Globalisation debate at TII 2006 Annual Conference

More details at tii.org
Globalisation Theme
Workshop 3:  Technology for International Development Speaker: Tony Marjoram, UNESCO Title: Eight goals for reducing global inequality
Facilitator: Max Nielsen, MaxInno Reporter:    To be decided
This workshop will consider how innovation and technology can help solve worldwide problems such as poverty reduction, sustainability, fair trade, labour mobility and technology transfer. The speaker is an expert on international development and a member of the UN Task Force that produced the recent report on Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) to be achieved by 2015.
1. Current  situation:    poverty, insecurity, degredation etc
2. What we want:    fairer, more effective global economy
3. How we achieve it:    methods, partnerships and resources.

Workshop 4 :  Innovation and Global Competitiveness
Speaker: Guy Cloutier, Hicom International Title: Creativity – the Power of the Future
Facilitator: Tim Janis
Reporter:     To be decided 
This workshop will consider how innovation and creativity can be used as a strategy to offset the challenge of low-wage economies by gaining competitive edge from unique products and services. The speaker is well known for his publications, ‘Power of Future’ and ‘The Golden Rules’ and was the founder of an international trading house exporting inventions around the world.
1. Current situation:    losing out to low wage economies
2. What we want:    to lead the world in new ideas   
3. How we achieve it:    by stimulating innovation/creativity, developing unique products etc. 

Comments

[Max]

Samir Amin in http://www.monthlyreview.org/0306amin.htm seriously criticizes the Millenium Goals, eg. Goal #8 about Global Partnerships:
Quote:

"In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries."

Samir Amin: The significance of the generous intention to provide access to drugs is immediately nullified by the specification that this would be “in cooperation with the pharmaceutical industry,” precisely those who prohibit anyone from calling their abusive monopoly into question!

"In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies—especially information and communications technologies."

Samir Amin: Here again an intention is subjected to a condition that empties it of any meaning—“in cooperation with the private sector”!

Read the full analysis at http://www.monthlyreview.org/0306amin.htm