Author: casavision

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Functional Definition of Fascism

CPAC and the fascist international

With the ascendency once again of fascism in the world, it is important to have a clear definition for fascism. The following definition developed by historian Robert Paxton in 2004 is in my opinion the best one I’ve yet come across:
“Fascism may be defined as a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraint, goals of internal cleansing and external expansion.”
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Luis Lopezllera Mendes Presente!

photo of Luis Lopezllera Mendes

My dear friend and mentor Luis Lopezllera passed from this life the end of  October. Luis was the kindest, gentlest, most positive person I believe I have ever met. We met in Mexico City in 1986 in the aftermath of the Mexico City earthquake through the Partners of the Americas when San Francisco was ‘partnered’ with Mexico City. On that first trip to Mexico, Luis introduced me to the urban slums where masses of poor people were living in makeshift housing on dirt floors. We then worked together on and off over the next few years focusing on my bringing microcomputers and internet access to the NGO community in Mexico and throughout the region.

Luis was a great man, a true realist, a stellar human being. There are very few people you meet in life who are truly humble, largely behind the scenes, doing transformative work. Luis was one of them.  Luis had a vision of a better world and he worked tirelessly to achieve it. Through his organization, Promocion del Desarrollo Popular, he had great effect upon many people and movements.  If you search on his name, you will get an idea of the scope and reach of his life and work. Example.

Luis you are already now and for a long time to come will be sorely missed. You are present in our hearts and minds.

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Building Energy Performance Simulation Modeling Training

I helped train 10 professional architects here in Pretoria in building energy performance simulation modeling using DesignBuilder software. Thank yous to the University of Pretoria Department of Architecture for use of their classroom facilities, to the Pretoria Institute for Architecture for arranging attendees, and to the Fulbright Specialist Program for bringing me to South Africa to share my knowledge and experience.