Saturday, February 27, 2010
Latest Worldbytes available
Watch the latest items on the Worldbytes internet television channel including a report on how Mumbai is embracing consumerism, an item challenging sustainable development and a defence of the freedom to film in public.
Labels: film, india, sustainability, Worldwrite
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Back in action
After a three week break I am getting back into blogging. Once I receive comments from my publisher I also will have to rewrite my book manuscript by the end of the month.
So far the links I have found are as follows. If you think I have missed anything particularly important while I have been away please email me.
* I was particularly said to miss this year’s Battle of Ideas festival in London. However, several sessions, including one on post-recession ideologies, are already available on audio. Others will hopefully soon follow on video. Rob Killick has also written up his speech on economic growth and its discontents.
* Worldwrite’s regular Worldbytes television magazine programme includes an item on austerity and the alleged lesions of the Second World War.
* Al Gore is in the news a lot with a new book coming out entitled Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. He is also the subject of the cover story in this week’s Newsweek while a New York Times article examines the possible conflict of interest between Gore as an investor and as an advocate for action on climate change.
* Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, made much of the battle against climate change in her address to the American congress.
* Meanwhile, the implication of this BBC article and the related radio programme is that nostalgia for East German values is a form that growth scepticism is taking in Germany. I am not sure this is correct but it is certainly worth investigating.
So far the links I have found are as follows. If you think I have missed anything particularly important while I have been away please email me.
* I was particularly said to miss this year’s Battle of Ideas festival in London. However, several sessions, including one on post-recession ideologies, are already available on audio. Others will hopefully soon follow on video. Rob Killick has also written up his speech on economic growth and its discontents.
* Worldwrite’s regular Worldbytes television magazine programme includes an item on austerity and the alleged lesions of the Second World War.
* Al Gore is in the news a lot with a new book coming out entitled Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. He is also the subject of the cover story in this week’s Newsweek while a New York Times article examines the possible conflict of interest between Gore as an investor and as an advocate for action on climate change.
* Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, made much of the battle against climate change in her address to the American congress.
* Meanwhile, the implication of this BBC article and the related radio programme is that nostalgia for East German values is a form that growth scepticism is taking in Germany. I am not sure this is correct but it is certainly worth investigating.
Labels: America, book, climate, environment, Germany, radio, television, Worldwrite
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Resources against Malthusianism
Perhaps the biggest change in growth scepticism in the three years since I started writing this blog is the more overt character of Malthusianism. Openly expressing fears about overpopulation has become a mainstream preoccupation rather than confined to the fringes. Best-selling authors such as Thomas Friedman and Jeffrey Sachs have no compunction about talking about the supposed dangers of a crowded world.
On the United Nations World Population Day it is good to note there are voices opposing this reactionary shift. These include:
* Brendan O’Neill’s recent article on spiked on the myth of an overcrowded world. The piece also links to other spiked articles on a similar theme.
* Worldwrite’s Worldbytes two items on overpopulation in its latest programme.
* My Engineers Against Poverty debate (PDF) with the Optimum Population Trust in 2007 (see page 3).
* Frank Furedi’s book on Population and Development
On the United Nations World Population Day it is good to note there are voices opposing this reactionary shift. These include:
* Brendan O’Neill’s recent article on spiked on the myth of an overcrowded world. The piece also links to other spiked articles on a similar theme.
* Worldwrite’s Worldbytes two items on overpopulation in its latest programme.
* My Engineers Against Poverty debate (PDF) with the Optimum Population Trust in 2007 (see page 3).
* Frank Furedi’s book on Population and Development
Labels: consumption, film, Malthus, spiked, Worldwrite
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Worldbytes on deforestation
The latest Worldbytes programme by Worldwrite is available online. I was particularly struck by the chill out desk item by Joe Kaplinsky on deforestation – a problem which obsesses the like of campaigners such as Prince Charles. Kaplinsky presents the problem as a symptom of a lack of rural development in contrast to the green view which presents economic growth as the problem. For example, the desperately poor will often collect fire wood as a way of earning a living. In contrast, more developed societies are in a better position to decide how best to manage the land, Other highlights of the programme include items on the supposed threats of hate speech, immigration, overpopulation and water shortages.
Labels: consumption, development, environment, film, Malthus, Worldwrite
Monday, June 01, 2009
RNS feed for blog
Rob, a Worldwrite volunteer, has generously set up an RNS feed for this site. It can be found at:
http://feed43.com/ferrarisforall-danielbenami.xml
http://feed43.com/ferrarisforall-danielbenami.xml
Labels: technology, Worldwrite
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Video of my session at Battle of Ideas
Highlights of my appearance at the Battle of Ideas 2008 can now be viewed on the latest Worldbytes programme (see 30 October 2008 post). I appeared on a panel on “Growing pains: the pros and cons of economic dynamism” alongside, among others, Martin Wolf of the Financial Times and Ha-Joon Chang of Cambridge University.
Labels: development, economics, growth, media appearances, speeches, Worldwrite
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Debating sweatshops
The last programme in the series of the BBC Radio 4 Iconoclasts programme looked at the debate around third world sweatshops. Jagdish Bhagwati, a professor of economics at Columbia University, argued that sweatshops should not be criticised for paying poor wages although he conceded it was wrong to have poor working conditions. He emphasised that industrial exports could lead to growth which could in turn life countries out of poverty.
After an initial introduction by Bhagwati there was a debate involving Ceri Dingle of Worldwrite a campaigner from War on Want and the owner of a fair trade fashion label. The advocates of ethical consumption came out with the usual clichés: complaining about free market economics and trickle down theory (even though neither had been mentioned by Bhagwati or Dingle). They also focused on sweatshops in the poorer countries without understanding that the plight of those working on the land is generally worse. There were also complaints about inequality (but not arguing for more growth) and an implicit assumption that the British government could somehow help trade unions organising in poorer countries. Dingle ably put the case for more growth, greater industrialisation and higher expectations.
After an initial introduction by Bhagwati there was a debate involving Ceri Dingle of Worldwrite a campaigner from War on Want and the owner of a fair trade fashion label. The advocates of ethical consumption came out with the usual clichés: complaining about free market economics and trickle down theory (even though neither had been mentioned by Bhagwati or Dingle). They also focused on sweatshops in the poorer countries without understanding that the plight of those working on the land is generally worse. There were also complaints about inequality (but not arguing for more growth) and an implicit assumption that the British government could somehow help trade unions organising in poorer countries. Dingle ably put the case for more growth, greater industrialisation and higher expectations.
Labels: consumption, development, ethics, radio, trade, work, Worldwrite
Friday, October 03, 2008
Me on global equality on Worldbyes
Worldwrite’s latest Worldbytes television programme includes an item with me talking about global inequality. Other stories include challenging China bashing, a scientist talks about waste and an alien’s take on carbon footprints.
Labels: china, development, environment, footprint, inequality, media appearances, Worldwrite
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Worldwrite launches news channel
Worldwrite has launched its Worldbytes television channel (see 28 August post). The first programme includes an item with me talking about poverty in London.
Labels: inequality, media appearances, television, Worldwrite
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Worldwrite to launch news channel
Worldwrite is to launch an online monthly video news channel called Worldbytes at 7pm (London time) on Friday 5 September. More details to follow but it promises to be a must watch programme with its staunchly pro-development stance and irreverent attitude to growth scepticism.
Labels: development, inequality, television, Worldwrite
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Fetishising water
The BBC2 Newsnight programme this evening completely succumbed to the panic about water shortages. Its underlying assumption was simple: population growth and industrialisation are leading to greater use of this scarce commodity. This in turn is leading to the prospect of conflict and even water wars worldwide.
Sadly none of the studio guests challenged the fetishisation of water. It is wrong to see water as causing conflict – water is just “stuff” – the problem is the lack of investment in infrastructure to ensure everyone has enough water. Nor is it true that water is a finite resource (see, for example, posts of 22 August 2006, 19 October 2006 and 12 March 2008).
Worldwrite is also producing a documentary on this topic called Flush It!. Hopefully it will provide an antidote to such scare-mongering. Its premiere is at the Battle of Ideas festival on 2 November.
Sadly none of the studio guests challenged the fetishisation of water. It is wrong to see water as causing conflict – water is just “stuff” – the problem is the lack of investment in infrastructure to ensure everyone has enough water. Nor is it true that water is a finite resource (see, for example, posts of 22 August 2006, 19 October 2006 and 12 March 2008).
Worldwrite is also producing a documentary on this topic called Flush It!. Hopefully it will provide an antidote to such scare-mongering. Its premiere is at the Battle of Ideas festival on 2 November.
Labels: consumption, environment, film, television, water, Worldwrite
Friday, April 18, 2008
Spoilt fashion brats visit India
Ceri Dingle of Worldwrite has previewed a BBC documentary series on six fashion designers who visit India to work for firms producing clothes for the British high street. Evidently the young British brats cannot even sew straight and are contemptuous of Indians. The views of the Indian clothing workers are not even represented on screen. Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts starts at 9pm on Tuesday 22 April on BBC Three.
Labels: india, review, television, Worldwrite
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Two more Worldwrite films
Worldwrite has produced two new short films. Cash Back is a look at the importance of remittances to economic development in the third world. For the poorest countries it can be several times the amount of official development assistance or foreign direct investment. I’m a Subsistence Farmer Get Me Out of Here is an attack on those who romanticise the lives of those who are tied to the land (itself a shortened form of a more substantial documentary made by Worldwrite). Both films can be viewed online by clicking on the links.
Labels: aid, development, economics, film, Worldwrite
Sunday, December 16, 2007
A conservative critique of the MDGs
William Easterly, perhaps the world’s best-known conservative development economist, has written a critique of the millennium development goals (MDGs) as they apply to Africa. In his view the goals are constructed in an arbitrary way which leads to an underestimation of Africa’s development progress. For example, the 1990s was a bad decade for Africa yet, although the MDGs were officially declared in 2000, the targets are backdated to 1990. Therefore Africa starts at a disadvantage as a result of an arbitrary statistical decision.
Easterly makes some useful points but it is a pity that most criticisms of the MDGs come from the right. The idea that the goals embody and reinforce a climate of low expectations in relation to development is rarely made outside of spiked or Worldwrite.
Easterly makes some useful points but it is a pity that most criticisms of the MDGs come from the right. The idea that the goals embody and reinforce a climate of low expectations in relation to development is rarely made outside of spiked or Worldwrite.
Labels: Africa, development, spiked, Worldwrite
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Demystifying African corruption
A new documentary from Worldwrite, an education charity, examines the question of corruption from an African perspective. In Corruptababble two young South Africans, Brendon and Yolanda, travel around London and Edinburgh to gauge perceptions of corruption. Virtually everyone they speak to sees corruption as a big problem in Africa but few come even close to being able to back up their arguments. Most simply assert that corruption must be largely to blame for Africa’s difficulties while many others argue it is a more extreme form of corruption in the West.
The people shown to have the most coherent explanation for corruption are free marketers speaking at a conference on development. They argue in detail that Africa is poor because predatory African elites have siphoned off money for their own benefit. But such arguments have a strongly apologetic character. Blaming Africans for the continent’s lack of development is a way of diverting responsibility from the West or the weaknesses of the market system.
Corruptababble is a step towards challenging one of the most enduring myths about Africa. Anyone who supports African development needs to be able to challenge the unhealthy obsession with corruption.
The people shown to have the most coherent explanation for corruption are free marketers speaking at a conference on development. They argue in detail that Africa is poor because predatory African elites have siphoned off money for their own benefit. But such arguments have a strongly apologetic character. Blaming Africans for the continent’s lack of development is a way of diverting responsibility from the West or the weaknesses of the market system.
Corruptababble is a step towards challenging one of the most enduring myths about Africa. Anyone who supports African development needs to be able to challenge the unhealthy obsession with corruption.
Labels: Africa, corruption, film, Worldwrite
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Worldwrite publishes first newsreel
Worldwrite, an education charity which produces films promoting third world development, has produced its first newsreel. The film is based on a critical discussion of the recent G8 summit of world leaders. I was on the panel along with Philip Cunliffe and Stuart Simpson (see 29 May post). It can currently be viewed from the Worldwrite homepage here.
Labels: Africa, development, film, media appearances, Worldwrite
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Speaking on West in Africa on 7 June
I will be speaking on a panel on Western interference in Africa at the Worldwrite centre at 7.30pm on 7 June. It is timed to coincide with the G8 summit of the world’s most powerful leaders in Germany.
Labels: Africa, speeches, Worldwrite
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Thinking big in Newcastle
Yesterday I spoke at the worldwide premiere of Think Big, a new documentary by Worldwrite, at an event organised by the Great Debate in Newcastle (see 4 January post). The film shows how Ghanaians have the same ambitions and needs as Westerners. Like those in the developed world they want comfortable homes, access to modern technology and fulfilling worse. Only in a relatively poor country like Ghana it is harder to achieve such goals.
Like most Western audiences those in Newcastle said they were all in favour of development. Yet, also in a typical way, they then raised concerns about corruption, the environment, inequality and indigenous culture. I countered by arguing that the debate about development nowadays does not typically take the form of a clash between those who are in favour and those who are consciously against. Instead the mainstream view redefines development in a narrower way in response to the kinds of concerns outlined above. So what today passes for “development” is in fact hostile to the genuine modernisation, urbanisation and industrialisation of poorer societies.
Like most Western audiences those in Newcastle said they were all in favour of development. Yet, also in a typical way, they then raised concerns about corruption, the environment, inequality and indigenous culture. I countered by arguing that the debate about development nowadays does not typically take the form of a clash between those who are in favour and those who are consciously against. Instead the mainstream view redefines development in a narrower way in response to the kinds of concerns outlined above. So what today passes for “development” is in fact hostile to the genuine modernisation, urbanisation and industrialisation of poorer societies.
Labels: Africa, development, film, speeches, Worldwrite
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Speaking at development events
I will be speaking at a seminar on Amartya Sen’s seminal Development as Freedom at 7pm on 24 January at the University of Westminster. The book is probably the most eloquent statement of the case for downplaying the importance of economic growth in the development process. Not only is Sen a top academic, with a Nobel price in economics, he has also acted as a senior adviser to the United Nations and the World Bank.
The seminar is not restricted to those at the University of Westminster. For more details click here.
I will also be speaking at an event in Newcastle on the environment and development on 17 March. The Saturday conference is jointly organised by the Great Debate and Worldwrite. Details are available here.
The seminar is not restricted to those at the University of Westminster. For more details click here.
I will also be speaking at an event in Newcastle on the environment and development on 17 March. The Saturday conference is jointly organised by the Great Debate and Worldwrite. Details are available here.
Labels: development, speeches, Worldwrite
Sunday, November 05, 2006
The Battle of Ideas
Last weekend I debated the Battle for Affluence at the Battle of Ideas festival. The thrust of my argument was that affluence has proved enormously beneficial for humanity and will continue to do so. In contrast others, such as Professor Avner Offer of Oxford university and Mark Easton of the BBC, argued that our preoccupation with prosperity has gone too far. In their view other factors, such as well-being, should be the main focus of government policy. Others on the panel included Professor Nicholas Crafts of Warwick university and Jenny Davey of the Times (London). Later that evening I also debated Professor Offer on BBC Radio Five Live.
At the conference I also chaired a session in which Damned by Debt Relief, a film made by Worldwrite, had its world premiere. The film showed how the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative imposes new conditions on the poor but does not offer any new money. A trailer for the film can be viewed here.
Other sessions at the weekend included a debate on the “happiness trap” and a series on the Battle over Nature.
At the conference I also chaired a session in which Damned by Debt Relief, a film made by Worldwrite, had its world premiere. The film showed how the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative imposes new conditions on the poor but does not offer any new money. A trailer for the film can be viewed here.
Other sessions at the weekend included a debate on the “happiness trap” and a series on the Battle over Nature.
Labels: affluenza, film, happiness, media appearances, radio, speeches, Worldwrite
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Worldwrite documentaries on net
Three short versions of Worldwrite documentaries, putting the case for real development from different angles, are now available on the internet. Bisease story – A letter to Geldof looks at Bob Geldof’s broken promises to a Ghanaian village. Damned by Debt Relief examines the grim reality of the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative on debt relief. Carry on up the NGO shows that non-governmental organisations do not cater for the real needs of people in the third world. The films can be viewed for free at documentary-film.net although registration is required.
Labels: Africa, development, film, Worldwrite
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Me and Worldwrite
The slogan “Ferraris for all” comes for Worldwrite; an education charity campaigning for real development in the third world. Ceri Dingle, the director of the charity, was evidently asking some of its volunteers what they would really like to have. They said Ferarris. I am sure they did not necessarily mean it literally. No doubt Lamborghinis, McLarens or Maseratis would do for some. The point is that everyone should have access to the best that the world has to offer.
I appeared in the Bitter Aftertaste; a short documentary Worldwrite made criticising fair trade. To view the film on the internet click HERE. I have also written an article on the subject, called the coffee con , for Spiked.
On 28 October I will be chairing a discussion of Worldwrite’s new film Damned by Debt Relief at the Battle of Ideas festival. In 2005 I wrote an article on debt relief for Spiked.
I appeared in the Bitter Aftertaste; a short documentary Worldwrite made criticising fair trade. To view the film on the internet click HERE. I have also written an article on the subject, called the coffee con , for Spiked.
On 28 October I will be chairing a discussion of Worldwrite’s new film Damned by Debt Relief at the Battle of Ideas festival. In 2005 I wrote an article on debt relief for Spiked.
Labels: development, film, media appearances, speeches, spiked, trade, Worldwrite
