As a global nation, we have all been profoundly horrified by the devasting earthquake and by the news and images that comes out of Haiti. Now is the time to stand together and act collectively. In a country where 80% of the population lives on less than $2 dollars a day, each of us can find ways of helping the Haitians tremendously. Already, the world community has gathered significant sums of money for aid, which amid some delay are helping immensely. Aid agencies say Haiti is quite simply one of the worst disasters they have ever handled.

One of the main challenges now for the medias, and anyone with influence, is to make sure to keep the catastrophy and rebuilding of Haiti frontpage news. Not just for a week or a month, but for as long as it takes, until the situation is healthy and stable. Just like as in the case of the war in Dafur and Hurricane Katrina, it is important to keep it part of the collective consciousness for as long as it takes to rebuild.

It is important to understand that each of us can contribute with a little effort or creativity. This is why we’ve decided to donate a portrait of Danish director, journalist, poet, and friend, Jørgen Leth in order to collect money for the aid organization Hope For Haiti Now. Mr. Leth, 72, has lived in Haiti for the last 20 years and has a profound relationship to the ill-fated country. His old house in Jacmel collapsed and was completely destroyed by the quake. He made it out alive by chance, but has lost everything. He is now in the Dominican Republic and it is with his blessing we are conducting this relief benefit print sale.

In an effort to raise money for Haiti, we’re am printing a limited, special edition of Jacob Langvad’s portrait of Jørgen Leth, photographed in Jacmel, Haiti in 2002. The C-type Prints measures 20 x 24 inches (50 x 60 cm). Each print costs USD 250,00 including international shipping.

The complete revenue will be donated to the organization Hope For Haiti Now.

Donations to Hope For Haiti Now will support a wide range of relief activities in Haiti, from emergency food and clean water to medical supplies and basic health care. 100 percent of all donations to Hope For Haiti Now will go directly to relief organizations operating on the ground in Haiti. No administrative costs or other program expenses are charged by Hope for Haiti Now. Donations made to Hope for Haiti Now will benefit these nonprofit organizations to provide Haiti earthquake relief: The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, United Nations World Food Programme, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Stay With Haiti, Red Cross, UNICEF and Yéle Haiti Foundation.

C-type Print – Jørgen Leth, Jacmel, Haiti 2002
20 x 24 inches (50 x 60 cm)
USD 250.00

Thank you for your consideration and support,

Jacob Langvad / JLCO

On Nov 3, 2009, after no less than 30 “Solutions Summits” and hundreds of one-on-one discussions with accomplished experts across many fields, Al Gore has released his new book, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. This book is a sequel to his last book, An Inconvenient Truth and truly delivers what it promises. In today’s industrialized world, global warming and global climate changes are a reality. However, many people are still unaware of the immediate effects, not to mention long term effects. In his book, Al Gore is opening our eyes and makes us see the problems with our sources of energy, especially fossil fuels. Accounting for more than half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, these sources of energy are rapidly contributing to the crisis.

In the new book, Our Choice, readers will see and understand the consequences of indifference. Al Gore aims to “gather in one place the most effective solutions that are available now”. The solutions are all there and the means to apply them are at our fingertips. We are just missing the collective will to do something about it.

People tend to overlook the fact that our planet is not responsible of our well being. Earth provides a stable environment in which life can thrive. However, if we slowly change the factors, this environment will slowly become unstable. It’s evidently that storms are more powerful than in the past and floods are more frequent. It is just a matter of time before our planet’s natural balance is irreparably broken. Al Gore is one of the most acclaimed advocates for the imminent environmental crisis as he strives to make an difference with this objective and well researched book.

Though the effects of excessive population will be felt worldwide, recent studies suggests that cities are going to get worst affected by this ensuing upheaval. If world population goes unchecked and if the exodus to cities continues, we will have to face a series of unfortunate events such as the rise in the food price, the rise of demand for water, energy and other basic amenities or the total breakdown of the entire system.

Recent studies show that in 2030 world population can rise up to 8 billion – 33 % more than the current population of the world. This means that we need to produce more energy, more food and more drinkable water to cater the growing demand. But the fact is that, most of the modern cities neither have the resource nor have the technology to deal with the problem of such magnitude. On top of this, the threat of global warming, irregular behavior of the weather and rising sea level will aggravate the situation further. The demand of energy will rise drastically in the developing world, more particularly in India and China. As people in these developing countries will have more money in coming years, their lifestyle will change and this mean they will consume more energy and resource than ever. If this trend continues, it can destabilize the socio-economic condition of these cities, as these countries are not well prepared.

With the encroachment of cities in surrounding areas, water resources will go dry. Furthermore, production of food will go down dramatically as more and more arable land will be used for residential or commercial purposes. Now the question is how the cities are going to face these challenges. We need to figure it out first and thankfully; a number of scientists are now engaged in this task. To be clear, we cannot stop the growth of population or the migration to cities forcefully. Now, what we can do is to use the power of technology to solve some basis issues like food and water crisis. We can also create employment opportunities in rural areas so that we can get sometimes to be prepared.

Just few years ago, such medical information was only available to doctors and scientists, but the situation has changed a lot courtesy some genomics firms, who are making a bold attempt in this sphere by offering medical information to the masses. The consumer-genomics industry is now in its nascence stage and therefore and offers the genomics firm ample space to grow and thrive. This is reason why some genomics firms are upbeat about the future prospect of this industry. 23andMe is one such genomics firm, which is helping people to have a clear and closer understanding of the roles that are being played by various genes in our lives. They offer a $399 mail order kit which contains everything a patient needs to take their own saliva sample. The patient then mails the sample to 23andMe who carry out micro array analysis on it.

deCODE Genetics is another familiar name in the field of personal genomics. This genomics research firm is conducting an ambitious project to create a massive DNA database of the entire population of Iceland. The chief architect of this project is Kári Stefánsson. DeCODE Genetics began offering personalized DNA testing through its deCODEme website two years ago. A customer mails in a sample taken from the inside of his cheek, and the service calculates the subject’s genetic risk for disease — cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease. As a step toward the personal genome, the company has announced that its deCODEme service is available for $985 to anyone who wishes to send a cheek swab to learn details about disease risk and ancestry. This service was launched in November 2007 and thereby became the first web-based service to offer a comprehensive genome scan and an online analysis of an individual’s DNA.

Though personal genomics has contributed greatly in the sphere of predictive medicine, it has been targeted and lambasted by those people who are skeptical about its achievements and its future impacts. Besides that, it involves some sensitive and ethical issues that need to be heeded with care before proceeding further with this plan. The issue of genetic discrimination and the cost are two other crucial factors that are making it difficult for the genomics firms to further their research in this field. However, things are not as bleak as they appear. Unconventional ideas or concepts have always been and will always be criticized but a better understanding of personal genomics may dispel the doubts and might pave the way for better and brighter future for humankind as a whole.

ActionAid has come up with a shocking report showing that some of the poorest countries such as Ghana, Malawi and Vietnam have done a considerable progress in eliminating hunger and poverty whereas India, a liberal democratic country with huge economic growth, has done a little in this regard despite its ambition to become world’s new economic superpower.

What is even more surprising is that, Brazil, which has largely been overshadowed by India and China in the past, has done a commendable and exceptional job by punching above its weight. Despite having much slower growth rate as compared to India and China, Brazil has made a major progress in this direction by reducing inequality and giving attention to the social welfare schemes. The Bolsa Familia welfare scheme alone has lifted more than 11 million families out of poverty in Brazil. ActionAid said Brazil’s success shows “what can be achieved when the state has both resources and political will to tackle hunger”.

If we go by the statistic only, China has also done a remarkable job by reducing poverty 6.6% per year. India, on the other hand, has failed to do anything praiseworthy. Its poverty line has reduced from 60% to 42% in 2005 but this is far from impressive. There are some problems with the Indian statistics, as different consumption figures were used for determining the poverty line. Between 1981 and 2005, Brazil has managed to reduce poverty 3.2% annually whereas India is lagging behind with just 1.5% poverty reduction per year, despite having a robust economy.

Now, what makes the difference are the improper distribution of wealth, resources and the utter failure of the trickle-down effect of the economy. Rising inequality, corruption and other associated social evils have made it difficult for China and more particularly for India to deliver the benefits of social welfare schemes to the right people. But the success of a poverty elimination program is basically dependening on how these social welfare schemes are working on ground level. But in case of India, these policies have failed utterly because of the lack of political will. Without political will and sufficient planning, a complete eradication of poverty will always remain an elusive and distant dream for these countries.

The number of Internet devices has already crossed the milestone of 1 billion units, but this achievement seems negligible when compared with its future prospects, which is no longer a distant vision. Trillions, a new video by MAYA Design, aptly shows how computing technology can redefine the future of digital world by crossing the boundary of number or by touching the magical figure: 1 trillion. This simply means the presence of computing technology will become ever more pervasive and powerful and is likely to be followed by a string of new challenges and opportunities.

But are we prepared enough to face the challenges that will be brought by it? Do we have the devices to connect and manage such inconceivable number of computers, smart devices or whatever they will take shape as? Obviously, we have not but we will surely have it, as we have had the calculator, the personal computer, iPhones etc in the past. But we need to have a plan that is practical, pragmatic, bold and innovative. If possible, it should also entail a wide array of futuristic devices that will allow us to make this seeming impossible thing possible. Trillions, which is a futuristic, fascinating, fabulous and somewhat fiery collection of innovative concepts and amazing ideas, shows how challenges of future can be faced effectively through a perfect presentation of information and images.

Trillions is a preview of what is going to happen in near future in the sphere of computing technology. Confrontations and complications are bound to occur if we want to solve the challenges of future with the technology of today. Managing a network of such magnitude is a monstrous job can go beyond the traditional concept of engineering. It has to entail design, architect and scientific research to generate a feasible solution. However, a paradigm shift is already underway that can topple the traditional concept of computer networking. It is going to be a radically distributed network centric system, which will be the product of the gradual evolution of network computing.

Trillions gives voice to an idea that has the potential to liberate network computation by deconstructing today’s personal computers into a wide range of components, all with specialized and specific functionality. It also depicts how computer can play a significant role in human lives. The concept of traditional computation can go haywire, as all gadgets in near future might have some ability to process information irrespective of their sizes. It might sound slightly futuristic but in reality, it only represents what is actually happening around us right now.

GOOD is a collaboration of individuals, businesses, and nonprofits pushing the world forward. Most of all, it is a magazine for those, who cares about their society. GOOD is a pursuit of adding value to the lives of people. Its subject matter ranges from television to technology, from politics to business, from environment to entertainment but all these varied subjects are tinged with a subtle twist that is unique in its own way. GOOD is simple and straightforward. It is a food for thought for those people who cares and appreciate independent ideas and striking concepts.

Starting its journey in 2006, GOOD has earned a remarkable reputation for its engaging writing style and introspective nature. Today, it has build a huge community of contributors and liked-minded. Its creative, pragmatic and practical approach on the latest happenings is somewhat different from other magazines of the same field. Although at the initial stage, GOOD had to face criticism because of its unconventional and unorthodox attitude, it has since managed to win the love, trust and the faith of its readers.

By bringing compelling and thought provoking issues to the fore of the society and by delivering the things that tally with the taste of a young generation, GOOD has managed to secure a position that is enviable and amazing at the same time. GOOD is above all a general interest magazine, which is modeled on a philanthropic idea.

GOOD’s founder, Ben Goldhirsh, has decided to donate 100% of its subscription revenue to various NGOs and non-profit organizations in a bid to do good for the society. When you sign-up for a subscription, you get to choose yourself, which of the selected 12 non-profit organizations receives the money.

Brazil, which is blessed with an impressive amount of natural resources and workforce, is fast developing as a global player in the world economic circle. However, its spectacular rise in the past few years as an emerging economic superpower is not sudden. It is the results of continuous reformations. Just few years ago, Brazil was considered to be a country of soccer, samba and rainforest. But after the international financial crisis, there came a sudden change in this popular perception. Global community begins to treat it at par with India and China, who are ushering a tectonic shift in the current global economic system.

Few could have dared to envisage that Brazil would play a leading role in world economy, as it is always plagued by political instability, corruptions and other socio-economical problems. Despite these disconcerting issues, Brazil’s economy has managed to grow modestly at 5% per year and if everything goes fine in coming years, its economy might grow faster than what is expected. But a resurgent Brazil economy does not come as a surprise to many economic analytics since it has a number of advantages over other emerging economies like India, China and Russia. It neither has to face any hostile neighbor, ethnic conflicts nor any insurgency and this is what has helped it to seize the attention of investors, who are always in search for a friendly environment.

The transitional stage of Brazil economy started in the first half of 1990s, when it opted for a sensible yet ambitious economy policy. In order to put a rein on the ever-increasing pressure of debt, it took a number of stern measures for curbing expenditure in various government institutions. Autonomy was granted to the Central Bank, encouragement was given to foreign investment, a number of states owned industries were privatized and inflation was brought under control in this period of economic reformation. In fact, these reformative steps are now paying their dividends now.

However, all is not fine for Brazil economy. As its economy is getting stronger and larger day-by-day, there is a greater chance of being affected by the economic turmoil than ever. Brazil should not satisfy with what it has achieved so far, instead it should try to harness market possibilities to their fullest extent, which is vital for achieving sustainable growth in the long run.

The Economist: Brazil takes off

On November 3, 2009, Al Gore, the world climate crisis crusader and former US Vice President, published his new book. The new book is titled “Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis” and promises to come with both intriguing new questions and solutions to the global climate crisis. “Now that the need for urgent action is even clearer with the alarming new findings of the last three years, it is time for a comprehensive global plan that actually solves the climate crisis. Our Choice will answer that call,“, according to the press release.

Al Gore’s last book, An Inconvenient Truth, brought together research from scientists all over the world, accompanied by illustrations, photos, and charts, to make the average people aware of the global warming reality. An Inconvenient Truth sent a warning to everyone who read it and now the new book, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis, is following up on this warning.

Structured in eighteen chapters and containing many illustrations, the book clearly conveys the scope of solutions that tackle the global climate crisis. Far from being pedantic, Al Gore’s tone is sober and opinionated. Our Choice covers almost everything from our sources of energy to how and where to use them. The author also tackles the difficult and debated fields of living systems, population, soils, and forests.

Climate legislation is strongly debated in the US and it looks like Al Gore’s Our Choice comes at just the right moment. One third of the faculty at MIT is anxious to work on green technologies and are supported by parents, fellow students, teachers, and scientists. According to Al Gore, we have the means to combat the global climate crisis but we lack the collective will. Readers can find all the information they need, all the alarm bells, and all the solutions they need to take action. All we need is a strong will! More and more people are starting to realize that global warming is an issue and will grow over time. People like Al Gore, through their objective books, are opening our eyes!

On December 16th, during the COP15 Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Al Gore will present his new multimedia presentation. Tickets are available here.

”Cradle to Cradle” is a conscious attempt to provide a new model for industrial revolution. As oppose to the popular concept of using less natural resources, McDonough and Braungart have propagated a novel idea that is radically different and amazingly innovative. They suggest that we should try to overcome the issue of dwindling natural resources by minimizing their dependence on natural resources. In this book, they have asserted the fact that social, economical and ecological values can be kept intact even in the stages of industrial revolution by offering a feasible and tangible solution. The readers will be able to find the root of industrial revolution and to realize the subtle relationship that existed among three crucial elements of this revolution: society, nature and science.

Just a give and take relationship with nature is both absurd and unhealthy. A symbiotic relationship between nature and industry is all needed not because it is good for the society but because it is profitable from business perspective. This book is an ideal combination of illustrations and well-researched information that are coupled together for offering a tangible solution to the problem of inefficiency and waste of natural resources. This book warns the readers that a tragic disruption is bound to happen if we continue to exploit the resources of naturally unsystematically. In “Cradle to Cradle”, McDonough and Braungart have shown that environment and industry can develop side by side if we can discard the traditional opportunist model and opt for a better model of development.