Research
Earth Community, Green Women, and People-centered Altruistic Economies, Politics and Cultures: A Book Summary and Review of aThe Great Turning from Empire to Earth Communitya (2006)
David Korten, in his book Γ’β¬ΛThe Great Turning from Empire to Earth CommunityΓ’β¬β’ (2006), presents a well-researched summary of human socio-cultural history over the past 10,000 or so years. Before 3000 BC, he argues, human society was organized on the basis of relationships in a form of social organization he terms "Earth Community". Human needs and values were paramount; cooperation was the basic principal of interaction; the earth was respected, and the needs the individual were humanely balanced with the needs of the group. Before Empire, spiritually, gods were generally female, representing the givers of life and sustenance. In human society, women enjoyed a status of full participation, with a voice in all family and village affairs. However, in different periods of empire, womenΓ’β¬β’s egalitarian status transformed and was lost to patriarchal male domination. To eradicate injustice, inequality and exploitation from society, it is important to revive the earth community in order to restore justice and equality in the contemporary society. Significance of the book review: This book creates new knowledge, thoughts and strategies that inspire people to organize them against exploiting empires and to develop partnerships among marginalised people for their well-being in the community. It tells us how to use human potential for creative cooperation and share resources for the creation of community-driven economies that are green, smart, and promote the well-being of all people. This book review promotes a bio-diverse green economy and green women development based on KortenΓ’β¬β’s Γ’β¬ΛEarth CommunityΓ’β¬β’ approach. The reviewer of this book thinks this book summary and review provide readers with a synopsis of the book and share David KortenΓ’β¬β’s Γ’β¬ΛEarth CommunityΓ’β¬β’ features that might help researchers think and find out ways of making better altruistic community life in the contemporary world.
Grameen Bank and its Sister Organizations-Grameen Chek and Grameen Krishi (Agricultural) Foundation Not Only Providing Credit: They Guide the Landless Families in Bangladesh for their Development
This paper talks about Grameen Bank (GB) micro financing program features, strategies, policies and its two other sister organizations Grameen Chek (GC), involves in manufacturing handloom garments and Grameen Krishi (Agricultural) Foundation (GKF), engages in agricultural activities and irrigation management in Bangladesh. All are social business organizations in Bangladesh. GKF runs its farms Γ’β¬Λno loss basisΓ’β¬β’. Grameen Bank and Grameen Chek run their programs without receiving external funding; rather these two organizations have operated their programs from their own generated funds. Moreover, Grammen Bank and Grameen Chek are free from external consultants` pressure rather they are developing their programs, policies and implementation strategies by using their in-house staff skills and experience. However, Grameen Krishi Foundation, establishes in 1990, receives start-up external grants from United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), United States of America International Aid (USAID) and the Royal Netherlands Government. GKF all programs are designed by the western irrigation management consultants hired by the donors. Donor consultants have prescribed programs for GKF without considering the local socio-economic, geo-agricultural and environmental factors. The donors forced GKF to follow consultantsΓ’β¬β’ inception mission instructions report, which areirrelevant and expensive for add in Bangladesh agricultural farming. As a result GKF ends up huge loss in 1998. The objectives of the study are to explore what strategies, policies and tools GB, GC and GKF use in implementing their programs in Bangladesh; and to identify what steps they have taken to address the issue of poverty and make them success. Why they are unsuccessful if any. The research questions are what are strategies, policies and tools GB, GC and GKF use in implementing their programs in Bangladesh. The paper reflects authorΓ’β¬β’s own working experience working with Grameen Bank, Grameen Chek a
Eradication of Poverty through Community Green Economic Development Utilizing Khas (Government Jurisdiction) Ponds: Lessons Learned from Grameen Motsho (Fisheries) O Pashusampad (Livestock) Foundation (GMPF) in Bangladesh
Grameen Motsho O Pashusampad (Fisheries and Livestock) Foundation (GMPF)-is a sister organization of Grameen Bank (GB) involves in livestock and fish culture, mobilizing poor people engage in livestock and fish production, agriculture, horticulture, homestead gardening, social forestation and bio-gas plants and other community green income generating economic activities to bring improvement in the quality of life of the poor, in particular of poor women. GMPF is managing leased of 1035 Khas (public) ponds having 2557.3 acres of water bodies and 20 fish seed farms leased from the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) for 25 years. The objectives of this study is to examine the policies, strategies and approaches of GMPF community economic development (CED) and to link CED concept with GMPF activities if it benefits to local poor people in Bangladesh. The study research questions are is Grameen Motsho O PashuSampoad Foundation (GMPF) a CED program in Bangladesh? If so, how it works, what approaches and strategies it follows, what are challenges it faces in implementing its programs in Bangladesh. The author writes this paper from his pre-and post-GMPF working experience. The paper contains authorΓ’β¬β’s live experience, review literature, secondary data and interpretative method of analysis.
