Development

In the past, much of early childhood focused on two functions: either preparing children for school or freeing families from child-care during work. These two functions have dictated much of early childhood policy and its pedagogical approaches. Yet a third direction, long ignored, in early childhood exists and is now seen as the very basis and heart of early childhood – the child's total well-being and development both emotionally and intellectually. This view is proving its relevance in today's world of turmoil, conflict and change. Bernard Combes shows how early childhood paves the way for a life of learning, autonomy and discovery.

illustration Jayati Ghosh was educated at Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and the University of Cambridge. She is Professor of Economics at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, at the JNU, in New Delhi, India. Her specialities include globalization, international finance, employment patterns in developing countries, macroeconomic policy, and issues related to gender and development. In 2011 she won the International Labour Organization's Decent Work Research Prize.

Reflecting on globalization and civil society's role post-September 11th, Juan Somavía argues that a new globalization can be shaped that will reduce poverty following the policy approach of 'decent work for all'.

illustration Giovanna Di Chiro is Director of Environmental Programs at Nuestras Raíces, Inc. and Research Associate at the Five College Women's Studies Research Center. She has published widely on the intersections of race, gender, and environmental justice with a focus on women's activism and policy change addressing environmental health disparities in lower income communities. She is completing a book Embodied Ecologies: Science, Politics, and Environmental Justice. Her current work examines environmental justice activists’ reframing of the climate change debate to focus on the local, bodily impacts of wide-scale environmental problems like global warming. Giovanna collaborates with environmental justice organizations to conduct community-based research on environmental health concerns and on developing culturally relevant sustainability initiatives.

This article shares the highlights and successes of the Black Feminisms Forum and explains the necessity of Black space, Black women’s spaces and Black queer space (even within multi-ethnic and women of colour spaces), as well as visionary solidarity that was co-created and intentionally focused on BlackLove. It also discusses the Black Feminisms Forum as a continuous movementbuilding process for Black feminists activists, artists, community workers and agitators.

Mark S. LeClair looks at the growing influence of fair trade, the marketing and sale of products at greater than free trade prices, on international trade. He argues that fair trade represents a unique response to the perceived inequities of unrestricted free trade and through a survey conducted with fair trade organizations shows how it is operating at the moment to balance inequalities, though he warns there is a precarious future for the artisans relying on such a system.