DAVOS 2017 – LEADERSHIP REPORT –  Rising nationalism, international tensions, runaway climate change. It’s tempting to despair of humanity at the start of 2017.  Instead of giving up, though, people are working to improve the world around them, whether through entrepreneurship, art, innovation or acts of personal courage.

INSPIRING people’s stories are here and include Tom Szaky and Yusra Mardini – HERE

Tom Szaky (photo above) – This man wants you to recycle everything. I mean everything: cigarette butts, diapers, toothbrushes. He’s the founder and CEO of Terracycle, a social enterprise that uses new technology to “up-cycle” waste into products, turning foil drink pouches into slouch bags, among other feats. His work has galvanized nearly 64 million people around the world into recycling action and offers an alternative business model at a time when research suggests there will be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050.

Yusra Mardini – “Yes, I’m the girl who swam for her life, then swam at the Olympics. Now I want to tell you another story. It’s about my other name, my other identity. You see, my name is refugee. At least, that’s what they call me. Me and those 21 million others forced to flee persecution, war and violence.” Now living in Berlin and speaking up for the world’s displaced, Yusra tells her story HERE.

Refugee Statistics from UNHCR (2016) HERE (United Nations High Commission for Refugees)

• We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record.
• An unprecedented 6 million people around the world have been forced from home.
• Among them are nearly 5 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. Of these – 17.2m UNHCR and 5.3m Palestinians UNRWA
• There are also 10 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement.
• Refugees resettled in 2016 – 189,300
• Where are the world’s displaced people being hosted – 30% Africa, 26% Middle East and North Africa, 17% Europe, 16% Americas, 11% Asia and Pacific
• 55% of refugees worldwide came from 3 countries – South Sudan 1.4m, Afghanistan 2.5m and Syria 5.5m
• Top Hosting countries – Turkey 2.9m, Pakistan 1.4m, Islamic Republic of Iran 979k, Uganda 941k, Ethiopia 792k

One of our inspiring Stories in 2017, was a young friend’s commitment to raise £1,000 for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

Now we read of the charity’s effective work to prevent suicide in the young-male population in the UK – READ MORE HERE

WATCH What happens when you put eight men in a room with The Duke of Cambridge – HERE

CALM’s new research shows:

• 84% of men in the UK say they bottle up their emotions
• Nearly half said they suppress their emotions often or at least once day
• Almost two in three (62%) 18-24 year olds saying they regularly hide their true feelings
• The most common reasons men cited for not opening up about their emotions were not wanting to worry anyone (43%) and preferring to sort it out themselves (49%)
• Men were also found to be much less likely than women to open up face-to-face (63% v. 72%), over the phone (16% v. 27%) or by text (17% v. 27%) about their feelings
• Many men are feeling the pressure to ‘man up’ and bottle up their emotions, despite the fact the majority of people (52%) feel comfortable when a man opens up and half of us say we’re glad that a man has opened up to us

(YouGov 2017)

WAKE UP to dire information from UN Agencies and practical interventions by NGO & Local community groups :-

UN World Water Reports  – HERE

*1000 Under 5’s die every day globally, from diarrhoeal diseases.

WASH : Managed Water, Sanitation, Hygiene is a dedicated UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG-6). 2010 accepted as a BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.

2.1 billion people lack safely managed drinking water. 4.5 billion people lack safely managed sanitation.

 * WaterAid UK –  1981 founded by UK Water Industry. Works in partnership with local organisation in 37 countries helping poor communities bring water and sanitation close to home. It also works to influence government water policies. President Prince Charles –  HERE

* History of Rainwater Harvesting –  HERE

* Waterharvest Charity, formerly Wells for India  – HERE

*UN 2017 Report : Waste Water in water reports – HERE

*Agriculture & meat production – HERE

Last 50 years increased useage – population growth & rising expectations in Western world. Agriculture is one largest footprints of water use eg nearly 1,800 gallons water to produce one pound beef; 576 gallons for one pound pork; 108 gallons for one pound corn.

*IFAD : International Fund Agricultural Development

Recognition of Indigenous people’s resourcefulness, including adapting to climate change. 370 million people worldwide. Sensitive to the environment, adaptive capacity, resilience, able to modify their behaviour  –  HERE

*COBRA PROJECT: FACING UP TO CHALLENGES WITH LOCAL SOLUTIONS. 

Cobra uses information & communication technologies. (ICT) to to help local communities document& promote their own solutions to sustainability challenges & inspire others locally, nationally, internationally – HERE . Watch the inspirational video: self- reliance & sustainability