Mongolian Kitsch

Int. Dev.

Without a doubt the most important part of volunteering is the work and ‘education’ done in country; however, volunteers also have another important role as well-informed global citizens and the equally crucial responsibility of ‘educating’ ourselves and those around us back at home.

We as Westerners or Northerners (but what about Australia then?) or whatever you want to call the group of people living in well-off rich countries hold vast amounts of economic and political power. Even though it might not seem so, our actions, buying habits, and input into our nations’ foreign policies can have drastic and immediate impacts on life in the developing world. Therefore, a well informed 1st world populous, which understands the social, economic and political forces that shape and control the world, is absolutely essential for bringing about sustainable change.

Here’s some short descriptions of a few books, articles, films, websites, etc. that I’m into that relate to international development, world politics and economy, ICTs in development, etc. , etc. Hopefully, this can serve as a starting place for people who may wish to become more informed on these issues whether or not they plan to volunteer or become more active in these areas.

Books

Lord’s of Poverty by Graham Hancock- A developed classic written in the late eighties in the heyday of the World Bank and UN’s opulence and mismanagement. This guy tear’s the multi and bilateral aid world a new one and outlines every detail of how aid has failed totally from WW2 to 1990. Very onesided but a great intro into how not to do things and a great historical context for where aid is now. Gets you all fired up about development!

Player’s and Issues in International Aid by Paula Hoy- A great backgrounder on all the major players in the world of Int. Dev. and a good historical background. Fairly neutral, but getting out of date.

The No-Nonsense Guide to International Development by Maggie Black - Part of the excellent (if slanted) ‘No-Nonsense’ series. This book breaks it down and cuts through the ambiguous wording and equivocation found in Int. Dev. and tries to get at the essential issues behind terms like ‘sustainable development’. Pretty ‘left’ and somewhat depressing.

The Poverty of Foreign Aid by David C. Korten. – Good article and very positive and constructive as opposed to negative and cynical.

Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher

World Hunger: 12 Myths by Lappe, Collins

Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond – Breaks down how civilizations are created and how they fall. Good historical perspective on how the world has ended up the crazy way it has.

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder – An amazing biography of infectious diseases specialist Dr. Paul Farmer and his life in the Caribbean and else where. An awesome read, very inspirational!

Shadows of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski – First hand accounts and narratives by a Polish journalist living in Africa in the post-independence era of the 60,70, and 80’s. Really beautiful accounts of specific people and areas that give a human perspective to some of the important historical events of the period.

So many more…

Films

The Corporation
The Take
Black Gold
This is What Democracy Looks Like
The Revolution Will Not be Televised

Websites

http://www.globalrichlist.com/index.php - How rich are you, really?
http://www.kiva.org/ - Loan some that money to somebody!

http://www.ewb.ca/en/whatyoucando/learn/onlineresources.html - Some great resources from Engineers Without Borders Canada.

http://www.ethicalvolunteering.org/ - Some things to think about before getting into volunteering abroad.
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ - How are those goals doing?
http://www.wupperinst.org/en/home/ - More on environmental stuff

That’s it for now…I’m forgetting some stuff for sure. Again just suggestions get out there and find your own stuff that speaks to you. Good luck!

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