Last month The Economist published an article on wisdom and age (based on a comparative study in the United States and Japan). Interestingly, they noted that there are five commonly agreed aspects which help define wisdom in concrete ways, namely: Willingness to seek opportunities to resolve conflict Willingness to search for compromise Recognition of the limits of personal knowledge Awareness that more than one perspective……

Some recent GlobalScan research shows that rising food prices are the biggest concern for consumers sampled from four continents as well as whom they trust for getting information and addressing these concerns. Ranges of consumer activism (ethical consumerism) and overall net trust in institutions. Highlighted in a blog post this week by Toby Webb from Ethical Corporation, the charts show that 95% of Nigerians, 87%……

A new report by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has been launched which reviews the new ISO 26000 standard, designed to guide organisations on social responsibility. The report questions how useful the new standards will be within organisations and for sustainable development broadly. The report, Standards for Change?, argues that unlike the usual technical and systematic ISO sets of guidance tailored……

Planet Under Pressure, a four-day science conference exploring our current knowledge of the Earth system and identifying the risks and pressures of an increasing human presence on the planet, came to a close in London yesterday. The aspiration of the gathering was to “discuss solutions at all scales, to move societies on to a sustainable pathway” and provide scientific leadership……