions, technical solutions and religious solutions to real and complex National / Global Security problems on the ground challenging Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions, there is a need to deeply view the subject from the Criminology Perspective. This is because Criminology is the Light that is able to illuminate the dark corners of any Society – Sub-national, National, Regional, Global; while in the area of knowledge. It enlightens Peoples’ understanding of Principles upon which a Society should be run in order to have crime reduced to the barest minimum.

The Criminology Perspective includes Security Evaluation / Assessment that call for greater interlinkages, interconnectivity and interdependence between the External Security and Internal Security Agencies of each Country – Developed and Developing and between the External Security and Internal Security Agencies of all Countries – Developed and Developing. The US and Partner Countries need to consider adopting / adapting this Criminology Perspective, if the US is really serious about finding and implementing sustainable solutions to real and complex Diplomacy, Development, Defense / Security, Elections / Democracy, Trade, Finance, Service Delivery / Performance Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Migration and Human Rights in all its Ramifications- Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: HR-PESCR etc. thrown up by the leaked US Diplomacy Documents and in ways that Promote and Protect US, Partner Countries, rest of the World Common Interest, Common future, Common Prosperity and Common Security on successful and sustainable basis.

In the work towards achieving New International Order since 1973, How have Political Leaders – Executive, Legislature, Judiciary; Religious Leaders – Orthodox, Non Orthodox and Traditional Religions and Traditional Leaders – Institution, Community, Culture; made Society at Sub-national, National, Regional and Global levels? The two regulatory systems that should keep our society sane are the Religious Systems led by Religious Leaders and Traditional Systems led by Traditional Leaders. These two institutions that should act as checks on Political Systems and Political Leaders have failed to deliver on their responsibilities to society. The failure of Political Leaders / Political Systems is simply unfortunate reflections of failure of Religious Leaders / Religious Systems and Traditional Leaders / Traditional Systems.

In sum, we submit that any attempt to achieve New International Order that is not firmly grounded in successful and sustainable overhaul of Internal Security / External Security Systems within each Developed and Developing Country; between each Developed and Developing Country interlinked, interdependent and interconnected with successful and sustainable overhaul of Political System, Religious System and Traditional System would at best achieve little that is not sustainable and at worst fail with ultimate catastrophic consequences for all concerned worldwide and that the US and Partner Countries would do well to Learn Lessons from past failure as basis for New Direction and New Priorities Moving Forward in the work towards successfully tackling Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism problems on the ground.

We urge all to remember that as long as Ordered Change is refused, Disordered Change become inevitable – with ultimate catastrophic consequences.


Appendix

If you want to participate in the implementation of ideas and suggestions generated from discussions on this Platform, we invite you to join Multidisciplinary Professionals Community of Practice on Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability, MPCOP-PE&ES and Comprehensive Systemic Reform, CSR Project. Please send 3PCM and CSR Project enquiry to ispeabuja@yahoo.co.uk

List of Topics for Next 10 Weeks.
New Topic Posted Every Monday

1.    Achieving New International Order (2): Central Role for Researchers and Reporters 6 December 2010 Ref 6/2010
2.    Achieving New International Order (3):  Central Role for Political Leaders, Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers 13 December 2010 Ref 7/2010
3.    Achieving New International Order (4): Central Role for Developed and Developing Countries Citizens 20 December 2010 Ref 8/2010
4.    Achieving New International Order (5): Rethinking, Redesigning, Rebuilding Government Accountability and Whistleblower Reform  27 December 2010 Ref 9/2010
5.    New Year; New Hope for International / National Development Cooperation 3 January 2011 Ref 1/2011
6.    Elections, Economic Growth and Pro Poor Institutional Reforms 10 January 2011 Ref 2/2011
7.    International Development Cooperation (1): Need to Standardize Evaluation Approach 17 January 2011 Ref 3/2011
8.    International Development Cooperation (2): Need to Standardize Program Approach 24 January 2011 Ref 4/2011
9.    Reorganization, Reorientation and Discipline of National, Regional, Global Professional Bodies with Central Role in achieving National Visions and World Visions 31 January 2011 Ref 5/2011
10.                       Transforming Policy, Program, Project Failure into Success 7 February 2011 Ref 6/2011

Together we can help make our World a
Better Place
to Live, Work and Recreate for Citizens and Immigrants in all Countries Rich and Poor.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Achieving New International Order (2): Central Role for Researchers and Reporters


Matters Arising from Previous Posts

With participants from 22 Countries – US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, France, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Cote d’ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Brazil, Peru and largest readership coming from US, it is clear that this Blog’s content has substance and our cause – Help make World Poverty History, has merit.

This continues to make slow but steady progress. We keep pressing forward. We hope to attract and retain very soon, the attention of:-
1.    Media Executives of National and International Media in the Countries where we have readers, currently 22.
2.    Governments of Countries where we have readers
3.    Institutional Heads, Senior Administrators, Senior Technocrats of International Institutions operating in Countries where we have readers.

We also hope to rapidly increase the number of Countries where we have readers and the number of readers in each of these Countries.

During the last week, all previous articles were read. The most popular were articles on New International Order (1) and Strengthening Advocacy Systems.

The earlier articles on Global Agenda, MDGs’ at 10, Implementing G20 Declarations, Strengthening Advocacy Systems and New International Order (1) provide background material for deeper understanding of fundamental issues discussed in this week’s article.

It appears some readers are not aware that New Articles are posted every Monday. We are getting increasing number of Participants that are repeat readers every Monday. If you are visiting this Blog for the first time, we encourage you to join the increasing list of repeat readers every Monday.

We encourage all readers to please visit the Blog every Monday from 10.00 GMT when new articles are posted and to comment on aspects of any article of interest to the reader. The only comment we have received thus far, is a Commendation in response to the MDGs’ at 10 article. Our repeat readers are either Active Development Change Champions or Potential Development Change Champions.

Either way, our view is that each repeat reader has expertise, experience and exposure to share with other Participants, and could do this through expressing their thoughts / reflections on points of interest in past and current articles.

We urge all Participants, particularly repeat readers, who are genuinely motivated to join like minds, in the great work towards improving Leadership Responsiveness, Followership Responsiveness, Development Effectiveness and Development Impact in the implementation and monitoring implementation of National Visions and World Visions Ambitions on Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides, to please let this much needed interactions / active participation begin now. We further urge both repeat readers and first timers to please help bring ongoing discussions on this Blog to the attention of others.


Today’s Article:

Achieving New International Order (2): Central Role for Researchers and Reporters

In the work towards finding and implementing successful and sustainable solutions to real and complex Global recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism Problems on the Ground on Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides, there is urgent need to ensure that Development Research is Focused on Development Policy & Program and Development Monitoring, Evaluation & Assessment within National Visions e.g 7 Point Agenda in Nigeria, National Security Strategy in US and World Visions e.g. MDGs’, Paris declaration, Accra Action Agenda, One UN Initiative, G20 Global Solutions to Global Problems Initiative.

However, turning Researchers into Policy / Program Entrepreneurs or Monitoring, Evaluation and Assessment Entrepreneurs and turning Research Institutions into Policy / Program focused Think Tank or Monitoring, Evaluation and Assessment focused Think Tank is not easy because it involves fundamental re-orientation, organization and discipline towards Policy / Program engagement or Monitoring,  Evaluation and Assessment engagement, rather than academic achievement; engaging much more vigorously with Policy / Program Community or Monitoring,  Evaluation and Assessment Community; Developing a Research Agenda focusing on Policy / Program or Monitoring / Evaluation / Assessment issues rather than academic interests; acquiring new skills or building multidisciplinary teams; establishing new internal systems and incentives and spending much more on Communicating effectively with all stakeholders.

This New Approach should include Dialogue before, during and after the Research itself; producing appropriate Communications products for each audience – in most widely acceptable language, at the right time and working more in effective partnerships and networks. It also involves looking at a radically different funding model.

To influence Policy / Program or Monitoring / Evaluation / Assessment Decision Makers in all concerned stakeholder communities from Village to Global levels; Genuine True Development Researchers need additional skills. They need to be politically influential, able to understand the politics, the economics, the sociology and culture and identify the key players. They need to be good storytellers; to synergize simple compelling stories from results of the research (not spin doctors who publicize falsehood). They need to be good networkers; to work effectively with all other concerned stakeholders and they need to be good engineers to build Shared Vision initiatives that pulls all of these together or they need to work on multidisciplinary teams with others who have these necessary skills.

The Research for True Development Storytellers are not Spin Doctors spreading spin (falsehood / lies) or Propagandists spreading propaganda (half truths or outright falsehood presented as whole truths). They are Development Change Champions telling inspiring Stories based on real life experiences that challenge concerned stakeholders to take positive Development Change Action ultimately resulting in Win – Win for all Partners – Rick or Poor, Strong or Weak. Within Research for True Development, Good Researchers need Good Reporters and Good Reporters need Good Researchers.

We make bold to state that without adequate numbers of Good Researchers and Good Reporters, who have required levels of Hard Competencies – Learning and Skills and Soft Competencies – Character, Courage and Mindset for achieving National Visions e.g. 7 Point Agenda in Nigeria; National Security Strategy in US and Global Visions – MDGs’, Paris Declaration, Accra Action Agenda, One UN Initiative and G20 Global Solutions to Global Problems Initiative would be a Mirage.

The Concept of Development for Research described above contain Master Keys for Rethinking, Redesigning and Rebuilding the Role of Researchers and Reporters in the work towards achieving National Visions Ambitions and Global Visions Ambitions on Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides.

It is pertinent to note that the UK Commission for Africa Report 2005 recommended a New National / Global Agenda for National / Global Media Organization in the work towards tackling Africa Poverty. 5 years later, very little has been done in the practical implementation of this recommendation. President Obama in his book “Audacity of Hope”, made several points on American Media and Politics, some of which are:-
1.   Spin (falsehood and lies) works because the Media is hospitable to spin.
2.   The spin, the amplification of conflict, the indiscriminate search for scandals and miscues – the cumulative impact of all this is to erode any agreed upon standards for judging the truth.
3.   The truth may cause consternation, the truth will be attacked, the Media wont have the patience to sort out all the facts and so the public may not know the difference between truth and falsehood.
4.   The Politician may still as a matter of personal integrity, insist on telling the truth as he / she sees it, but he / she does so knowing that whether he / she believes in his / her position matters LESS than whether he / she looks like he / she believes; that straights talk counts Less than whether it sounds straight on TV.

The leak of US Diplomacy documents raise fundamental issues that need to be professionally tackled by the US Administration, Parliament and Peoples and the Administration, Parliament and Peoples of US Partner Countries across the World, if the US is serious about promoting and protecting US and Partner Countries Common Interest, Common Future, Common Prosperity and Common Security.

The US needs to accept responsibility for spying, lies and corrupt practices; the guess work and educated opinion rather than spade work and sound recommendations done by those saddled with responsibility for promoting and protecting US and Partner Countries Security; that have been exposed and this would start from the US recognizing that:-
1.    The leaks could be Force for Good rather than Force for Evil.
2.    Overarching Lessons Learnt in past 50 years of US International Development Cooperation is that No Lessons have been Learnt
3.    The respective US and Partner Countries Research, Planning, Statistics, Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Assessment Systems are in a State of Decay and therefore in Urgent need of Reform within a Reinforced and Reinvigorated US National Security Strategy effectively Linked with Reinforced and Reinvigorated US Partner Countries National Security Strategy.
4.    Should President Obama do more towards implementing in practice ideas and suggestions set out in his book “Audacity of Hope”, the Security, Economy, Political and religious problems facing the US and Partner Countries could be solved on successful and sustainable basis and in record time.
5.    Addressing fundamental issues within (1) – (4) demand that the US and Partner Countries identify, empower, promote and protect Citizens of both Rich and Poor Countries, with adequate intellectual capacity to help all relevant stakeholders find and operate the techniques of political management of Security Strategies, Policies, Programs, Projects Management from Village to Global levels that will fast track work towards achieving Dream of World without Poverty and without Hunger.


The point we are making is that in the work towards achieving Dream of World Without Poverty and without Hunger, the World has not learnt correct lessons from the sad event of September 11, 2001, the failed  British Citizen Shoe Bomber attempt in December 2001 and the failed Nigeria Citizen – British Raised Underpants Bomber attempt December 2009. as long as these lessons remain unlearnt the work towards tackling Global Recession, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism Problems, would continue to achieve less than desired results, with ultimate catastrophic consequences for Citizens in both Developed and Developing Countries.

This is because the reality is that US and European Countries are individually and jointly dancing around the fundamental issues, therefore work on sustainable solutions – Redefining Role of Money in each Country’s Politics; Investigating and Punishing Acts of Illegality, Criminality and Corruption underlying much of World Finance Crisis; Reestablishing / Establishing adequate levels of regulation; Reestablishing / Establishing adequate levels of Sanctions Enforcement – is yet to start. The implication is that Austerity Measures based on working harder doing the same old things in the same old way is most likely to increase pain and misery of Citizens without delivering proportional solutions / benefits. If these Countries are to have Reform Measures based on working SMARTer, doing new things in new ways most likely to reduce pain and misery while delivering disproportionately higher levels of solutions / benefits to Citizens, then a New and Central Role has to be found for Researchers and Reporters within the Development for Research Concept described above.

We urge all to remember that as long as Ordered Change is refused, Disordered Change become inevitable – with ultimate catastrophic consequences.

Appendix

If you want to participate in the implementation of ideas and suggestions generated from discussions on this Platform, we invite you to join Multidisciplinary Professionals Community of Practice on Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability, MPCOP-PE&ES and Comprehensive Systemic Reform, CSR Project. Please send 3PCM and CSR Project enquiry to ispeabuja@yahoo.co.uk

List of Topics for Next 10 Weeks.
New Topic Posted Every Monday

1.    Achieving New International Order (2): Central Role for Researchers and Reporters 6 December 2010 Ref 6/2010
2.    Achieving New International Order (3):  Central Role for Political Leaders, Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers 13 December 2010 Ref 7/2010
3.    Achieving New International Order (4): Central Role for Developed and Developing Countries Citizens 20 December 2010 Ref 8/2010
4.    Achieving New International Order (5): Rethinking, Redesigning, Rebuilding Government Accountability and Whistleblower Reform  27 December 2010 Ref 9/2010
5.    New Year; New Hope for International / National Development Cooperation 3 January 2011 Ref 1/2011
6.    Elections, Economic Growth and Pro Poor Institutional Reforms 10 January 2011 Ref 2/2011
7.    International Development Cooperation (1): Need to Standardize Evaluation Approach 17 January 2011 Ref 3/2011
8.    International Development Cooperation (2): Need to Standardize Program Approach 24 January 2011 Ref 4/2011
9.    Reorganization, Reorientation and Discipline of National, Regional, Global Professional Bodies with Central Role in achieving National Visions and World Visions 31 January 2011 Ref 5/2011
10.                       Transforming Policy, Program, Project Failure into Success 7 February 2011 Ref 10/2011

Together we can help make our World a Better Place to Live, Work and Recreate for Citizens and Immigrants in all Countries Rich and Poor.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Achieving New International Order (1): Urgent Need to Overhaul National / Global Security and Anti Corruption Systems

Matters Arising from Previous Posts

With participants from 20 Countries – US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Cote d’ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Brazil, Peru and largest readership coming from US, it is clear that this Blog’s content has substance and our cause – Help make World Poverty History, has merit.

This continues to make slow but steady progress. We keep pressing forward. We hope to attract and retain very soon, the attention of:-
1.    Media Executives of National and International Media in the Countries where we have readers, currently 20.
2.    Governments of Countries where we have readers
3.    Institutional Heads, Senior Administrators, Senior Technocrats of International Institutions operating in Countries where we have readers.

We also hope to rapidly increase the number of Countries where we have readers and the number of readers in each of these Countries.

During the last week, all previous articles were read. The most popular were articles on MDGs’ at 10 and Implementing G20 Declarations. The lease popular was article on Strengthening Advocacy Systems. This is a Paradox because without strengthening Village to Global Advocacy Systems, it would be especially difficult achieving MDGs’ Ambitions, G20 Ambition and other World Visions ambitions on successful and sustainable basis and this has implication for achieving Developed / Developing Countries National Visions Ambitions on successful and sustainable basis.

The earlier articles on Global Agenda, MDGs’ at 10, Implementing G20 Declarations and Strengthening Advocacy Systems, provide background material for deeper understanding of fundamental issues discussed in this week’s article.

It appears some readers are not aware that New Articles are posted every Monday. We encourage all readers to please visit the Blog every Monday from 10.00 GMT when new articles are posted and to comment on aspects of any article of interest to the reader.

We urge all Participants who are genuinely motivated to join like minds, in the great work towards improving Leadership Responsiveness, Followership Responsiveness, Development Effectiveness and Development Impact in the implementation and monitoring implementation of National Visions and World Visions Ambitions on Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides, to please let the interactions / active participation begin now.


Today’s Article:

Achieving New International Order (1): Urgent Need to Overhaul National / Global Security and Anti Corruption Systems

The air security and privacy issues in US; Student Protests in the UK, Violence Issues in Afghanistan and Terrorism Issues in Nigeria underline the fact that Countries across the World today face unique and peculiar Security issues that are interlinked, interconnected and interdependent with corruption issues facing each country. The sustainable solutions to the unique and peculiar security issues facing each country Developed or developing lies in sustainable solutions to the International / National Development Cooperation issues facing the country.

In the UK, there has been two students protests, each intended to be non violent, yet both ended up being tarnished by violence. The probability is high that as long as students and government are talking at rather than to each other, the future protests would also witness violence in the months ahead, as effects of Governments cuts across the UK economy bite harder from January 2011.

In the US increasing air passenger discontent with deployment of full body scanners or full body search is threatening homeland security. The fundamental issue is not should government protect air passengers from terrorist attacks on planes. It is How does the US Government and Governments of Powerful nations across the World protect air passengers from terrorist attacks? And Have these powerful Nations learnt correct lessons from the sad event of 11 September 2001? It will be recalled that in December 2001 a British Citizen’s failed Shoe Bomb attempt led to uncomfortable and costly passenger searches and that in December 2009 a Nigerian Citizen raised in the UK, failed underpants Bomb attempt led to deployment of full body scanners in the US and other Countries across the World. About 12 months later, is now not an appropriate time to undertake Evaluation of the responses of relevant authorities in the US, UK and other Countries to failed Shoe Bomb and underpants Bomb attempts?

Is the UK Media helping UK Students when disproportionate focus is on the violence and not the message? Is it fair for UK Students to ask UK Government in whatever measures Government take to rescue UK economy, not to cut their future? What are UK Grandparents – Grandmothers in particular, if Grandfathers chose to look on and enjoy their evening years in peace, to help their Grandchildren get their future back? Have these Grandparents paused to consider the impact of these cuts on the future of their Children’s Children?

Our study finding is that there is clear link between Security and Corruption; that the 4 Specific Security Issues we have mentioned, 2 of which we have discussed in some detail are representative of Security issues facing Developed and Developing Countries today and that sustainable solutions to these problems lies in all relevant stakeholders recognizing that:-
1.     Sustainable Solutions to Security Problems lies in fighting and winning War Against A5IC – Arrogance, Injustice, Incompetence, Indiscipline, Indifference, Impunity and Corruption.
2.       Corruption goes beyond fraud and bribery. There are 20 commonly occurring forms of corruption and all are present in UK, US, other Developed Countries, Nigeria, Afghanistan and other Developed countries. It is the degree that differ. This is the bad news. The good news is that the UK and US have advance National Self Correction Systems. Should UK and US Citizens focus their Hard Times anger on getting these Systems to work better, the UK, US and rest of the World would benefit significantly.
3.       Political Corruption, Moral Corruption and Religious Corruption are probably the worst forms of commonly occurring corruption and without fundamental change to the way Government and Society work in UK, US, other Developed Countries, Nigeria, Afghanistan and other Developing Countries, the War against A5IC cannot be fought and won.
4.       The UK National Security Strategy Model built on levels of Security threats needs to be expanded to include the US National Security Strategy Model built of 3 Pillars – Development, Defense / Security and Diplomacy, to include additional Pillars – Monitoring and Evaluation, Service Delivery / Performance Management, Trade, Migration, Procurement and Human Rights in all its Ramifications – Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: HR-PESCR
5.       The leaked US Diplomacy Documents raise Big Questions such as “What is the Quality of Homeland and Global Security Information contained in the leaked documents? How well can this Information help improve Development Impact and Development Effectiveness within US National / International Development Cooperation Initiatives?" The correct answers to such Big Questions underline urgent need to overhaul existing Diplomacy, Development, Defense, Security and Anti Corruption Strategies, Policies, Programs, Projects within the type of Reinforced and Reinvigorated National Security Strategy suggested in (4) and this calls for reviewing existing Village to Global Diagnosis, Prescription, Surgery and Recovery Management Frameworks on one hand and reviewing existing Village to Global Research, Planning, Statistics, Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Assessment Systems within Diplomacy, Development, Defense, Security and Anti Corruption Strategies, Policies, Programs, Projects on Developed Countries, Developing Countries and International Institutions sides.
6.       Operationalizing (1) – (5) in practice and in ways that deliver sustainable benefits to Citizens on both Developed and Developing Countries sides, particularly the Poor, preset evidence of urgent need to overhaul National / Global Security and Anti Corruption Systems within Frameworks for achieving and maintaining New International Order – Political, Trade, Development, Finance, and Security Worldwide.

UK Students, UK Grandmothers and Grandfathers have unique opportunity to help get UK Students future back through helping to build sound mechanisms for nudging UK government and Partner Governments across the World including governments in US, France, Germany, Russia, other Developed Countries, India, China, Brazil, Nigeria, Afghanistan, other Developing Countries towards better management of Global Recessions, World Food, Fuel, Finance and Terrorism problems in the common interest, common future, common prosperity and common security of citizens in all countries, particularly the poor.

The real situation on the ground in US, UK, other Developed Countries, Nigeria, Afghanistan, other Developing Countries underlines the fact that such management requires greater sensitivity to Global needs and national needs; it cannot, therefore, emerge from direction by a small group of the powerful at National, regional and Global levels; it must be fashioned by all relevant national, regional and global stakeholders acting in effective partnerships to jointly search for, frankly discuss and firmly establish their common interest, common future, common prosperity and common  security.

We urge all to remember that as long as Ordered Change is refused, Disordered Change become inevitable – with ultimate catastrophic consequences.

Appendix

If you want to participate in the implementation of ideas and suggestions generated from discussions on this Platform, we invite you to join Multidisciplinary Professionals Community of Practice on Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability, MPCOP-PE&ES and Comprehensive Systemic Reform, CSR Project. Please send 3PCM and CSR Project enquiry to ispeabuja@yahoo.co.uk

List of Topics for Next 10 Weeks.
New Topic Posted Every Monday

1.    Achieving New International Order (1): Urgent Need to Overhaul National / Global Security and Anti Corruption Systems 29 November 2010 Ref 5/2010
2.    Achieving New International Order (2): Central Role for Researchers and Reporters 6 December 2010 Ref 6/2010
3.    Achieving New International Order (3):  Central Role for Political Leaders, Religious Leaders and Traditional Rulers 13 December 2010 Ref 7/2010
4.    Achieving New International Order (4): Central Role for Developed and Developing Countries Citizens 20 December 2010 Ref 8/2010
5.    Transforming Policy, Program, Project Failure into Success 27 December 2010 Ref 9/2010
6.    New Year; New Hope for International / National Development Cooperation 3 January 2011 Ref 1/2011
7.    Elections, Economic Growth and Pro Poor Institutional Reforms 10 January 2011 Ref 2/2011
8.    International Development Cooperation (1): Need to Standardize Evaluation Approach 17 January 2011 Ref 3/2011
9.    International Development Cooperation (2): Need to Standardize Program Approach 24 January 2011 Ref 4/2011
10.                       Reorganization, Reorientation and Discipline of National, Regional, Global Professional Bodies with Central Role in achieving National Visions and World Visions 31 January 2011 Ref 5/2011

Together we can help make our World a
Better Place
to Live, Work and Recreate for Citizens and Immigrants in all Countries Rich and Poor.