Abstract
New potential trends in the future Development of the HDI
Since its creation in 1990, the HDI aimed to provide a reliable and yet simple tool to help in the evaluation and the orientation of national policies. This tool was also expected to consider other aspects than the only sacred GDP. In accordance with these goals, the “classic” HDI has been designed to encompass three major components, namely health, education, and economics. This design resulted from debates of a very few specialized persons. Thus, so far, this tool has been defined and used by specialists to produce data mainly consumed and usable by other specialists (e.g. academics, policy-makers, and decision-takers). And, considering the context of that period, it was very fine.
Within the past twenty years, many aspects of our world changed. A steadily growing part of this world is surely entering the era of globalization. Development of Information and Communication Technologies accelerated this phenomenon, started with the advent of the quasi instantaneous and ubiquitous information (television and radio). Thus, probably that the time has come to rethink this institution, to wit HDI, first, to broaden it to other dimensions, and second, to forge it on a more participative mode. Available ICT infrastructures are now able to support a more people-centric, democratic, and contexts-aware debate promoting the development of a set of thematic HDIs that would not replace but rather complete the “classic” HDI. Then, the HDI would not be anymore an affair of specialists but instead a transparent collaborative construct designed by the people for the people, and therefore, closer to their values, their concerns, and more accessible by everyone.
Okinawa 2 (I love Okinawa)
I visited Okinawa last month. Okinawa hosts 74 % of the U.S. bases on 0.6 % of the land. Despite overwhelming opposition, the Japanese government is taking the lead in efforts to build a new U.S. military base in Henoko Bay, emphasizing the deterrence value of the U.S. bases in Japan. Our policy makers want to proceed with the construction "shuku shuku to (calmly and solemnly)."
It is shockingly mindless and undemocratic to disregard the Okinawans' will. Here are some of useful websites on anti-U.S. base acitivities and protests (see the Japanese version – four of eleven sites are in English).
- 辺野古(新基地阻止)基金
- [[http:tamutamu2011.kuronowish.com/sosikikin.htm|Tamu Tamu @ Kuro no wish]]
- 辺野古への土砂搬出反対 協議会が発足
(辺野古に埋め立てる土砂が足りず、多府県からけずって運搬する。すべては米軍のために ― なんとも馬鹿げている)
- [[http:www.okinawatimes.co.jp/article.php?id=117820|Okinawa Times Journal]]
- 映画が描く沖縄基地問題と日本の選択
- [[http:www.videonews.com/marugeki-talk/738/|Video News]]
- 『戦場ぬ止み(いくさばぬとぅどぅみ)』劇場予告編
- [[http:www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo4nzhwdlx0|Youtube video]]
- 三上智恵監督インタビュー
- [[http:rooftop.cc/interview/150523185939.php?page=3|Rooftop News]]
- New Wave to Hope宮島玲子さんらの活動
- [[http:ja-jp.facebook.com/New.Wave.to.HOPE.okinawa|Facebook Japan News]]
- 米軍基地はもういらない〜辺野古の海を守る人々
- [[http:www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYRhHcaof6w|Youtube video]]
- チョムスキー氏「反基地に奮闘する県民、県政を強く支持」
- [[http:ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-243527-storytopic-3.html|Ryukyu Shimpo Journal]]
- "All Japan" versus "All Okinawa" - Abe Shinzo's Military-Firstism 「オール・ジャパン」対「オール沖縄」 安倍晋三の軍事最優先主義
- [[http:japanfocus.org/-Gavan-McCormack/4299/article.html|Japan Focus Journal]]
- Economics of U.S. base redevelopment sway Okinawa mindset
- [[http:www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/17/national/politics-diplomacy/economics-u-s-base-redevelopment-sway-okinawa-mindset/#.VWg8NFIppf6|Japan Times Journal]]
- Looking at Flaws in the Henoko Landfill Permit Process from the Standpoint of the Right to Self-determination
- [[http:japanfocus.org/events/view/250|Japan Focus Journal]]
Towards International and Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration for the Measurements of Quality of Life
Our paper (with the title above) has been published and is available as "Online First" on SpringerLink now: [[http:www.springerlink.com/content/m004735741011503/?MUD=MP|www.springerlink.com]]
When we started creating our eLab in 2006-2007, it was probably one of the earliest ones. Now there are many eLabs, especially nice ones in the UK and other universities. Though, I understand that many researchers focus on eScience, while we are more interested in eSocial Science and measuring societal progress.
We have written the earlier versions of this paper for the last three years. And, as the time has passed, we have learned new stuff, and tried to make the paper shorter and less technical. Therefore, quite frankly, the paper is getting outdated as technology advances so quickly. Though, our article provides a general introduction to eSocial Science.
A good news is that we've got a new idea. Although we cannot go into details at this time, what we wish is we make it accessible and useful for as many people as possible.
We hope to update you about progress on this site (by the end of this year, if possible). Also, we will see you at future conferences and meetings! At the moment, we are interested in the 9th IEEE International Conference on e-Science in Beijin, China in 2013: [[http:escience2013.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/65560|escience2013.csp.escience.cn]]
Dancing at home!
This is so cool! soooo Luxembourgish! This nice little song reminds us that we are not “separate islands,” but a part of the larger society! Solidarity!
「コロナウイルスは今やここに」「外に出ないで、家で踊りましょう」「2メール距離をおいて、手洗い励行」「病人、虚弱な人、お年寄り、そして彼らをケアする人たちのことを私は想ってますよ」という手作り感のある連帯のビデオです。ルクセンブルク社会が、一瞥できると思います。
Danzt doheem
Si soten : « O mei, de Virus ass elo hei
a Schutzmoossname gëtt et eng ganz Rei.
Beim Schwätze respektéiert zwee Meter Distanz
a wäsch deng Fanger sou oft s de kanns. »A si hu lo gesot : « Bleif dobannen, well rausgoen ass gewot !
A bleift lo all am Haus, gitt nëmmen, wann et wierklech néideg ass, eraus. »
Dofir danzt elo, danzt elo all doheem.
Sidd solidaresch an disziplinéiert, jiddereen,
an haalt iech drun, well de Coronavirus geet jiddereen eppes un !
Ech denken un déi krank, déi schwaach an déi al Leit
an un dat Personal, dat déi do betreit.
Ech soe Merci all deenen, déi am Hannergrond
doru schaffen, datt alles hei dréit weider ronn.
A si hu lo gesot : « Bleif dobannen, well rausgoen ass gewot !
A bleift lo all am Haus, gitt nëmmen, wann et wierklech néideg ass, eraus. »
Dofir danzt elo, danzt elo all doheem.
Sidd solidaresch an disziplinéiert, jiddereen,
an haalt iech drun, well de Coronavirus geet jiddereen eppes un !
Lisa Mariotto
Longue vie au Shidōkan!
Cette année marque le dixième anniversaire de Shidōkan, club de iaido à Libramont, en Belgique, fondé par d'ardents disciples de Ogura Noboru Sensei, Gérard (Gési) Simon et Gérard Gatelier. Maintenant, le club entretenu avec succès par Gatelier et d’autres. Beaucoup de membres consacrent une bonne partie de leur vie à la pratique et à l’amélioration de leurs techniques de iaido et la connaissance des aspects philosophiques afférents à la discipline. Une personne, par exemple, fait chaque semaine 120 kilomètres de route pour aller pratiquer, tandis qu’une autre personne pratique près de 6 jours par semaine, gardant un jour libre pour que sa femme puisse le voir!
Je me demande ce qui est si fascinant dans le iaido (s’entraîner pieds nus dans un dojo pendant des heures). Une personne m’a dit que c’était "la poursuite du bien-être, celui qu’on gagne et celui qu’on partage."
Je suis reconnaissante de cette opportunité d'apprendre ma propre culture et ses valeurs traditionnelles de mes amis belges japonophiles! Vive le Shidōkan!
1) Photo de certains membres (les Sept Samurai de Libramont) au dojo.
2) Photo de Gési, à la fête d'anniversaire du club, qui reçoit un cadeau des membres représentés par Philippe Lesire
Une vidéo (en anglais) montrant les techniques de base du iaido: [[http:www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ5_JaRaOtQ|Ogura Sensei - ZKR demonstration]]
Si vous êtes intéressé(e), voici les coordonnées du club et le point de contact:
Club Shidōkan (membre de la BKR et de l'ABKF)
Place communale, 6800 Libramont-Chevigny
Responsables:
Gérard Simon - Gérard Gatelier - Philippe Lesire
+32 (0)498/44 15 56 ou +32 (0)494/28 46 56
Entraînements:
Jeudi à partir de 19h30 (1h iaido, 1h jodo)
Dimanche 9h30-11h30
Kitano Takeshi’s Elementary Schools and Japanese Schools in Benin
About three months ago, I wrote a blog article on the children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in Malawi and the importance of education as a critical instrument for social and economic development (or human development). Admittedly, what I wrote may be too crazy or too utopian to be realized.
But, we humans sometimes think alike. By chance, I learned about a Japanese guy who has already put the similar ideas into practice. That is Mr. Takeshi Kitano (Beat Takeshi)! What?! Is he an activist beside being a filmmaker and a comedian?
According to these Youtube, Takeshi Kitano used to have a TV show called “This is what is strange about the Japanese people.” A hundred foreigners living in Japan were invited to voice their observations about weird and negative aspects of Nihon. One of the guests was Mr. Zomahoun Idossou Rufin (known as Zomahon), from the Republic of Benin in West Africa.
That was how Zomahon met Takeshi twelve years ago or so. With the help of Takeshi, Zomahon built four schools in his country including Takeshi’s Elementary School and Takeshi Japanese School.
In the school lunch program in Benin, according to Takeshi, it costs 25 yens (about 25 cents in the USA) and there are kids who can afford it and those who cannot afford it. “It is cruel that those kids have to watch the others eating.” So, they have established a sort of child sponsorship. Becoming a sponsor, a supporter in Japan receives a photograph of the child and vice versa, and that’s how they make a bond of friendship.
In their elementary schools, they provide free education and free lunch for kids. They also help the local people to grow agricultural products. Among the graduates from these schools, those who have mastered the language are sent to Japan, trained to be medical doctors and other professionals, and they work in Japan for certain years. They eventually return to Benin and work for their country.
"Suppose, some kids succeed in graduating from universities and become important one day. It is cool if s/he visits Japan to meet a person who has treated to lunches, isn't it?,” Beat Takeshi remarks.
In Youtube, you will see that some Beninese graduates prostrate themselves on the ground to show their gratitude. Humble Takeshi seems to get self-conscious and in order to hide that, he makes a joke, “Zomahon sometimes does the same thing when we meet. And, it makes me look bad like a bully!”