[All] Fwd: FUTURIST UPDATE February 2010

[Robert Milligan]

We all need greater foresight to become more sustainable!
Robert

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "World Future Society" <futuristupdate at wfs.org>
> Date: January 26, 2010 6:08:45 PM GMT-05:00
> To: <mill at continuum.org>
> Subject: FUTURIST UPDATE February 2010
> Reply-To: futuristupdate at wfs.org
>
> FUTURIST UPDATE
> News & Previews from the World Future Society
> February 2010 (Vol. 11, No. 2)
>
> Read online: www.wfs.org/futuristupdate.htm
>
> Pass this newsletter along! FUTURIST UPDATE may be freely shared if
> forwarded in its entirety.
>
> Receiving a pass-along copy or haven't joined WFS yet? Check out our
> special membership offer. http://www.wfs.org/foresight
>
> In This Issue:
> * Youth Summit Builds Public-Service Campaign
> * Pollution Reduces Rain in China
> * U.S. States Scramble to Balance Budgets
> * Gloomy Mood May Doom the European Union
> * Click of the Month: Timeline of Education 1657-2045
> * News for the Futurist Community
> * What's Hot @WFS.ORG
>
>
> =============================================
> YOUTH SUMMIT BUILDS PUBLIC-SERVICE CAMPAIGN
> =============================================
>
> If you want something done, assign it to people who don’t know it  
> can’t
> be done.
>
> It took just one weekend for a group of 20 young people from across  
> the
> United States to create a public-service campaign promoting a society
> that is more inclusive of individuals with disabilities. (The
> accomplishment is especially impressive when one considers how long it
> would take a typical organization to complete such a task.)
>
> The National Youth Inclusion Summit took place January 8-10 at the
> Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland, organized by the Including
> Samuel Project and led by filmmaker Dan Habib.
>
> The teenage advocates hosted viewing parties of Habib's documentary
> about his son, “Including Samuel,” and then brought their insights and
> ideas to the Summit.
>
> Working in small teams, participants ultimately created two videos  
> that
> could be used in viral marketing campaigns: “I Am Norm” used the theme
> that everyone is different, so we are all normal. “Inclusion: It’s  
> That
> Easy” dramatized a simple lunchroom scenario of kids noticing when
> someone is feeling left out.
>
> The Including Samuel Project is a program of the University of New
> Hampshire’s Institute on Disability. Groups participating in the  
> Summit
> included the National Inclusion Project, the Boys & Girls Clubs of
> America, Kids Included Together, Girl Scouts of the USA, Victor Pineda
> Foundation, and VSA arts, with support from the Mitsubishi Electric
> America Foundation.
>
> DETAILS: The Including Samuel Project, http://www.includingsamuel.com
>
> PHOTO: http://twitpic.com/xnvjr
>
>
> ===============================
> POLLUTION REDUCES RAIN IN CHINA
> ===============================
>
> High levels of air pollution have reduced the amount of light rainfall
> in eastern China by almost 25% over the past 50 years, according to an
> international study supported by Sweden’s University of Gothenburg.  
> The
> reduced rainfall negatively impacts agriculture and human health (not
> to mention the environment) in the most densely populated region in  
> the
> country.
>
> Excess smog, smoke, and airborne particles reduce the size of  
> raindrops
> in the atmosphere. The smaller the water droplets, the harder it is  
> for
> them to gather into rain clouds.
>
> China’s population growth over the past century has contributed to an
> 800% increase in air pollution, according to the researchers. China is
> now the world leader in carbon-dioxide emissions.
>
> SOURCE: University of Gothenburg, http://www.gu.se
>
>
> ********************advertisement************************
>
> BUILD YOUR OWN FUTURING CURRICULUM AT WORLDFUTURE 2010!
>
> Learn how to build a better future along with a thousand futurists  
> from
> around the world at the World Future Society’s 2010 conference in
> Boston, to be held July 8-10 at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel.
>
> In addition to an outstanding program of 150 speakers--such as eminent
> inventor Ray Kurzweil and Yale University ethicist Wendell Wallach--
> you’ll have the opportunity to hone your own futuring skills with a
> diverse selection of courses, ranging from an introduction to the  
> field
> to advanced strategies in foresight, planning, and futures building.
>
> BROWSE the preconference courses: http://www.wfs.org/2010courses.htm
>
> LEARN MORE: http://www.wfs.org/2010main.htm
>
> CALL FOR CONFERENCE VOLUME PAPERS (Deadline February 22, 2010):
> http://www.wfs.org/2010volumeguidelines.htm
>
> RESERVE YOUR HOTEL ROOM AT SPECIAL CONFERENCE RATE:
> http://www.wfs.org/2010hotel.htm
>
> SAVE $150! REGISTER FOR WorldFuture 2010 by February 26:
> http://www.wfs.org/2010regform.htm
>
> ALREADY ATTENDING? RSVP on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/facebookWF10
>
>
> ==========================================
> U.S. STATES SCRAMBLE TO BALANCE BUDGETS
> ==========================================
>
> The global economic recession has left most U.S. states focused
> primarily on balancing their budgets and generating revenue, the
> number-one legislative priority, according to the National Conference
> of State Legislatures. Collectively, the states had a nearly $146
> billion budget gap at the end of 2009.
>
> Other priorities for the states include controlling health-care costs
> while increasing coverage, lowering unemployment rates, making higher
> education more affordable, and addressing the costs of prisons while
> maintaining public safety and reducing recidivism.
>
> The unexpected impacts of new technologies also have legislators
> scrambling for ways to better serve constituents. For instance, some
> states are now considering prohibiting drivers from texting and  
> talking
> on cell phones and expanding the collection of DNA to all offenders  
> and
> not just felons.
>
> SOURCE: National Conference of State Legislatures
> http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=19397
>
>
> ======================================
> GLOOMY MOOD MAY DOOM EUROPEAN UNION
> ======================================
>
> The rapid expansion of the European Union in the past decade parallels
> that of the United States just before the Civil War. In both cases,  
> the
> unions seemed strong until the economic environment soured. Could the
> EU be headed for a civil war?
>
> Perhaps not war, but “divorce” (civil or otherwise) may be imminent  
> for
> Europe, claims the Socionomic Institute.
>
> “Both unions appeared to be strong when markets were rising. But once
> stocks reversed, the stress of a bear market severed those bonds
> quickly,” explains study author Brian Whitmer, editor of Elliott Wave
> International’s EUROPEAN FINANCIAL FORECAST. “War eventually broke out
> among the U.S. states, and I believe that an equally perilous period  
> is
> coming for the countries of the EU.”
>
> COMMENT: Just as money problems often uncover long-buried grudges  
> among
> married couples, leading to divorce, economic stressors may undo the
> bonds that European states have forged in recent decades. Perhaps
> "marriage counseling" in the form of proactive conflict resolution
> could help European leaders identify and resolve underlying tensions
> and avert the nightmare scenario of civil war.
>
> SOURCE: The Socionomics Institute, http://www.socionomics.net
>
>
> **********************advertisement************************
>
> OXFORD SCENARIOS PROGRAMME
>
> 17-21 May or 6–10 September 2010, £4,750 (ex VAT) all inclusive, Saïd
> Business School, University of Oxford.
>
> In today’s uncertain business climate this programme identifies the
> critical drivers of change that are shaping the wider context. You  
> will
> understand how to influence the continued success of your team and
> organisation; to assess the resilience of your current resources and
> activities; and, as a consequence your strategic options for success.
>
> DETAILS: caroline.williams at sbs.ox.ac.uk
>
> http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/execed/strategy/scenarios
>
>
> =======================================================
> CLICK OF THE MONTH: TIMELINE OF EDUCATION 1657-2045
> http://www.educationfutures.com/resources/timeline
> =======================================================
>
> Education Futures celebrates its fifth anniversary by looking back at
> the history of education and forecasting the next 35 years.
>
> "Utilizing many of the best resources for projecting futures for human
> capital development, this timeline presents a glimpse of the past,
> present, and plausible futures for education," states the site,
> developed by John Moravec, a faculty member of the University of
> Minnesota's Innovation Studies program.
>
> Among the timeline's forecasts: New York City will close 80% of its
> public schools by 2023 due to shifts in demographics and competition
> from informal modes of learning. By 2032, teachers and faculty who
> refuse to upgrade their cognitive functioning will be asked to resign.
> By 2035, intelligent machines deciding to have children will lead to a
> "golden age" of nonhuman creativity.
>
>
> =================================
> NEWS FOR THE FUTURIST COMMUNITY
> =================================
>
> * IS EGYPT TOO POOR FOR FORESIGHT? In an end-of-the-year op-ed for AL-
> AHRAM, economics futurist Ibrahim El-Issawy argues that futures
> research should not be considered a luxury but rather a priority in
> developing countries such as Egypt. In fact, it is becoming
> increasingly common, he notes. "A long list of future visions for
> developing countries exists, including, for example, India 2020,
> Malaysia 2020, and China 2050. Almost all development success stories
> have involved futures research of one sort or another. Good  
> development
> requires good planning...." READ "Selecting a Better Tomorrow":
> http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2010/979/sc202.htm
>
> * GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE SITUATION ROOM: The latest venture by the
> Millennium Project is a situation room for deploying collective
> intelligence on climate science, energy, green technology, adaptation,
> mitigation, and integration of sustainable development and climate
> change. The project will develop new software and user interfaces to
> link networks of outstanding experts as a resource for helping the UN,
> governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals to understand climate
> change and its potential impacts. DETAILS: The Millennium Project
> http://www.millennium-project.org or http://www.mpcollab.org
>
> * ORGANIZING FUTURIST INTEREST GROUPS: A special session devoted to
> organizing local futurist interest groups (FIGs) is now being planned
> for the World Future Society's annual meeting in Boston, July 8-10.  
> The
> session will discuss what a local FIG can do for its participants and
> examine opportunities and challenges for keeping local groups vibrant.
> If you plan to attend, please help the planners tailor the session to
> your interests and needs. CONTACT Dave Stein,
> info at futuretakes.org
>
>
> ====================
> WHAT'S HOT @WFS.ORG
> ====================
>
> * SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER FUTURE: Why support futures studies? Because
> it helps solve major world problems. In fact, good foresight regularly
> practiced can alleviate many of the most intractable problems, such as
> health care, hunger, resource shortages, and transportation issues.
> Many examples of futurism as problem solving are profiled in a special
> report by FUTURIST senior editor Patrick Tucker.
> - READ SOLUTIONS FOR A BETTER FUTURE:
> http://www.wfs.org/Dec09-Jan10/solutions.htm
> - SUPPORT THE WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY and its programs for future problem
> solving: http://www.wfs.org/support/
>
> * TOP 10 FORECASTS ON FUTURE TV: Our searches for extraterrestrial
> intelligence, sustainable energy solutions, and love will all get a
> boost in the decade ahead. A new video Illustrates the top 10  
> forecasts
> from the World Future Society's annual Outlook report.
> - WATCH NOW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byih4QJTkJM
> - VIEW in high resolution on the World Future Society Facebook page:
> http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=308272746912
> - ORDER OUTLOOK 2010: http://www.wfs.org/specialreports.htm
>
> * THE FUTURIST magazine and Encyclopædia Britannica are partnering for
> a joint blog series on Learning and Literacy in the Digital Age, to  
> run
> on Britannica.com. The series will feature essays from FUTURIST
> contributors Nick Carr, Mark Bauerlein, Patrick Tucker, and  
> WorldFuture
> 2010 Speaker Janna Anderson. READ:
> http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/01/learning-literacy-forum/
>
> ***************************************************
>
> FUTURIST UPDATE: News & Previews from the World Future Society is an  
> e-
> mail newsletter published monthly as a supplement to THE FUTURIST
> magazine. Copyright © 2010, World Future Society, 7910 Woodmont  
> Avenue,
> Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. Telephone 1-301-656-8274; e-mail
> info at wfs.org Web site http://www.wfs.org
>
> Editor: Cindy Wagner, cwagner at wfs.org
>
> Senior Editor: Patrick Tucker, ptucker at wfs.org
>
> Staff Writer: Aaron M. Cohen
>
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>
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> sechard at wfs.org
>
> To subscribe, enter your e-mail at www.wfs.org/futuristupdate.htm
>
> Submit feedback: cwagner at wfs.org
>
> The WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY is a nonprofit, nonpartisan scientific and
> educational association with a global membership. Regular membership  
> in
> the Society, including a subscription to THE FUTURIST, is $59 per  
> year,
> or $20 for full-time students under age 25. Professional and
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>
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>
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