We turn again to Brazil to fill in the development blanks. Rita Nardy brandies a novel biography: she is the mother of Tetê, a journalist and a biologist. She works as a consultant and as an editor at Report Comunicação, a São Paulo-based communications agency that specializes in sustainability.

The bold text below shows how Rita filled in the development blanks. We invite readers to fill in the blanks themselves by using the comment function below. While you are at it, why not respond to Rita's suggestion below as well? Here goes:

In an era of limits, the new definition of development is the creative and rational search for resources to support human life on the planet; it takes into consideration the quality of experience and relationships, the needs of the present and those of future generations, plus the balance of natural systems. That was a long answer, but there would certainly be even more things to include.

If I were casting a sequel of Nightmare on Development Street, my choice to play Freddie Krueger would be the concentration of income.

 As part of the development agenda, water is a critical issue.

As part of the development agenda, tourism is part of the problem in the present, but could be a part of the solution if planned; it could be a tool to help people become sensitive to and place greater worth on environmental protection and to improve the exchange of multicultural values.

Continued or increased dependence on the automobile will lead to pollution, urban chaos, lower of quality of life, health problems and the exacerbation of global warming.

The population explosion will lead to hunger, urban crisis, and the over-exploitation of resources – especially in developing countries.

The most likely millennium development goal to be achieved is 8 – a global partnership for development.  

The most difficult millennium development goal to achieve is 7 – ensure environmental sustainability.

The most glaring thing missing from the development agenda is real commitment by government and business leaders.

My favorite development success story is the saga of the dabbawalas (“the lunchbox delivery people”) in Mumbai, India.

The sentence I would like to see others complete is: My commitments (in practical terms) to the improvement of the quality of life of people and the sustainability of the planet are ____________________________.

* 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.