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The world has changed much since the Foundation was founded in 1987. Just
think of that in 1987 there was both cold war, apartheid and colonies. There was
no Internet, mobile phones or satellite TV. This just to mention a few, but
quite basic conditions, which have changed life for mankind for better or worse.
Changes are an integrated part of any form of life. All living organisms must
constantly be supplied with new energy to avoid withering away and dying. But
still humans are badly prepared to cope with changes. The usual, the well known,
has a strong significance and grip on most people, and the constant demand for
changes are by many regarded as an uncomfortable pressure. We can as people
choose to resist - but one can risk one's health by doing so. We can also choose
to learn to live with the changes, learn to spot and utilize the many new
possibilities, which also present themselves - yes, maybe even learn to cherish
them.
Throughout history one can see one example after the other of people blazing
new trails, advancing new views, making new inventions .... and who are treated
by their contemporaries with distrust, indifference, even with direct
persecution. People, who inadvertently become a threat towards all that is
established and familiar, because they say something different and do something
different.
When I look at the list of projects supported by the Foundation, I am proud
of having given my contribution. Pleased that there has been a board of
directors with the courage to give priority to applications, which for the main
part have been not-usual and not-familiar. Proud that new paths have been paved
within all three main objectives of the Foundation.
The 335 people, who during a period of 14 years have contributed around 75
million DKK in donations to the Foundation, have made this donation from a
normal salary. The many small streams have become a river. Much has been
achieved with the money.
In this chapter we will sum up some of the results by recapitulating some
main points from the different projects we have written about. This could of
course be done in many details, but we will stick to some main points.
Let us first for the fun of it look at some random examples of what others
have obtained with similar multi million amounts:
- 'Tjæreborgmøllen' [one big windmill] at Esbjerg cost 70 million Dkr,
paid by the government and EU.
- The Danes smoke seven billion cigarettes per year, which corresponds to 75
million Dkr in three days.
- The Danish military uses more than 30 million Dkr per day, so 75 million
Dkr corresponds to the consumption of 2½ days.
- In 1994 the Danish defense paid 38 million Dkr in penalties and CO2
charges because of excessive heating and electricity consumption in their
barracks - this is half of 75 million Dkr.
- A new submarine has cost 2 billion Dkr.
- In 2000, Denmark imported 137 million USD worth of of weaponry - or the
equivalent of 75 million Dkr in 3-4 weeks.
- In 1996 the Ministry of Education used over 70 million Dkr on a failed
computer system.
top
What has the Foundation Achieved with the Money?
The Foundation has first of all had the pleasure of being able to contribute
to projects within its three main objectives: humanitarian purposes, promotion
of research and protection of the natural environment.
- More than 680 people have been directly involved as driving forces in
carrying out the 29 projects the Foundation has supported.
- 6,000 people have directly participated in and have immediately benefited
from implementing the projects.
- In addition 60,000 refugees have received emergency packages, and in
southern Africa 600,000 people in six countries now have access to a HOPE
Center, where they can receive advice and guidance about HIV/AIDS - they
have also access to information material and are in full swing with
organizing themselves in the fight against the epidemic. Added to this are
the millions of people, who have seen and benefited from One World Channel's
TV programs in Europe, North Africa and South East Asia.
The Foundation has supported projects, which have been carried out in many
different countries: Denmark, Kosova, other countries of Europe, Morocco, Togo,
Benin, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Belize, Panama,
Brazil, Tahiti, China, Malaysia. Besides projects, ideas were developed in the
Global Research Project on the American continent from North to South. This
means that people from many countries are brought closer together in a greater
understanding of each other, and of the responsibility we as people have for
this planet we inhabit.
The Foundation has for example contributed to the following results:
- There has been carried out research to find out how existing technology
and knowledge can be applied for an improvement of people's living
conditions in the Third World.
- There has been developed and tried out a model for how used clothes from
the rich part of the world can be utilized for the benefit of development in
the Third World.
- There has been researched into how new kinds of connections can be opened
between the populous China and the rest of the world for the mutual benefit.
- There has been made case studies of a Third World country, Belize, with
regard to elaborating a coherent plan for sustainable development for
people, production and nature within agricultural production.
- There has been research into and developed new production methods within
tropical agriculture, showing how poor and worn-out soil can become
productive agricultural soil.
- There has been set up an agricultural laboratory, and research made into
combating plant diseases, and methods found for this.
- There has been produced and subtitled 2,000 hours of TV programs from 42
countries, where the Third World was given its own voice, and 150 hours of
TV programs have been recorded in a new 'people meet people' serial.
- There has been research into biogas plants, which can use waste from fruit
production as an energy source.
- There has been carried out research and established a biogas plant, which
can use pig manure as an energy source.
- There has been done research and experimented with how one can utilize,
and at the same time preserve, the tropical rainforest in new and orderly
manners.
- There has been contributed to a gigantic research and environmental
project with the aim of showing new ways of producing CO2 neutral
energy.
- There has been produced and mounted three new wings on one of the big,
well functioning and significant windmills in Denmark - Tvindkraft.
- There has been established a power plant, utilizing biomass for the
production of CO2 neutral energy.
- There has been granted support for advancing Danish students' interest in
carrying out environment protective activities.
- There has been mounted solar panels at 85 homes in three villages,
inhabited by poor farmers on their way forward in Zimbabwe.
- There has been mounted solar panels at 87 homes inhabited by poor farmers
on the way forward in Zambia, and at 123 schools, clinics, and places of
assembly at child aid projects in Zambia.
- There has been mounted solar panels at 200 village schools and places of
assembly in Southern Africa.
- There has been researched into and developed a model for how people in
southern Africa can take up the fight against the terrible epidemic AIDS.
- There has been established five HOPE centers in five countries in southern
Africa, where the model for the fight against AIDS is being realized.
- There has been distributed emergency packages to more than 35,000 people
in need in Angola and Guinea Bissau
- There has been distributed 14,000 emergency packages to refugees in Kosova.
- There has been distributed emergency packages to 12,000 people in
Mozambique during the flooding disaster.
- There has been established printing facilities to publish informational
and educational material to people in southern Africa in the fight against
AIDS.
- There has been carried out a medical research project with trials of which
of the inexpensive medicines can be of benefit to the great number of people
infected with HIV in southern Africa.
- There has been researched into and developed models for relations between
windmill capacities and production prices with regard to uncovering how wind
power to a larger scale can be used as energy source in the future.
With their issues, the main part of these projects have placed central
questions for mankind on the agenda. Questions as: How does one build bridges
between the rich and poor countries of the world? How is it possible to get rid
of poverty, diseases and suffering? How is it possible to utilize the existing
resources on the earth and within people better? How can one protect the natural
environment? How can one spread information, knowledge and hope for people, and
strengthen the belief in a better future?
It is well done by the many people, who have carried out these projects, and
who have placed themselves in the forefront of these. Without their driving
force and courage in taking on the many new challenges, there had been no
projects for the Foundation to support. They have, with their personal and
unselfish work, shown good examples of that results are achieved with a
persistent effort, that new ways and possibilities exist, when only we join our
forces and pursue the cause, that - as with all things in life - there are some
things which fail, and a lot which succeeds.
The projects, which the Foundation has supported, together paint a picture of
enterprise, engagement in the development in the world, courage to try new and
untraditional ways, ability to make a lot happen and to harvest great benefits
from the small funds made available.
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