Our world has many challenges and some great people and organizations working to make it a healthier, safer and all -around better place to live. They deserve our attention and active support.
Unfortunately, many inspiring stories and others that should deeply worry us about the kind of world we will live in and that future generations will inherit are overwhelmed by the noise and nonsense of popular culture. Celebrity worship and the latest techno-fads demand our attention as we all too often ignore important issues like the dangerous decline of insects essential to pollinate our food or ocean plankton which produce half of our oxygen supply.
Education and democracy are neglected as billions are diverted to armed conflicts and those who benefit from them. Volunteerism and voting are declining as more and more people ignore our responsibilities to each other.
The rich and powerful exploit others and most everyone ignores the pain and suffering we cause to other species. And, in our time of great need for principled leadership, today’s leaders do little more than manage problems and pass them on to the next “guy as they wallow in their sense of entitlement, dodging, dissembling, hedging, fudging, pretending, prevaricating and generally doing anything in their power to divert public attention.
In blogs to follow, we will share with you news of positive developments worthy of your support and others that require action lest we and our children and all life on earth choke and die on our own reckless pursuit of self-indulgence. We will write about education, democracy, responsibility and leadership and how they are inextricably linked, about the role of education in teaching morality and citizenship and the performance of our schools and universities, about our relationship with other life and the business of exploitation.
Yes there is much fatigue after so many disappointments from so many insincere leaders more interested in power and wealth than the public good. However, each of us bears some responsibility for Poor leadership and bad public policy if we sit on the sidelines as the world passes us by.
So most of all we write these blogs in the hope to inspire and inform so that you will get involved. It’s a fool’s work to expect the dinosaurs to save us from extinction.
Jul 28, 2010
Announcing Our Blog Series
We believe that the open, respectful exchange of ideas is essential to a healthy, well functioning society. That's why we have decided to more actively share ours with you and to ask for your feedback on important current events and trends in environment and development, public participation, leadership and civil society in Canada, China and around the world.
Harmony has been actively involved in sustainable community development in China for nearly 5 years. We hope that observations in our CHINA BLOG on the current scene and the relationship between Canada and China will interest and inform you. For the past 25 years Harmony Foundation has been a leader in practical education for the environment offering a close-up view of public, government and business successes and failures.
In our HARMONY BLOG we will examine trends in corporate social responsibility, public behaviour, education, international cooperation and Canada as well as keep you informed of important events and programs.
Finally, the BLOOM BLOG will give Michael Bloomfield the opportunity to inform, inspire and rant and rave about a wide range of topics from leadership to philanthropy to teaching global citizenship to animal rights to the business of war.
For over 30 years Michael has worked in Canada and internationally on wide variety of activities involving education, environment and human development. Under his leadership Harmony Foundation has been widely recognized for its pioneering work in practical education for the environment and in building bridges between business, government and community interests. He also is actively involved in charitable work as a volunteer for such causes as youth at risk, homelessness and animal protection and serves as advisor to numerous organizations on trends in sustainable development, ethical decision making, education and charitable activities.
Of course, the ideas in the BLOOM BLOG are his alone, he has earned that privilege.
Harmony has been actively involved in sustainable community development in China for nearly 5 years. We hope that observations in our CHINA BLOG on the current scene and the relationship between Canada and China will interest and inform you. For the past 25 years Harmony Foundation has been a leader in practical education for the environment offering a close-up view of public, government and business successes and failures.
In our HARMONY BLOG we will examine trends in corporate social responsibility, public behaviour, education, international cooperation and Canada as well as keep you informed of important events and programs.
Finally, the BLOOM BLOG will give Michael Bloomfield the opportunity to inform, inspire and rant and rave about a wide range of topics from leadership to philanthropy to teaching global citizenship to animal rights to the business of war.
For over 30 years Michael has worked in Canada and internationally on wide variety of activities involving education, environment and human development. Under his leadership Harmony Foundation has been widely recognized for its pioneering work in practical education for the environment and in building bridges between business, government and community interests. He also is actively involved in charitable work as a volunteer for such causes as youth at risk, homelessness and animal protection and serves as advisor to numerous organizations on trends in sustainable development, ethical decision making, education and charitable activities.
Of course, the ideas in the BLOOM BLOG are his alone, he has earned that privilege.
Nov 21, 2008
The Grand Bet
Traveling together in a boat none of us has the right to drill a hole under our own seat. The recent World Summit on Sustainable Development made that clear in challenging our generation to meet our needs without compromising the lives of others or the future.
The Summit also reminded us that many battles over the environment and social justice are about competing values. At the root of global crises such as climate change and poverty is the failure to recognize that our values affect our behaviour, and our behaviour affects other people, other species and future generations.
For many people life remains a struggle. Millions live on less than one dollar per day. Every hour more children than can fill a jumbo jet die from water-borne disease. Over-use and contamination have damaged water, land and air, compromising human development and causing unprecedented rates of extinction.
Should we be surprised when those struggling for the necessities of life condemn us for putting our comforts over their need for basic health, justice and development? After all, aren’t those of us living in the privileged world essentially betting the future so we can have more stuff now?
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
1. We can continue on our current path, believing that the gravity of our situation has been overstated, that human ingenuity can save us in the nick of time.
2. Alternatively, we can assume scientific predictions are correct, accept we have cause for serious concern, and adopt sustainable practices which don’t harm the environment or compromise the future.
If the first choice is right and the Earth’s capacity to support us is unlimited, growth may be our salvation. If it is wrong, food production will decline, wild weather will increase, nature will disappear and our cities will hold armed enclaves surrounded by pollution and grinding poverty.
If the second choice is right, we will pull back from the brink and find ways to live which sustain a decent life for everyone. If it is wrong, our economies may operate below full capacity but we will secure ourselves and the future.
What’s your bet? Before you answer, consider who will pay the price if we are wrong. It’s unlikely to be we humans living today in this prosperous part of the world. Our bet is against those less fortunate and, of course, our children and grandchildren.
Throughout my career I have encouraged people to become informed and not leave the outcome to uncompromising ideologues. Solving complex problems depends upon an educated population concerned about the world; one with the skills and commitment to work together to create a secure future.
What are we waiting for? We know the problems, we have the means to deal with them, and future generations will judge us harshly if we fair to act.
If we truly want a sustainable future we need to create school and public education programs which give hope to our young people and prepare the world’s citizens to respond to changing environmental, social, and economic realities. And yet, if these programs exist at all, they remain under-funded and under-valued.
Resources really are not the issue. We possess the means to create a world where every man, woman and child can live free of hunger and discrimination and obtain the health, education and opportunity to reach their potential while ensuring that human development does not squeeze other life towards extinction.
A well educated population living in a healthy environment offers our best prospects for the future. We just need to find the compassion, creativity and foresight to make it happen.
November 19, 2005 Harmony Foundation’s 20th Anniversary
The Summit also reminded us that many battles over the environment and social justice are about competing values. At the root of global crises such as climate change and poverty is the failure to recognize that our values affect our behaviour, and our behaviour affects other people, other species and future generations.
For many people life remains a struggle. Millions live on less than one dollar per day. Every hour more children than can fill a jumbo jet die from water-borne disease. Over-use and contamination have damaged water, land and air, compromising human development and causing unprecedented rates of extinction.
Should we be surprised when those struggling for the necessities of life condemn us for putting our comforts over their need for basic health, justice and development? After all, aren’t those of us living in the privileged world essentially betting the future so we can have more stuff now?
Fundamentally, we have two choices:
1. We can continue on our current path, believing that the gravity of our situation has been overstated, that human ingenuity can save us in the nick of time.
2. Alternatively, we can assume scientific predictions are correct, accept we have cause for serious concern, and adopt sustainable practices which don’t harm the environment or compromise the future.
If the first choice is right and the Earth’s capacity to support us is unlimited, growth may be our salvation. If it is wrong, food production will decline, wild weather will increase, nature will disappear and our cities will hold armed enclaves surrounded by pollution and grinding poverty.
If the second choice is right, we will pull back from the brink and find ways to live which sustain a decent life for everyone. If it is wrong, our economies may operate below full capacity but we will secure ourselves and the future.
What’s your bet? Before you answer, consider who will pay the price if we are wrong. It’s unlikely to be we humans living today in this prosperous part of the world. Our bet is against those less fortunate and, of course, our children and grandchildren.
Throughout my career I have encouraged people to become informed and not leave the outcome to uncompromising ideologues. Solving complex problems depends upon an educated population concerned about the world; one with the skills and commitment to work together to create a secure future.
What are we waiting for? We know the problems, we have the means to deal with them, and future generations will judge us harshly if we fair to act.
If we truly want a sustainable future we need to create school and public education programs which give hope to our young people and prepare the world’s citizens to respond to changing environmental, social, and economic realities. And yet, if these programs exist at all, they remain under-funded and under-valued.
Resources really are not the issue. We possess the means to create a world where every man, woman and child can live free of hunger and discrimination and obtain the health, education and opportunity to reach their potential while ensuring that human development does not squeeze other life towards extinction.
A well educated population living in a healthy environment offers our best prospects for the future. We just need to find the compassion, creativity and foresight to make it happen.
November 19, 2005 Harmony Foundation’s 20th Anniversary
Nov 19, 2008
Turning Gold into Green: Canadian NGO Trains China’s Mayors
With the Olympic Games and China’s gold medal dominance now history, we can expect the media’s coverage of China to revert to business as usual. Despite efforts to clean up Beijing, the big story in China remains their long-neglected environment. Spewing smokestacks, traffic jams, and dead fish will once again dominate the news.
Fair enough, China does have environmental problems - huge environmental problems. Eighteen of the world’s 20 most polluted cities bring contaminated water, air and food. Every week two new coal-burning power plants and the exhaust from thousands of new automobiles won’t make things better. You can turn on the lights - just don’t open the windows!
What happens when China’s middle class catapults from fewer than 100 million to 700 million by 2020? Add India and Brazil and the resources of three Earths will be required to supply the world’s demands! A frightening picture indeed!So what do we do? Hoard our share? We already do that and more - much more. We can ignore it like any other nightmare - after all it’s China’s problem!
Sorry, but we won’t get off that easily. What is happening in China affects all of us. Google it – you’ll see. This is a nightmare we helped to create with our own wasteful and polluting habits. Pointing fingers or denying the truth won’t ensure us, our children or future generations, a healthy place to live.
There’s a lot of work to do in China and right here at home and it starts with respecting our responsibilities to each other and the world.
Thankfully, Canada has already started down this critical path, and, surprising to some, China has too.
Many of us are unaware, for example, that China’s leaders, at their National Congress in October 2007, sent an important message to the world, declaring that China will strive for “harmony” between man and nature as it manages rapid economic development.
Recent changes indicates that China’s top leaders were serious, doing more than just crafting sound bites to alleviate pressure at home and abroad. and when the central government wants change, we can be reasonably confident the leaders of provincial, county, and local governments will be paying close attention.
This is very good news and there is more: China’s State Environmental Protection Administration was promoted to the Ministry of Environmental Protection by the March 2008 People’s National Congress. Increased authority and greater access to top decision-makers greatly strengthens the Ministry’s ability to protect and restore the environment.
Furthermore, China is ambitiously pursuing foreign expertise and technologies to help them overcome their gigantic challenge. The impressive breadth of international cooperation between China’s leaders and foreign experts in sustainable development, environmental protection, law and education, emphasizes China’s commitment.
International institutions such as the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and the Asian Development Bank, as well as numerous “BINGO’s” (big international non-governmental organizations) have joined this movement. Countless highly effective, replicable environment programs and projects have been created, achieving solid results.
One particular gem is The Canadian led The Leadership Training Program for Sustainable Community Development in China. With Canadian leadership and support from the Canadian International Development Agency, GE Foundation, the Government of British Columbia and others; this project aims at the heart of fixing China’s problem: how to manage rapid urbanization and protect the environment.
Harmony Foundation of Canada, the Environmental Management College of China and the National Training Center for Mayors of China, are training China’s mayors and other community leaders about sustainable community development (the convergence of good governance, economic prosperity and healthy communities). While producing beneficial local results the project is building capacity within its Chinese partners to continue this important work.
This vital project is encouraging China’s mayors, environmental protection managers, business and community leaders to work together to adopt policies, programs and technologies which meet economic goals while protecting cultural, social and environmental assets and human health. It emphasizes citizen participation in local decision-making and planning.
That these notions are often unpopular with those who would protect the status quo has not hindered progress. In fact, the project’s positive approach is bringing people together and has attracted the attention and support of leaders in sustainable development from higher education, environmental protection, business, government, and urban development.
This project is Harmony Foundation’s most important work in a 25 year span of award-winning environmental education. With 20% of the world’s population driving history’s fastest growing economy, China’s development decisions will greatly influence economic stability, human and environmental health and global security around the world. As China goes, so goes the world.Everyone knows China’s remarkable development has been accompanied by years of environmental neglect. As we work to get our own house in order it is encouraging to know that China’s leaders are working in earnest to do their part and we must help!
Our example will inspire action and our friendship in helping China meet her goals will produce many benefits, promoting trade in clean technologies and greater cooperation to protect human and environmental health and global security. Watching the Olympics, millions were convinced the Chinese can do just about anything they set their collective mind to. Certainly China was able to get the gold.
Now, we are all cheering for China to get the green. After all, this is a global effort and prosperity which protects human health and the environment will make all of us winners!
Fair enough, China does have environmental problems - huge environmental problems. Eighteen of the world’s 20 most polluted cities bring contaminated water, air and food. Every week two new coal-burning power plants and the exhaust from thousands of new automobiles won’t make things better. You can turn on the lights - just don’t open the windows!
What happens when China’s middle class catapults from fewer than 100 million to 700 million by 2020? Add India and Brazil and the resources of three Earths will be required to supply the world’s demands! A frightening picture indeed!So what do we do? Hoard our share? We already do that and more - much more. We can ignore it like any other nightmare - after all it’s China’s problem!
Sorry, but we won’t get off that easily. What is happening in China affects all of us. Google it – you’ll see. This is a nightmare we helped to create with our own wasteful and polluting habits. Pointing fingers or denying the truth won’t ensure us, our children or future generations, a healthy place to live.
There’s a lot of work to do in China and right here at home and it starts with respecting our responsibilities to each other and the world.
Thankfully, Canada has already started down this critical path, and, surprising to some, China has too.
Many of us are unaware, for example, that China’s leaders, at their National Congress in October 2007, sent an important message to the world, declaring that China will strive for “harmony” between man and nature as it manages rapid economic development.
Recent changes indicates that China’s top leaders were serious, doing more than just crafting sound bites to alleviate pressure at home and abroad. and when the central government wants change, we can be reasonably confident the leaders of provincial, county, and local governments will be paying close attention.
This is very good news and there is more: China’s State Environmental Protection Administration was promoted to the Ministry of Environmental Protection by the March 2008 People’s National Congress. Increased authority and greater access to top decision-makers greatly strengthens the Ministry’s ability to protect and restore the environment.
Furthermore, China is ambitiously pursuing foreign expertise and technologies to help them overcome their gigantic challenge. The impressive breadth of international cooperation between China’s leaders and foreign experts in sustainable development, environmental protection, law and education, emphasizes China’s commitment.
International institutions such as the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and the Asian Development Bank, as well as numerous “BINGO’s” (big international non-governmental organizations) have joined this movement. Countless highly effective, replicable environment programs and projects have been created, achieving solid results.
One particular gem is The Canadian led The Leadership Training Program for Sustainable Community Development in China. With Canadian leadership and support from the Canadian International Development Agency, GE Foundation, the Government of British Columbia and others; this project aims at the heart of fixing China’s problem: how to manage rapid urbanization and protect the environment.
Harmony Foundation of Canada, the Environmental Management College of China and the National Training Center for Mayors of China, are training China’s mayors and other community leaders about sustainable community development (the convergence of good governance, economic prosperity and healthy communities). While producing beneficial local results the project is building capacity within its Chinese partners to continue this important work.
This vital project is encouraging China’s mayors, environmental protection managers, business and community leaders to work together to adopt policies, programs and technologies which meet economic goals while protecting cultural, social and environmental assets and human health. It emphasizes citizen participation in local decision-making and planning.
That these notions are often unpopular with those who would protect the status quo has not hindered progress. In fact, the project’s positive approach is bringing people together and has attracted the attention and support of leaders in sustainable development from higher education, environmental protection, business, government, and urban development.
This project is Harmony Foundation’s most important work in a 25 year span of award-winning environmental education. With 20% of the world’s population driving history’s fastest growing economy, China’s development decisions will greatly influence economic stability, human and environmental health and global security around the world. As China goes, so goes the world.Everyone knows China’s remarkable development has been accompanied by years of environmental neglect. As we work to get our own house in order it is encouraging to know that China’s leaders are working in earnest to do their part and we must help!
Our example will inspire action and our friendship in helping China meet her goals will produce many benefits, promoting trade in clean technologies and greater cooperation to protect human and environmental health and global security. Watching the Olympics, millions were convinced the Chinese can do just about anything they set their collective mind to. Certainly China was able to get the gold.
Now, we are all cheering for China to get the green. After all, this is a global effort and prosperity which protects human health and the environment will make all of us winners!
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