http://www.fao.org/hunger/en, 03.01.2012

FAO's best estimate of the number of hungry people for 2010 remains at 925 million.

Some quotations from the report "The State of Food Insecurity in the World (SOFI)" jointly prepared by United Nations' three Rome-based agencies [UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP)] and introduced on 10 October 2011, Rome are as follows:
- Food price volatility featuring high prices is likely to continue and possibly increase, making poor farmers, consumers, and countries more vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity.
- Demand from consumers in rapidly growing economies may increase, the population may continue to grow, and further growth in biofuels may place additional demands on the food system.
- Food price volatility may increase over the next decade due to stronger linkages between agricultural and energy markets and more frequent extreme weather events.
- Small, import-dependent countries, particularly in Africa, are especially at risk.
- The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) include the reduction of the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by half by 2015. If the MDG, however, is achieved by 2015 some 600 million people in developing countries will still be undernourished.
- Governments must ensure that a transparent and predictable regulatory environment is in place, one that promotes private investment and increases farm productivity.
- Food waste in developed countries should be reduced through education and policies.
- Food losses in developing countries should be reduced by boosting investment in the entire value chain, especially post-harvest processing.
- More sustainable management of the natural resources, forests, and fisheries are critical for the food security of many of the poorest countries.
(For more info: http://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/en)

Considering these info, we wonder if Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) was right to some extent when asserting the Principle of Population.





Lessons from Japan

In fact, there a lot of things to learn from Japan people who have presented many models to the world. 10 things of which stated below are those happened during 2011 earthquaqe/tsunami:

1. The Calm
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

2. The Dignity
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

3. The Ability
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn't fall.

4. The Grace
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

5. The Order
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.

6. The Sacrifice
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?

7. The Tenderness
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

8. The Training
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

9. The Media
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No sensationalizing. Only calm reportage.

10. The Conscience
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.

Source: Internet




Dunning-Kruger Effect

The Dunning-Kruger effect or syndrome is a cognitive bias in which unskilled individuals suffer from illusory superiority, mistakenly rating their ability much higher than is accurate. This bias is attributed to a metacognitive inability of the unskilled to recognize their ineptitude. Actual competence may weaken self-confidence, as competent individuals may falsely assume that others have an equivalent understanding.

David Dunning and Justin Kruger of Cornell University conclude;
"the miscalibration of the incompetent stems from an error about the self, whereas the miscalibration of the highly competent stems from an error about others".

The phenomenon was first tested in a series of experiments published in 1999 by David Dunning and Justin Kruger of the Department of Psychology, Cornell University. They noted earlier studies suggesting that ignorance of standards of performance is behind a great deal of incompetence. This pattern was seen in studies of skills as diverse as reading comprehension, operating a motor vehicle, and playing chess or tennis.

Dunning and Kruger proposed that, for a given skill, incompetent people will:
* tend to overestimate their own level of skill,
* fail to recognize genuine skill in others,
* fail to recognize the extremity of their inadequacy,
* recognize and acknowledge their own previous lack of skill, if they are exposed to training for that skill.

As a result, the less an individual knows on a subject, the more s/he has self-assessment as if s/he knows everything on the subject which prevents recognizing his/her own incompetence.

Dunning has since drawn an analogy (the anasognosia of everyday life) with a condition in which a person who suffers a physical disability because of brain injury seems unaware of or denies the existence of the disability, even for dramatic impairments such as blindness or paralysis.

Dunning-Kruger syndrome could also be adapted to the business life and be summarized as follows:
"Novices overestimate their performance, experts underestimate their performance."

In this context, it can be inferred that;
"An incompetent person who believes that s/he has a very good performance, never minds of praising himself/herself and what s/he is doing. Moreover, s/he does not mind of stepping forward and desiring any duty what s/he in fact can not perform. Contrarily, s/he believes that everything is his/her own right."

However, this ignorance causes a big pushing power professionally. 'Minus' is changed into 'plus' in terms of career. As a result, 'the incompetent ambitious' always rises more speedily everywhere. On the other hand, learned and competent individuals do not step forward due to their humbleness and they do not desire higher positions by themselves, however, wait for being appraised. But they are hurt when awaiting and, thus, draw themselves back more and more.

Justin Kruger and David Dunning were awarded Ig Nobel Prize of Harvard University in Physcology in 2000 for their paper on "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments" published in 1999.

Resources:
* Justin Kruger, David Dunning, "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments", Psychology, 2009, 1, 30-46, Published Online December 2009 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/psych).
* Wikipedia, "Dunning-Kruger Effect", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect, 03.01.2014.
* Other internet sources.





Sustainable Tourism Development and Cittaslow Philosophy

Obsolescence and depreciation of historic heritage, destruction of natural resources/splendour, and degeneration in socio-cultural values have compelled individuals, institutions, and societies all over the world to take some counter measures. In this context, initiatives are launched and various organizations formed. Of such movements, none are independent of sustainable development and, in this context, of sustainable tourism development.

As one of these initiatives, Cittaslow was conceived as a movement to prevent or slow the negative effects of the processes of modernisation such as loss of historic heritage, swift consumption of natural resources and a decrease in renewal capacity, oblivion and/or neglect of socio-cultural values and, in this context, traditions. When considering this side of the coin, Cittaslow, consisting of an Italian word 'citta' and an English word 'slow', meaning 'slow city', can be assessed as a philosophy.

This philosophy, aiming, as it does, at constituting places which are at peace with their history, nature, and socio-cultural values, is directly related to STD because of such features. In fact, all cities which adopt and practise this philosophy are simultaneously implementing sustainable tourism development.

For more information please visit:
Mehmet Behzat Ekinci, "The Cittaslow Philosophy in the Context of Sustainable Tourism Development; The Case of Turkey", Tourism Management (ISSN: 0261-5177), Elsevier, V.41, 2014, p.178-189.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2013.08.013





Modern Silk Roads

Transportation is a major factor in trade. Commercial activities can be increased in parallel to improvements in transportational infrastructure. The Silk Road functioned in this manner historically and played a paramount role in the development of international commerce. In this context it proved vital in the execution of intensive commercial activities, initially between Asia and Europe, and later in Africa.

Although the Historic Silk Road lost its significance in the late 17th century, it is currently being revitalised. In this context economic and political collaboration between nations is sought through a variety of initiatives - the so-called New Silk Roads. Major among such initiatives are oil-natural gas pipeline projects (OPP-NGPP), Transport Corridor Europe Caucasus Asia (TRACECA), the Northern Distribution Network (NSR-NDN), the Trans-Korean Railroad with the Trans-Siberian Railroad (TKR-TSR), and the Gulf-Asia Model. Many countries are actively involved in most of these and endeavours to benefit from their potential advantages.

For detailed information please refer to:
Mehmet Behzat Ekinci, "The Silk Roads from the Past to the Future and Their Interactions with the Foreign Trade of Turkey", Avrasya Etüdleri, Issue: 45, TİKA, Ankara, 2014, pp.7-42.





CoVid 19 and Sustainability in the World…

As known, the Muslims by fasting in the month Ramadan following 11 months are on one hand praying but on the other hand checking up their bodies essentially. Thus, they start a new year with a relaxed and renewed body. Such practices exist almost in all faiths.

One can say that CoVid 19 also provides such an opportunity for the world. It is unknown that the pandemic duration extends more, however, the world will have the chance of breathing for the expected deep period of the pandemic for 5-8 months as of 2020.

As a matter of fact, there will be some negative effects of Coronavirus Pandemic, however, the following decreases/reduces/declines are also expected: tensions of the wars and related deaths; use of nuclear-chemical weapons and their destructions; movement of all kinds of wehicles and carbon emmission; perforation of ozone layer; glacier melting; use of chemicals in the soil; production/manufacturing and activities of environment polluting industries etc.

So, it seems that the world is also "fasting". It is unfortunate that everything will be forgotten and same devastation will be continued not more but maybe only after 3 weeks following the Pandemic, however, at least the world will be left alone for a while. Therefore, it will find the chance of resting and regeneration inshaAllah.

On the other hand, there will probably be main two negative outcomes of this process:
a) There is unnecessary and exaggerated use of water for the sake of hygiene which may result a potential water scarcity. This may cause new economic and health problems. Thus, the water sources should be used efficiently.

b) There is risk of "obesity" problem due to inactivity as people should stay at home for a while. Therefore, everybody should be cautious when eating and drinking. One can minimise such negative effects by arranging a walking course at home. In this context, the risk of obesity can be diminished if "half an hour walk a day" as advised by WHO could be performed.

It should be stated frankly: As humans, we are so harmful to the world, to ourselves and changing the balance of nature a lot that it is inevitable from now on we meet again such viruses and/or global problems more frequently. Today we have CoVid 19 but it seems that tomorrow we may meet CoVid 20 and so on.

What we should do is to live our lives in quality by taking required actions around us...





Transportation and Natural Technological Unemployment…

Technological unemployment, according to general economic understanding, is defined as 'unemployment that a technological progression causes'. However, while this kind of unemployment has occured due to technology up to now, we observe a reverse change in this process nowadays. In this context, unemployment itself causes technological progression. For instance, we evidence this change in the transportation sector.

We hear such unemployment news from different countries especially in the transporation sector. In this context, it is reported that although there is a huge driver need especially in road transport in the Europe, it can not be met. A leading furniture company in the world also stated that they meet problems in delivering their products to the customers because of inadequate number of drivers. Same explanations are coming from different regions and companies in the world as well.

As this is the case, 'autonomous wehicle manufacturing' has become one of the agenda issue of automotive sector. That is, manufacturing 'automatically moving, stopping, and parking wehicle' is being taken into consideration with utmost care especially in the road transportation nowadays. Thus; driverles trucks, picks up etc. can easily be used in product transportation and driver need shall disappear.

There should, of course, be convenient infrastructure and superstructure for such wehicles. For this purpose, suitable roads and traffic systems should be constructed. This is, however, another side of the coin.

While up to now a technological progress has left people unemployed, from now on the labour inadequacy results a technological development. In fact, isn't this what it should be? Normally the technological progress required in the production is expected to happen, therefore, life of people becomes easier, isn't it?

It is possiple to add a new concept into the Economics Theory. For this purpose, can we name this situation as 'natural technological unemployment' since it occurs automatically.





Plastic Use Reorganisation…

Plastic is used in many areas such as packaging, building-construction, transportation, health, electrical-electronics, agriculture, and sports-hobby-design (Saydaş Plastik, 2024). The composition of plastic is very resistant to dissolution/degradation in the environment. This makes the existence of plastic in nature an environmental problem. Depending on their type, plastics are symbolised by numbers within a triangle with three arrows. The main types of plastic and some products according to their symbols are as follows (Renovables Verdes, 2024; Sıfır Atık Projesi, 2024):
1) PET or PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Used as beverage-medicine bottles, rope, clothing, and carpet fiber. It is the most recycled type of plastic.
2) HDPE (High Density Polyethylene): Used as milk-shampoo-soap-bleach and detergent bottles. It is mostly converted.
3) PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Used as non-food bottles, pipes, and windows. It is one of the most dangerous types of plastic for health and the environment. It is usually converted.
4) LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene): Used as stretch film, sandwich box, plastic bag, and squeezable product bottle. It is usually converted.
5) PP (Polypropylene): Used as yoghurt container, margarine box, and plastic bottle cap. It is rarely converted.
6) PS (Polystyrene): Used as paper cups, plastic cutlery, and packaging foam. It is rarely converted.
7) Other Plastics: Used as baby bottles, compact discs, and demijohns/carboys. It is rarely converted.

Moreover; There are also bioplastics, biodegradable plastics, thermoplastics, thermoset plastics, and microplastics. The last of these is the type of plastic that is known today as one of the main pollutants of the environment and poses a great danger to everyone's health. These are small synthetic particles originating from some petroleum derivatives. Their size is usually less than 5 mm and, therefore, their presence cannot be noticed (Renovables Verdes, 2024).

The benefits of plastic are listed as follows (PLASFED, 2024):
1) Disposable plastic bags save water resources, 2) Plastic is a lightweight material, 3) Energy is saved with plastic, 4) Light bulbs made of plastic layers are of higher quality and more efficient, 5) It is an ideal material for the construction industry, 6) Plastic pipe contributes to access to clean water and agricultural productivity, 7) It provides energy efficiency, 8) It provides fuel savings, 9) Plastic creates lower volume solid waste, 10) Plastic can be recycled in greater numbers.

The main harms of plastic waste, especially to the environment, are listed as follows (Uludağ AYM, 2024):
1) Since it is easier to produce and use than other fossil fuels, producing bags from oil indirectly increases the demand for oil. Thus, toxic gases released into the nature during the processing and burning of oil cause environmental pollution.
2) Plastic waste, which takes many years to decompose in nature, enters the food chain during the long destruction process and disrupts the balance of the ecosystem due to the negative effects it has on the environment as soil and water pollutants.
3) Toxins from plastics can cause carcinogenic effects when in contact with the sun, threatening human health and causing serious health problems. For example, hot bread placed in a nylon bag can turn into poison for humans as a result of the nylon bag reacting with heat.
4) Plastic garbage accumulating in the oceans causes serious environmental problems through mechanical erosion and chemical weathering in the seas.
5) Plastic waste released into nature negatively affects the creatures living in the sea and the wild animals that feed on these creatures as a result of being carried to the seas by the effect of the winds.

Photographs about high pollution caused by the burning of plastic waste, waste clusters on sea/river edges, sea creatures e.g. turtles) trying to swim among these wastes, waste getting wrapped around the throat/body of these creatures (e.g. seals/fish) endangering their lives, and the difficult conditions of the people who collected them earning their living in waste areas provide very striking images on the subject. Therefore, plastic waste should be prevented from being released into nature and recycled as much as possible.

After all this information, the question is: Can plastics really be included in the recycling process today and thus minimise the environmental negativities they cause? Because, as seen in the plastic types section; PET/PETE can be recycled significantly, HDPE mostly, PVC and LDPE generally, and PP-PS and other plastics rarely.

According to OECD's "Global Plastic Outlook" report, only 9% of plastic waste can be properly recycled after accounting for losses during recycling. Again in the same report; it is stated that 19% of plastic waste worldwide is burned, around 50% goes to regular landfills, and the remaining 22% is thrown into uncontrolled landfills or the environment. Thus, it is stated that plastics are responsible for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. In light of all this information, OECD proposes a "coordinated global solution" to reduce plastic waste (Anadolu Ajansı, 2022), (OECD, 2022, 14).

For the sake of the world's well-being, it is necessary to heed the calls of the OECD and similar institutions. In this context, it is possible to follow a dual path: either all plastic types should be included in the recycling process with a global consensus, or the production of PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and other plastics, except for PET/PETE and HDPE types that can be recycled to a significant extent, should be limited/stopped.

If we do not do this, this will happen naturally one day. Frankly, it seems more reasonable to take the necessary precautions before that day comes.

References
* Anadolu Ajansı (2022). Dünya genelinde plastik atıkların sadece yüzde 9'u geri dönüştürülebiliyor. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/cevre/dunya-genelinde-plastik-atiklarin-sadece-yuzde-9u-geri-donusturulebiliyor/2510128, retrieved on 03.01.2024.
* OECD (2022), Global Plastic Outlook: Economic Drivers, Environmental Impacts, and Policy Options. https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/environment/global-plastics-outlook_de747aef-en, https://doi.org/10.1787/de747aef-en, retrieved on 25.03.2024.
* Plastik Sanayicileri Federasyonu (PLASFED) (2024). Plastik ile İlgili Doğrular. https://www.plasfed.org.tr/tr/yayinlar/plastik-ile-ilgili-dogrular, retrieved on 13.01.2024.
* Renovables Verdes (Yenilenebilir Yeşil) (2024). Plastik Türleri. https://www.renovablesverdes.com/tr/tipos-de-plasticos/, retrieved on 28.01.2024.
* Saydaş Plastik (2024). Plastik Türleri ve Kullanım Alanları. https://saydasplastik.com.tr/plastik-turleri-ve-kullanim-alanlari/, retrieved on 15.03.2024.
* Sıfır Atık Projesi (2024). Plastik Atık. https://sifiratik.gov.tr/plastik-atik, retrieved on 24.04.2024.
* Uludağ Üniversitesi Atık Yönetim Merkezi (Uludağ AYM) (2024). Plastik Atıkların Çevreye Zararları. https://uludag.edu.tr/atikyonetimi/haber/view?id=13456&title=plastik-atiklarin-cevreye-zararlari, retrieved on28.05.2024.