Good News Agency – Year X, n° 162
Weekly – Year X, number 162 –
23rd October 2009
Managing Editor: Sergio Tripi,
Ph. D.
“…In conveying the appreciation of the Head of
State for the passion and the professionalism with which you spread, above all among the young, the culture of
"good news", I would like to take this opportunity of
adding my personal greeting”. (From the letter of
the Adviser for the Press and Information of the President of Italy, Giorgio
Napolitano, to the Editor of Good News Agency, 12 October 2007.)
Good News Agency carries
positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary
work, the work of the United Nations, non governmental organizations and
institutions engaged in improving the quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn
out” in the space of a day. It is
distributed free of charge through Internet to 10,000 media and
editorial journalists in 54 countries and to 2,800 NGOs and 1,700
high schools, colleges and universities. It is an
all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona
Volontà Mondiale, an educational charity associated
with the United Nations Department of Public Information. The Association has been recognized by
UNESCO as “an actor of the
global movement for a culture of peace” and it is a member of the World
Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
International legislation – Human rights – Economy and development – Solidarity
Peace and security – Health
– Energy and
Safety – Environment and
wildlife
Religion and
spirituality
– Culture and
education
Disarmament Week, October 24 - 30
Disarmament
Week has been observed by the United Nations since 1978. Member States are
invited to highlight the dangers of the arms race, promote recognition of the
need to stop the arms race, and increase public understanding of the urgent
tasks of disarmament.
Right
now nuclear disarmament is a major focus at the UN, following on from the
special session of the Security Council in September. The circumstances of
events in international relations (new national administrations, crises etc)
often lead to points of energetic focus when breakthroughs can occur. Now is
such a time in disarmament.
International Day for the
Eradication of Poverty, 17 October
The International Day for
the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the
General Assembly, by resolution
47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need
to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in
developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.
At the Millennium Summit, world leaders committed
themselves to cutting by half by the year 2015 the number of people living in
extreme poverty - people whose income is less than one dollar a day. The theme
for this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - “Working
together out of poverty” - highlights the need for a truly global anti-poverty
alliance, one in which both developed and developing countries participate
actively.
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/poverty/
“Toolbox” to aid in promoting right to food
Six-volume set provides governments and civil society with
"how-to" guidelines
The toolbox — prepared by the
agency's right to food team — is a book binder including six different volumes
that provide practical information and detailed guidance on ways to integrate
the right to food into different levels of national legislation, policies and
programmes. It provides operational assistance to those seeking to monitor the
right to adequate food and to identify and classify vulnerable groups suffering
from hunger and food insecurity. There are also a large number of
recommendations on planning, implementing and monitoring public allocations and
expenditures in this field. (…) Contact: Erwin Northoff, Media Relations: erwin.northoff@fao.org www.fao.org
Belgian rights defender, Pakistani philanthropist win
UN prize for non-violence
20 October - A Belgian human rights defender and a Pakistani
philanthropist were today awarded a prestigious United Nations prize that draws
its inspiration from the life of Mahatma Gandhi for their work in promoting
tolerance and non-violence. François
Houtart of
Dedicated
to advancing tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and
communications, the prize was created in 1995 on the 125th anniversary of the
birth of the great Indian apostle of non-violence thanks to the generosity of
Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh, who is also a UNESCO Goodwill
Ambassador. It is awarded every two years to individuals or institutions for
outstanding contributions towards its goals.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32629&Cr=unesco&Cr1=
Landmark pact indicates global support for indigenous
peoples, says UN expert
19 October - The international community showed its support for the world’s
nearly 400 million indigenous people by adopting the landmark 2007 declaration
outlining their rights, a United Nations independent human rights said today. The adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People came
after more than two decades of debate.
“The adoption of the Declaration signals the strong commitment of
the international community to remedy the historical and ongoing denial of the
rights of indigenous peoples,” James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on the situation
of human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous people, told reporters in
New York. The text is based on the principles of equality, self-determination
and respect for diversity, which form the “basic tenets of the modern human
rights system,” he said. (...)
The
Declaration emphasizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and
strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions and to pursue their
development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations. (…)
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32619&Cr=&Cr1=
Engaging
men and boys in promoting gender equality and preventing HIV
Dakar,
Senegal, 15 October - Nearly 35 participants from UNFPA country offices in Africa,
Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab States, Asia and Europe, along with
partners from governments and the civil society, met here this week to reflect
on the most appropriate and efficient strategies to fully engage men and boys
in the promotion of gender equality and in the prevention of HIV. This
consultation will inform UNFPA strategy for engaging men and boys in gender
equality and HIV. (…) At the meeting, participants shared experiences and
lessons learned in the implementation of the policies and programmes
integrating the engagement of men and boys in sexual and reproductive health,
including family planning and female genital mutilation, gender equality,
women’s empowerment, fatherhood and HIV.
http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4037
Adventists launch global campaign to end violence
against women and girls
Silver
Spring, Md., USA, 13 October - On Tuesday, October 13, the Adventist
Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Women’s Ministries Department of
the Seventh-day Adventist Church launched enditnow™, a global campaign that
raises awareness and advocates to end violence against women and girls around
the world. (...) This campaign is the most significant stand the
During
enditnow’s initial phase, 1 million signatures will be collected from
individuals in more than 200 countries in support of ending violence against
women and girls. The signatures will be presented to the United Nations to draw
attention to the issue, advocate for the creation of new policies that protect
women and girls, and make public the
http://www.adra.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10579&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1141
‘‘Historic Step Forward’’ in fight to end rape in
conflict
CARE applauds unanimous adoption of Resolution 1888 to
stop conflict-related sexual violence globally
United
Nations, New York, 30 September - CARE today applauded the unanimous adoption
of a new U.S.-sponsored U.N. Security Council resolution to fight sexual
violence in armed conflict, and welcomed the presence of Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton in the chair of the Council presidency for September. (...)
Resolution 1888 calls for the immediate appointment of a new high-level Special
Representative for conflict-related sexual violence, which will strengthen U.N.
leadership and global efforts to put an end to this weapon of war. It also
recognizes the importance of a comprehensive approach to addressing sexual
violence -- including increasing access to health care, psychosocial support
and legal assistance for survivors of such violence, and working to help
communities overcome the social stigma of rape. (...)
http://www.care.org/newsroom/articles/2009/09/united-nations-violence-against-women-20090230.asp
The European Development Days -
The
European Development Days (EDDs) are an annual event hosted jointly by the
European Commission and the EU Presidency. This year, they will be held in
The
European Development Days bring together approximately 4,000 people and
1,500 organisations from the international development community, with
delegates from 125 countries represented, among them heads of state
and Nobel prizewinners. The aim of the event is to make development aid
more effective, and to achieve the Millenium Development Goals through building
a strong global coalition against poverty. During the EDDs, pressing issues are
debated, such as governance, poverty and environmental sustainability;
ideas are shared and innovative partnerships are launched! For further
information, visit the European Development Days website
13
October - ACDI/VOCA has received a $233,000 subaward under the USAID
Facilitating Economic Growth in Sri Lanka Program through the Volunteers for
Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA) Leader With Associates mechanism. The prime
implementer is the International Executive Services Corps. The Facilitating
Economic Growth Program will contribute to the economic revitalization of the
Eastern Province of Sri Lanka by providing technical services to support
workforce development, connecting regional economies, and other initiatives.
ACDI/VOCA’s role will be to provide technical assistance to enterprises
involved in agriculture.
http://www.acdivoca.org/acdivoca/PortalHub.nsf/ID/news_newprojectSriLankaVEGA
MEPs back microcredits to help European entrepreneurs
12 October - Microcredit loans to help small
businesses and people who want to be self employed have been backed by Members
of the Employment Committee. Although pioneered in the developing world,
Members are convinced that microcredits can create jobs and boost enterprise in
Discussions on 29 September centred on plans by the
European Commission to unveil loans worth €25,000 through a European
Microfinance Facility. Their proposal came in reply to a request from the
Parliament for some kind of action. The meeting took place as part of a report
that Hungarian Socialist MEP Kinga Göncz is drawing up for the Employment
Committee. Early drafts of the report call on the Commission to earmark more
money for the project - notably €150 million from January next year until the
end of 2013. (...)
Restoring Economic Agricultural Livelihoods in
7
October - ACDI/VOCA has won the new $2 million, USAID-funded Restoring Economic
Agricultural Livelihoods in Zimbabwe (REALIZ) program. Working in the
Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces, ACDI/VOCA will strengthen the
ability of 10,000 vulnerable but viable farms to increase their food security
and incomes. Specific objectives of the program are: to improve food security
by boosting the availability of staple crops at the household level and
increasing access through improved purchasing power; to strengthen the capacity
of farmers to meet market requirements by increasing quality and volume of
production through improved agronomic practices and marketing strategies; to
increase incomes of rural households through strengthened commercial links
between smallholder farmers and buyers.
http://www.acdivoca.org/acdivoca/PortalHub.nsf/ID/news_newprojectZimbabweREALIZ
IFAD President at Istanbul World Bank-IMF meeting to
move smallholder farmers higher up the development agenda
Kanayo F. Nwanze also to receive MDG3 torch
towards meeting gender equality
Rome and Istanbul, 1 October - Ahead
of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meeting in Istanbul on 6-7 October, Kanayo F. Nwanze, the
President of IFAD, underlined the pivotal role of agriculture in tackling the
most pressing challenges facing today’s globalized world. (...) The annual meeting
brings together governors of central banks, ministers of finance and
development, private sector executives and civil society representatives to
discuss issues of global concern. The
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2009/44.htm
IFAD provides US$40.1 million to help Indian farmers in
To date, IFAD has funded 23 projects in
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2009/43.htm
As the EU grows - who’s next?
The commission’s annual report on countries aspiring to EU membership
says
The Balkan nation of 4.4 million was on track to become the 28th EU
country in 2011. But a border dispute with EU member
Since last year’s report, three countries -
http://ec.europa.eu/news/external_relations/091014_en.htm
Rotarians respond to Asia-Pacific disasters
by
Ryan Hyland
Rotary
International News, 16 October - Rotarians are ramping up aid to victims left
homeless by a series of disasters that struck areas in
Rotary
clubs from districts in
Rotarians
and Rotaractors in
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/091016_news_disasters.aspx
Stand up against poverty!
13
October - Education International is
once again joining with the Global Call to Action against Poverty and the
United Nations Millennium Campaign in supporting the annual Stand Up and Take
Action against Poverty campaign. Last year, another world
record was set in response to organising by the GCAP and the UNMC, nearly 2% of
the world’s population joined in – an amazing 116.9 million people in 131
countries! (…) This year the Stand Up events can take place on 16, 17 and/or 18
October, and they can be registered again with the UNMC to be verified by the
Guinness Book of Records. EI is encouraging teachers to join in this year with
their schools and trade unions to help increase the pressure on world leaders
who have reacted to the financial crisis by spending trillions of dollars
bailing out the banks and corporations: far more than they made available for
the food crisis, and several times more than was spent on development aid over
the last 50 years!(…)
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=1118&theme=educationforall&country=global
MSF mobiles teams providing emergency assistance in
newly flooded area in the northern
13
October - In Manila and its surroundings, more MSF teams are still working to
provide medical care to the most vulnerable people affected by tropical storm
Ketsana, which struck the
ACDI/VOCA provides emergency response for Filipino
victims of typhoon Ondoy
9
October - ACDI/VOCA staff members in the
Nearly
3,000 temporarily sheltered victims were assisted, including squatters and
people whose homes had been damaged or destroyed by flood waters. In sweltering
heat and humidity, ACDI/VOCA employees assisted mostly pregnant women (…) and
mothers with children below five years of age. (…)
http://www.acdivoca.org/acdivoca/PortalHub.nsf/ID/newsPhilippinesTyphoonOndoyresponse10-9-09
Silver
Spring, Md., 9 October - Responding to the worst flooding to affect southern
India in a century, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has
launched an emergency relief response, assisting survivors after heavy rains
triggered severe flooding, killing an estimated 300 people and affecting
approximately two to three million others. On Thursday, October 8, ADRA began
an emergency response to aid more than 700 families in flood-ravaged districts
in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh through the distribution of
emergency supplies, such as blankets, cooking pots and utensils. (...) Funding
this initial emergency response is ADRA International, the Southern Asia
Division of the
http://www.adra.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10575&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1141
Bujumbura,
8 October (ICRC) - Some 20,000 inhabitants of Kamuna, Bukemba, Kabanga and
Gihofi, in the province of Rutana in south-eastern Burundi, now have access to
ample quantities of drinking water thanks to work carried out by the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in cooperation with the
country’s rural-area water and energy board.
After
18 months of rebuilding and developing existing infrastructure, the revamped
water supply system was inaugurated today in the presence of the local
authorities and handed over to the people who will be using it. “For many
years, no clean drinking water was available in these towns and people had to
go long distances on foot to obtain it,” said Luc Soenen, an ICRC engineer
based in
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/burundi-news-081009
Rotary International UN Day, 7 November
Rotary’s
relationship with the United Nations dates back to 1945 when some 49 Rotary
members acted as delegates, advisors and consultants at the United Nations
Charter Conference. Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status
possible with the United Nations as a non-governmental organization. (...) Each
year at Rotary UN Day, more than 1300 Rotarians including many Rotary
International Directors, Foundation Trustees, past Senior Leaders, and guests
come together at UN Headquarters in
Rotary
Day at the United Nations also includes a special program for youth interested
in humanitarian service. Youth will have the opportunity to hear about a model
UN program, the Shelter Box project, some projects that Interact Clubs are
working on, and an overview of the UN and much more. (…)
Save the Children assisting thousands of vulnerable
children affected by six disasters across Asia-Pacific region
The
international humanitarian organization has emergency teams providing
lifesaving relief to children and their families and has launched child
protection programs in
http://www.savethechildren.org/newsroom/2009/six-disasters-asia-pacific.html?print=t
Caritas delivers aid to forgotten villages after
6
October - Tarpaulins have been delivered by Caritas to villages yet to receive
any direct aid six days after the earthquake that rocked
http://www.caritas.org/newsroom/press_releases/PressRelease06_10_09b.html
Jakarta, 3
October (ICRC) The Indonesian Red Cross Society (Palang Merah Indonesia - PMI)
and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are working
hand-in-hand to trace people separated from their families by earthquakes that
killed more than 1,000 people, destroyed tens of thousands of houses and left
hundreds unaccounted for. Immediately after two
disastrous earthquakes struck the southern coastline of West Sumatra,
Indonesia, on 30 September and 1 October, the PMI chapter in
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/indonesia-news-031009
Democratic Republic of the Congo: ICRC enhances access
to water in Saké,
Kinshasa/Goma,
2 October (ICRC) - People in Saké,
The
ICRC is handing over this expanded and renovated supply system today, after two
years of work, not only to the Saké authorities but above all to the thousands
of men, women and children for whom finding drinkable water had become a daily
challenge.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/congo-kinshasa-news-021009
Disarmament Week, October 24 - 30
Disarmament
Week has been observed by the United Nations since 1978. Member States are invited
to highlight the dangers of the arms race, promote recognition of the need to
stop the arms race, and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of
disarmament.
Right
now nuclear disarmament is a major focus at the UN, following on from the special
session of the Security Council in September. The circumstances of events in
international relations (new national administrations, crises etc) often lead
to points of energetic focus when breakthroughs can occur. Now is such a time
in disarmament.
African Union Special
Theme: “African Union
addressing the challenge of forced displacement in
The
African Union, in collaboration with its key partners, is holding a Special
Summit of Heads of State and Government on Refugees, Returnees and Internally
Displaced Persons in
The
Government of Uganda will host the Special Summit, the first ever of its kind,
timely and groundbreaking as the African Heads of State and Government are
expected to also adopt the African Convention on the Protection and Assistance
of Internally Displaced Persons in
http://www.auspecialsummitkampala.ug/
SIGNIS
World Congress 2009 -
Global
Congress Challenges Media Practitioners - Children’s Voices Must Be Heard
Chiang Mai, October 18 - About
660 participants from 70 countries have gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand from
October 17-21 to attend the World Congress of SIGNIS (the World Catholic
Association for Communication) on the theme “Media for a Culture of Peace:
Children’s Rights, Tomorrow’s Promise”. The Congress also includes 100 students
between the ages of 13 to 15 from schools in Chiang Mai who are participating
in a workshop on Children’s Voices on the Rise – children’s rights in a digital
world. (…)
The President of SIGNIS,
Augustine Loorthusamy, in his opening address, stressed that media
practitioners must both respect the rights of children and ensure that their
voices are heard. “By the children, for
the children and providing a voice for the voiceless - key mantras that have
been heard time and again, but children are still too often invisible in the
media. More needs to be done. (…) As Pope Benedict XVI, has emphasized in his
special greeting to the Congress, ‘the formation of children by the media and
the formation of children to respond appropriately to the media’ should be
central concerns for professional communicators.” (…)
http://www.signisworldcongress.net http://www.signis.net
Real prospect of ending fighting in
eastern DR Congo, says top UN envoy
16 October - The top United Nations envoy to the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (DRC) today voiced optimism that calm could soon return to the
country’s volatile eastern region, while noting that a number of challenges
still remain. “There is now a real prospect that the conflicts that have long
blighted the eastern
Highlighting progress on a number of fronts, he stated that operations
by the Congolese Army, known as FARDC, in North Kivu, South Kivu and Orientale
provinces have significantly eroded the capacities of the Hutu rebel Forces
démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and Ugandan rebel Lord’s
Resistance Army (LRA). The nearly 19,000-strong UN force (MONUC), set up in
2000 to help restore peace after years of multiple civil wars, has been
supporting the FARDC in efforts to flush out the rebels. (...)
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32586&Cr=democratic&Cr1=congo
African governments on the improve, but
corruption on the rise – UN report
16 October - (...) The second edition of the African Governance Report,
an overview of the state of governance in 35 African countries, highlighted a 3
per cent decline in the corruption control index. (...) Despite a negative
performance on issues involving corruption, there has been a two per cent
increase on governance indices overall, including in areas of human rights, the
rule of law, the effectiveness of the legislature, the executive and the
judiciary, as well as independence of civil society organizations and the
media. Positive trends in the continent’s economies and the role of women in
public life were also spotlighted in the report, with indices indicating a six
per cent rise in pro-investment policies, up to 3 per cent increase in
efficient economic management and tax systems, and more women represented in
national parliaments than anywhere else in the world.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32583&Cr=africa&Cr1=govern
Cypriot leaders plant olive trees for
peace and pledge to continue UN-backed talks
15
October - The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders planted olive trees
today in a gesture of peace, pledging to continue participating in United
Nations-backed talks to unify the Mediterranean island. The two trees were
planted at a ceremony by Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish
Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat at the entrance of the site where they are
holding their discussions in
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32565&Cr=cyprus&Cr1
13
October - The two bombs found by Paul Brown of MAG
http://www.maginternational.org/news/sudan-mag-destroys-two-500kg-aircraft-bombs-/
Secretary-General welcomes
Armenian-Turkish accord
10
October - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed today’s signing of two
protocols paving the way towards normalizing ties between
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32497&Cr=stability&Cr1=
1,000,000 Danish kroner for clearing cluster bombs in
8
October - Money from Ole Kirk’s Foundation assures land to be freed from
cluster bombs in
The announcement comes while
http://www.cartagenasummit.org/press-room/press-releases/8-october-2009-english/
Global
events planned to speed up progress on population and development goals,
increase action on maternal health
United Nations, New York, 15 October - More than 160 ministers, parliamentarians, and representatives of
regional intergovernmental organizations and other world leaders will gather in
Addis Ababa for a High-Level Meeting on
Maternal Health - Millennium Development Goal 5. The 26 October event,
organized by the
http://www.unfpa.org/public/News/pid/4034
After a five year absence, MSF returns to
12
October - (...) Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is now working in Ahmed Shah
Baba hospital on the eastern side of
MSF
is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation that
delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics,
healthcare exclusion and natural or man-made disasters.
Rotary members in
A
highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis and sometimes death, polio
still strikes children in parts of Africa and
Rotary made polio eradication its top
philanthropic goal in 1985. As the lead private sector contributor and
volunteer arm of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative -- a public/private
partnership spearheaded by World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary
International, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF --
Rotary has contributed more than US$ 800 million to ending polio. Currently the
organization is working to raise an additional US$200 million toward a $355
million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
http://timblair.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!B71A619F97F176BD!213621.entry
Nigerian journalists join forces
5
October - In
Holding
town hall style meetings with elected officials, traditional and religious
leaders, as well as concerned parents these journalists have been providing an
enormous and as yet unheralded service to their communities. (…) Those who most
effectively advocated for an end to polio in their communities or wrote or
broadcast the best polio news stories were rewarded earlier this year at the
inaugural JAP Health Performance Awards. (...)
http://www.polioeradication.org/content/general/LatestNews200910.asp#01
Scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions in the health
sector
Progress report, September 2009
Geneva
/ Paris - More than 4 million people in low- and middle-income countries were
receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the close of 2008, representing a 36%
increase in one year and a ten-fold increase over five years, according to a
new report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United
Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Joint United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Towards universal access: scaling up priority HIV/AIDS interventions
in the health sector highlights other gains, including expanded HIV testing and
counselling and improved access to services to prevent HIV transmission from
mother to child. (...) http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/2009progressreport/en/index.html
(top)
Solar
The
subject of “Solar Buildings” is the focus of the international Solar Summit
congress, already taking place for the second time in the Konzerthaus Freiburg
(Freiburg Concert Hall) from 14 to 16 October 2009. Leading representatives
from the fields of science, research and industry will be presenting the latest
technological developments in solar energy research as well as innovative
building concepts and project ideas from the areas of solar and
energy-efficient construction.
Under
the chairmanship of Professor Eicke R. Weber, Director of the Fraunhofer
Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) and Dr. Hans-Martin Henning, Head of
Department Thermal Systems and Buildings at the Fraunhofer ISE, this year again
sees high-profile speakers from all over the world speaking to the following
topics: Multi-functional building façades; Solar building concepts; Net zero
energy buildings; Building integrated PV; Building integrated solar thermal
energy systems; Realized examples and lessons learned; Design tools, modelling
and simulation; Total energy supply concepts. (...)
National geothermal data system for the
by
lxrichter
12
October - Introduced in
http://thinkgeoenergy.com/archives/2641
$2 billion solar farm for US Army
The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has selected Acciona Solar
Power and the Clark Energy Group to
develop a 500MW solar farm project at
The
installations are being designed in a way to allow for the capacity to be
increased to 1,000 MW at a later date. The project will involve concentrating
solar power (CSP) and solar panels.
The
The
solar farm is expected to produce approximately 1,000 gigawatt hours of
electricity annually, far exceeding Fort Irwin’s 35 MW peak load.
Solar Cooking International
Solar
Cookers International (SCI) spreads solar cooking awareness and skills
worldwide, particularly in areas with plentiful sunshine and diminishing
sources of cooking fuel. Since its founding in 1987, SCI has enabled over
30,000 families in
http://solarcookers.org/about/about.html
Avaaz.org: international day of climate action, 24 October
October 24 is
the 350 global day of climate action
This
Saturday is the next global day of action on climate change - a worldwide wave
of extraordinary events that will show leaders the accelerating breadth, power,
and clarity of the global climate movement.
On
Saturday, thanks to more than a year of organizing by our friends at 350.org
and others, citizens have assembled more than 4000 extraordinary climate
actions across nearly every country, from the bottom of the Great Barrier Reef
to the summit of
Green Cross International – Gorbachev to lead a
synergy task force on climate
6 October - Mikhail Gorbachev, the Founding President
of Green Cross International, will lead a cross-sectoral panel of international
public figures and representatives of expert community to strengthen the global
response to climate change. The inaugural meeting of the panel was held in
The
World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Telecommunications
Union (ITU) are among the organisations providing support to this initiative.
(...) The Task Force has three clear goals: to urge governments to maximise
the opportunities Copenhagen offers for a strong and coherent climate deal; to
“recalibrate” the international response to climate change in line with the
danger posed to human security and development; and to engage civil society in
the search for appropriate and adequate solutions to the challenges of climate
change, building the critical mass for a deep-rooted societal change necessary
to contain and then to reverse the effects of climate change. (...)
Environment and Innovation – pilot retailers project
2
October - A new cycle in the Environment and Innovation programme was launched
on 15 September 2009 with the theme Climate Change: Let’s Save Energy!
Environment and Innovation is a partnership between Toyota Motor Europe and
Eco-Schools International. The two earlier cycles saw the involvement of more
than 40,000 students. Over 50 school projects were implemented in local
communities. (...)
The
pilot project will be run in
http://www.eco-schools.org/news.php?id=87
Information and communication workshop on water and
climate change for journalists from Latin America and the Caribbean -
Journalists
from Latin America and the
The
workshop aims to serve as a forum for debate between experts and journalists
from the region. Themes covered will include: the nature of the water-related
impacts of climate change, how to improve climate change adaptation, the
importance of water in the upcoming COP 15, tools for improving communication
on water and climate change, and lessons drawn from stories of good practices
on information and communication.
http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/
“Challenges and Solutions for Inter-religious
Coexistence in the Euro-Mediterranean Region, 26-29 October 2009,
The
Anna Lindh Foundation is organizing a symposium on “Challenges and Solutions
for Inter-religious Coexistence in the Euro-Mediterranean Region” from 26-29
October
The
World Scout Inter-religious Symposium (WSIS) is the third biggest world scout
event organized after every 3 years that brings together scouts from 8 religious affiliations
to discuss pertinent issues affecting the scouts, their religions and the world
they live in. The first WSIS was held in
The
3rd World Scout Inter-religious Symposium will bring together over 200 delegates
from 160
countries to experience, share and dialogue. The theme of the symposium is: “Solidarity, Reflection
and Celebration for Peace”
Cultural diversity should become a key lever in
policy-making, says UNESCO World Report to be launched on 20 October
As globalization spurs an unprecedented
cross-fertilization of cultures worldwide, investing in cultural diversity can
renew our approaches to sustainable development, ensure the effective exercise
of universally recognized human rights and freedoms, and strengthen social
cohesion and democratic governance, according to a new UNESCO intersectoral
World Report to be launched on 20 October. (...) This
report analyzes all aspects of cultural diversity, which has emerged as a key
concern of the international community in recent decades, and maps out new
approaches to monitoring and shaping the changes that are taking place. It
highlights, in particular, the interrelated challenges of cultural diversity
and intercultural dialogue and the way in which strong homogenizing forces are
matched by persistent diversifying trends. The report proposes a series of ten
policy-oriented recommendations, to the attention of States, intergovernmental
and non-governmental organizations, international and regional bodies, national
institutions and the private sector on how to invest in cultural diversity.
(...)
http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=39882&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
European Commission puts challenges of books
digitisation for authors, libraries and consumers on EU’s agenda
Brussels,
19 October - The European Commission today adopted a Communication on Copyright
in the Knowledge Economy aiming to tackle the important cultural and legal
challenges of mass-scale digitisation and dissemination of books, in particular
of European library collections. The Communication was jointly drawn up by
Commissioners Charlie McCreevy and Viviane Reding. Digital libraries such as
Europeana (http//www.europeana.eu) will provide
researchers and consumers across
EP Journalism Prize goes to German, Hungarian and Polish journalists
15 October - The European Parliament’s annual
journalism prize, for work that promotes better understanding of EU
institutions or policies, was awarded by EP President Jerzy Buzek on Thursday.
The prize (€5,000 in each category), went to Ines Possemeyer (written press,
The jury, of three MEPs and six
journalists, picked the winners from among over 65 national award winners,
who were themselves selected from 266 entries.
“Without you, the journalists, we cannot improve
the functioning of the EU, we cannot inform our citizens or keep them closer to
the EU”, said EP President Jerzy Buzek presenting the prizes. (...)
New UNESCO chief pledges to promote ‘knowledge,
tolerance and equal opportunity’
15 October - The new head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Agency (UNESCO) pledged today to work closely with Member States to
promote societies “based on knowledge, tolerance and equal opportunity for all”
after she was formally approved as Director-General. The 193-member General Conference of UNESCO, meeting in
A
former foreign minister of
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32572&Cr=unesco&Cr1
UNESCO’s new policy guidelines on inclusion in
education
9
October - The policy guidelines are designed to reinforce the message from UN
Special Rapporteur Dr Bengt Lindqvist, “all children and young people of the
world, with their individual strengths and weaknesses, with their hopes and
expectations, have the right to education. It is not our education systems that
have a right to a certain type of child. Therefore, it is the school system of
a country that must be adjusted to meet the needs of all its children”.
They
act as a resource for policy makers, teachers and learners, community leaders
and members of civil society to improve and develop the inclusive aspect of
schools and education systems.
The
guidelines also form the basis of the project “Inclusion in Action” that will,
throughout 2010, collect and disseminate good practices from all over the world
in order to support efforts towards schools for all.
EDC awarded $10.8 million to support Early Childhood
Education Programs
Funds to create Head Start training and assistance
centers in
United World Colleges: Shaping Society
“You gave 60 young people the chance to experience UWC
in a nutshell, but most importantly, gave them the impulse to change the
world.”
28
September - 58 young people, 15 facilitators, 28 nationalities, a couple of
dozen languages - all united by the values of UWC, by the urge to make this
world a better place. This was the first
German UWC Short Course - ‘Shaping Society’ held in the Taunus Mountains, near
http://www.uwc.org/what_we_do/news/shaping_society.aspx
EU bookshop offers free online access to archives
The
EU used the book fair in
“A World Without Walls: An International Congress on
Soft Power, Cultural Diplomacy, and Interdependence”,
2009: The 20 Year Anniversary of the Fall of the
“A
World Without Walls: An International Congress on Soft Power, Cultural Diplomacy,
and Interdependence” (Berlin, 6th - 9th November 200) represents a unique
opportunity to reflect on the development of international relations since
1989, the challenges faced by the leaders of the future, and the growing
influence of cultural diplomacy and “soft power” in the contemporary political
international environment. The participants will include scholars and
academics, political and diplomatic representatives, civil society
practitioners, and individuals from the private sector and the media. The
speakers during the program will consist of renowned figures from international
politics and distinguished professors in the field, including former Heads of
State, former Foreign Ministers, and other European Ministers. In addition to
the academic components, participants will have the opportunity to experience
the city’s vibrant cultural landscape at a historic moment in the city’s
history.
http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/academy/index.php?en_symposium_world-without-walls
http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org/academy/index.php?en_www_berlin-wall_the-fall
11th European
conference on Creativity and Innovation,
CCI
XI focuses on ‘implementation’. Most of the
conferences on Creativity and innovation focus on diverging, exploring new
methods and ways of working to be more creative, find ideas ... whereas we will
take the challenge to reflect and debate the implementation part of the
process. When we think about innovating innovation, we believe we can add value
in the implementation phase. Work theme for the conference will be: “When imagination,
knowledge and know-how have an effective meeting, we are ready for landing!”.
Or short: “Make it happen!
‘Imagine. Create. Innovate.’ With this slogan the European Commision announces 2009 as the year of
creativity and innovation what makes this edition of the conference extra
special.
http://www.eccixi.eu/ http://create2009.europa.eu/index_en.html
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