Monoculture vs. Polyculture Farming Methods
By Sean Fears | August 31, 2008
Sustainability has become a buzzword- it’s used in reference to energy policy, abiotic natural resources, and cultural practices. It’s also being used in reference to agricultural practices. Though we’ve improved on crop yields through modern farming methods, there are still ways in which we can increase our efficiencies while simultaneously providing a place for nature to thrive. Read the rest of this article »
Aviation Sustainability?
By Sean Fears | August 31, 2008
Much of the transportation talk these days revolves around finding more efficient ways to fuel our vehicles, for obvious reasons. Eventually, fossil fuels will run out, and we need to have an alternative in place long before we reach that point. As Italian air marshal Giulio Douhet was quoted as saying back in 1928, “Victory shines upon those who anticipate the changes in the character of war, not upon those who wait to adapt themselves after the changes occur.” Read the rest of this article »
8 Books to Explain Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
By Jeremy Gernand | July 7, 2008
It is a common conversation piece among those trying to understand how the world works: how did it come to be that Sub-Saharan Africa is far less developed than the rest of the contemporary world? While there is no one simple answer, there is an answer. One that involves several intertwining threads with some causes in the past and some existing today. This article points to 8 books that hold many of the keys to reaching an answer to this question, identifying the causes of the situation we see today, and hopefully sow the seeds of change for the future. Read the rest of this article »
Life in the Peace Corps, Part 5, Living
By Jeremy Gernand | July 3, 2008
For background, I am describing some of my experiences from the US Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa. More information on this series is available in the introduction.
Many often wonder what it is really like to live as a Peace Corps Volunteer. The fact is it can be a very different experience depending on which country and what position you are posted to. It has also changed significantly from the days in the early 1960s to the present, partly due to worldwide development, and partly due to changes in the Peace Corps methods and objectives. So, while every experience will be different from what I describe, this article will offer one perspective on what it was like for me serving in one place in the nation of Guinea from 1998 to 2000. Read the rest of this article »
Rates Can be Deceiving
By Jeremy Gernand | July 2, 2008
This article recently brought up an excellent point on how some rates can be deceiving, and even reduce the likelihood that we will make the right decision. The example involved comparing impressions of fuel efficiency in miles per gallon versus gallons per mile, or gallons per ten thousand miles. While identifying the better of two options in either case is easy regardless of the rate, other types of evaluations can be much more complex if we end up using the wrong units. Read the rest of this article »