Good News Agency – Year XII, n° 191
Weekly – Year XII, number 191
– 9th September 2011
Managing Editor: Sergio Tripi, Ph. D.
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 3,000 NGOs and 1,600
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. In the final report of the Decade for
a Culture of Peace project presented to the UN General Assembly (http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf),
Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing a
major role in the field of Information*.
Contents
International
legislation – Human rights – Economy
and development
– Solidarity
Peace and
security – Health – Energy and Safety – Environment and
wildlife
Religion and spirituality – Culture and education
64th UN annual DPI/NGO conference:
Sustainable societies and the role of responsive citizens
30 August –
The Statute will enter into
force for the
The ICC is the first permanent
international court set up to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes
against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
Established by the Rome
Statute of 1998, the ICC can try cases involving individuals charged with war
crimes committed since July 2002. The Security Council, the ICC Prosecutor or a
State Party to the court can initiate any proceedings, and the ICC only acts
when countries themselves are unwilling or unable to investigate or prosecute.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39416&Cr=International+Criminal+Court&Cr1=
Ban
calls on hold-out States to ratify Treaty banning nuclear tests
“Over the course of the Cold
War, hundreds of nuclear weapon tests left behind a devastating legacy for
local citizens and their natural environment,” he said in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=5474">message marking the International Day against Nuclear
Tests. “Current voluntary moratoriums on nuclear weapon tests are valuable, yet
they are no substitute for a global ban.”
Out of a total listed number
of 195 States, 182 have so far signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
and 154 have ratified it. For the treaty to enter into force ratification is
required from the so-called Annex 2 States. Of these
For more details go to UN News
Centre at http://www.un.org/news
23 August – The International
Criminal Court (ICC) today welcomed
The statute took effect in
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39366&Cr=international+criminal+court&Cr1
23 August - The Cook Islands
ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 23 August 2011, becoming the
61st State Party.) Seven Pacific Island Forum members have signed the
Convention (
The 2008 Convention
comprehensively bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster
munitions, sets strict deadlines for clearance of contaminated areas and
destruction of stockpiles of the weapon, and includes ground-breaking
provisions for assistance to victims and affected communities. A total of 109
countries have joined the treaty, which entered into force as binding
international law on 1 August 2010.
The Cook Islands participated
in the Oslo Process that established the Convention and supported efforts to
establish a strong treaty text during the formal negotiations in
August 26,
The primary focused of the
project improves literacy and job skills for 4,000 vulnerable children and
adolescents, enhancing availability of quality and improving access to
psychosocial support for 2,000 abused and exploited children, and increasing
child protection, child labor, gender-based violence
(GBV), and human trafficking awareness among 50,000 people at national,
district and local levels.
http://www.adra.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11469&news_iv_ctrl=1141
UNHCR
announces statelessness campaign
August 25 – The Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that up to 12
million people around the world are living in perpetual statelessness, lacking
citizenship and protection in any country. Though it is a legal issue, it has a
human impact. Stateless persons are unable
to access basic rights, such as jobs, housing, education, health care, or the
ability to vote.
Statelessness may be caused by
gender, when countries do not recognize the nationality of a woman due to
discriminatory laws. Statelessness may be inherited, by children born to
stateless parents. It may be created in newly formed states, such as
AlertNet has also created a
statelessness campaign. The stories of stateless Nubians, Dominicans, Rohingyas and the stateless children of
Read the full release from
UNHCR: http://www.unhcr.org/4e54e8e06.html
http://www.interaction.org/article/unhcr-announces-statelessness-campaign
23 August -
http://www.africagoodnews.com/africa/newsletters/item/2145-accra-hosts-africas-hope-her-youth.html
D.R.
of the
Kinshasa (ICRC) 10 August – In
connection with the restructuring process currently under way in the armed
forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) has been invited to spread knowledge of international
humanitarian law among officers. Over a five-month period beginning in
February, more than 5,500 officers and instructors of the Congolese army in
North and South Kivu attended 124 ICRC-organized
information sessions on compliance with international humanitarian law in
military operations. International humanitarian law imposes obligations on all
parties to armed conflict in order to protect civilians and people no longer
taking part in fighting.
The ICRC has been working in
the
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2011/congo-kinshasa-news-2011-08-09.htm
Lebanese
smallholder farmers invest in quality
GLOBALG.A.P.
certification offers farmers new markets, higher prices
31 August – Consumers pay top
dollar for food that has been certified as safe and healthful. Lebanese farmers
know that such certification can open doors to European markets and high-end
retail outlets in the Arab States of the
Now technical assistance from
ACDI/VOCA’s Lebanon Business Linkages Initiative is
putting GLOBALG.A.P. certification—and higher prices for vegetables and
fruits—within reach of Lebanese farmers.
http://www.acdivoca.org/site/ID/news-Lebanon-Farmers-GLOBALGAP-certification-success-story-LBLI
Self-watering
and self-fertilizing garden nurtures Ethiopians and their ecosystem
By Meg Hewitt
31 August - Carrots, beet
root, leafy greens and other vegetables will finally be produced up to four
times a year in a new environmentally friendly initiative involving raised-bed
gardens in
The exterior of the keyhole
garden is made of stones and the interior is comprised of five layers of
materials. The bottom layer of the garden consists of iron scraps such as empty
beverage cans, twigs, grass and broken clay pots or stones, which provide
minerals to the soil.
A layer of top soil and manure
are added for nutrients. Tall grass to retain moisture and wood ash to provide
potassium are placed in the keyhole. The garden is ready for planting after a
final layer of soil and manure is added. Earthworms are added to the gardens,
which improve soil fertility.
Keyhole gardens were
introduced to
Counterpart
brings its civil society expertise to
By Jennifer O’Riordan
26 August - In anticipation of
Eighty seven percent of
In addition to providing
partner organizations in
http://www.counterpart.org/blog/counterpart-brings-its-civil-society-expertise-to-cameroon
Twenty
years after
“
More than half of
Contacts: Sarah Hessel s.hessel@ifad.org
, Jessica Thomas j.thomas@ifad.org
ADRA
promotes green farming practices in
August 19,
Currently, ADRA Mongolia is
implementing three "green" projects, including Community Food
Systems, Bio-Intensive Gardening, and Sustainable Economy and Agricultural
Learning. The designs of ADRA’s programs are built on
the practice of permaculture, an agricultural
approach that maximizes natural land resources in efforts to minimize
energy/waste.
Additionally, ADRA Mongolia
actively promotes the practice of seed saving. Rather than annually purchasing
seeds from commercial suppliers, seed saving preserves seeds from earlier
harvests for use in succeeding harvests. Through techniques taught by ADRA,
farmers have successfully planted increased varieties of potato and vegetable
seeds in fertile soil. These practices are helping famers
implement organic farming techniques, maintain soil fertility, and conserve
water use.
http://www.adra.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11457&news_iv_ctrl=1141
Kohl's
Department Stores donates $250,000 to the American Red Cross to support
hurricane Irene relief efforts
Kohl's
associates also encouraged to volunteer in impacted communities
In addition to a financial
contribution, Kohl’s encourages its associates to volunteer in support of
cleanup efforts through its Associates in Action volunteer program. In
recognition of volunteer hours, Kohl’s will donate corporate grants to the nonprofit organizations being supported by Kohl’s
associates.
Kohl’s Associates in Action
volunteers support a range of local nonprofit
organizations year-round. More than 400,000 associates have donated more than
1.3 million hours of their time since 2001 as a result of this program, and
Kohl’s has donated more than $38 million to nonprofits throughout the nation.
The Associates in Action volunteer program is part of Kohl’s overall
philanthropic platform, Kohl’s Cares®, which is committed to supporting
children’s health and education initiatives in communities nationwide.
Global
video project to capture power of humanity on film
The ever-expanding
www.onedayonearth.org online community, which represents thousands of
professional and amateur videographers and
photographers around the world, will be called on to film Red Cross and Red
Crescent staff and volunteers in action, as well as members of the public who
are engaged in helping others on 11/11/11.
The International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies hope to mobilize staff and some of the Movement's estimated
13 million volunteers to take part in the day of filming.
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2011/one-day-on-earth-news-2011-08-30.htm
Mechanized
system provides clean drinking water for
By
Rotary International News, 29
August – More than 10,000 people in three communities in
The water system is part of a
US$2 million project that is providing boreholes, hand pumps, and mechanized
pipes, as well as ventilated pit latrines and showers, across
During a ceremony on 21 August
in
The International H2O
Collaboration is in its third year. As part of the efforts in
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/110829_news_ghanawater.aspx
New
project won:
August 23 – USAID’s Office of Food for Peace recently awarded ACDI/VOCA
a five-year, $35 million Title II program in
ACDI/VOCA and its partners
will apply a comprehensive approach to reduce food insecurity and chronic
malnutrition and to link vulnerable households to sustainable livelihoods in
the Sanmatenga province, which has some of the
highest rates of childhood malnutrition in the country.Until
several years ago,
http://www.acdivoca.org/site/ID/news-Burkina-Faso-Malnutrition-ViM-new-project
Entertainment
industry launches Bob Marley campaign to reach nearly 600 million Facebook and Twitter fans to support Save the Children's
The campaign was developed to
support Save the Children’s fundraising for the devastating food crisis
affecting millions of children and their families across
It brings together the
combined resources of Universal Music Group, iTunes,
Yahoo!, Facebook, AOL, MSN, YouTube,
Twitter and others to give a potential global online reach in excess of a
billion people. Many of these partners are showing the film and providing
global editorial coverage, which will accompany the release of the downloadable
track on the day of the launch.
From today, many icons,
celebrities and artists across the world including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Eminem, Rihanna, Britney Spears,
David Beckham, U2, Kanye West, Madonna, Jennifer
Lopez, Muhammad Ali, Muse, Coldplay, Elton John,
Lewis Hamilton, Bruno Mars, Robert Plant, Cristiano Ronaldo, Brian May, Sting, and many others are launching
the campaign via their huge networks of friends and fans on Facebook
and Twitter (#beafriend).
With over 50 global stars already
signed up and more joining by the hour, the combined total of their fans and
followers on the social networks is almost 600 hundred million people. This
huge number will not only help raise awareness of the scale of the crisis but
also vital funds for those suffering in the region.
As the drought and food crisis
in the Horn of Africa continues, CARE has scaled up our emergency response in
CARE, in close collaboration
with the Ethiopian government, has opened 21 destocking
sites to recover some value from emaciated and unproductive animals that would
otherwise die, and to prevent conflict that might arise from competition around
scarce pasture grounds. CARE pays cattle owners 800 Ethiopian Birr (47 U.S.
dollars) per head of cattle, and provides hay and supplementary animal feed to
save the lives of remaining cattle. Under supervision from official food
inspectors, the meat from the slaughtered animals then goes to vulnerable
families suffering from the food crisis.
http://reliefweb.int/node/442833
11
Days to Global Unity - September 11 through September 21
“11 Days of Global Unity”,
first started by We, The World, is expanding this year to mark the tenth
anniversary of the tragic events surrounding September 11, 2001 and the
thirtieth anniversary of the UN resolution creating the International Day of
Peace, which takes place September 21st.
This year, We, The World, with
support from United Religions Initiative in North America and in consultation
with Pathways To Peace and the World Peace Prayer Society, is launching a
campaign to build an unprecedented coalition of organizations and other change
agents to take action in “11 Days – 11 Ways” for a peaceful, just and
sustainable world.
Lift Your Voice – Join the
Chorus - Your participation will contribute an essential piece to the
incredible mosaic that is quietly shaping the future of our world. During the
11 Days, and the months leading up to them, we invite you to join this global
campaign in a variety of ways:
•Register your programs,
events and actions related to the 11 Themes•Make
grants and donations
•Explore other possibilities
of how you and your organization can participate today.
At UN-backed consultative
meeting, Somali regions agree to end dispute
5 September – The leaders of two of
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39454&Cr=Somalia&Cr1=
Irina Bokova launches initiative to develop regional cultural
networks in
On 2 September, together with the
President of the
In her opening address, Irina Bokova emphasized that “the
people of South East Europe have demonstrated that dialogue can help people
overcome differences and reconcile after conflicts” and highlighted the
important role played by art and memory in the process of reconciliation and
everyday peace. The Director-General also launched a new initiative to build
networks among professionals, civil society and politicians, "Culture: a
Bridge to Development", the principles of which were endorsed at the
Belgrade Conference last June by the Ministers of Culture of South Eastern
Europe. The initiative will seek to unite the creative artistic forces of the
region as distinct drivers of development.
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/irina_bokova_launches_initiative_to_develop_regional_cultural_networks_in_south_east_europe/
Liberians
vote on constitutional changes seen by UN as milestone in peace process
23 August – Liberians went to
the polls today to vote in a referendum on constitutional changes, a move
described by the United Nations envoy for the West African country as a
milestone in the process to entrench peace and stability that has prevailed
since the end of the civil war in 2003.
In the constitutional
referendum, voters were asked to made a decision on four proposed amendments,
three of which are election-related. (…)
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39368&Cr=liberia&Cr1=
Ban
welcomes ‘step towards dialogue’ following deadly violence in
17 August – Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the signing of a joint
communiqué by the Malawian Government and civil society organizations in a
meeting facilitated by the United Nations following deadly clashes last month.
According to media reports,
organizers cancelled plans to resume anti-Government protests today after
businessmen close to the governing party obtained a court injunction and
because of UN mediation efforts, but they said they would continue protests
next month unless the Government addresses economic problems and ends public
threats against those with dissenting views.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39323&Cr=Malawi&Cr1=
FoEME wins
the Outstanding Leadership Award
Friends of the Earth Middle
East (FoEME) have won the Outstanding Leadership
Award bestowed by the International Development Committee of the Association
for Conflict Resolution.
Each year, the International
Section of the ACR honors exceptional work promoting conflict resolution in development
projects around the world. The award aims to celebrate leadership in the field
and draw attention to the importance of conflict resolution in creating
stronger democracies and economies. The award ceremony is being held on the
12th of October, in
Friends of the Earth Middle
East (FoEME) is a unique organization that brings
together Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli environmentalists. Our primary
objective is the promotion of cooperative efforts to protect our shared
environmental heritage.
http://www.foeme.org/peace.php
by Ginevra
Cucinotta - MINURSO Mine Action Coordination Centre
Programme Officer
There are not only sandy dunes
in the landscape of the
As of August 2011, many lives
will be spared in
In the process more than 7,000
UXO were destroyed, ranging from 250kg aircraft bombs, hundreds of artillery
projectiles, hand grenades, rocket propelled grenades. The destruction of these
ERW that endangered the lives of humans and animals, will allow for the local
population and UN military observers to enjoy enhanced freedom of movement.
In addition to the destruction
of Unexploded Ordnances, under the coordination of the United Nations Mission
for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Mine Action Coordination Centre
(MACC), LMA also cleared
Almost
Teams of MAG deminers – funded by the US Department of State’s Office of
Weapons Removal and Abatement, the Dutch Government and the Belgian Government
– removed more than 2,700 deadly items from 11 minefields in the
http://www.maginternational.org/news/iraq-eleven-minefields-safely-returned-to-communities-in-kirkuk/
Global
grant project impressive in combating dengue fever
By Dan Nixon and
Rotary International News, 1
September - A Rotary Foundation Global Grant project has proved highly effective
in preventing the spread of dengue fever in a community in
During the project’s first six
months, contractors installed white ceramic tiling on the interior surfaces of
cement water tubs in more than 1,400 homes, making it easier to spot and remove
gray mosquito larvae spawned in the tubs.
In the second half of the project, members of the Rotary Club of Solo Kartini,
The club also oversaw a group
of monitors, who were paid a small stipend to visit participating homes weekly
to check on compliance with the procedures.
As a result of the project,
the incidence of dengue fever in Kadipiro fell to
four cases in the first six months of this year, compared with 43 cases in all
of 2010. The percentage of tubs infested with larvae averaged 1.4 percent,
compared with 9.7 percent for tubs in homes not included in the project. (...)
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/110901_news_dengue.aspx
Nigerian
community leaders help track mobile populations
25 August - The community
leaders, or 'Hardos', among the Fulani people in
The Myetti
Allah organization, led by the Hardos, is devoted to
the development of the Fulani people and the protection of their unique
cultural heritage. The Fulani ethnic group are a traditionally nomadic people,
although many have now joined static settlements. Tracking those who are on the
move or who have very recently settled can be difficult for vaccination teams.
This is where the knowledge of the Hardos is
invaluable.
Earlier this year, the
community leaders were invited to attend meetings held in three senatorial
zones of Katsina in order to facilitate an exchange
of ideas. The Hardos were provided with information
about polio and vaccination, and the GPEI was provided with information on the
local situation. The meetings resulted in the mapping of common routes of
travel for the nomadic people and many of the Hardos
agreed to help spread the polio eradication message within their communities.
Since the meetings were held, a substantial increase in the number of children
vaccinated is already being seen. In the Safana local
government area, for example, nearly 10,000 more children were immunized in May
compared to January.
http://www.polioeradication.org/Mediaroom/Newsstories/Newsstories2011/tabid/408/iid/146/Default.aspx
UN
hails
The 53-nation region, which
for the purposes of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) includes ex-Soviet
nations in
At a meeting yesterday in
Since the launch in 1988 of the
Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), spearheaded by WHO, the UN
Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Rotary International and the United States Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, the incidence of polio has been reduced by
more than 99 per cent.At the time, more than 350 000
children were paralyzed every year in more than 125 endemic countries. So far
in 2011, 325 cases have been reported worldwide. Only four countries remain
endemic:
International:
New psychological first aid guide to strengthen humanitarian relief
19 August – Humanitarian
emergencies - such as emergencies arising from natural disaster, war, or famine
- not only affect people’s physical health but also their psychological and
social health and well-being.
Today on World Humanitarian
Day, the World Health Organization (WHO), the War Trauma Foundation (WTF) and
World Vision International (WVI) announce the release of a ‘Psychological First
Aid Guide for Fieldworkers.’ Psychological first aid covers both social and
psychological support and involves the provision of humane, supportive and
practical help to fellow human beings who are suffering from serious crisis
events.
This guide – which can be
taught to humanitarian workers within one day - was developed to have widely
agreed upon psychological first aid materials for use in low and middle income
countries. It reflects the emerging science and international consensus on how
to provide basic support to people in the immediate aftermath of extremely
stressful events.
Endorsed by 24 large
international agencies, this tool gives simple, practical guidance for
supporting people. This guide will enable humanitarian and emergency workers from
all over the world to provide basic but very important psychosocial support to
people in acute distress. (…)
http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf/updates/DC59AA2FEAFA7757882578F100545387?opendocument
The
measles initiative vaccinates one billion children in first decade
Milestone
marks progress and points to need for funding and political will to eradicate
measles
The child who received the
history-making measles vaccination was one of 3.5 million immunized in
Looking ahead to its second
decade, the Measles Initiative will focus on achieving a series of interim
targets toward the eventual eradication of measles. The first of these
milestones will be to reduce measles mortality by 95 percent by 2015 (compared
to 2000). The Measles Initiative estimates it will need approximately $212
million between 2012 and 2015 to reach the targets.
(top)
DOE
awards $145 million for next-generation solar
2 September - The US
Department of Energy (DOE) announced over $145 million for projects to help
shape the next generation of solar energy technologies through the agency's Sunshot Initiative. The
SunShot Initiative seeks to reduce the cost of solar
systems 75% by the end of this decade, to make the industry cost-competitive
without long-term subsidies.
DOE selected 69 projects in 24
states to accelerate R&D that can increase efficiency, lower costs and
advance cutting-edge solar technologies.
Some of the investments also
support efforts to shorten the overall timeline from prototype to production
and streamline building codes, zoning laws, permitting rules, and business
processes for installing solar energy systems.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22861
2 September - Ugandan national
authorities have launched an Energy and Climate Change awareness-raising
campaign in schools for an energy- and environment-conscious new generation.
The campaign, targeting students of primary, secondary and vocational levels,
aims at raising awareness on sustainable energy and climate change, and making
energy and climate change concepts easily understandable by the young students.
It also promotes the use of efficient technologies and practices for
sustainable energy and environment.
Education International
welcomes this initiative on ‘green’ education, and calls on authorities in
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/1935
E-Stewards
certification officially replaces older "Pledge" program
Pioneering
badge of responsible e-waste recycling sunsets
Seattle, WA., USA, September 1
- The evolution and adoption of responsible electronics recycling practices
made an important transition today as the Basel Action Network formally sunsetted the Pledged e-Stewards Recyclers program on
September 1, 2011. Established in 2003,
the Pledge program was the first widely recognized initiative designed to
identify electronics recyclers committed to globally responsible e-waste
management practices. Today marks its
official and full replacement by the Certified e-Stewards® Recyclers program.
The Pledge has now been
replaced by a more robust third party audited certification known as e-Stewards
Certification, which is based on the comprehensive 51-page e-Stewards Standard
for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment. Today, over 140 e-recycling facilities have
been, or are in the process of, becoming certified.
The Certified e-Stewards
program has garnered the support of 70 environmental organizations as well as
major enterprises such as Wells Fargo, Samsung, Bank of America, LG
Electronics, Aloca and many others. It is the only recycler certification that
meets their stringent corporate requirements for globally responsible
e-recycling. e-Stewards Certification has also been recognized by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency.
By Renewable Energy World
Editors
31August, Geraldton,
Australia - Australia is taking its first leap into utility-scale solar PV with
a 10-megawatt (MW) AC project located in Western Australia – 10 times larger
than any operating project in the country. The Greenough
River Solar Farm will sit on more than
GE Financial Services and
Western Australia (WA) state-owned utility Verve Energy will each own 50
percent of the farm. The WA government also provided $21.3 million for the
project, with $10 million from the WA Royalties for Regions program. First
Solar will provide the panels, and the project is expected to create more than
50 construction jobs.
“This announcement
demonstrates the significant potential for renewable energy generation –
especially utility-scale solar – in WA and throughout
UN
report outlines investment strategies to reduce water scarcity
New York, August 25 - An annual investment of $198 billion, or 0.16
per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP), in the water sector could
reduce water scarcity and halve the number of people without sustainable access
to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in less than four years, the United
Nations said today.
In the water chapter of its
Green Economy Report, the UN Environment Programme
(UNEP) <http://unep.org/newscentre/Default.aspx?DocumentID=2649&ArticleID=8841&l=en>
said that investing in sanitation and drinking water, strengthening local water
supply systems, conserving ecosystems critical for water supply, and developing
more effective policies can help avert the high social and economic costs
resulting from inadequate water supplies.
With the recommendations
outlined in the report, global water use could be kept within sustainable
limits and the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing by half the
proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water
and basic sanitation could be met by 2015.
September 16: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
2011 Theme: HCFC phase-out: a
unique opportunity
The Montreal
Protocol on Preservation of the Ozone Layer (signed on September 16, 1987) is
one of the great successes of modern international action to protect the
environment. Following the Protocol treaty nations and companies acted with
determination to replace ozone destroying gases from commercial products such
as spray cans.
This is a Day to
celebrate humanity’s ability to work together for a common cause and is a model
for climate change agreements. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs) are a class of ozone destroying gases being
phased out under the Montreal Protocol.
ozone.unep.org/new_site/en/ozone_day_details.php?year=2011
"Last
Call at the Oasis" - World Premiere
in
Friends of the Earth Middle
East (FoEME) is delighted to announce that the
documentary film "Last Call at the Oasis" – in which FoEME's work on the region's shared water resources is
featured - will have its World Premiere on September 9, 2011 at the Toronto
International Film Festival.
Produced by Participant Media
(the same production company that did Al Gore's "An Inconvenient
Truth"), this documentary illuminates the vital role water plays in our
lives, exposes the defects in the current system and shows communities already
struggling with its ill-effects and individuals championing revolutionary
solutions. We are extremely proud and honored to be a part of this important
film.
http://www.foeme.org/peace.php
Sustainable
palm oil milestone reached ahead of major WWF evaluation
31 August - The world’s
largest sustainable palm oil body reached a major milestone last week in its
on-going efforts to halt deforestation and bring sustainable palm oil to market
– the millionth hectare of plantations has just been certified, an area roughly
equivalent in size to the nation of
Plantations owned by
Brazil-based Agropalma, a leading producer of palm
oil in
The Agropalma
certification brings the volume of RSPO certified sustainable palm oil close to
5 million tonnes, which represents around10% of the world’s total palm oil
production.
WWF worked with a group of
NGOs and the palm oil industry to set up the RSPO in 2003. Certified sustainable
palm oil has been available since November 2008, and provides assurance that
valuable tropical forests have not been cleared and that environmental and
social safeguards have been met during the production of the palm oil.
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?201496
New
fund to protect African elephants launched at UN-backed conservation forum
Several countries have already
contributed to the multi-donor technical trust for the implementation of an
African Elephant Action Plan, and more were encouraged to do so by the
participants of the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Elephant conservation and new
financial mechanisms were among several issues on the agenda of the week-long
meeting, in addition to measures to reduce current levels of poaching of
rhinos, tigers and other big cats, illegal trade in mahogany and other timber
species, the fate of sturgeon and the caviar trade, and the sourcing of reptile
skins used in the leather industry.
The committee also reviewed
efforts by
Some 175 States have joined
CITES, an international agreement that entered into force in July 1975 and aims
to ensure that global trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not
threaten their survival.
http://cites.org/eng/news/press/2011/20110819_SC61.php
A
talk on Islam, multiculturalism and the lessons of
This lecture/seminar,
organized, by the Universal Peace
Federation, will be held at the House of Lords, Committee Room 4A from 14,30 to 16,30. The event is supported by Gandhi Foundation, Runnymede Trust,
Universal Peace Federation and Civ-World (U.S.A.) and
is intended to mark 12th September as a Global Interdependence Day.
MultiFaithBook.org is a faith
– neutral, independent, privately – maintained Portal for free of charge use by
non-profit, peace seeking communities and individuals of All Cultural, Ethnic,
Faith and No-Faith backgrounds anywhere on Planet Earth. Our only objective is,
to facilitate increasingly direct communication and joint experiences among
people of different cultural and faith traditions.
http://www.multifaithbook.org/ViewEventDetail.aspx?Id=1222
Interfaith Encounters –
We form and maintain on-going interfaith encounter groups, or centers,
that bring together neighboring communities across the country. Each center is led by an interfaith
coordinating team with one person for each community in the area.
Women’s Interfaith Encounters
(WIE)
- In these encounters, Muslim, Christian, Druze and Jewish women study topics
of relevance to women from the perspective of the different religions. Not only is interfaith study is used as a
vehicle for understanding, acceptance
and respect for the “other”, but also as a way to deepen awareness of one’s own
religion.
The encounter is a source of strength and empowerment for women to
recognize their shared values and struggles. Through monthly meetings and
shared religious celebrations and conferences, WIE groups create a sacred space
of trust, harmony and support during difficult times. http://interfaithencounter.wordpress.com/groupseventsprojects/projects/v
Nobel Peace Prize -
International Network supports the nomination of Federico Mayor
September - We, The
International Network, work and struggle together for a worldwide Culture of
Peace. The network is comprised of more
than one thousand organizations from international civil society. Network members include academics involved in
political and scientific aspects of justice and peace.
The International Network has
decided to re-launch the nomination of Dr. Federico Mayor Zaragoza
for a Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Mayor Zaragoza’s outstanding resume includes his position as the
former Director General of UNESCO, former President of the Foundation for
Culture of Peace and Co-President of the High Level Group for the Alliance of
Civilizations´ Program. Among Dr. Mayor Zaragoza’s
achievements are his notable contributions to the conceptual development and universalization of the Culture of Peace paradigm. The world currently stands at a
crossroads. The Culture of Peace paradigm
should be recognized and promoted for what it truly is: the only alternative
paradigm to the culture of violence that tragically grips current society.
The International Network
believes Dr. Mayor Zaragoza’s nomination is not
simply the nomination of one man; rather, it represents the nomination of all
those who struggle for international peace.
We invite individuals and entities, including distinguished Nobel Peace
Prize recipients, organizations of the international civil society, grass-roots
networks, world ecumenical organizations, and other organizations or
institutions to actively support this nomination.
To express your support write
to: Dr. Denis Torres, Director Instituto “Martin
Luther King”, Universidad Politécnica de Nicaragua: imlk@upoli.edu.ni; and/or Dra. Carmen Magallón, Directora de
Online
seminars to introduce the Earth Charter and Earth Charter Initiative -
September
The Earth Charter
International Secretariat (ECI) will be offering four one and a half hour
online seminars to introduce the Earth Charter to new initiative participants,
volunteers, and any other interested parties. The seminars will take place once
a week every week in September and will cover several Earth Charter basic
topics.
The seminar will introduce the
Earth Charter document, explain its origins, the process in which it was
drafted, its significance in international sustainable development policy and
practice, and will offer some examples of its relevance and use in ongoing
sustainability and peace efforts. The seminar will expand on the importance of
value systems and the ethical framework that the Earth Charter offers for
promoting peace, sustainability, and justice and will engage attendees in an
informal exercise. Finally, the seminar will offer several suggestions for
attendees who want to get involved or learn more about the Earth Charter. The
seminars will end with a question, answer, and discussion forum. The seminar
schedule is included at:
North
America - For more than 13,000 children in
need, the path 'Back to School' has run through Henry Schein
14th
Annual Henry Schein 'Back to School' Program at 16
locations again outfits and equips children for the classroom
Melville, N.Y., USA, September
2 - In 1998, when 150 Long Island children gathered in Henry Schein's cafeteria in Melville, N.Y. to receive new outfits
and backpacks filled with school supplies, it would have been difficult to
predict that such a modest beginning would grow into an annual event that now
marks the end of summer and has benefitted more than
13,000 children in need from communities across North America. Now in its 14th
year, Henry Schein's "Back to School"
program is eagerly anticipated by the children who participate, the human
service organizations that serve them, and the Team Schein
Members who sponsor the children.
For 2011, Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the largest provider of health
care products and services to office-based practitioners, is helping a record
nearly 2,500 children in 16
EI
Research Institute study: Equity is a fundamental value of public education
2 September - Education
International has published an exciting new study looking at equity issues
concerning teachers and students. The work was commissioned by the EI Research
Institute to a team of researchers, led by Dr. Elizabeth Wood, at the
The study aimed to find new
evidence about the importance of equity in education. It explores and analyses
how teacher unions understand and use equity concepts in their policies and
advocacy to advance the aim of quality education for all.
The study is based on an
extensive literature review, an EI membership survey and a set of country case
studies. Please click here to download the study in PDF format: http://download.ei-ie.org/Docs/WebDepot/Equity%20Matters.pdf
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/1934
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64th United Nations Annual
DPI/NGO Conference
Connecting the Dots:
Sustainable Societies and the Role of Responsive Citizens
3 – 5 September, 2011 •
Lesley
Vann, Good
News Agency’s Publisher Representative to the UNDPI
The 64th Annual United Nations
Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) associated with the United
Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), was held in Bonn, Germany, 3-5 September 2011. This Conference
was partly conceived as a bridge between the UN Conference on Environment and
Development in
In addition to representatives
of NGOs, also present were civil society organizations, grassroots
constituencies, civil servants from the UN system and Member States,
representatives of the media, academia, the private sector and other
institutions, thus enriching the dialogue. The Conference engaged these participants
in sharing experiences and articulating perspectives about how to enhance their
activities supporting the promotion of sustainable societies and how to engage
citizens at all levels. The event highlighted effective ways in which civil society, in
partnership with other actors, can contribute to fostering sustainability and
citizen involvement. It also underscored the need for more integration within
these offerings worldwide.
This year’s Conference had an Opening session,
Roundtable panel discussions, Workshops, interactive dialogues, special Events,
Exhibits, Youth activities, and a Closing session. There was a commitment to
transparency and to making the proceedings available to the entire world. The
Conference focused on the twin themes of volunteerism and sustainable
development. Expert speakers, panelists and participants shared insights and
best practices. They discussed global challenges and ways to promote the
interconnectivity of citizen engagement and volunteerism, sustainable development,
human security, the environment and climate change in the world and in their
lives.
The United Nations makes possible this annual
opportunity to learn from each other and create opportunities for new
collaborations to achieve sustainable societies. The outreach of this
Conference and its sessions was designed to foster increasing commitment by
NGOs and the world community to the vital issues of sustainability, climate
change, development, citizen action and opportunities for volunteer service and
engagement. In addition, the Conference generated greater mobilization and
cohesion within the NGO community – fostering dialogue. It furthered
partnerships within and between vast numbers of NGOs and their participants.
Solutions to pressing global conundrums were considered and generated.
Breakthroughs for Millennium Development Goal (MDG) implementation were further
envisioned and mobilized – thus renewing global dialogue and strategic
planning.
In order to facilitate these exchanges, NGOs and
participants were requested to participate in the Conference in the spirit of
constructive dialogue and fraternity. These clear parameters sparked a dynamic
and vibrant gathering, alive with the spirit of inquiry. The Opening and
Closing sessions rallied participants with both vision and calls to action,
which the four Roundtable panels and many Workshops underscored.
Representatives of Non-Governmental
Organizations and civil society had the opportunity to attend all the sessions
and acquaint themselves with the latest developments and thinking on issues
pertaining to sustainable development and volunteerism. These discussions and
exchanges provided attendees insights and ideas, which they in turn can develop
into actionable projects upon their return from the Conference. This process
reflects key goals of the annual DPI NGO Conference, engaging civil society
with the work of the United Nations and with forging collective solutions to
global challenges.
It is
said that sustainable development is about “meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.” Balanced development lifts people out of poverty, while protecting the
natural systems that support economic growth. We
must “Connect the Dots!” As we look forward to
Below is an overview of some of the proceedings,
which sparked new collaborations and resolutions for constructive change within
civil society. Roundtable One addressed “Shaping Sustainable Lifestyles
and Livelihoods: Sustainable Consumption and Production Aspects of a Globalizing
World.” Sustainability
can only be ensured if humanity embraces sustainable, low-carbon lifestyles and
adopts sustainable livelihoods. Unsustainable consumption and production
patterns have been a major contributor to climate change and poverty.
Willingness to share resources of all kinds is deeply embedded in all cultures.
In a rapidly globalizing world, can voluntary effort…help create sustainable
lifestyles rather than fuel consumerism in markets of the developed and
developing world? Can citizens, responding through mindful volunteerism,
prevail to create a better world of equity, wellbeing and happiness, for all
communities and individuals?
Roundtable Two addressed, “Green Economy and Poverty
Eradication: Climate justice as a bridge to a new global Economic Paradigm.” A true “green
economy” within a sustainable society should be an economic system that ensures
social equity, protects ecological balance and creates eco-sufficiency. Can a
“green economy” with sustainable livelihoods be the replacement of the current
economic order of inequity, resource depletion and greed that has kept half of
the world in poverty and created a potential climate catastrophe? Should a new
paradigm use the powerful organizational form of a global commons to encourage
global stewardship through civic engagement for collective management? How do
citizens advocate for personal, local and global responses to the multiple
crises with concrete action that nurtures the wellbeing of the earth and all of
life?
Roundtable Three addressed the “Role of Civil Society in a
Fast-changing World: Civic Engagement and Voluntary Action for Achieving
Sustainability.” Ethical
values humanity wishes to bring to the fore, justice, equity, and solidarity,
may shape future decisions. Volunteerism can help facilitate these by engaging
our communities to volunteer services locally and worldwide through the
matching of interests and skills to needs. How can partnerships between civil
society, the private sector, parliaments and intergovernmental bodies create an
effective atmosphere for volunteer efforts and impacts to grow nationally and
internationally?
Roundtable Four addressed, “Sustainable Development
Governance Issues from Local to Global: The Role of Citizen Participation.” What lessons can
we learn from recent social uprisings in Central Asia, Africa, Europe and the
Sustainable
development requires both individual and collective action. It is about
empowering people to get involved. When civic engagement is harnessed to its
full potential, it is a genuine force for social cohesion and sustainable
societies. It’s not just the United Nations and governments around the world,
responsible for achieving the Millennium Development Goals alone. Everyday
citizens too must play their parts in making this possible. Through Conferences
such as this, civil society promotes opportunities for popular global
mobilization that make inroads toward MDG achievement in concert with
institutional actors.
This is
one job of NGOs and civil society: to connect the dots between sustainable
development and the role of responsive citizens, engaging communities to not
only respond to the challenge of building a “green economy” but to unite around
the goal of building truly sustainable global societies to uplift and ensure
the common good.
Encouraging
this kind of voluntary action is a core value of those organizations working
for sustainable development. They inspire, engage, and build on the capacities
of people to create change from the grassroots levels upward. As their mandates
evolve, this spirit and its commitment grow exponentially. Civil society works
to meet this mandate in partnership with the UN System, governments and the
private sector.
Citizens
can gain the sense of wellbeing through their personal choices and decisions.
The choice to stand up, step forward and volunteer is a powerful one. One
individual changing their thinking or lifestyle makes a small difference. And
when individual action becomes a collective force then the global community can
expect the walls between global development and environment agendas to crumble.
This will be put to the test at the upcoming
NGOs are
indispensable partners with the UN in the twin goals of advancing
sustainability and volunteer service toward achieving the MDGs.
It is hoped that this three-day exchange of ideas and best practices in
It was
in this spirit that the Conference participants came together generating
renewed global commitment among civil society to the redemptive work of the
United Nations and its Millennium Development Goals.
The path to true sustainability is rooted in the
abilities of citizens and organizations to respond to this vital call to
collective action. The UN’s DPI NGO Conference called on all citizens and
volunteer organizations everywhere to respond, commit, encourage and volunteer
so each of us can do our part to build a sustainable future, assuring the
global common good, and serving the needs of humanity and of all life.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Conference Website:
http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/ngoconference/pid/16700
This site also offers other valuable social
media tools for the public, civil society and the media. This Conference website is
designed to serve as a resource for the press, photojournalists, the broadcast
media, news agencies and bloggers. You will find
information on the Conference including press releases, information on
accreditation, and press coverage of the Conference. This site posts
photographs and other media-related information materials, including speeches.
Contacts and resources:
Youth Sub-Committee:
unconferenceyouth@gmail.com
Workshops Sub-Committee: unworkshop2011@aol.com
Group of Experts: speakernominations2011@yahoo.com
Exhibits Sub-Committee: exhibitions2011@aol.com
http://www.un.org/wcm/webdav/site/ngoconference/shared/64%20Programme.pdf
http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/ngoconference/resources/links
http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/ngoconference/media/pid/17501
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Good News Agency is published in English
on one Friday and in Italian the next. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org .
Managing Editor: Sergio Tripi, Ph.D. Editorial
research by Fabio Gatti,
Arianna Cavallo, Azzurra Cianchetta. Webmaster: Fabio Gatti. Media and NGOs coverage: Maurizio Palazzoni.
Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to 10,000 media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations in 54 countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Caribbean Islands, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Oceania, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, USA. It is also distributed free of charge to 3,000 NGOs and 1,600 high schools, colleges and universities.
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà
Mondiale, a registered educational charity
chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of
consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’
perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Via Antagora 10, 00124
The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.
*In the final report of the Decade for a Culture of Peace project (2001-2010) presented to the
UN General Assembly (http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/2010_civil_society_report.pdf),
Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing a
major role in the field of Information.
In section A - International Organizations, the Report says:
"Participatory Communication and Free Flow of Information and
Knowledge has been advanced largely through use of the Internet by civil
society corresponding to para 6 in the 1999 Programme of Action calling for the promotion of a culture
of peace through sharing of information among actors in the global movement for
a culture of peace (p.7).
Diffusion and exchange of culture of peace
information via the Internet has become the major instrument for several
international organizations, notably the Culture of Peace News Network, the
Good News Agency and the Education for Peace Globalnet
(p.12).