Talking Economics as if people mattered
Spent the best of three days at the 6th SouthAsian Economic Summi t hosted by IPS and held at the Cinnamon Grand this week. Supposed to be the first certified carbon neutral conference in Sri Lanka, certified as such by the CarbonConsulting Company , and incredibly well organized by IPS, the Conference was a huge learning experience for me, as well as posing many questions and challenges. The number of ‘suited’ South Asian men and the paucity of women delegates, the overwhelmingly economistic nature of the discussions (okay, so it is a Economic Summit) that discussed the most populous region in the world in terminology that only recognized demographics,populations and human capital and not real women, men and children, all made me somewhat tongue-tied and uncomfortable. I was constantly being challenged to recognize the carbon neutrality of the event because more often than not, the breakout rooms were freezing, so was really pleased that Selima Ahmed, Founder Presiden...