Stepping up to Fill in the Development Blanks on the last day of the month is businessman Michael Grossmann. Mike is a partner in the São Paulo-based export company Northeast, which specializes in certified manufactured wood products from Brazil.
The bold text below shows how Mike filled in the development blanks. We invite readers to fill in the blanks themselves by using the comment function below.
In an era of limits, the new definition of development is feeder funds and technical assistance for a self-sustaining project.
If I were casting a sequel of Nightmare on Development Street, my choice to play Freddie Krueger would be Sarah Palin.
As part of the development agenda, water is fundamental.
As part of the development agenda, tourism is an excellent option among others.
Continued or increased dependence on the automobile will lead to continuous development if fuel efficiency is constantly improved.
The population explosion will lead to ever increasing birth control and creativity in how to deal with reality - Malthus was not right.
The most difficult development goal to achieve is rationality.
The most glaring thing missing from the development agenda is how to mesh the acceptance of different political realities without violent conflict.
My favorite development success story is the United States.
My Favorite Development Media
Fiction - The Bible
Non-fiction books - Physics, Biology and/or Chemistry 101
Feature film – Exotica
Documentary film - The Corporation
Websites - The New York Times or Google
Song - Positively 4th Street
Photograph - the one of the naked Vietnamese girl running by Nick Ut.
Artwork - Brazilian Contemporary Abstract
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* Press officers: If you would like to have someone from your organization or company Fill in the Development Blanks, please leave a comment in the space below or contact Bill Hinchberger directly.
Bill, can I join you by using your format for one of my weekly entries? I think I got an interesting person whom I intended to interview, but this should work better& be easier for all.
To be honest, I am questioning his favourite development success story, which he says is the United States… Could you maybe explain that in a little more detail? Why does he think so? Everything else sounds quite logic to me.
“The most difficult development goal to achieve is rationality.” I like that.
A bit curious about the US “success story” as well, but I am really enjoying the format of these, Bill. Great work!
Of course you can use the format, Ivaylo.
Why is the United States a development success story?
Development is not only going from less to more or rich to poor. It is essentially developing a political culture within which conflicting economic, social and cultural goals work themselves out. Development, emphasis and goals, is a constantly changing phenomenon. Aside from being one of the world’s longest ongoing political systems, it is one in which radical changes have occurred (for example, slavery and its elimination).
I believe America is the real incarnation of what Mao wanted for China during the cultural revolution - ‘an eternal revolution’. It is a vibrant society that is constantly challenged; constantly tempted to ignore its own laws and one in which I feel is the greatest development success.