Policy Issues

For developing countries, the greatest efforts towards advancement in the most recent decade have been initiated by the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). With a focus on reducing poverty, improving education and health care and sustainability by 2015, the goals include targets for assistance and monetary aid in those areas. Citizens, corporate funding and governments are all included in the list of possible contributors.

While government has the most capability for providing funding, the belief is that new sources of funding should complement rather than replace such aid. New sources include, contributions from corporations, and individual citizens. While the hope is that these resources will be sufficient, only through the promotion of charitable giving, will these goals be met. Government funding is still a primary necessity and often the sole means of support. Additional funding can only assist in the future and advancement of programs outlined in the attainment of these goals.

Three ideas arose when we reviewed the possibilities based on the degree of the profitability; the feasibility and implementation for a short- to medium-goals, the potential to promote them politically and increase momentum in the political arena, and the need for an attractive incentive to involve government. According to Bensoussan, Ruparell and Taliento in their evaluation of the Millenium Development Goals; engaging supporters by stimulating increases in private-capital, and encouraging private donations through a matching funds incentive.

An urgency exists today in America for a new leadership in urban education. Sectors of the school age population - that have become marginalized - either due to income level, gender, race or language barriers, have been placed in a disadvantaged position. Most of them in these groups reside in urban areas rather than the more rural and suburban parts of the country. The answer to this problem, among many, is new methods and practices in leadership. With an ever changing cultural and technological landscape, we are in a prime position to make great strides in this area. Two key points that must be considered are equity and proficiency. The system must be fair to all and readily available, and also capable enough to be administered throughout the school system in a manner that will be successful.

For the implementation of these new leadership goals, some areas of focus have been identified;

• Building on social, cultural and intellectual capital

• Building positive intergroup relationships

• Focusing on both local and global methods and issues

• Integrating applied preparatory and achievement standards

  Knowledge, resources, and skills all have to be equitably applied to all students, without regard to racial distinctions or economic class. A meritorious approach needs to be implemented, so that each will be able to achieve to their best abilities, an education that has been fairly given to all. Thus a level of equality will be the outcome, where these previously marginalized children and young adults, might not have been as able to compete or succeed as well as others that had been favored.

  Now that the important aspects have been identified, those in leadership roles will need to apply the best policies and procedures to ensure that these methods are adhered to. Principals and those on the Board of Education can now work towards a concentrated effort in the areas of focus, and ensuring that Urban Education is both fair and inclusive enough so as to be sufficiently preparatory and that students will achieve levels of standards as applied and encouraged.

Convention on Climate Change 2015 in Paris- US and China Making Great Progress

President Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping have announced their plans to reduce carbon emissions and Green House Gasses. The US, by 2015, expects a reduction of 26-28% from levels in 2005. That makes for great news in the Climate Change community where there is an ever present hope that this will happen.
China also has plans to change 20% of their energy supply to clean energy sources such as wind and solar. For technological advancement, the possibility of utilizing these new sources is phenomenal. Not only does this break new ground for scientific achievement, it marks a new interest in promoting the use of solar and wind power. With such new forms of energy we are harnessing the elements and introducing a new age of advancement.
This new announcements come just days before world leaders are to meet in Australia for the G20 economic talks. There, along with many other issues concerning the global economy, fuel sources will be discussed.
Signaling a new outlook on the threat to the environment, caused often by harmful carbon emissions, with solar and wind power being explored and developed we are entering an exciting new stage. The hope is that more and more countries will adopt such practices. We are well on the way to a better tomorrow.