What's gone is gone, pretty much
by Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, IPC
There is always a consolation to conceal the insignificance of existence: the weaknesses of man - forgotten as mortal sins - greed, avarice, ambition.
They help to fill life and to take oneself seriously, no matter what position or area the little person is in.
Organizing and making and doing gives the feeling of being more than an organic vegetable; this also applies to those who act seemingly freely in temples, palaces and town halls.
Preserving the intangible legacies, in the hope of permanence, but with a sense of insignificance, succeeds.
Thoughts, ideas and concepts began to be recorded on stones, then passed on through bound material, converting the analogue into the digital.
Information can be easily transported and is available for communication.
If a transfer from one planet to another is possible one day, it also contains the hope of preserving the analogue.
It is the wealth of a long, human-based chain that simultaneously represents the poverty.
It is necessary to deal with it in the luggage of a means of transport and to find a way in existence.
Labels: DGFK e V Berlin, FPAC Pakistan, IPC, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:16 PM,
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Income-generating measures
A long overdue lesson
to the DGFK societies & FPAC
by
Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
The circle of terminologies is closing!
It is not easy to remain focused in the sea of meaningless terminologies and constantly repeating everyday occurrences.
The progressive fragmentation of society and the consequent development of new terminologies suggests a new development , which however on closer look proves to be merely a changed look.
The past in the form of the old generation seems to be losing its justification.
The youth representing what is still to come is pressing for recognition.
Between them the army of middle-aged persons.
One has to deal with everyday issues, living like a beetle between tree and bark and cannot really do how or what one would like to do.
Awakening, progress and future, these are the battle cries of the army leaders at the zenith of the overview, but they cannot perceive the emerging fog; the mixture of feet on the ground and reaching for the sky prevents this!
While the forefathers understood only the principle of work, in the course of industrialization this evolved into a mixture of working hours and free time, from which non-industrialized countries remained less affected.
Until then, life was still shaped by local character and was actually analogue, but with time it became increasingly international and also affected the less industrialized countries.
Actually escape from the limitation in own country by venturing into foreign lands.
Meanwhile, it is no longer possible to escape from the digital, global village. Even traditional work methods exist lesser and lesser and is iincreasingly infected with occupations of trivialities.
The sense of achievement through well defined tasks exist no longer and they are replaced by occupations that no longer lead to sense of achievement in the traditional sense. Free time exists no longer, the entire time becoming a conglomerate of income-generating measures and expenditure-oriented employments.
Classic profiling is becoming less well known, training and further education is part of consumerism. Despite the calls for growth restrictions, the environment is ruined - not without constant, but quite entertaining Cassandra music.
Nature, for some, a mystical power, for others - they prevail as terminology and pseudo-scientific curiosity occupy the content of their heads ... SEQUITUR ET It goes on and on - Et ca continue, encore et encore - Lo sigue y sigue.
Labels: FPAC Lahore, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:56 AM,
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When reality and pseudo-reality alienate each other
by Norbert Pintsch
INTRODUCTION:
Literature and quotations are deliberately avoided here.
So that it becomes easier to ignore
One can confidently dedicate oneself to pleasant things of the virtuality.
The short text is dedicated to the few students and open minds in the RUC.
SCIENCE AS SUPERFICIALITY
Sensitive or explosive topics attract interested parties. They want to learn more and the especially the good ones want to have a list of publications in order to control, discard, expose the author of a challenging article, to accuse of unscientific approach, - and by the way to convey; everything is in the best of order, and if not, then it will be soon!
EARLY CHILDHOOD WEANING
Children should learn to use the tools of the future as early as possible. The fascination of the virtual world has captured all areas. Its implementation in industrial production process is evident. Use of computers for designing, constructing and developing work is very common, previously income generation tools for freelance professions such as lawyers, tax consultants, auditors, - in the industry you get used to the use of algorithms (Industry 2.0).
ERRORS AS IMPOSSIBILITY
It is inevitable that the curious - wise ones are hardly available in this branch and they have no voice in business life - good and enthusiastic develop further. Economic success counts and what can then be consumed. Scenarios are developed unrestrainedly, but also lived, so that the thought of a wrong approach becomes impossible to imagine!.
STUDY AS CONSUMABLE ITEM
What you don't know, you can't forget, and so you live in vegan nirvana as a novelty, which has long been known to the wise. Digitization covers all the differences on the planet. This is industry-friendly, therefore economical and, if you firmly believe in it, also environmentally friendly and resource-saving.
NO THEORY WITHOUT PRACTICE
No names are deliberately given here, but the model of permanent alienation from reality should stimulate thinking: each period of time relates to previous, practical experiences and development of a new theory. If the practice level is omitted, then a theory level develops which is falsely taken to be practice, etc. The production of errors becomes so immense that recognizing them is increasingly difficult!
NETWORKING AS A FLOSCLE
The euphoric nerds and Knights of Unworldliness, hardly have they gotten to know real life, have moved from one country to the next, without having gained experience with the peculiarities of the respective cultures.
UNIFORMITY REPLACES INDIVIDUALITY
Without having touched a piece of material in reality, they develop on the screen, have robot-friendly products calculated, test drugs without knowing life, they feel themselves qualified to advise others on conflicts, without ever having experienced a real conflict!
INTELLECTUAL EMPTYNESS AS TOOL FOR EVALUATION
Do the developers and their helpers notice how they are embedded in consumption themselves? - Why is that so? There is no need or interest for reflecting on their behaviour, besides, there is no time!
Terms like morality and ethics do not appear in the world of program developers and improvers, which makes intellectual cannibalism easier.
The attentive reader will have definitely discovered parallels in his environment!
Introductory lecture in the IPC, on the occasion of the pandemic development
Labels: IPC, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Sparc Project
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:50 PM,
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By Norbert Pintsch, IPC, FPAC
The idea of cooperating with others, i.e. to exchange ideas with others and to stimulate each other, this thought is not exactly new!
In the United States of America (USA), company representatives came together and established privately funded socalled Think Tanks!
In the 20th century, this idea was implemented under president Franklin Roosevelt and a new form of advice emerged.
In politics, technological and economic interests are transferred into governance process in a lobby-like manner.
Such examples are presently implemented in many countries for selfish interests and they influence politics, usually with a certain lobby in the background.
The DGFK is an altruistic example of an informal Think Tank in which SUTOL, SEMOL, SPARC, SPATH, SPAET, SPOCA, but also FPAC and FBTC exist; however they operate in a subtle and discreet manner!
An interesting project is the so called Closed System, which outlines possibilities and tendencies, also of an uncomfortable kind, which is characterized by financial independence and the personal refrain from self-projection by the co-thinkers.
Labels: CULTURA, DGFK, FBTC, FPAC, IPC, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SEMOL, SPAET, SPARC, SPATH, SPOCA, SUTOL
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 4:44 PM,
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Professor Doctor Norbert Pintsch, the Senior Research Fellow of the FPAC discussion with Dr. Almut Besold, the Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Islamabad.
Labels: Dr Almut Besold, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:29 AM,
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Three different project are described below with experiences, opportunities and local limitations pointed out.
CAHMS vs ROHMS
Computer Aided Hospital Management System/Rural Oriented Hospital Management System
The whole pallet, from service up to operation has to be organized, which creates costs, -very characteristic of institutions in urban areas. This is quite opposite to institutions far away from the cities. The lack of finances, regarding staff as well as in the planning and use of the operating costs, needs to be appropriately taken into consideration. A rural oriented hospital management system (ROHMS) must take these factors into account. The difference between CAHMS and ROHMS is in location. In urban areas, a hospital functions only when the industrial-technological pre-conditions are met; i.e. personnel, training, patient care, air-conditioning, etc., must be adjusted. A problem in other cultures, for example, is the patient care by relatives, which often leads to difficulties in the recovery process and brings new health risks with it. In a ROHMS, specific characteristics of rural life are taken into account. The energy production is different, the employees are not confused through industrial training, the water supply, incl. Drainage is completely different as compared to urban areas. The traditional knowledge is used, natural climate control is utilized, local materials and traditional, yet adapted, forms of construction are used. The staff follows local forms of remuneration based on the traditional culture. Although this described system is already being practiced in an environmentally friendly manner etc., the influence of the resource-devouring, environmentally damaging industrial system is so widespread, that reasonable alternatives are unlikely to prevail.
Impact of CNC on the HC
In several essays, the problem of handmade objects has been outlined, which in an ever growing uniform environment have only little chance of promoting their original purpose, namely income enhancement for people (mainly women in rural areas) and to generate some revenue for the community. Problem points in this regard include the non-reversible push of people from rural into urban areas and the resulting requirement of regular income, which adds them to the existing consumer base. That the reality is quite opposite with declining numbers of productively active people and at the same time increasing production, is actually not recognized in the consumer world, so that nevertheless productively active artisans are supposed to adjust themselves of CNC and 3D production. This is not a world first. A look at the tourism centers shows clearly how strong the uniformity is already enforced, for example through travelers, who buy souvenirs in the assumption, that they are buying unique items. The buyer subtly enjoys using his buying habits from everyday life including bargaining and haggling, special bargains are attractive, little aware that they are actually contributing to the destruction of the handicraft itself. Ultimately, also the discussion about Original versus Copy comes up. Why buy an original in a world where true copies are easily available? - this is the underlying question. Color, sound, text, - everything is flexible and available; waiting for further application. But change has taken place not only in this field of art, but long ago also in the areas of fashion, leisure, food, education and health.
IISS / Integrated infrastructure system in a rural area
NeemTree / MoringaTree / Jetrupa Cures -Ph tester-Water Pump
Thanks to the digital communication and information age, people even in remote rural areas obtain news about the lives of people in the so-called industrialized countries, - with all its possibilities and apparent abundance. One is inclined to share and participate in it, preferably immediately than later.
The problems behind the sham abundance are not perceived, not even by the producers, who are in fact proud of their performance: Water for all, Housing for all, etc., etc.. One cannot expect of the migrants to understand the economic ups and downs of the economic factors, - that's even true of the highly developed countries. It is like speaking of water and drinking wine. The correlations between production and commerce, consumption and uniformity are at best entertaining, - serving only as theory and as entertainment program for general distraction and targeted manipulation of the believing public and consumers. Background to this discussion is rural project, supposed to offer remedy through the targeted measure of providing flowing water to a basin for buffaloes and to bring the fresh water supply back on track. The process is to be accompanied by regular pH tests. The project is laudable, but lack of interest of the affected people is to be expected, who are possibly not interested in a controlled environmental pollution, or even its stoppage, and rather more interested in pursuing their internal family interests. There can also be no discussion of educational deficit or other cultures. This development is similar in the whole world: one is most interested in becoming a consumer, getting regular income, fixed breaks, - in short, the existing mistake further propagated by the media, which is erroneously perceived as progress.
Labels: FPAC.org.pk, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Prof Dr Pintsch/FPAC.org.pk, Prof Dr Pintsch/IPC
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:28 AM,
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Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch (SES) is a German Senior Volunteer who has been working in Pakistan (and in many oher countries) for over quarter Century. Now Pakistan is like his second home (that is why I call him
Chaudhry Norbert now). He started working in a remote Punjab village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka - some 80 Kilometers from Lahore - and over time have made it a model village. His special interests are appropriate technology, preservation of rural culture, housing, handicrafts, communication and information, income generation for rural communities (through self help projects) and
promotion of academic coordination.
This time in Pakistan, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch was invited to Government College University, Lahore where he delivered a lecture on “Open and Closed System of Development Demonstrated Through an Example of a Village Project in Pakistan.”
Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch is a retired Professor, Architect, Engineer, MBA by Profession and presently a social worker who represents German Society for Promotion of Culture.
The DGFK (German Society for Promotion of Culture) was officially registered in 1973 at the district court Berlin-Charlottenburg.
The main activities of the society in the beginning revolved around promotion of culture in its widest sense. About 133 projects were initiated or supported which included projects of art exhibitions, lectures as well as concerts, film projects and festivals.
A number of publications were published and events initiated and organized in Berlin, Germany and other European and Non-European countries.
Since 1990 however, most of the activities of the society are concentrated in the Non-European regions.
Read more »Labels: Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:30 PM,
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As a result of about 25 years of research, a trend of development becomes visible, in which correlations and dependencies as well as development of secondary factors are clearly recognizable. It is thereby assumed that awareness exists about the importance of practical experiences, without which all theory developments, including studies, are of little importance. There is a reality, the practice, on which theories are based. If this basis is missing, then theories are developed on the basis of pseudo-realities, which lead to further theories, all of which are erroneous because the basis, i.e. the practice, is missing. This present status is continuously evolving, with extreme consequences: The multiplication of errors keeps on increasing and is not recognized because the basis is faulty and there is no connection to reality.
Without practice, therefore, no meaningful study.
Read more »Labels: Development, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:16 AM,
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Think tanks are not a new discovery. The first think tank (TT) in the new times was established under president Theodore Roosevelt. People say, he must have been very successful, because nobody knew how little knowledge was at the back of his success. In spite of that, the thought and the pressure to TTs, has flourished.
In earlier times analogue sort of TTs were present, so one could absolutely call the arrangements at the court and palaces of Carl the Great under the scholar Alkuin as such TTs. We know in hindsight, how effectively they worked and had positive effects in the Carolingian kingdom.
As we strive as far as possible for a Both-and situation instead of an Either-Or situation, we would like to describe a structure, mostly virtual in nature and independent of personal influences of all types, because here we do not work with well defined work places and budgets.
At the lowest level, we have actively engaged NGOs in different countries, for example AFA, from which valuable experiences can be collected. (z.B. AFA).
Many NGOs have developed deep rooted structures, which deal with a product or a group of people (for example WAC)
At another level new societies were formed, which understood themselves as supporting institutions working in the cultural arena (for example SPARC).
A deeper version, specially connecting to academic institutions with their theoretical potential, led to so called -independent institutes-, in which practical work and theoretical research takes place (for example IEC).
These institutes make use of their contacts and cooperate with universities to and make it possible for students to involve themselves practically with the projects of the NGO (for example FPAC).
The drawing shows the virtual, intangible character of the model, which -if we are able to show the various inter-dependencies in it- reminds rather of a ball of wool, which is not easy to see through and if cut in the middle, it is useless. Seen as a closed system as a whole, creativity and innovation are already an integral part of it because the model is adjusted to the nature and its diversity as compared to a central authority which is unaware of the world outside.
PAK2014.10
Labels: FPAC, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Thinks Tanks
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:31 AM,
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One of the most cherished Spring activity in the village Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka is annual housing competition. This is an open competition and everyone in the village participates. Judges select the best mud house, best details and best exterior and cash prizes are given.
This annual competition keeps the Dolls Village spanking round the year in addition to keeping the cultural morals alive. This year Winner Bibi Bashiran was the winner once again. Professor Aamir Rafique gave the cash prize.
Compitition with aims of preservation of rural cultural, heritage and environment protection was supported by FPAC and SPARC in Lahore through students from Punjab University.
The students were so impressed, that they have collected additional money for the winners.
Labels: Culture, Environment Protection, FPAC, Heritage, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SES, SPARC, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 1:08 PM,
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Punjab village Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka has history. And its history really started when SES volunteer Dr Senta Siller and Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch first visited this village some 25 years ago.
Thanks to SES volunteers, two government schools (one for girls and the other for boys have progressed visibly. Where else young scholars like
Stephanie Walter or
Sophie Kuppler come and teach English, where else teachers from government schools are trained by the NGOs (AFA), where else annual sports days are celebrated?
Education is very close to the heart of Farooq Ahmad (Director Men Centre of AFA) and Farana (Director Women Art Centre of AFA). One unique tradition of the NGO is to distribute books, school copies and other educational material among students right in the start of academic year.
On Friday, March 25, 2015, stage was set
book distribution to students of two government schools. This year the support came from FPAC and SPARC-project in Lahore and through students from Punjab University.
Students of both schools look forward to this event and come in their best dresses for the occasion.
Labels: AFA, Distribution of Books, Education, FPAC, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SES, SPARC, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:18 PM,
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Over a period of last 25 years,
AFA with cooperation of
FPAC, have brought out some very valuable publication. Not only that people and young students in Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka are families with this books because they are read collectively.
During reading this year, apart from selected books, articles about environment protection from Green Mag were read.
Green Mag is printed with the support of Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Islamabad and is available for students in Punjab University, National College of Arts, University of Engineering and Technology, Comsats. Beaconhouse National University and Lahore School of Economics.
Interested, please contact Institute of Modern Language, Lahore or SPARC-project.
Labels: Environment Protection, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, IPC, Islamabad Institute of Modern language, Lahore, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, SES, TTTC
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:02 PM,
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The use of sun, wind and hydro power is really nothing new. The question of energy has always arisen as the industrialization has progressed. One has however, not been able to achieve a permanent solution and rather been satisfied with purely economic and short term solutions, which have turned out to be only a deferment of the actual problem.
Solutions leading towards decentralized technical infrastructure are not popular, because they are less interesting for the industry.
Multipliers from politics, economy and science from Pakistan visited Germany, from 2nd till 26th September, and got acquainted informed about the possibilities that abound this filed.
A number of companies and projects were visited in Hamburg and Berlin for this purpose. The event with delegates from Pakistan was organized by the Near and Middle-East Association (NUMOV) / Sebastian Sons in coordination with
Prof. Aamir Rafique /PU, FPAC.
Closed System, example
Solutions based upon central technical infra-structure suffer from its specialization and a missing holistic approach in the so-called Open system. We have already written about the closed system in various articles. As an extreme example of this model, we have made use of the example of a space ship on its way from the Earth to the Mars.
Material values on the Earth lose their meaning. A big house, boat, etc., luxurious clothing and food and drinks are not possible.
What appears to be quite clear and convincing in the above model looks far-fetched on the Earth. Now why should one voluntarily leave the growth oriented world? Who has the strength and wisdom to voluntarily abandon these luxuries? Why should one try out a new way of working when there is apparently no need for that?
Above questions are understandable and our ancestors from yesterday have reported on the advantages of an autonomous ways of life, far before the beginning of industrialization.
One answer is to be found in "Eigg"- What is this ? This is an approximately 40 square kilometer big island of the inner Hebrides. Less than hundred people live there and spend their life based upon public good. Here, one does not forego the advantages of the digital era, but is autonomous not only in the technical infrastructure but also in a social infrastructure.
One helps each other in house construction, is not oriented towards earning lot of money, is flexible and understands how to put various capabilities to good use; playing music is possible while helping with house construction, teaching children is still possible while working in the kitchen garden, a life without commerce and consumption, for which the urban and industrially oriented contemporaries on the mainland need money for restaurants, free time activities, shopping etc., which are not needed here.
The social life of these people revolves around their fellow citizens. Those of us who would like to be inspired can take an example from the new work methods of computer developers and service providers.
Labels: Appropriate Technology, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Prof. Aamir Rafique, Solar Energy, Wind Energy
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:00 AM,
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Friends of Thatta Kedona know about our annual
Mud House Owners Annual Quality of Life Competition – cherished AFA tradition when owners compete for the best mud house, details and designs. Everyone take part and prepare before the competition. It goes without saying that this is the spirit of that NGO AFA has infused in the villagers and they look forward to the compaction. In the process the village can be seen in an immaculate condition round the year. Here are some of the images of the competition this year:
Labels: Mud Housing Project, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Thatta Kedona Impressions
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:31 AM,
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