Business & management:
• The World Trade Organisation has released a report indicating that global trade slipped back to 6% growth in 2007, down from 8.5% in 2006.
• A report released by UK think tank Demos about the possible benefits to businesses of allowing their staff to make use of social networking websites has been released. (Note the pdf download is free as long as people comply with the Demos open access license conditions.)
• Public service employers in cities across America are forcing their employees to cover up tattoos if they want to keep their jobs, so as not to “offend some people in the community”.
• The UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has said that more effort needs to be put into gender equality for women, especially for those women living in countries affected by climate change.
• Businesses in the US selling guns and ammunition are not suffering from the economic downturn, with sales up between 8-10%. Sellers say that there are many factors involved, but one concern for buyers could be that Obama is not pro-gun and could introduce more restrictive laws.
• Price Waterhouse Coopers is suggesting that it may be only 5 years before the economies of the developing world overtake those of developed nations.
Education
• There’s a growing realization that people who study philosophy learn skills that are eminently transferable and a good fit for today’s global economy. As a result, those skills are forming the basis for strong, well-paid careers.
• How are universities likely to be impacted by current technological trends? Two publications seek to address this question.
• A university in the US commissioned a study, that has found that online education now receives wide support among US businesses, and online degrees don’t cause the concern that they used to about applicants.
• Another university conducted a study into 1st-year-student use of social networking sites to see whether there are ways to integrate sites like Facebook into university education.
• The University of Maine is offering a Masters of Business Administration and Sustainability programme.
Environment & sustainability:
• On Wired magazine’s list of 15 people that the next president should listen to, is Peter Gleick, who raises concerns about a water crisis facing the US.
• Also on the list is Mitchell Joachim who talks about redesigning cities from scratch, with the top issue for him being mobility and its inefficiencies.
• LA residents are not entirely happy with the new food recycling scheme launched in the city that wants to divert 600 tons of food waste away from landfills.
• When we think of a group of people who enthusiastically utilize the latest in technology, we don't tend to think of the Amish, but the Amish communities of America have taken to solar power in a big way.
• A new study from Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council says that the world's energy needs could be met entirely from renewable sources by 2090.
• Unless global computer manufacturers and computer-intensive industries start taking advantage of power-saving features and build with an eye toward energy efficiency, the global impact of IT is projected to surge by 2020, growing to eclipse the total emissions of the United Kingdom.
Health & wellbeing:
• The Ministry of Health has launched a survey to find out what adult NZers are eating, and how eating habits and diet affect health. The survey will take a year, and a report will be issued in 2010.
• New research in the UK shows that 1000s of students are being excluded from school for drinking, and that in 2006, more than 500,000 under-18s were served alcohol in bars and more than 350,000 bought alcohol in shops.
Law & Government:
• One of the most advanced pieces of crimeware ever created has been used to steal the details of about 500 000 bank and card accounts in countries around the world.
• Donald Trump has won local planning permission to build his controversial golf course resort north of Aberdeen.
People, culture & diversity:
• The UN has published The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity “bringing to life” the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Science, technology & transport:
• Intel and manufacturer ASUS have launched a project asking people to say what they would like to see in a PC.
• The steel industry is working with a number of UK universities to develop a photovoltaic paint.
• Finding out how to appeal to a market of upper-income people with choices is one of the most challenging questions in transit - what does it take to get upper income people on the bus?
Thursday, 6 November 2008
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