We turn to Slovenia to fill in the development blanks today. Štefan Bogdan Šalej is the director of the International Centre for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE), based in Ljubljana. The ICPE is an intergovernmental organization with member states in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe that encourages technology transfer to help address climate change and aims to improve the use of information and communications technology by small and medium-sized companies. Born in Ljubljana, Štefan spent much of his adult life in Brazil, where he worked as a foreign correspondent, bank director, businessman and investor. He headed the Minas Gerais State Federation of Industry (FIEMG) and is a member of the board of directors of the Fulbright Commission.
The bold text below shows how Štefan filled in the development blanks. We invite readers to fill in the blanks themselves by using the comment function below. Or ask him a question. Here goes:
In an era of limits, the new definition of development is less consumption, better quality of life and better health.
As part of the development agenda, water is the number one issue.
As part of the development agenda, tourism is welcome if it is responsible, ecological and organized.
Continued or increased dependence on the automobile will lead to disaster.
The population explosion will lead to more hunger and more wars.
The most glaring thing missing from the development agenda is education.
My favorite development success story is Israel.
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* By Štefan Bogdan Šalej: Pirenópolis: a Brazilian Historical Landmark that Works
* 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.
I agree that less consumption is the way forward, but at the moment our economic system seems quite dependant on ever increasing consumptio. How do we change that?
I disagree that population explosion will necessarily lead to hunger and more wars. I think if it can also help economic growth because it would increase production. In the same way, that’s it’s difficult to agree that less consumption can mean more development. I’m thinking of the Philippines which at a time of difficulty now, consumption spending has been keeping the economy afloat.
I think question depends how consumption is organized. if it is fair trade, it is fine and nice as everyone benefits ..
But how much will the Earth be able to support all of these people!?