As an assignment from the City of Umeå, I am the projectleader and coordinator for a conference on global sustainability; Hard Rain:Whole Earth?, named after the world famous exhibition Hard Rain shown for 15 million people all over the world (www.hardrainproject.com). 

The conference will be held at Aula Nordica, Umeå university September 18th 2012. The conference has several sponsors; Sida, the City of Umeå, Umeå university, the County Administration Board in Västerbotten, and is a part of Västerbottens week for sustainability (www.nolia.se/seevasterbotten).

For more information - klick here.

Why not a journey where work and social life could be combined? This time me and my family made field-trips in Tanzania and Kenya for the purpose of learning. During these days I also used time for follow-up on ongoing projects, discussion and planning for future ones. This journey has been very memorable since the whole family had the chance - and with good guides - to see the society from "within". For sure, the need for "another development" is there.

ADEP provide service with writing applications for international projects aimed at different dimensions of sustainable development. During the february ADEP has written applications for two organizations in the northern part of Sweden.

During January and February 2012, I teach students from Umeå university at a special course on poverty and development, within the Programme for international crisis and conflict managament.

 Once again Team Robertsfors visit Machakos for working on their joint collaboration; presentation, reflection and evalutation on the work that has been done, and also discussion on future possibilities. The programme also included memorable visits.

In a special workshop on learning for sustainable development in the framework of a pre-study funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers, I hade the role as a moderator for the talks between stakeholders from different sectors in society, and between participants from Norway, Finland and Sweden.

Association for Local Government Authorities in Kenya (ALGAK) and Municipality Council of Machakos have now been in Sweden for one week in search for green and sustainable solutions. On a tour from Stockholm to Sundsvall, Timrå, Härnösand, Sollefteå, Umeå and Robertsfors, they have met different organizations in each municipality and counties who works with different aspects of sustainable development. In different workshops future options also have been discussed. As the projectleader and coordinator for this exchange, I am more than satisfied.

Read more in the newsletter written by consultant Barbro Kalla.

During some month I will educate at several courses at the Department of Political Science, Umeå university and mostly within the International Programme for Crisis and Conflict Management. These courses are:

- Peace and Conflict Studies; Theories and Concepts

- Democracy, Democratization and Election Observation

- Reconstruction after Crisis and Disasters

ADEP prepared and facilitated a special excercise on negotiation for Vilhelmina northern sami village. In that mission ADEP also collaborated with contracted researchers from Umeå University and Swedish University of Agriculture Science.

ADEP is contracted by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Training in Sollefteå as a teacher on the newly established education Integration Teacher. The task is primarily to provide knowledge and perspectives on international migration.

ADEP contribute with 1000 SEK to Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF Sweden) for humanitarian work in the Horn of Africa, since drought, hunger and conflicts are  affecting millions of people.

For more information on the campaign, see:

www.lakareutangranser.se/timme

Together with collegues at the Department of Political Science, Umeå University, I have visited Cambridge University for talks and learning on political science,  peace- and conflict studies and Cambridge University in it self.

With funding from Nordic Council of Ministers, ADEP and Barbro Kalla are doing a pre-study for the city of Umeå, and together with partners in Norway and Finland, regarding the possibility of establishing a Regional Centre of Expertise in line with criteria defined by UN, and with focus on education for sustainable development (ESD).

With support from Sida, ADEP coordinated a conference on sustainable development for local authorities in Kenya, development partners and specially invited guests, together with Machakos municipality and Association of Local Government Authorities of Kenya (ALGAK). This conference took place in April 17-20, 2011.

Download newsletter here.

Download conference report here.

ADEP contributes with an analysis on social sustainability, human development in relation to international political economy at Esam ABs develpment days.

Natalie Andersson, a student at the Master of Science Programme in Environmental Health at Umeå University, will be the first internship at ADEP. She has great committment for sustainability, and will perform an enquiry on behalf of ADEP and the County Administration in Västerbotten, during some months at the beginning of next year. Welcome Natalie!

At a special event in Umeå, ADEP recevied a special price as the new entrepeneur of the year!

I am thankful for the price, and inspired for future tasks and further development!

As a guest teacher - employed by the Department of Political Science, Umeå University - I will educate students at three courses during some months:

- Conflicts in the world

 - Democracy, democratisation and election observation

- Reconstruction after crisis and disasters

ADEP is nominated to the best new company of the year in Umeå. A special jury will decide who will have this price at a special event in Umeå in november 2010.

At two public events during a week for sustainability in Umeå, ADEP contributes with knowledge and perspectives on climate justice. The first one was a public lecture. At the second event ADEP took part in a panel at a conference at Scandic Plaza in Umeå. In a SEE-videonewsletter, it is possible to get a summary of this conference.

This project - developed by the famous photographer Mark Edwards in collaboration with Bob Dylan - is international and artistic. In September 20 Mark Edwards will show and talk to photos from 150 countries at Aula Nordica, Umeå university. During this week, his famous international exibition will also be shown at the campus. In collaboration with Umeå University and Sida, ADEP have made this event possible. Read more about the Hard Rain Project at: www.hardrainproject.com

This time the team from Machakos have visited several organizations and events; A Day for the Future held by Tällberg Foundation in Skeppsholmen, Stockholm, Peoples House in Söråker, Sida Partnership Forum in Sundsvall, Center Against Violence and Red Q in Umeå, Umeå Energy, and windpower park in Robertsfors. At the end of this week - Robertsfors and Machakos have discussed the project and the partnership in Robertsfors. It was a great week!

With an assignment from Ownpower Projects AB, Enetjärn Natur AB and ADEP have done an investigation on a wind power project and its impact on lifestyle and consequences for the Sami, who are are recognized as indigenous people, and affilliated with reindeer husbandry.

Once again, team Robertsfors, with me as a coordinator, met team Machakos in Kenya. As before, it was an intense week with workshops, discussions, visits and joy.

At a special course, on the summeruniversity, held by the Department of Culture and Media Studies - Umeå University, students are introduced to the postcolonial field.

At a international programme held by the Faculty of Health and Society - Malmö University, ADEP educates at a special course on global health and its relation to globalization and issues of justice.

With assignment from the Department of Cultural Geography - Umeå University, ADEP contributes at several courses for those who are about to perform a Minor Field Study, and those who are coming back from these studies.

At a international programme in crisis and conflict management, and at a separate course, held by the Department of Political Science - Umeå University, ADEP educates on modernity in peace and conflict. Relations between modernity, international law, genocide and mass violence are discussed.

In the framework of project for sustainability, funded by International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD), politicians and civil servants from Machakos in Kenya, visits Robertsfors and Sweden. During 1 week, we had intense and constructive discussion in workshops about local response to global challenges.

At a special seminar at Sida Partnership Forum 10-11/11 2009, ADEP contributed with an overview on international debate and research regarding sustainable development and climate justice in the framework of development theory.

At a special programme on crisis and conflict managment at the Department of Political Science, Umeå University, ADEP educates on armed conflicts and conflict resolution.

With this film, Yann Arthus Bertrand take the audience to an extraordinary journey throughout the globe. The picuture that is painted are clear; planet earth is critically ill, but another future is possible if people and societies are ready to change. When the film was shown at Folkets Bio in Umeå at a week for sustainability, I was the moderator in the discussion that followed.

ADEP particpates at the Forum for Human Rights in Stockholm in november 16-17 2009. ADEP contributes at a special seminar on co-operation for sustainability.

As a consultant ADEP worked -with Sida, NGOs and other development partners for climate justice. A special international conference was held in Härnösand, Sweden may 25-28, 2009. An important event on the road to Copenhagen!

Toghether with other consultants ADEP worked with documentation and analysis of special seminar on religion and development arranged by faith based organization. The seminar were held at Sida.

ADEP participated in i special course on dialogue and mediation at Folke Bernadotte Academy in june 2009.

ADEP participated at Tällberg Forum 2009. The topic? How on earth should we live together, within the planetary boundaries?

At a special conference for civil society organizations from all over the world, arranged by Sida Civil Society Center in Härnösand, ADEP contributes with journalist work, analysis and evalutation.

At a special conference, with 100 participants from 14 countries, ADEP contributes with analysis during preparation and as a moderator in round table discussion..