Good News Agency – Year XII, n° 197
Weekly – Year XII, number 197
– 3rd February 2012
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 (2001-2010) presented to the
UN General Assembly, Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that
have been playing a major role in the field of Information via Internet*.
International
legislation – Human rights – Economy
and development
– Solidarity
Peace and
security – Health – Energy and Safety – Environment and
wildlife
Religion and spirituality – Culture and education
Culture of Peace; Amplifying the Unseen and Unheard Voices of
Peace
United Nations Commission for Social
Development - February 1 - 10
Priority theme: Poverty Eradication
The
46-member UN Commission for Social Development (CSD) is charged to advise the
Economic and Social Council of the UN and Governments on social issues and the
social perspective on development. Following the 1995 World Summit for Social
Development in
During
the 10 days of the Commission conference rooms at UN Headquarters in
http://social.un.org/index/CommissionforSocialDevelopment/Sessions/2012.aspx
US
should conclude policy review and ban landmines
January 11,
With
The majority of the other 35
nations that remain outside the ban treaty are in de facto compliance with most
of the treaty’s provisions, including the
The Obama
administration began a comprehensive landmine policy review in late 2009. The
UN welcomes
Iraqi ratification of Pact on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
“The ratification of this convention by Iraq marks
a historic step in ensuring that persons living with disabilities enjoy full
participation in the Iraqi society and can contribute to the community to their
full potential,” said Francesco Motta, chief of the
human rights unit of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and
Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Iraq.
UNAMI noted in a news release that the
ratification requires
EI
welcomes new UNESCO initiative on teaching respect for all
26 January - Concerned about
the increasing cases of racism, xenophobia and intolerance in many parts of the
world, UNESCO, with the support of the Brazilian and United States (US)
governments, has launched a new project to promote learning to live together.
The project, called “Teaching
Respect for All”, was launched by Ms Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, together with Ms
Esther Brimmer, the US Assistant Secretary of
Department of State and Mr Marios
Lisboa Theodoro, a
representative of the Brazilian Government, in
The project considers education
as key to strengthening the foundations of tolerance and reducing
discrimination and violence. It targets children and young people in their
formative years through educational materials and curricula. To this end,
UNESCO intends to develop a curriculum framework for anti-racism and tolerance,
for adaptation and use by national governments.
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/2062
United
Nation’s report on Green Investments shows how sustainable investments can
bring tide of economic and social benefits
January 25,
Manila/Nairobi- Several United Nations Programmes and Organizations including FAO, have worked on
a very important report, the Green Economy in Blue World, that demonstrates how
sustainablefishing, shipping and tourism can create
economic growth and poverty eradication. It highlights how the sustainable
management of fertilizers would reduce the cost of marine pollution caused by
nutrients used in agriculture, which is estimated at $100 billion per year in
the European Union alone. Only five months before the UN Conference on
Sustainable Development (
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/120936/icode/
$45.7
million IFAD loan and grant to
January 24, Rome –The
Ambassador of the Republic of Malawi to Belgium and Permanent Representative to
the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome, Brave Rona Ndisale, and the President of IFAD, Kanayo F. Nwanze, signed an agreement for a $22.85 million loan and
$22.85 million grant to the Republic of Malawi to improve food security and
reduce rural poverty in the country. Agriculture is an important sector for
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2012/4.htm
$47
million IFAD loan for small farmers in
January 20,
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2012/3.htm
FAO
and the European Commission project to promote climate-smart farming in
January 16, Rome- FAO and the European Commission
announced a €5.3 million project to help the transition
in the
FAO’s Assistant
Director-General for the Economic and Social Development Department, Hafez Ghanem, says: "This project will look closely at three
countries (…) and produce strategic plans tailored to each country's own
reality". The EU is providing €3.3 million
while FAO's contribution is €2 million, but
FAO will take the overall lead on the project.
http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/119835/icode/
ACDI/VOCA
celebrates launch of International Year of Cooperatives
Co-ops
instrumental in driving economies, strengthening communities
ACDI/VOCA’s
cooperative development roots date to 1963 when
ACDI/VOCA applauds the theme
for 2012: “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World.” Worldwide,
cooperatives are instrumental in driving economic, democratic and social
development. In many countries they are instrumental in areas involving
agricultural production and marketing, savings, credit, rural electricity,
insurance, housing, and information and communication technology. From the
United States—where nearly 30,000 cooperatives account for more than $3
trillion in assets, $500 billion in revenue and 2 million jobs—to hillside
coffee farms of Ethiopia, cooperatives enable producers and marketers to take
charge of their destinies and gain economic efficiency, while also building
markets and local communities.
ACDI/VOCA does not develop a one-size-fits-all
solution for smallholder farmers and entrepreneurs but rather tailors its
approach to the needs of group members as well as the developmental and social
context of the beneficiaries. The programs that ACDI/VOCA champions are
designed to stimulate, and not replace or deter, the expanding private sector
in developing countries. The goal is a more vibrant, competitive and diverse
market environment.
http://www.acdivoca.org/site/ID/feature-International-Year-of-Cooperatives
CARE's
Response to the Horn of
In
the last six months, CARE has reached over 1.8 million affected people throughout
the region. Long-term recovery efforts aim at building resilience to food
insecurity
CARE is scaling up its
activities in
In
Building up on existing
programs in northern
http://www.care.org/newsroom/articles/2012/01/somalia-famine-at-6-months-20110119.asp
In
south
by Anto
Akkara
Monday, January 23 – Following
the devastating cyclone that wrecked havoc in
"People are still
struggling without electricity, [with] roofless houses and roads blocked by
fallen trees," said Florina Benoit, chief zonal
officer of Churches Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA). Benoit was speaking to ENInews on 16 January from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu, after a weekend visit to the worst-hit remote
villages around Cuddalore. "We have distributed
emergency relief material in 40 villages. But the task is enormous," said
Benoit.
Cyclone Thane pummelled the east coast of Tamil Nadu
and Puducherry on 30 December, killing nearly 50 and
damaging more than 350,000 houses, schools and roads. CASA, the charity wing of
30 Orthodox and Protestant churches in
http://www.actalliance.org/stories/in-south-india-churches-aid-victims-of-devastating-cyclone
$31
million contribution to WFP from
January 18, Sanaa - WFP will receive the largest donation ever from
January 17, Silver Spring,
Following the presidential
election in November 2010, riots erupted in
http://www.adra.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=11663&news_iv_ctrl=1141
The
online quiz game Freerice reached the millionth
registered player : the game has provided meals to almost 5 million people
January 5,
http://www.wfp.org/stories/freerice-reaches-one-million-players
New
youth campaign launched in support of the needs of survivors
On January 25, the Youth to
Youth Action Network officially launched its Take the Next Step with Survivors!
Campaign, under the guidance of Mines Action Canada. The goal of the campaign
is to promote the rights and needs of cluster munition
and landmine survivors through youth-led action and advocacy.
In the coming months, the over
100 members of the Youth to Youth Action Network will be asked to undertake a
variety of actions in support of that goal, including fundraising, media work,
domestic advocacy and generating public awareness. They will also have access
to online training sessions led by experts in the area of victim assistance,
and develop critical skills such as proposal writing and utilizing social media
effectively.
The Youth to Youth (Y2Y)
Action Network is responsible for facilitating global youth action on cluster
bombs and landmines and expanding the support and reach of youth involvement in
the movement. Mines Action Canada is a Governance Board member of both networks
and a recognized leader in the area of youth programming. Through their
initiatives, including annual Youth Leaders Forums and the Young Professionals
International program, they are actively preparing the next generation of
campaigners and experts.
http://www.minesactioncanada.org/
24 January – The United Nations
envoy for
The last Special
Representative of the Secretary-General to be based in
UNPOS was established shortly
afterwards and has since been based in
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that the relocation of UNPOS was a
demonstration of the UN’s strong commitment to working alongside the Somali
people and their leaders to build peace, political stability and a hopeful
future. (…)
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=41024&&Cr=somalia&&Cr1=
In partnership with the
British Red Cross and with the support of the Red Crescent Society of
Azerbaijan, the ICRC also provided 934 needy families living in eight
communities with small-scale economic support through conditional cash grants.
The ICRC, which has been
active in the region since 1992, continues to address the humanitarian
consequences of the conflict on the civilian population living close to the
front line and supports the local authorities' efforts to improve the
situation.
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2012/azerbaijan-news-2012-01-18.htm
Kanchanpur, 8 January - Hanumandhwoj Company of the Nepal Army has conducted
landmine risk reduction education at schools in Kanchanpur
district. Officers of the NA have run the awareness classes to make aware
students about risks of landmine by reaching to schools.
Students were told to inform
nearby relatives and security bodies if they see suspicious things, not to
touch things found in a pile of garbage, rivers and banks of rivers, entry gate
of the security bodies and not to enter the areas surrounded with barbed wire
with 'danger' sign posting around the security base camps. Education about
risks of landmine involved more than 3,000 students of 30 schools so far.
A total of 773 land mines were
exploded across the nation after the comprehensive Peace Accord-2063 BS and 78
people lost their lives in the incidents. UNICEF has made aware about risks of
landmines to children and locals of 21,565 affected areas of 84 places of the
country as part of landmine risk reduction since 2063 BS.
Cholera
fight in the Democratic
The United Nations Children
Fund and the World Health Organization will receive $4.4 million and $4.7
million respectively. But agencies will work with a number of international and
national NGOs who are instrumental in the frontline response. Aid organizations
say they are confident that they will beat this emergency, but added that
durable solutions are required and that the Congolese authorities will need to
prioritise investments in clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
Aid organizations estimate
that at its worst, the disease could affect some 21 million people.
The CERF was created by the
United Nations in 2005 to pre-position funding to respond in a timely fashion to
humanitarian crises. Last year, it allocated $4 million to fight cholera in the
provinces along the
http://reliefweb.int/node/473043
By Kim Hughes
25 January – It’s hard to
believe that another chapter could possibly be added to the story of yoga,
which already spans the globe and the millennia. And yet a new, perhaps
unlikely group — at-risk and incarcerated youth — is discovering the stress
relief, mood-enhancement and improved balance and fitness benefits of regular
yoga practice.
That’s thanks to the New Leaf
Yoga Foundation. The Toronto-based registered charity brings downward dog, shavasana, meditation and conscious breathing — and the above-mentioned
benefits they confer — to teens “overcoming histories of abuse, neglect,
incarceration, gang-involvement, addiction, marginalization and other factors
that have led them to be identified as ‘at risk,’” according to the
Foundation’s website, www.newleafyoga.org.
Those involved insist yoga
teaches real-world coping skills (focus, relaxation and calming breath, for
example) that youth can access to constructively deal with anxiety and anger
rather than acting out. Plus, it’s fun.
Judging by the testimonials of former students on the New Leaf site — not to
mention zealous practitioners in stretchy pants the world over — the
transformative power of yoga can’t be overstated. Not surprisingly, New Leaf
instructors claim to walk away from the sessions with as almost many benefits
as their students. (…)
http://samaritanmag.com/977/yoga-helps-risk-and-incarcerated-kids
By Perrine
Published: 25 January – 2011
was a dramatic, and traumatic year for the people of
Further to the Appeal launched
by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),
the Palestinian, Italian and Danish National Societies have offered to provide
psychosocial support. They sent Bassam Marshoud, a psychologist from the Palestinian Red Crescent
Society, who specializes in dealing with post-traumatic stress and in providing
psychosocial support training, which he practiced and developed at length and
in depth during the Palestinian conflict. Marshoud
came in with two objectives: provide psychological support to volunteers, while
developing and providing a ‘Training the Trainer’ programme in post-conflict
psychosocial support. The content of this programme is based on the principles
of cognitive-behavioral therapy specialized in
post-traumatic/post-conflict stress syndrome, but it can also be used by those
who do not come from a psychosocial background. (...)
Within a year, thanks to the
Training the Trainers approach, Marshoud’s aim is to
have two teams trained to provide psychosocial support. One group of 450
ex-detainees will work with other detainees, while 650 people will be trained
to work with communities and individuals. A further five professional
psychologists or social workers will be hired to coordinate the entire
psychosocial programme.(…)http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/middle-east-and-north-africa/libya/libyan-red-crescent-uses-play-to-restore-a-little-bit-of-normality-after-the-conflict/
The seminar will make use of
videos showing real-life situations involving casualties as well as the sharing
of experiences and best practices. The participants are from hospitals in the
states of Bauchi, Borno,
The ICRC has organized over
160 war-surgery seminars in various countries since 1989. The seminar in
http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2012/nigeria-news-2012-01-24.htm
Rotary
celebrates
By Dan Nixon and Wayne
Hearn
12 January, Rotary
International News - Rotary club members worldwide are cautiously celebrating a
major milestone in the global effort to eradicate polio.
A chief factor in
Rotary has been a spearheading
partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative since 1988, along with WHO,
UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is also a key supporter of
the initiative.
Sporting their signature
yellow vests and caps, the nearly 119,000 Rotarians in
If all ongoing testing for
polio cases recorded through 13 January continues to yield negative results,
WHO will declare that
http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/120112_news_indiapolio.aspx
Helping
HIV patients in
January - SIDC – Soins Infirmiers et Developpement Communautaire – is
situated in a quiet neighborhood in Sin El Fil, East
of Beirut. It was founded in 1987 with the mission of meeting “the health needs
of the youth, elderly and the most vulnerable individuals and groups in
One of the major challenges
that face persons living with HIV in
http://www.anera.org/ourWork/healthRelief/HelpingHIVPatientsinLebanon.php
By Steve McLean
9 December – The National
Hockey League Alumni Association has raised more than $16 million for
Alzheimer's disease research since launching a
The Scotiabank
Pro-Am for Alzheimer's expanded to
Half-a-million Canadians have
Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, and approximately 71,000 of them are
under 65. This year alone, more than 103,000 Canadians will develop dementia,
and an aging population is expected to push that figure to more than 257,000 by
2038. Alzheimer's still has no known cause or cure.
http://samaritanmag.com/944/nhl-alumni-take-shot-finding-cure-alzheimer%E2%80%99s
(top)
January 24 - The U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) has released a report that documents the increased
adoption of energy-efficient lighting products in the
The new report is an update to
a similar DOE report that modeled the 2001
•Push toward energy-saving
lighting – Investment in more efficient technologies, higher efficiency
standards, and public awareness campaigns helped shift the market toward more
energy-efficient lighting technologies across all sectors. The average system
efficacy – a measure of the amount of light provided per watt of power consumed
– of installed lighting increased from 45 lumens per watt in 2001 to 58 lumens
per watt in 2010, due mainly to a move from incandescent to compact fluorescent
lamps in the residential sector, and from T12 to more-efficient T8 and T5
fluorescent lamps in the commercial and industrial sectors.
•Increased demand for light –
The total number of light bulbs installed in
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=668
Alleviating
water scarcity in the Eastern
By Joan Nørgaard
Madsen
January 5 – (...) The Eastern
The Bedouins live off their
livestock so they are very much dependent on providing water for their animals. To increase access
to water, DCA and EJ YMCA have commenced a project where ancient cisterns are
rehabilitated and new household cisterns are built. This project is funded by
the European Commission Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection (ECHO).
During the raining season, the
water is collected in these cisterns, but in 2010-2011 the raining season has
been extremely short and the water in the cisterns ran out in early May. The
next raining season starts in November-December.
To help mitigate the scarce
water situation, DCA and EJ YMCA have launched a Water Scarcity Response Plan
where the Bedouins living in the affected areas east of
July
2011 - June 2012: International opportunity for testing solar cooker designs
Originally announced as a
one-time event Oct. 11-13, 2011 with a related conference, the solar cooker
competition has been cancelled, and instead there will be a year-long
opportunity for having solar cookers and fuel stoves tested free.
Promoters and Researchers In
Non-Conventional Energy (PRINCE) is a volunteer-based group dedicated to
creating a better world for everyone through the use of renewable energy. We
believe that protecting and enhancing the environment is possible only through
using non-conventional energy sources. We are based in Dhule,
http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Calendar_of_events
26 January,
"At least 45 percent of
Indonesian Borneo will serve as the lungs of the world… with the plan ensuring
that local ecosystems are protected and the biodiversity of the island is
allowed to flourish," a presidential press release said.
"We hope with the decree,
The regulation looks to
promote the sustainable use of the island’s resources while ensuring an
ambitious network of conservation areas are linked together by a series of
“ecosystem corridors". In addition, existing protected areas are to be
strengthened and degraded areas rehabilitated.
Both
sides of the river protection confirmed for
26 January – Sofia, Bulgaria:
Bulgarian authorities have confirmed that a one year ban on sturgeon fishing in
the Danube river is to be extended for a further four years.
Originating 200 million years
ago, sturgeons have outlasted the dinosaurs, but today most species are
critically endangered according to the IUCN red list.
Dams such as the Iron Gates
between
http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?203272
Project
Green Lavanya - A green initiative of Rotary Club of
1,500
tree saplings planted in one day
This tree plantation project
was kick started on 10th Dec 2011 at
On the inaugural day all the
villagers joined at the Community Center to hear Rotarians' speeches on
"Go Green Initiative"
Villagers committed themselves tol take good
care of the trees. A short film on
'Demerits of de-forestation was shown.
This Project is the need of
the hour and local Rotarians are looking forward to bring more villages under a
green cover, as their small effort in
reducing global warming.
For further information:
Rotarian Mythili
Muralidharan, chairman - Project Green Lavanya:
World
Interfaith Harmony Week - February 1 - 7
In November 2010, following a proposal by King
Abdullah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, the United Nations General
Assembly decided to observe the first week of February every year as World
Interfaith Harmony Week. The resolution recognized that the moral imperatives
of all religions, convictions and beliefs call for peace, tolerance and mutual
understanding, and it reaffirmed that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of
a culture of peace. Read the full resolution here.
Events will be held around the world to mark the
Week. Special note should be made of a meeting, Common Ground for the Common
Good, in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations on Tuesday, February
7, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.
In calling for this meeting the President of the
UN General Assembly, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz
Al-Nasser of
The World Interfaith Harmony Week provides a
platform—one week in a year—when all interfaith groups and other groups of
goodwill can show the world what a powerful movement they are. www.worldinterfaithharmonyweek.com
Vatican signs treaties against drug
trade, organized crime, terrorism
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
Vatican
City (CNS), January 26 -- The
Vatican has signed three international treaties supporting the fight against
the illegal drug trade, financing terrorism and organized crime.
By
signing onto these international legal instruments Jan. 25, the Vatican
"confirms its intention as well as its effective and practical commitment
to collaborate with the international community in a manner consistent with its
nature and mission, with a view to guaranteeing international peace and
justice," wrote Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican secretary for
relations with states. The Vatican released copies of
its declarations supporting the three treaties Jan. 26.
The
Vatican ratified the U.N. Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs
and Psychotropic Substances to help "contribute and to give its moral
support to the global prevention, repression and prosecution of drug abuse and
the related problem of illicit trafficking in narcotics and psychotropic
substances," wrote the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone, who certified the declarations.
The
Vatican is adhering to the International Convention for the Suppression of the
Financing of Terrorism, the cardinal wrote, in an effort "to contribute
and to give its moral support to the global prevention, repression and
prosecution of terrorism and to the protection of victims of such crimes." (...) The Vatican is also adhering to the United Nations
Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime as "the Holy See upholds
the values of brotherhood, justice and peace between persons and peoples, whose
protection and strengthening require the primacy of the rule of law and respect
for human rights," wrote Cardinal Bertone. (...)
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1200333.htm
Help my
hand write my future: Literacy project launched in Senegal in collaboration
with UNESCO and Procter & Gamble
February 1 - “Literacy for
young girls and women through information and communication technologies
(ICT),” a project initiated by the Government of Senegal in partnership with
UNESCO and Procter & Gamble, was officially launched in
This project, under the slogan
“Help my hand write my future,” aims at training 40,000 young girls and women
in seven regions of the country, with emphasis on the use of ICTs to acquire skills in national languages.
This project is linked to the
achievement of the 4th Education for All goal to increase adult literacy levels
by 50% by 2015, especially for women. The illiteracy rate in
The agreement signed with
Proctor & Gamble in April 2011, amounting to $750,000 over a period of two
years, foresees the training of literacy teachers; face-to-face courses,
virtual classrooms, the acquisition of
income generating skills and the development of teaching tools and educational programmes for radio and television.
UNESCO
forum to discuss role of holocaust education in fighting prejudice
The conference, which will be hosted by the UN
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will provide an
opportunity to debate the role of Holocaust education in the global fight
against racism and anti-Semitism. It will also allow the attending experts to
discuss the need to preserve the memory of the Holocaust in areas of the world
where it is less well known.
Last week, the UN marked the International Day of
Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, which is observed
annually on 27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of the
In a declaration marking the occasion, UNESCO
Director-General Irina Bokova
emphasized the need for Holocaust education as part of the overall fight
against intolerance. “Transmitting the memory of the Holocaust is a vital part
of the struggle to combat ignorance and prejudice through education in humanist
values, the sharing of cultures and knowledge of history,” Ms. Bokova said. “Education is a key front in this struggle and
also UNESCO’s unique contribution, through our work for youth, training of
teachers and curriculum design,” she added.
New
school competitions on the Millennium Development Goals and on the Charter of
Duties launched in
Four school competitions have been announced this
year by four Rotary Clubs, in synergy with Good News Agency. Together with
those conducted successfully in recent years, these stimulating educational
activities, which have thrilled and involved many students in different
geographical areas of
The four school competitions have been announced
this year in
For further informstio: s.tripi@tiscali.it
Youth
and experts interact at launch of UNESCO-USA-Brazil project “Teaching respect
for All”
© UNESCO/Danica
Bijeljac
January 27 - Living with
diversity, how to tackle racism and the importance of youth involvement were
topics young people in the
Opening the ceremony, Ms. Irina Bokova, said education was
vital to deepen understanding and to protect the dignity of all, “regardless of
colour, gender, descent or national, ethnic or
religious identity”. This was essential for promoting a new humanism for the
21st century, she said. (...) Mario Lisbôa Theodoro, Executive Secretary, Secretariat on Policies of
Promotion of Racial Equality Brazil, said sharing experience with other
countries was important. “We want to learn,” he said. “We want to hear about
new experiences when it comes to fighting racism and education.” A
videoconference followed with students in Bagunçaço
Youth Centre,
Building respect in and
through education was the focus of the second part of the event. Moderated by
Maria Aparecida da Silva
Bento of the Research Centre on Laboor Relations and
Inequality in
Morocco: Improving public schools and
teaching conditions in rural areas together
26
January -
Education International has lent its support to the
first forum of teachers working in rural areas in Morocco. This initiative of
the Syndicat National de l’Enseignement brought together more than 250 teachers
from all national rural areas to Marrakech, from 13-15 January. EI affiliates,
AOB from the Netherlands and FETE from Spain, also took part in the event.
This
forum was intent on having teachers engage in a real discussion about school,
programmes, the curriculum, textbooks, teaching conditions and students’
difficult situations,. The aim was to come up with proposals that could lead to
real solutions to the quality of public schools in rural areas.
As
in most developing countries, public services in rural areas in Morocco (60%)
are deeply disadvantaged, and education is no exception.Even today, schools in
the most remote areas in the Moroccan countryside have neither water nor
electricity, and often no facilities (classrooms, toilets) either. Students
have to walk very long distances to get there, and teachers who have to live in
such areas feel totally isolated. The SNE-FDT members decided to launch on
appeal to have education in rural areas in Morocco become a national priority.
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/2064
Young people building the future in
Zambia
By
Linda Nordahl Jakobsen and Doreen Kambanganji, Communications officers
January 6 – Dorcus Siamasusu, a 24 year-old old female stands out
in
Like
in other rural areas in Zambia, very few women in Sikaneka Village were taking
part in governance issues previously. Traditionally men are expected to take a
centre role in governance issues while women are expected to take care of the
household and fed for the children. This has a
negative impact on most women and girls and retards development as they are
unable to contribute to most local issues and problems which affect their day
to day life such as health care, education, markets for their agriculture
products, acces to land and water, taking up leadership roles, etc.
The
advocacy training that is offered by Monze Diocese helps to reverse this trend
in the villages. The advocacy training is part of the Sustainable Economic and
Social Empowerment of Vulnerable and Marginalized Rural Communities in Southern
Province (SESE). The SESE is aimed among other things at empowering
local communities to hold their elected leaders accountable. This project has
deliberately targeted its empowerment and advocacy trainings towards young
people especially young women to encourage them to participate in the local
development and in society issues. (...) http://www.danchurchaid.org/layout/set/print/news/news/young-people-building-the-future-in-zambia
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UN DPI Briefing - January 19, 2012 on the theme:
Culture
of Peace; Amplifying the Unseen and Unheard Voices of Peace
Talk by Dorothy J. Maver, Ph.D., President
It is a joy to be with you
today at the United Nations to share my thoughts and experiences regarding the heretofore
invisible field of peace. And is it not a very auspicious day at the UN, the
first briefing in 2012 as we celebrate the Culture of Peace. At the same time
there is a Youth Assembly here at the United Nations. It doesn’t get better
than that!
I want to thank Ambassador Chowdhury, and Cora Weiss, and Michael O’Malley. It is so
delightful to share in the panel and to know that forthcoming is a dialogue
with everyone in this room. You know,
this year promises to reveal the culture of peace that already exists, and the
many, many facets of right relationship, literally hundreds of thousands of
threads in the fabric of society that are just becoming visible and viable as
we shift from living in a culture wrought with violence and dysfunction where people’s
needs are not fully met … to a culture where peace and justice, loving
understanding and sharing, truth and reconciliation prevails, where everyone’s
needs are met and there is true equity.
The definition of peace we are
using in the work I am primarily involved with is taken from the Earth Charter:
“peace is the wholeness created by right
relationships with oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth,
and the larger whole of which all are a part.”
Peace is sweeping the world
right now … from Peace Councils in Kenya and a Peace Academy in Rwanda, Africa,
to the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office,
to right here in the USA where there are Peace Commissions in towns and cities,
including Cambridge and Leverett, Massachusetts.
Infrastructures for Peace are
becoming a framework for moving through this all systems breakdown we are
experiencing. In my way of thinking, this breakdown is to be celebrated. We are moving from a system based on competition,
separation, individualization and operating as silos … to a system based on
cooperation, unity, group work and sharing on behalf of the common good.
On July 9, 2011 humanity made
history … when
One of the international
communities I am part of – soon to be an NGO - is the Global Alliance for
Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace and there are now four Ministries of
Peace on the planet:
The Global Alliance, founded
in 2005, embraces infrastructures for peace, recognizing the necessity of
national peace academies and similar education institutions (USA, Costa Rica,
Romania, Rwanda, Nepal, Canada and others) As we experience this shift in our
global society, we are developing the institutions and policies that embody and
reflect a culture of peace and right relationship, by whatever name.
Peace Systems already exist.
The best example is Mother Nature and the dynamic principle of cooperation.
Everyone in this room is part of a peace system … a synergistic effort to play
our part in making the world a better place … knowing that the whole is greater
than the sum of its parts.
We know that education shapes
society, and it does not have to be formal education.
There
are leading groups, such as the Peace and Justice Studies Association, a
network of academics, educators and activists collaborating to bring a
necessary focus and intention to peace studies and peace education. There are
over 400 programs at the university level now and we are beginning to celebrate
Ph.D.s in peacebuilding … yes, doctors of peacebuilding.
Two groups doing
groundbreaking work in peace education are the International Institute for
Peace Education, now in its 30th year, and the International Peace
Research Association – both playing significant roles in revealing the
underlying principles and processes of educating to live in right relationship
at all levels (from personal to ecological) developing a personal skill set
that encourages our attitudes and behaviors to truly reflect such values as
cooperation, sharing, empathy, mutual respect, goodwill, loving understanding,
nonviolent conflict resolution and sustainable stewardship of Earth’s
ecosystems.
There are so many groups peacebuilding in all sectors of society –it has become
impossible to name them all … if you visit wiserearth’s
website you will see an ever increasing number count on the homepage … hundreds
of thousands of groups working towards a better world.
2012 is already proving to be
the turning point for us as a global family. In this moment of global
connectivity and recognition of our interconnectedness, there are innumerable
collaborative initiatives, including a ninety day initiative focused on the
United Nations International Day of Peace … over fifty groups are already
committed to cooperating … our BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) … to reach one
billion people … and not only will we celebrate on September 21st
with a united mass appeal at noon: May Peace Prevail on Earth … we will
initiate a ninety day Push4Peace, encouraging individuals and groups to take
action in their areas of interest all over the globe.
Imagine one billion people
taking action for a culture of peace. And this is only one initiative among
many in 2012. I hope you will participate at push4peace.org
The spirit of goodwill is
alive and well in humanity, and this is the year to turn the corner. It is time
to tell the new story … the story of peace … to make peace an organizing
principle in society … and to intentionally offer our personal and group
contributions on behalf of the greater good: to ourselves, to each other, and
to the planet.
Let us sacrifice personal
differences, bridge separate cleavages, and harmonize polarized schools of
thought - personally, socially and between countries. We can do this – in fact, we are doing this – all over the world –
let’s live the new story, beginning with each one of us.
In closing, I speak the words
and wisdom of former
So be it, and help us to do
our part.
Thank you.
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Next
issue: 24 February 2012
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,
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Media coverage: Maurizio Palazzoni
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Good News Agency is included among the three NGOs that have been playing a
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by civil society corresponding to para