In a recent electronic discussion, provoked by a student researching "customer satisfaction" in Universities, Professor Jim Macbeth, objected arguing that: QUOTEThe fitness centre is an apt analogy for a university, better than a supermarket or a factory. The fitness centre provides facilities, assessment, counselling and coaching. It invites you to put in considerable effort for your own improvement; you can’t blame the fitness centre if you don’t work hard enough to get fit. The centre does not sell you fitness. Likewise, a university does not sell you learning. It provides libraries, resources, counselling, lectures, tutors, assessment and a program of study. You make choices; you make commitments; you do the learning. I agree with the Professor's viewpoint and objections, however there is a key difference between a fitness centre and a university (although, caveat lector, it is some time since I last visited either).The latter offers a degree, certifying in a...

We are all aware of the many countries where freedom of the press, freedom of expression and various other freedoms are still unknown. But can you be imprisoned for taking images of ordinary people (with their consent) performing every day tasks in your own country? Apparently yes, at least according to the Uzbek special commission set up to 'analyse' big brother style, the everyday pictures of photographer Umida Akhmedova. Have a look for yourself at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8473285.stmAnd this is the website of the Uzbek National Tourism Authority in case you would like to share your thoughts with them as a prospective picture-taking tourist and explain what really makes you want to visit a country (and what puts you off!)

An interesting article, "The US virtual economy is set to make billions"which runs contrary to gloomy current wisdom,reveals how ingrained consumerism (and capitalism?)is in the minds of many ordinary citizens...Of course, that new bubble will also burst, but some will laughall the way to their secret treasure chest under the old garden shed next to the pond(banks are now 'unsafe')Many of those who generally argue for progressive change, and like to speakin the name of "the people", sometimes forget that "the people" apart from thetruly destitute (chronically unemployed, immigrants, minorities and others)also includes a relatively well-off crowd (think lower-middle class)a fair chunk of which is largely ignorant, easily-scared & manipulated but otherwise selfish, prejudiced and disinterested in anything beyond law+order...Aka "the consumer".Virtual games, and day-dreaming communities such as 2nd life (get a life?),seem to be the modern equivalent (and competitor?) of religious satisfaction in the afterlife.In that sense they may be...

As we are approaching the holy feast of consumerism, Xmas, there are the endless arguments of whether a real xmas tree is better than a plastic one. The latest wisdom is that a plastic one requires 20 times more CO2 to arrive at your house than a real one. Eco-entrepreneurial people are now also offering a rent a real xmas tree option, whereby at the end of xmas they take back your tree and replant it (hopefully). The obvious, real eco choice: no tree at all. Just decorate your home or garden plants and use the funds to support a worthy cause of your choice.

It was the most visible sign of the post-war division of Europe and Germany after the horrible crimes of nazism. It was the result of cold war, super-power pressures and dirty tricks, in a peculiar situation where there was a free-market, freewheeling, bright-lights enclave, West Berlin, in the heart of an austere, 'socialist' country. It was also a symbol (of the failure and the defeatism) of a state that gradually had less and less to do with socialism and more to do with policing and monitoring its citizens: the loathed Berlin Wall that over 5,000 succeeded to climb, and 136 or more tragically failed, murdered for no reason by guards 'following orders'. It's fall 20 years ago was not seen then by ordinary people seen in the pictures celebrating, and it is not seen now, as a cold war triumph for capitalism (indeed western leaders such as Thatcher had pleaded with...

a great article by a great author, Arundhati Roy, on a relatively unknown topic,the long battle for the green heart of India, pitting corporate mining interests against tribes,and special forces against insurgents:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/20...ists-green-huntthe big question is, would a community-owned, genuine, ecosocially just tourism be a feasible, peaceful way out of the circle of violence?

In two otherwise not connected rulings, the European Court of Human Rights decided in a landmark ruling that the display of the christian cross in Italian schools, violates human rights, while an English Judge ruled that Green beliefs should enjoy legal protection, meaning employees can sue for unfair dismissal if their corporation fired them as a result of their strong oppinion on their employers impact on the environment. There is an irony somewhere in all this. Is Green becoming the new religion to replace the old one? Should it become a religion? Ideally it should not, as religions demonstrably & historically have killed far more than they have 'saved'.

A video received from ECOCLUB.com Lodge Members Pousada El Nagual, near Rio de Janeiro

Italy receives tens of millions of foreign visitors every year.This is what they may be seeing, if they visit the historic port city of Messina in Sicily:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8291187.stmA - by account of their on-camera statement' anti-immigrant 'national guard' patrolling the streets, which is 'legal', and comprised of 'volunteers'. The creation of such street patrols was a measure passed through parliament in July, proposed by a far-right party which is a government partner, and it was heavily criticised at the time by the Vatican, the Opposition and Human Rights groups. The same party had even proposed segregated trains in Milan!A chilling reminder of how fascism gained strength as a movement under a previous global financial crisis in the 1930s. And a wrong, far-right turn, at a key crossroad of the Mediterranean.The irony, lost in history, being that Messina was created by foreign settlers back in the 8th c. BCE.But if city authorities do...

The Mediterranean, sunny climate gives plenty of opportunity for a philosophical mood, especially in the early part of a summer afternoon, after a glass of vino, which as we all know contains veritas - particularly the red variety. So, I was thinking...how difficult would it be for a municipality to create, own and operate free hotels? Imagine that there would not be any private hotels and that the laws of 'free competition' and the sort, would not forbid it. Accommodation would be free, as long as guests spent a minimum amount of time in the village, and purchased a minimum amount of traditional, locally-made products (rather than tacky imported souvenirs) dined in restaurants, again all owned and cooperatively operated by the municipality. The municipality would determine, each year, through direct democratic procedures, the number of visitors they would like to host, so that they would not overrun the village. You would...