"Give me a lever long enough and I shall move the world" – Archimedes (287-212 BCE)

Geneva -- The current structures of international finance provide for two primary formal1 mechanisms through which funding is directed to address the many social issues across the globe: multilateral governmental models which are resourced through national taxation; and large private grant-making foundations. But as the pace of globalization increases, these models are proving to be inadequate in their ability to tackle effectively such social issues as education, economic devel- opment, health, human rights and poverty. What are some of the main weaknesses in the system? This will prove key for what happens in post-earthquake Haiti in the months and years ahead. It is also an issue that affects whether recovery in Afghanistan will prove successful, or recede into another glum international aid failure. 

Geneva --  Dubai may be crumbling under excess spending and debt, unsustainable infrastructure and disastrous use of its sparse natural resources, such as its fast-diminishing aquifer, but it has understood service needs. Dubai International Airport may not be the best organized airport – it has yet to understand how to make plane transfers easy - but it does now offer free internet for anyone in the terminal. No more fumbling around with credit cards or service providers. You can sit in the waiting areas or cafes, pull out your computer and go right on the net. No registration required.

Geneva, Basle and Zurich airports, of course, still charge. You have to find an internet café or go to one of the business lounges. Or you get online and have to wade through a host of service providers and then register. It could be so much easier. And a real service for airport users. And, quite frankly, this might be a good public relations exercise for visitors by having an airport or City of Geneva (or Basle, or Zurich, or Switzerland) homepage. If properly designed, that is…and not with a whole new plethora or logins or registrations.And while we're at it. Put back the free luggage carts at Geneva airport. Many passengers simply do not have a two CHF coin handy, or wish to use their credit card.

Geneva -- Not much seems to have changed with the Cuban government under Raoul Castro when it comes to allowing free international media into the country. It is still very much an attitude of "if you can’t control them, then keep them out," even when it comes to covering global conferences in the public interest. The Geneva-based Media21 Global Journalism Network has been made decisively persona non grata by the Havana government.  It has refused to issue visas for the 18 international editors, reporters and producers seeking to report next week’s 2009 Global Forum for Health Research conference on “Innovating Health for All” in the Cuban capital from 16-20 November, 2009.

For some, China – and to a lesser extent, India – are becoming the new colonial powers in Africa. Both are investing heavily in natural resources, such as mining, but also massive farms in Sudan, Ethiopia and Congo. The complaint on the ground, however, is that China prefers to deal with governments rather than people and often installs itself, lock, stock and barrel, with its own imported labour rather than hiring locally. China has been doing this in Afghanistan provoking much bitter local resentment. Critics also maintain that in need of natural resources and food, China is out to exploit as much as possible with little concern for the environment or human rights. Michael Keating of the Geneva-based foundation, Africa Progess Panel headed by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, comments on what both Africa and China need to do to alleviate such concerns.