Apropriate Development

I have been hearing for weeks about how China did this and the Chinese did that in regards to products with lead or contaminated dog food, but it is not China that is responsible. U.S. companies must take the blame for lead in our products, contaminated food, etc. We must look at our U.S. companies and their practices. They are responsible for ensuring that their products are made without hazards.

Here's a great post to read: http://www.designobserver.com/archives/027474.html by David Stairs called "Why Design Won't Save the World." He reviews the Design for the Other 90% exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and points out many ways in which the exhibit and some of the technology presented there are woefully ignorant of the developing world even though this is precisely the audience for which the technology is developed. He discusses some of the projects and how they are developed and designed without a full understanding of the culture and the ways of the people. He talks about how those removed from the culture can prescribe a solution, or believe they understand a problem or tradgedies, without being there and with only the knowledge of the problems from film, brief visits to the country, or other means that do not include being entirely immersed in the culture. He also talks about doing projects on a smaller scale instead of trying to save the whole world.

Today I participated in a breastfeeding worldwide wave. We breastfed our babies for one minute at 10 a.m. as did others throughout the world in an effort to promote breastfeeding because of it's benefit to both babies and moms. I strongly support the grassroots efforts of mothers throughout the world doing this event. It got me thinking about the many issues poor mothers face that moms who are not working and have time to participate in this event do not face and are not aware of. For instance, mothers throughout the world are faced with having to return to work immediately after having their children. Many women work long days and are not able to feed their children, don't have the resources to pump, or the ability or allowance of their employers to pump or express and store milk for their babies.

I plan on writing a longer post about this later, but my husband and I watched a documentary on the TED Prize and Conference last night. It's a conference that is invite-only with many speakers and presenters and three awardees that are given a prize of $100,000 for their world changing project. The winners are also asked to make a wish that they present at the conference. Presenting to an audience filled with famous and not so famous but all brilliant minds puts the idea into motion. One of these ideas began the One.org project. The audience pays a hefty fee to be at the conference, but they are surrounded by motivated people who want to better the world, and by being with these other people, they are able to network and probably make a good amount of money for their corporation, or project, or support for their ideas.

After giving birth to a beautiful baby girl, I have been slow on the blogging. I did want to post a note about an event in Philadelphia this weekend. Taking place on Sunday, July 15, at Independence National Historical Park from 4 to 6 p.m. the Building Bridges Coalition will be having a large gathering to show support for international volunteering. Attendees will spell out the word "Volunteer" through a human chain. Check out www.wevolunteer.net for more information.