Bill Mclaren

Although he retired from rugby commentary ages ago so I hadn’t hear him for years, its always sad when someone finally moves on – here is a tribute to the Voice of Rugby.

(Brian made me do it…)

Guardian’s new Global Health Blog

Great opening article – well done GSK…

Scrutinising ‘big aid’ in Haiti

The Lancet has the guts to raise the question: do the big aid organisations really have the needs of the people at heart – or are there other concerns: publicity, competition, politics? I heard the editor admirably defend her point of view on the radio. The article can be read here.

Its refeshing to read such a brave article - I think there is a lot of truth there… reading twitter of some people on the ground in Haiti seem to confirm it as well…

An Italian official weighs in as well.

Obviously perfection cannot be expected in situations as chaotic as that in Haiti and to balance it, here is a defense from UNdispatch.

The best way to save children’s lives in Africa

Clean water.

Thames Gateway Institute of Sustainability

I have a feeling this will be something that will make an impact, specifically beacuse it is led by engineers and business, not politicians and NGOs…

The institute is to be led by Peter Head of Arup whom I have previously mentioned in this blog.

Guardian article here.

TGIS website here.

charity:water – 2009 in review

Scott Harrison and charity:water are doing good things in a fresh way. Unlike the big legacy charities they don’t rely on tugging the heartstrings to get people to support them – instead they are using creativity and new media to connect to people. I think it works because donor fatigue is real and the old way has led to just that. They also ensure 100% of public donations go to the end recipients which puts other charities in the shade. Scott also chose to support water supply as the target which is close to my heart. It is unfortunate that health issues especially AIDS gets all the attention and therefore money whereas water is seen as too mundane. (The organisation I am part of often has to link a water project to an AIDS project just to get funding for example.)

I first saw him speak soon after he had started when he gave a presentation at London’s Apple Store and I immediately became a fan.

Here is their 2009 review – I hope and pray their work continues to grow.

BBC feature on Amory Lovins ‘Oil Endgame’

The rest is below:

How the practice of engineering should change – Amory Lovins

Old steam locomotives in South Africa

Here.

Carte Blanche on Green Cities

Here.