Norhla: Restoring the glory of khullu wool for social development and environmental protection in the High Tibetan Plateau

For centuries, the local communities of yaks’ transhumant cattle farmers of the Tibetan High plateau have lived on their yak breeding activity, providing them with all they need: milk, a source of butter and cheese, and hair, which they weave into the heavy black tents that characterize the nomadic population. In the last decade, however, changes occurred that have destabilized this activity. The changes are three-fold: (1) increasing economic difficulty to live from this activity (Melvyn et al., 1990), and its two corollaries: (2) rural desertification (Yang, 1992) and (3) increasing herds’ sizes, threatening the environment (Wu, 1999). Norlha, meaning “wealth of the Gods”, proposes an alternative to remedy these problems. By improving the value added cattle that farmers derive from the yaks, Norlha’s social business model suggests that selling extremely high range products to luxury houses can be a way out of poverty and rural desertification for these communities.Pendant des siècles, les communautés locales d’éleveurs transhumants de yaks du haut plateau du Tibet ont vécu de leurs élevages qui leur fournissaient tout ce dont ils avaient besoin pour vivre : du lait, pour faire du beurre et du fromage, et de la laine, qu'ils tissaient pour fabriquer les épaisses tentes noires utilisées par les populations nomades. Toutefois, au cours des dix dernières années, l’élevage de yaks a été déstabilisé par certains  changements : (1) la difficulté de plus en plus grande à vivre de l’élevage (Melvyn et al., 1990), et ses deux corollaires, (2) la désertification rurale (Yang, 1992) et (3) des troupeaux de plus en plus importants qui menacent l’environnement (Wu, 1999). Norlha, qui signifie “richesses des Dieux”, propose une alternative à ces problèmes. En améliorant la valeur ajoutée que les éleveurs dégagent des yaks, le modèle d’entreprise social de Norlha montre que la vente de produits très haut de gamme à des maisons de luxe pourrait être un moyen pour ces communautés de sortir de la pauvreté et de réduire la désertification rurale.El medio de vida de las comunidades locales de ganaderos trashumantes de yaks en el altiplano tibetano es, desde hace siglos, la crianza de yaks, con la que cubrían todas sus necesidades: como la leche (con la que elaboran mantequilla y queso) y el pelo (que una vez tejido se utilizar para confeccionar las grandes tiendas de color negro, características de la población nómada). No obstante, en los últimos diez años se han producido cambios que han desestabilizado esta actividad. Estos cambios son de tres tipos: (1) la mayor dificultad económica para vivir de esta actividad (Melvyn et al., 1990), y sus dos consecuencias: (2) la desertización rural (Yang, 1992) y (3) el aumento del tamaño de las manadas, lo que supone una amenaza para el medio ambiente (Wu, 1999). Norlha, que significa «la riqueza de los dioses», propone una alternativa para poner remedio a estos problemas. A través de la mejora del valor añadido del ganado que los ganaderos obtienen de los yaks, el modelo comercial de Norlha propone la venta de productos de gama extremadamente alta a casas de lujo como posible vía para que estas comunidades salgan de la pobreza y la desertización rural

SHARING CITIES: an innovative partnership between the Bel Group and street vendors

Street vendors and street food play a significant role in the informal sector in emerging markets. Street vendors stand as a primary source of supply in terms of food purchase for low-income consumers. However, their work is threatened by the rapid modernization of economies in developing and emerging countries and the evolution of the food retail industry. Furthermore, harassment, thugs, corruption, and economic insecurities hamper the street vendor's daily life. It is therefore essential to support street vendors in gaining resilience and adapting to the modernization of the economy of their countries. This article analyses how a corporate-led initiative –Sharing Cities designed by the Bel Group– can at the same time empower street vendors and provide business opportunities for the Group. Its aim is to study the interface between a formal company and the informal sector

Norhla: Restoring the glory of khullu wool for social development and environmental protection in the High Tibetan Plateau

For centuries, the local communities of yaks’ transhumant cattle farmers of the Tibetan High plateau have lived on their yak breeding activity, providing them with all they need: milk, a source of butter and cheese, and hair, which they weave into the heavy black tents that characterize the nomadic population. In the last decade, however, changes occurred that have destabilized this activity. The changes are three-fold: (1) increasing economic difficulty to live from this activity (Melvyn et al., 1990), and its two corollaries: (2) rural desertification (Yang, 1992) and (3) increasing herds’ sizes, threatening the environment (Wu, 1999). Norlha, meaning “wealth of the Gods”, proposes an alternative to remedy these problems. By improving the value added cattle that farmers derive from the yaks, Norlha’s social business model suggests that selling extremely high range products to luxury houses can be a way out of poverty and rural desertification for these communities