Latest comments posted about A quiet revolution in Brazil on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1967-A-quiet-revolution-in-Brazil http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1967-A-quiet-revolution-in-Brazil In a world looking for genuine leadership on the tough issues raised by climate change, globalisation, dire poverty and other problems, Jaime Lerner is man who has achieved real, practical results in Brazil. “Imagine the ideal, but do what is possible today,” he has urged people and governments alike. In a world that is increasingly urban, and where the gap between rich and poor is a growing chasm, governments must shake off their fear and paralysis. Creative, daring and optimistic approaches are needed, And for the sake of current and future generations, good citizens everywhere need to make sure their governments are taking these steps. The longest journey, after all, begins with a single step. -- Matthew Tue, 06 May 2008 14:59:53 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1967#comment-7341 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1967#comment-7341 Lerner seems to have two great talents: that of being able to step out of standard operating procedure (SOP) frameworks and that of being able to convince others to join him in doing so. It is the latter talent that is so extraordinary in today's world. Fear, especially within governments, is growing in response to an array of increasingly wicked problems and that fear makes governments retreat to standardized thinking and repression. I pray that Lerner's optimism is realized soon and on a very broad scale and that governments abandon fortress mentalities and adopt openness to change and innovation. Lerner is right; it can be done. But time is now growing very short indeed. OldStone50 Tue, 06 May 2008 04:35:03 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1967#comment-7339 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1967#comment-7339