Good News Agency – Year VII, n° 9
Weekly - Year VII, number 9 – 7th
July 2006
Managing Editor: Sergio Tripi,
Ph. D.
Rome Law-court registration
no. 265 dated 20 June 2000.
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. Editorial research by Fabio Gatti (in charge) and Elisa Peduto.
Good News Agency is published in English on one Friday and in Italian the
next. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to the editorial
offices of more than 3,700 media in 48 countries and to
2,800 NGOs.
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of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale,
NGO 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 has
been included in the web site http://www3.unesco.org/iycp/uk/uk_sum_monde.htm
International legislation – Human rights – Economy and development – Solidarity
Peace and security – Health – Energy
and Safety – Environment and wildlife
Religion and spirituality – Culture and education
Europe: shrinking safe haven
for war criminals
‘Universal Jurisdiction’
prosecutions bring justice for victims
Brussels, June 28 – Prosecutors in Europe are using the concept of universal jurisdiction to pursue foreign war criminals in national courts, a strategy that is gaining momentum across the continent and should be expanded, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The theory is that some crimes are so horrendous that they should be tried regardless of the geography of victims and perpetrators. “Opponents have proclaimed the death of universal jurisdiction, but in fact it’s alive and well in Europe,” said Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch. “This principle is a vital weapon in winning justice for the victims of the world’s worst atrocities.”
In the 101-page report
released today, “Universal Jurisdiction: The State of the Art,” Human Rights
Watch looks beyond shrill debates about the concept and examines how it is
working in practice. Based on interviews with judges, investigators, lawyers
and officials in eight European countries, the report describes how some
governments, including Britain, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands, have
created special war crimes units to conduct investigations across the globe.
Universal jurisdiction is the
power of a national court to try genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity
or torture – even if neither the suspect nor the victim are nationals of the
country where the court is located, and the crime took place outside that
country. It was most famously utilized in the 1998 arrest of former Chilean
dictator Augusto Pinochet on torture charges in London at the request of a
Spanish court. (…)
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/28/eca13622.htm
DR Congo: UN speeds up police
training to provide security for elections
29 June – As the United
Nations prepares for next month’s elections in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC), the largest and most challenging it has ever helped organize, the
UN mission there is training thousands of police to provide security for a vote
that is meant to cement the vast country’s transition from a disastrous civil
war.
Just this week two companies
of the National Congolese Police (PNC) completed their training under the
auspices of the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC) in collaboration with the
Japanese Cooperation Agency (JCA). (…) With the help of the international
community, a total of over 46,000 police officers have been trained so far,
14,000 of them by MONUC. The majority has been trained by partners such as
South Africa, Angola, France, the European Union and Japan. (…)
The Congolese electorate of
25.5 million voters will be called upon, for the first time in 45 years, to
cast their vote in some 50,000 polling stations for some 33 presidential, over
9,000 national legislative and over 10,000 provincial assembly candidates, in
polls that will cost hundreds of million dollars.
In a related development, the
UN refugee agency reported that the reintegration of thousands of refugees in
DRC’s Equateur province is surpassing expectations and could encourage others
to return from the neighbouring Republic of Congo. (…)
http://www.un.org/apps/news/ticker/tickerstory.asp?NewsID=19045
Codex
Alimentarius Commission meets in Geneva
Ensuring
safer food for everyone
Geneva/Rome, 29 June
- The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international food
standards body of the United Nations, will meet in Geneva from 3-7 July 2006 to
consider the adoption of a number of important proposals to improve protection
of consumers from disease-causing organisms and substances by reducing their
contamination of foods. If adopted, the proposals would set standards that
would also facilitate international food trade by eliminating unjustified
technical barriers. Some 500 delegates from about 100 countries and numerous
nongovernmental organizations are expected to attend. (…) Topics on the agenda
are complex and some are likely to cause intense debate such as the discussion
on the establishment of a Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance in
bacteria is a potential threat to human health. The incorrect use of antimicrobials,
or antibiotics, in animals can result in the selection of bacteria that are
resistant to these drugs. Through the slaughtering process such bacteria can
end up in food. Resistant bacteria in food consumed by humans may cause disease
in humans, which cannot be treated by known medicines. The new Codex Task Force
would have the mandate to develop a risk assessment policy and strategies to
reduce food safety risks associated with use of antimicrobials.(…)
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000347/index.html
International conference paves
the way for red crystal
June 22 - The 29th
International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has amended the
Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to
incorporate the additional emblem of the red crystal, which now has the same
status as the red cross and red crescent. In addition the participants to the
International Conference requested that the ICRC and the International
Federation recognize and admit the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PCRS) into
the Movement.
As a consequence of this
successful outcome the ICRC has now recognized the Palestine Red Crescent
Society (PRCS) and the Israeli National Society, Magen David Adom (MDA), and
the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will admit
both National Societies. This outcome extends the universality of the Movement
to an important area of Red Cross and Red Crescent operations and strengthens
the operational cooperation of the two National Societies with each other and
with their international partners in the Movement.
The Conference had been
convened as a follow-up to the diplomatic conference of States in December
2005, which adopted the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions,
creating an additional protective emblem for the Movement, known as the red
crystal. (…)
The acceptance by States party
to the Geneva Conventions of the Movement’s amended Statutes also means that
National Societies can benefit from the flexibility afforded by the Third
Additional Protocol in the use of the red crystal or of a combination of
emblems recognized by the Conventions. The use of the red crystal will also
provide additional protection to war victims and humanitarian workers in
conflict situations where the red cross or the red crescent cannot be used. (…)
http://www.icrc.org/
Lithuania
joins the UNECE Agreement on global vehicle regulations
Geneva, 15
June -- On 25 July Lithuania will become a Contracting Party to the 1998
Agreement on Global Vehicle Regulations. This will bring the total number of
Contracting Parties to the Agreement to 28. At present, Contracting Parties
include the USA, Canada, the European Community, Russian Federation, Japan,
China, Republic of Korea, India, Malaysia, South Africa, New Zealand
and many other European States. The 1998 Agreement is the legal framework for
the development of global technical regulations for vehicles and their
components, with the aim of increasing their active and passive safety,
reducing their emissions and improving their security (anti-theft) performance.
The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) is the body
that administers the 1998 Agreement. To date, two global technical regulations
have been adopted in the framework of the 1998 Agreement. They address door
locks and door retention components and the measurement procedure for emissions
and fuel consumption of motorcycles. (…)
http://www.unece.org/press/pr2006/06trans_p05e.htm
A new financing instrument to
promote democracy and human rights
Brussels, 29 June - The
Commission has adopted a proposal for a self-standing financing instrument to
promote democracy and human rights worldwide. The new instrument is to replace
the present external assistance scheme (European Initiative for Democracy and
Human Rights – EIDHR), which will run out by the end of the year. The proposal
has immediately been sent to the European Parliament and the Council to ensure
an efficient legislative process enabling the instrument to become operational
by the beginning of next year. (…)
The proposal for the European
Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights clearly spells out the particular
aims of EU assistance under the instrument:
·
Enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms where they
are most at risk and providing support and solidarity to victims of repression
and abuse;
·
Strengthening the role of civil society in promoting human rights and
democratic reform, developing political participation and representation, and
supporting conflict prevention;
·
Supporting the international framework for the protection of human
rights , the rule of law and the promotion of democracy;
·
Building confidence in democratic electoral processes through further
development of electoral observation and assistance.
Past experiences made with the
predecessor scheme (European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights) have
been taken into account in the new proposal. There will be a higher degree of
flexibility in the EU’s assistance response to changing situations in human
rights and democracy processes, while at the same time internal Commission
reforms will ensure a smoother and simpler delivery procedure.
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/human_rights/intro/index.htm
Fight modern slavery in
Cambodia
29 June - For the fifth year
in a row DanChurchAid cooperates with Roskilde Festival (Copenhagen, June
29-July 2) about the humanitarian focus "Act against slavery". The
money raised from the humanitarian bottle refund collection will be donated to
DanChurchAid partners in Cambodia. DanChurchAid cooperates with the Roskilde
Festival about the humanitarian focus at the festival and the humanitarian
refund collecting campaign. Since 2002,
DanChurchAid youth volunteers have been in charge of the humanitarian refund
collecting campaign at the Roskilde Festival.
Like in 2005, the campaign
'Act Against Slavery' will encourage the festival guests to donate their refund
fees on bottles, beer crates and glasses to help the victims of modern slavery.
This year - like the previous years - DanChurchAid will stage a big event to
make everybody at the festival aware of the horrors of modern slavery and
opportunities to fight it.
During the opening Sunday,
30.000 eager festival guests took over the camping grounds, and it didn’t take
long before the party got started. Soon 79.000 guests are ready for the full
scale festival experience.
DanChurchAid is one of
the major Danish humanitarian non governmental organisations (NGO), working
with churches and non-religious civil organisations to assist the poorest of
the poor. When you buy your ticket for
Roskilde Festival, you are supporting a good cause. Each year, Roskilde
Festival donates any profits from the festival to humanitarian and
cultural purposes.
http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/object.php?obj=505000a&code=1
World Refugee Day: Sudanese
teenager transforms pain into art
Joyce
Mulama
Nairobi, June 19 (IPS) - The
drawing shows a woman clasping a child to her chest. Aptly titled 'Embrace', it
depicts a memory that has haunted the artist, a former child soldier from the
civil war in southern Sudan who goes by the name of Commander Spoon. "This woman was carrying one baby on
her chest, and holding two others in both her hands. As she was fleeing the
fighting, she met me and my colleague. She was crying, asking us not to shoot
them, but my colleague shot her and her children," said Spoon, describing
an incident that took place in 1997. "I really cried, and drew my gun at
my colleague: I wanted to kill him. He drew his at me, but our commander
intervened and we dropped the weapons...Since that time, the picture of this
woman remains vivid in my mind." The image will also be imprinted on the
minds of others, on World Refugee Day (June 20). Spoon's drawing has been
copied on T-shirts to be worn by those taking part in events to commemorate the
day in Kenya, where the teenager now lives as a refugee.
This comes after the work took
second place in a contest for child refugees attending schools in the capital,
Nairobi, which was initiated by the local office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) -- attracting 180 entries. (…) Spoon told IPS
that he wanted to show the world what had happened in Sudan during the 21-year
war between rebels from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A)
and the Khartoum government. About two million people died in the course of the
conflict, which also displaced close to four million, according to the United
Nations.
The incident shown in
'Embrace' was just one of several that Spoon says he witnessed after being
recruited to the SPLM/A. Unable to deal with these events, he eventually fled
to neighbouring Uganda, then Kenya in 2004. He is now in the Riruta Satellite
Primary School in Nairobi.
Following an agreement last
year to end fighting in south Sudan, Spoon would have liked to return home.
But, the devastation wrought by the conflict gave him pause for thought. (…)
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33686
ADRA partners with UN to fight
human trafficking
June 28 - The Adventist
Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) leadership from its office in Thailand met
recently with representatives from the United Nations to discuss ADRA’s Keep
Girls Safe Project, an initiative that combats human trafficking in Thailand.
With approximately 800,000 prostitutes under the age of 18, and 200,000 of
these aged 12 or younger, Thailand is one of the sex trade’s worst offenders.
The Keep Girls Safe Project
works to reduce the threat of commercial sexual exploitation to vulnerable
girls and young women from disadvantaged regions of northern Thailand. It
provides educational support for the girls, supplying uniforms, textbooks,
stationery, and transportation, along with training in vocational skills.
Depending on need, some also receive assistance with living expenses and housing.
The project works to empower the girls, as well as raise awareness in the
community to the risks and problems of human trafficking. (…)
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5183
FEANTSA conference on
ensuring access to health for homeless people – Poland, 12-13 Oct.
FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless organises in Poland, on the 12 and 13 October 2006 a conference entitled "The right to health is a human right: ensuring access to health for homeless people".
FEANTSA 2006 annual theme
focuses on health and homelessness. Withing this framework, the conference aims
to point out the difficulties and issues with which homeless people are faced -
ranging from the type of health problems faced by homeless people and the issue
of complex and multiple needs; barriers to care faced by homeless people and
finding solutions to overcome them; policy solutions to tackle the health needs
of homeless people; and the right to health for homeless people.
The conference aims to bring
together policymakers, homelessness service providers and healthcare
professionals from across the EU to establish a better common understanding and
what could be the role of the EU. The conference will feature 5 workshops:
Ensuring access to health for homeless people; Mental Health and Dual
Diagnosis; The Right to Health; Information and Training for Health; Health
Promotion (…)
General
Assembly’s budget committee lifts cap on UN spending
28 June – The General
Assembly’s budgetary committee today decided to lift the spending cap on the remainder
of the United Nations’ two-year fiscal period, authorizing Secretary-General
Kofi Annan to utilize the remaining funds in the budget for 2006-2007.
Saying that not enough
progress had yet been made in the reform of the Organization, the United States,
Japan and Australia dissociated themselves from the consensus decision to lift
the cap, which stems from a December decision of Member States to adopt a
budget for the 2006-2007 biennium but to limit spending authorization to six
months and $950 million, pending significant progress on such reform.
Last week, UN Controller
Warren Sach warned the budget Committee that under the cap the “last dollar
available” would be spent before mid-July. Mr. Annan has recently expressed
optimism that the cap, backed by major donors and opposed by many developing
countries, would be lifted since progress in UN reform is ongoing and the
Organization is involved in too many crucial operations at the current time for
the world to allow them to stall.
In that vein, before today’s
vote, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson sent a letter to Member States
listing reforms achieved so far during the Assembly’s 60th session, including
the creation of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Human Rights Council, the
Central Emergency Response Fund and the Ethics Office. He also detailed the
work being done on management and procurement reform, two priority concerns of
the donor nations. Along with lifting the cap, he urged all Members to commit
themselves to agree on a resolution containing “concrete and substantive
measures” on the management and oversight issues by 30 June.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=19040&Cr=UN&Cr1=budget
OECD
and FAO to present world Agriculture Outlook at Paris news conference - 4 July
Rome, 30 June - How will
agriculture develop across the world over the next 10 years? What will be the
effects of rising demand and production in countries such as China, India and
Brazil? Such questions are tackled by the OECD and the UN’s Food and
Agriculture Organisation in their latest joint study to be presented at a news
conference at the OECD’s headquarters in Paris at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday 4 July
2006.
The OECD-FAO Agricultural
Outlook 2006-2015 presents the latest forecasts of trends and prices of farm
products and assesses the challenges and uncertainties ahead. A central theme
of the study is the increasing importance of certain developing countries in
shaping the future of world agricultural trade. The news conference will be
presented by Loek Boonekamp of the OECD and Merritt Cluff of the FAO.
IFAD to provide an additional
US$2.1 million loan to Maldivian fishing and farming communities to help
recover from the tsunami by building back better
Rome, 30 June – Fishing
families and small farmers in remote islands of the Maldives whose livelihoods
were devastated by the December 2004 tsunami, will benefit from additional
financing for a development programme. The programme focuses on asset recovery
and rehabilitation, and on strengthening the country’s fishing and agriculture
sectors. The first financial contribution towards the US$5 million Post-Tsunami
Agricultural and Fisheries Rehabilitation Programme was approved by the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in April 2005 in the
form of a US$2.1 million highly concessionary loan and a grant of US$200,000.
The new US$2.1 million loan will add to this. The remaining programme costs
will be covered by the Government of the Maldives.(…)
The IFAD-supported recovery,
rehabilitation and development programme will help restore the country’s
fisheries and agricultural sector. Using the principle of building back better,
it will provide fishing communities with new boats and cold storage facilities
and build new receiving stations for cleaning and processing fish. Small
farmers who lost their harvests will be assisted with sustainable farming
techniques to help improve their crops and make them less vulnerable to natural
disasters. New farming tools and equipment will replace those damaged by the
tsunami and a new agricultural produce market will be built in Male’ to help
establish marketing channels for producers on remote islands.
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2006/35.htm
Nepal to tap promising trade
potential
29 June - Conflict, poor infrastructure, a narrow range of
exports, and slow customs procedures have severely limited Nepal’s share of global exports (0.02%). Through a million-dollar project
launched in Kathmandu earlier today, the Government and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) plan to boost the nations share of international business. As Nepal embarks on its peace process, a trade strategy that fosters growth
in jobs and key sectors like agriculture could significantly rejuvenate an
economy battered by conflict,” said UNDP
Resident Representative Matthew Kahane. Under the newly launched
project, the Government and UNDP will explore Nepals trade potential in three promising new areas: education, health, and high-end
retail services. According to a new regional report—also launched today by UNDP—developing countries
need to carve out their own niche to succeed in the highly competitive
world of global trade; but it is crucial that agriculture is not left behind.
The new Asia-Pacific Human
Development Report: Trade on Human Terms, which charts trades impact on progress in the region, concludes that in
most
developing countries a greater engagement with international markets has been
accompanied by a rise in income inequality.
“Inequality is at the root of Nepals
conflict. Therefore it is crucial that Nepal doesnt follow the trend we have seen in other countries. We should view trade as a
means for achieving human development, rather than an end in itself. In a
country where most people rely on farming, a trade strategy based on human
development has to have agriculture at its core,” Mr. Kahane said. (…)
http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/june-2006/nepal-20060629.en;jsessionid=avCOtc6o3jGb
New project to help
smallholders and indigenous people in Paraguay improve their livelihoods
Rome, 22 June –
Organizations of small-scale producers in Paraguay, many of whom have been
badly affected by ten years of decline in the traditional cotton industry, will
be helped to identify possible new business ventures through a project backed
by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Empowerment
of Rural Poor Organizations and Harmonization of Investments Project will also
assist small-scale farmers with low productivity and limited potential,
indigenous groups, rural families headed solely by women and young people.
About 120,000 people in eastern Paraguay will benefit. At least one third of
them will be women. The project is partly financed by a loan of US$12 million
from IFAD. The loan agreement was signed at the organization’s headquarters in
Rome today by the Vice President of IFAD, Cyril Enweze and Paraguay’s
Ambassador to Italy, Jorge Figueredo Fratta.(…) Young people, indigenous people
and women are expected to benefit from project activities. About 72 per cent of
Paraguay’s indigenous people are under the age of 30 and they have very limited
employment opportunities. Women are largely excluded from social and economic
development and many rural women are slipping into deeper poverty. The project
will include both groups in activities to strengthen local organizations and in
the preparation of business plans.
“In the past, there has been
little attention to strengthening subsistence agriculture in Paraguay”, says
Paolo Silveri, IFAD’s country programme manager for Paraguay. “This project
will support organizations to enable them to manage their own resources and
improve their access to existing national resources.”(…)
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2006/34.htm
IFAD loan to fight poverty in
Albania’s mountain areas
Rome, 20 June - A
private rural commercial bank providing financial services that promote
economic growth will be set up as part of a new development programme supported
by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme
aims to improve the lives of poor Albanian men and women living in remote
mountain areas of the country. The bank is an innovation in Albania. It will be
created through the conversion of the already-existing Mountain Areas Finance
Fund as part of IFAD’s Programme for Sustainable Development in Rural Mountain
Areas. It is expected that by 2010 the bank will provide computerized services
through 40 branches in rural areas, catering for around 20,000 clients with
savings accounts. About 10,000 borrowers will be able to expand their rural
businesses through bank loans. The new bank will have a total loan portfolio of
US$40 million.
The five-year programme will
cost US$24 million and will be partly financed by a loan of US$8 million from
IFAD. The loan agreement was signed today at IFAD’s Rome headquarters by the
President of IFAD, Lennart Båge, and the chargé d’affaires, Embassy of the Republic
of Albania in Rome, Ilir Tepelena.(…)
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2006/32.htm
Asia’s first Training Centre for
Information Communication Technology for Development (APCICT) opens in the
Republic of Korea
Bangkok, 16 June (United
Nations Information Services)--- The United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) opened today its first
Information and Communication Technology for Development Training Centre in
Incheon, Republic of Korea.
The Asian and Pacific Training
Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT)
aims to improve knowledge and productivity for long-term economic growth and
sustainable development of the region. The Centre is located in the
Metropolitan City of Incheon and is expected to contribute to bridging the
digital divide through providing training to policy makers, ICT professionals
and trainers, and assisting in the sharing best practices in the area of ICT
development among member and associate member countries of UNESCAP.(…)Under the
terms of MOU, Microsoft will support the APCICT in a variety of ways including
the provision of software and services, and assistance in the development of a
technology and training roadmap for the Centre. Microsoft will also provide ICT
education, certification, and support to APCICT trainers.
The ICT training centre being
inaugurated in the Republic of Korea in month of June when the first computer
was installed in the country in 1967 and has since been celebrated as the
“information month” since 1988.
http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2006/jun/g29.asp
Save Eradicating hunger: the
European Commission steps up its efforts in food aid and food security with a
€197 M package
Brussels, 27 June - The
European Commission has adopted its 2006 Annual Work Programme for grants in
the area of food aid and food security with a global budget of € 197 million.
The EC approach is focused on the integration of food security policy within
the fight against poverty, hence recognizing hunger as the basic dimension of
poverty. Activities foreseen in the Annual Work Programme aim at contributing
to the achievement of the first Millennium Development Goal: eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger. (…)
The European Commission is
committed to give priority to food security operations instead of food aid.
Reinforcing rapid alert systems, developing national strategic stocks to
prevent dramatic imbalances of local markets in case of severe drought or
plagues or improving children's nutrition through schools are key actions of
Commission's sponsored programs.
The present Annual Work
Programme covers commitment appropriations available in 2006 for grants to
International Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations. (…)
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/AMMF-6R6HF4?OpenDocument
Direct Relief International gives additional half-million dollars for
Asian tsunami aid
Direct
Aid will assist partner organizations in the areas of maternal and child health
Santa Barbara, CA, June 26 –
One and a half years after southeast Asia was devastated by the tsunami of
December 26, 2004, humanitarian assistance non-profit organization Direct
Relief International has announced it is disbursing an additional $595,551 in
grants to host country partners in the still-recovering region.
The sum is split among seven
individual grants, with five directed to partners in Sri Lanka and two to
partners in Indonesia (…) With these
new grants, Direct Relief has provided over $54.8 million in medical material
aid and cash grants to the Indian Ocean region since the disaster struck,
serving over 4.4 million people. (…)
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5182
Paul Tergat: school
meals help guarantee success
Tokyo, 3 July - Paul Tergat, the
world-record holding marathon runner from Kenya, is the star of this year’s
Japan Advertising Council campaign which starts rolling out next month all over
the country. In the series of
TV, print and radio ads, Tergat attributes much of his success to the meals
provided by WFP to his school while he was growing up. “Without those meals, I
probably would not have become the achiever that I am today,” said Tergat at
the launch of the Japan Advertising Council campaign. Tergat is also a WFP
Ambassador Against Hunger, and thus a very active advocate in the fight against
global hunger. “Paul Tergat is truly one of the most
impressive examples of what people can achieve when they get an education and
good nutrition,” said James Morris, Executive Director of WFP. “We are so grateful to the
Japan Advertising Council, which is helping us reach a much wider audience of
people willing to support our cause.”
This is the third
consecutive year that the Japan Advertising Campaign has chosen to support the
work WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. Last year, it provided school
meals for 22 million children in 74 countries, and it aims to increase that
number dramatically. (…) The campaign will run on
television and radio for one year, thanks to the Japan Advertising Council. It
will also feature in magazines and on billboards in subway stations around
thecountry. One of Japan’s leading actors, Takashi Naito, narrated the
advertisements in Japanese. (…)
http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2156
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contributes $500,000 for
earthquake relief
Westport, CT, USA, June 20 -
Save the Children announced today a $500,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation to support emergency relief efforts in Java following the
devastating earthquake that hit the region on May 27. (…) More than 40,000
children were affected by the earthquake. Even more have been displaced due to
a looming volcano eruption from Java's Mount Merapi.
In the immediate aftermath of
the devastation, Save the Children has been on the ground focusing on providing
shelter to the displaced children and families, and attending to the emotional
needs of children by providing play kits and designating safe play areas.
Because the earthquake happened around the same time students in Java were
preparing to take their end-of-year final exams, Save the Children has also
committed to distributing school supplies for teachers and students, and
classroom tents so that their education may continue.
In December of 2005 the
foundation gave a $60 Million grant to Save the Children’s Saving Newborn Lives
global initiative. This generous contribution to earthquake relief efforts from
the foundation puts Save the Children significantly closer to reaching its goal
of raising $3 million in emergency relief funds that will be needed to continue
to help communities recover in the next three to six months.
New
Zealand businessman to lead international humanitarian organization
Evanston, Ill. USA, 5 July –
William B. Boyd, a retired magazine distribution executive from Auckland, New
Zealand, took office on 1 July as president of Rotary International, one of the
world’s largest humanitarian organizations.
Founded in Chicago in 1905, Rotary now supports more than 32,000 clubs
in nearly 170 countries, with 1.2 million members.
Rotary's top philanthropic
goal is to eradicate polio worldwide. Since establishing the PolioPlus program
in 1985, Rotary members have helped to immunize more than two billion children
in 122 countries, and have contributed more than US$600 million and countless
hands-on volunteer hours to the cause.
Besides polio, Boyd says he
will make three other major important humanitarian issues his priority –
literacy, hunger relief, and clean water.
During his one-year term as head of Rotary, Boyd will encourage Rotary
clubs around the world to partner with local governments and other non-governmental
organizations to initiate projects that improve literacy and provide clean
water to people in developing countries.
NDP honors baseball stars'
contributions to Dominican Republic
Boston, 29 June - In an emotional ceremony, 2004 World Series champions David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and
Pedro Martinez were reunited tonight at Fenway Park to celebrate another grand
triumph: Their generous support to the United Nations Development Programmes relief and recovery efforts in Jimani,
Dominican Republic, in the aftermath of devastating floods in May 2004.
Fans at sold-out Fenway Park
joined Dominican Ambassador Flavio Dario Espinal and UNDP Resident Coordinator
Niky Fabiancic in saluting the Dominican superstars, Boston Red Sox principal
owner John Henry and the team’s charitable
foundation. The crowd roared when Ortiz and Ramirez embraced their former
teammate Martinez, now pitching for the New York Mets, in the ceremony at home
plate minutes before the game, and cheered even louder after viewing a video
presentation of thanks from the people of Jimani. (…)
As the Fenway Park scoreboard
displayed a message saluting the United Nations Development Programme “for recognizing these three gentlemen,” Ortiz, Ramirez,
Martinez and Henry accepted plaques in honor of their leadership in the effort.
The stadium crowd honored returning hero Martinez with some of its loudest
cheers. (…)
Record-breaking
swim for Indonesia quake effort
Java, 26 June
- Dodging stinging jellyfish and tackling choppy seas, marathon
swimmer Monte Monfore has accomplished a world first and new record off the
coast of Central Java to highlight WFP’s efforts to help last month’s
earthquake survivors. US-born Mont Menyawakan Island in the South China Sea
at 4.43am on 9 June, beginning the swim in darkness to represent the
devastation inflicted by the Indonesia earthquake. He finished
four hours and four minutes later on the uninhabited Kumbung Island, emerging
in the morning sun – a symbol of hope for those affected by the disaster. Following the 12.5 kilometre swim, achieved without fins or
wetsuit, Monte made a funding appeal for WFP’s Yogyakarta quake relief effort,
saying: “Hundreds of thousands have lost nearly everything and now they must
begin rebuilding their lives.” During the hazardous
crossing, Monte battled nausea and swam against the current for two hours. The Bali-resident said his love for Indonesia, its people and its
oceans kept him going. Monte previously collaborated with
WFP for its May 18 Fight Hunger - Walk the Walk initiative, swimming the three
kilometre Bali Strait and setting a world record at 29 and a half minutes as
cities around the world geared up to march against hunger. He braved the
churning waters of the strait to throw the spotlight onto WFP’s school feeding
project.
http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2152
Caritas helps shocked survivors in Yogyakarta’s remote villages
Vatican City, 16 June
- Caritas Internationalis continues to provide for the immediate needs of the
victims of the earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Java in the
important historical and religious area of Yogyakarta on 27 May. The
organisation is also looking ahead to the reconstruction phase, with Caritas
launching an appeal for nearly $US 15.5 million to fund its humanitarian work
through December 2008.
According to the most recent
report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs, more than 5,700 people lost their lives in the disaster, and over
150,000 homes were completely destroyed. More than 400,000 homes were left
damaged.
The Caritas programme will
benefit nearly 130,000 people, particularly those in remote rural areas, some
of which are only reachable by motorcycle tracks passing through rice paddies.
The Confederation is planning the long-term reconstruction of social
infrastructure, including schools and damaged medical centres, through their
programme in Central Java, in particular in the Bantul, Sleman, Klaten and
Guning Kidul districts.
Caritas, using its network of
personnel already in the country, is working with the national Caritas in
Indonesia, known as Karina, and the parish network of the the Archdiocese of
Semarang to coordinate bringing immediate relief to the victims. They have been
distributing food, water, tents, tools for clearing debris, baby food and
supplies, medicines, clothing, household utensils and hygiene sets. A roving
medical clinic has also been accessing the injured in some of the remotest
areas, as well as ensuring that children get needed vaccines. Many schools have
also been re-opened in tents. (…)
http://www.caritas.org/jumpCh.asp?idUser=0&idChannel=35&idLang=ENG
Youth philanthropy efforts to help Darfur
Maryland
students raised money and leveraged nearly $500,000 worth of critically-needed
pharmaceuticals to send to Darfur on the eve of their eighth grade graduation.
Potomac, Maryland, USA, 21
June – While students throughout the
region are busy attending graduation parties and preparing for summer jobs,
camps and family trips, the graduating eighth grade class of Norwood School in
Potomac will be doing one better, perhaps much better, than their peers at
other schools. With their parents, the students are putting together a shipment
of desperately needed pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to aid the people of
Darfur, Sudan this summer. The money
raised by the families was leveraged into over a half million US dollars worth
of drugs and medications by Counterpart International, a DC-based non-profit
development agency, which delivers about $100 million worth of humanitarian aid
a year. (…)
After almost three years of
crises, the western Sudanese region of Darfur is acknowledged to be the most
serious humanitarian and human rights tragedy today. According to reports by
the World Food Program, the United Nations and the Coalition for International
Justice, 3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced by
violence, and 400,000 people have already died, with a drought and possible
famine on the way .
Walter Arbib, whose company
SkyLink Aviation of Canada is flying the medicines to Darfur for free, applauded
the students' initiative. (…) SkyLink, which operates a lot of the United
Nations logistics in the ravaged region, will use its helicopters to deliver
the urgently needed medicines to teams in Darfur operated by the International
Medical Corps.
Lelei LeLaulu, President of
Counterpart International, whose son, Blaise, is also part of the Norwood
graduating class, said, "These students may have started a wave of youth
philanthropy which could really mature into significant giving by young people
and their families."
http://www.counterpart.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=49&metaid=G7MR5506-50c
ADRA opens shelter for victims of domestic violence
June 15 - The Adventist Development
and Relief Agency (ADRA) has opened a shelter for victims of domestic violence
in northern Mongolia. The Family
Information and Service Center (FISC), was established to protect victims from
their assailants, and provide them with comprehensive legal and psychological
aid. The center, located in the northern Mongolia province of Selenge, was
completed in early April 2006.
The shelter project developed
after the ADRA office in Mongolia conducted an anti-alcohol program in the
region and noticed the prevalence of alcohol-induced abuse. (…) One of only
four established domestic violence shelters in Mongolia, the center is operated
and managed by the National Center Against Violence, a non-governmental
organization in Mongolia that works to prevent violence against women and
children.
The 20-bed center is the
largest in Mongolia, and serves the entire Selenge province. The shelter can
accommodate residents for up to three months, during which time they receive
counseling, legal advice, food, shelter, clothing, and skills training that
will prepare them to become financially independent. (…)
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5155
Caritas peace-makers from around the world gather in Sri Lanka
Bmich, Colombo, 26 June - At a
time of crisis in Sri Lanka over 70 peace-builders from the international
Catholic humanitarian organisation, Caritas Internationalis, today gathered in
Colombo to begin the first ever Caritas world Peace Forum. The delegates, from
as far afield as Colombia, Palestine, DR Congo, Ireland and the Philipinnes,
will share their widespread experience of working for peace and reconciliation
in war-torn communities and provide support
to the Sri Lankan Catholic Church’s efforts in promoting peace. (…)
In Sri Lanka, Caritas Sri
Lanka-SEDEC runs a National Peace Programme aimed at creating a peaceful
environment in Sri Lanka which ensures the rights of all communities. Trained
peace activists based in all Caritas Sri Lanka’s 13 diocesan centres work with
local communities throughout the island, creating inter-religious peace groups
and organising awareness-raising seminars and workshops on peace education,
human rights and non-violent conflict resolution.
Exposure visits for children,
families, religious and community leaders allow people from different
communities an opportunity to share cultural experiences and values, and to
build human bonds with one another. Visits to war-affected communities lead to
an understanding of the realities of those who are displaced. The National
Peace Programme also includes inter-religious peace rallies and marches which
help keep the focus on the ongoing peace process.
Organised jointly by Caritas
Sri Lanka and Caritas Internationalis, the Peace Forum continues for three days
this week.
http://www.caritas.org/jumpNews.asp?idLang=ENG&idChannel=35&idUser=0&idNews=4217
DR Congo: Militiamen disarm
ahead of deadline
Bunia, 29 June (IRIN) - At
least 1,100 former militias have arrived at transit sites in Ituri,
northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the past three days, ahead of a
30 June ultimatum by the Congolese army for them to disarm, an official said.
(…)
The number of militiamen
surrendering their guns at the 12 transit sites across the district is
overwhelming, an official of the National Disarmament Commission, known by its
French acronym CONADER, said. The officer in charge of CONADER's community
office in Ituri, François Nguz, said one of the sites that had initially
planned to accommodate 100 ex-combatants per day had received 280 in two days.
(…)
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/ACIO-6R8HDY?OpenDocument
Preventing small-arms proliferation – five-year review
Geneva (ICRC), 26 June –
Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations
will meet in New York from 26 June to 7 July for the review of the UN programme
to eradicate illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Five years after
the programme's adoption, this is the first worldwide opportunity to assess
progress and decide future action.
Since 2001, a wide variety of
steps have been taken at national and regional levels to limit the availability
of small arms and light weapons. But it is still not possible to conclude that
this process has reduced civilian casualties, afforded humanitarian
organizations safer access to war zones, or produced a drop in the availability
of illicit arms. The review conference will determine whether global efforts to
prevent unregulated availability of such weapons are to be strengthened in the
years to come. (…)
Participating as an observer
at the Conference, the ICRC will urge governments to draw up a detailed plan to
accelerate action on the issue. The ICRC believes governments should agree on
standards that define when international arms transfers should not be
authorized. Those standards should include a requirement not to transfer
weapons that would be likely to be used to commit serious violations of
international humanitarian law. (…)
South Korea: Army removes 2350 land mines
June 29 - The military has removed a total of 2,350
land mines from around military bases in the country heartlands and near the
inter-Korean border, the Army said Thursday. The Army will end its land
mine-removal operations that began in March 27 next Friday, it said in a
statement.
About 770 troops were
mobilized for the operations, conducted in areas near six air defense units in
the southern part of the country and four sites near the Demilitarized Zone,
including areas near to access routes to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, it
added. Read full text of the article Army Removes 2,350 Land Mines on the Korea
Times website.
http://www.mineaction.org/overview.asp?o=66
Italy renews commitment to humanitarian mine action in Latin America
through the OAS
June 19 - The government of
Italy pledged a contribution of more than 282,000 euros (some $355,000) to the
Organization of American States (OAS) to support landmine clearance operations
and the destruction of explosive remnants of war in Latin America. (…)
During the recent OAS General
Assembly session, which took place in early June in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,
Italy’s Permanent Observer to the OAS, Ambassador Gerolamo Schiavoni,
underscored his country’s commitment to “concrete collaboration” with the
Organization of American States, particularly in strengthening democracy,
protecting human rights and supporting humanitarian demining.
This new contribution brings
Italy’s total donations to OAS Mine Action Programs to more than $1.4 million.
The current contribution will benefit humanitarian demining projects in Central
America, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Italy has been an OAS observer
country since 1972.
African
Student Conference: The Impact of Religion - The Hague, 14 October
The ASC for African students
has been organized annually since 1999 at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
in The Hague. These conferences under the title Building Peace in Africa adress
critical issues of major concern in the field of advancing peace, justice and
sustainable development.
The overall topic 2006 will be
the Impact of Religion. The conference is primarily intended for African students
studying in the Netherlands and young African Diaspora. But other students or
academics with an interest in the subject, representatives of NGOs, officials,
and other concerned persons/ organizations are very welcome.
Participation will be free of
charge. Contact: unoy@unoy.org (Vera da Silva)
Please keep visiting our
homepage for updates and online registration!
Project HOPE sends second
rotation of medical volunteers on a summer-long humanitarian aid mission
June 28, Millwood, Va., USA –
Seventeen volunteer physicians, nurses and other health care providers from
every corner of the US will join Project HOPE on a continuing humanitarian aid
mission aboard the USNS Mercy to bring healthcare to Bangladesh and Indonesia.
(…)
These volunteers relieve a
portion of the first Project HOPE medical team who joined the mission in May.
During the first leg of the humanitarian aid mission, Project HOPE’s medical
volunteers evaluated and treated more than 16,000 patients and performed more
than 60,500 medical procedures in the Philippines. Through this private/public
partnership with the US Navy, Project HOPE brings together multidisciplinary
medical teams to provide vital care to those in the Western Pacific and South
East Asia. As part of the venture, Project HOPE will send 50 physician and
nurses, and medicines and medical supplies to the Philippines, Indonesia,
Bangladesh and East Timor.
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE
(Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting
solutions to health problems, with the mission of helping people to help
themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world's first peacetime
hospital ship, Project HOPE now conducts land-based medical training and health
education programs across five continents.
http://www.projecthope.org/news/062806.htm
Red Cross Red Crescent and
World Swim for Malaria join forces to combat malaria in Africa
27 June - The International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies announced today a new
partnership with the London-based charitable Foundation, World Swim for Malaria
(WSM). Together they plan to provide life-saving long-lasting insecticidal nets
(LLIN) to families in 17 communities in nine East and Southern Africa
countries: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda
and Rwanda. (…)
This new collaboration
efficiently combines resources to achieve results at substantial
savings. World Swim For Malaria is providing mosquito nets; the International
Federation is supporting shipping costs; and the Red Cross societies are
integrating the distribution in their established home-based care programmes
for HIV/AIDS clients and families at no additional cost. To ensure that
households hang and use nets correctly, Red Cross volunteers will continually
check on the households to provide encouragement and education on the use of
the nets. (…)
World Swim For Malaria, a
simple grassroots initiative, took place between Dec 2005 and June 2006. A
quarter of a million people in more than 150 countries swam, splashed, had fun
and raised funds in what was the world’s largest ever participatory swim. (…) A
second World Swim For Malaria will take place in April 2008 with a target of 1
million people swimming on one day.
This first collaborative
distribution aims at distributing 28,000 bednets to protect 100,000 children and
pregnant women.
http://www.ifrc.org/docs/news/pr06/5006.asp
Australian Government gives
UNICEF $9.1 million to scale up support for children affected by AIDS in three
African countries
New York/Nairobi, 23 June -
The Government of Australia has committed US$9.1 million to UNICEF to help the
governments of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania increase the number of children
affected by AIDS who are reached by basic services.
In announcing the funding
commitment, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Alexander
Downer MP, said that the Australian Government’s contribution will help give
some five million children better access to education and health care through
the UNICEF Children and AIDS Regional Initiative. The initiative will
directly support the ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ global campaign,
led by UNICEF and UNAIDS.
The funds will be used to help
families and communities support and care for children affected by AIDS and
boost their access to education and health care. Funds will also be used
to support legal and policy reform to protect these vulnerable children. (…)
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_34656.html
REACH and breastfeeding: breast is still the best
EPHA
Environment Network, International Babyfood Action Network (IBFAN) and Friends
of the Earth have joined forces to protect breastfeeding in the campaign for
safer EU chemical policy, known as REACH
On Tuesday 27 June 2006, in
the European Parliament, Friends of the Earth Europe launched “Toxic
Inheritance”, a report revealing that traces of 300 man-made chemicals are
found in breast milk. The report examines studies that analyse breast milk to
measure persistent pollutants in humans, revealing the worrying presence of
over 300 toxic chemicals in breast milk. In this context, the report makes
recommendations to strengthen REACH in the second reading, in order to tackle
chemical contamination.
In April 2006, the World
Health Organisation confirmed breastfeeding as optimal for child health when
new growth reference standards were agreed that refer to breastfeeding as “the
biological norm” in international benchmarks for children’s growth. This implies
that a lack of breastfeeding presents a risk to the baby and to the child and
to health later in life. Besides, the World Health Assembly adopted in May 2006
a resolution on infant and young child nutrition calling for the promotion of
breastfeeding. IBFAN International Babyfood Action Network reasserts as well
that despite the adverse effects of human exposure to hazardous chemicals at
all stages in our lives, studies show that breastfeeding has a protective
effect. Besides, breastmilk is environmentally friendly; it is a unique and
renewable natural resource, perfectly adapted to each individual baby.
Breastfeeding generates no waste: there are no problems of disposal of plastics
and packaging, no transport costs and no traffic pollution.
Rotary helps world move closer to polio-free status
Copenhagen, 13 June — In 2005,
Rotary International contributed US$24.2 million and countless volunteer hours
to help immunize more than 400 million children in 49 countries against polio —
a crippling and sometimes fatal disease that still threatens children in parts
of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Rotary and its global partners
at the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and UNICEF, also helped the world move several critical milestones
closer toward eradicating polio globally — Rotary’s top philanthropic goal.
These include the successful introduction of more efficient and targeted oral
polio vaccines, reaching children in the hardest endemic areas and ending the
epidemic in west and central Africa (outside Nigeria).
Great progress has been made
in 2005. Two countries were declared polio-free, leaving only four
polio-endemic in 2006 (Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan). Egypt
reported its last poliovirus in January 2005, and Niger's cases in 2005 were
all importations from Nigeria. (…)
Health experts agree that
stopping the spread of polio can be done this year, except in Nigeria, where at
least an additional 12 months will be required to finish the job. (…)
Rotary International is the
world’s first and one of the largest volunteer service organizations with 1.2
million members in more than 160 countries. In 1985, Rotary created PolioPlus
and set one of the most ambitious goals in the history of global public health
to immunize the children of the world against polio. To date, Rotary has
contributed nearly US$600 million toward polio eradication. More than 1 million
Rotary members have volunteered their time and personal resources to help
immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries. The Global Polio
Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by the World Health Organization, Rotary
International, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United
Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/presscenter/releases/2006/276.html
EPA to phase out pesticide that poisons farmworkers
Lawsuit forces EPA to take
action to protect workers
Seattle, WA, USA, June 12 --
The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it will phase out the
use of a pesticide that poisons farmworkers. EPA took the action as part of a
settlement of a lawsuit brought by farmworkers challenging EPA's decision to
allow continued use of this pesticide. (…) The pesticide, azinphos-methyl
("AZM"), is a highly toxic organophosphate neurotoxin. Organophosphate pesticides, derived from
nerve agents used during World War II, attack the human nervous system. Exposure can cause dizziness, vomiting,
seizures, paralysis, loss of mental function, and death. Farmworker families and communities are
exposed to organophosphates through "take-home" exposures on clothing,
cars, and skin. (…)
EPA has released a draft
decision that would phase out all uses of AZM by 2010 with some uses phased out
by 2007. The decision would also
eliminate aerial spraying, require 100 foot buffers around water bodies, reduce
application rates, require buffers around buildings and occupied dwellings, and
require medical monitoring of workers entering fields sprayed by AZM. (…)
(top)
Emissions-free fuel-cell buses
debuts in Beijing
Beijing, China, 20 June - Three new Fuel-Cell Buses hit
the streets of Beijing today, bringing emissions-free fuel-cell based public
transportation to China for the first time. After over 3,000 kilometers of test
runs and security checks, today, the buses officially begin running their 18.2
kilometer route from the North Gate of the Summer Palace to the Wudaokou area.
"Today marks the first public operation of fuel-cell buses in Beijing, it
is the first ever in China, and one of the first in a developing country. The
hydrogen refueling station, to be fully operational this summer, will also be
the first of its kind in China. -Renaud Meyer, UNDP Deputy Resident
Representative in China. Fuel-cell
vehicles hold the prospect for zero tailpipe emissions of major air pollutants
such as CO, NOx, HCs. They will not only serve to reduce the burden on the
environment through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, but will offer a
new solution for dealing with the depletion of fossil fuels. (…)
Despite considerable efforts
and significant achievements in China to combat air pollution and greenhouse
gas emissions, China continues to rank second among the world’s largest oil
consuming countries. Coal combustion and oil consumption, the two primary
sources of air pollution, constitute at least 90% of China’s total energy use.
The transport sector, which relies almost entirely on oil, is projected to
account for most of China’s new demand for oil over the next 20 years. It is
predicted that by 2010, the percentage of emissions from big cities will
represent 64% of total emissions from all cities in China.
Office buildings can fight global warming, says World Resources
Institute guidebook
Washington, DC, June 21 - Most
people associate global warming with industrial polluters. But people who work
in office buildings can also significantly impact climate change by introducing
energy-efficiency measures to improve building operations. That is the major
message in a how-to guidebook released today by the World Resources Institute
(WRI) titled Hot Climate, Cool Commerce: A Service Sector Guide to Greenhouse
Gas Management. (…)
Case studies in the report
detail how service-sector companies have put programs in place to measure and
manage their emissions and achieve energy savings. Among the companies profiled
are Citigroup, General Electric, IKEA and Staples. (…)
All companies contribute to
climate change through their electricity consumption for office lighting,
cooling, computers, building equipment, and appliances, as well as fuel use for
heating, business travel, and the distribution of products and materials.
Electricity and heat (46 percent) and transportation (31 percent) are the two
largest U.S. sources of carbon dioxide, which is the most common GHG. (…)
Reducing energy use and
managing greenhouse gas emissions can also help build corporate value through
competitive positioning, improved shareholder relations, and human-resource
management advantages such as better recruitment and retention of employees.
(…)
For a PDF of the entire
guidebook, reprintable graphics, and other materials, journalists may visit http://newsroom.wri.org.
http://newsroom.wri.org/newsrelease_text.cfm?NewsReleaseID=365
A New Energy Efficiency 21
tool for climate change mitigation
Geneva,
9 June -- The UNECE Steering Committee of the Energy Efficiency 21 Project (EE21)
has approved the new Project Plan for 2006-2009 to promote the formation of a
market for energy efficiency and foster financing for energy efficiency
investments in countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia
(EECCA).
The next phase of the EE21
Project will: (a) accelerate regional networking between national participating
institutions and international partners, contributing to regional cooperation
on sustainable energy development; (b) promote municipal level projects to
enable local and concrete energy efficiency development and meet treaty
obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and the UNECE; and (c) develop and harmonize regional policies and
standards to introduce regulatory and institutional reforms needed for the
energy efficiency investments that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This new phase of EE21 is
intended to enhance regional cooperation on energy efficiency market formation
and investment project development. (…)
http://www.unece.org/press/pr2006/06sed_p01e.htm
Environment among 2006 FIFA
World Cup winners
Berlin/Nairobi,
3 July - A pioneering initiative to
make the 2006 FIFA World Cup not only entertaining but environmentally-friendly
is proving a winning team, it was announced today. The ‘Green Goal’ project--the inspiration of the Local Organizing
Committee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and the German Ministry of the
Environment—aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions from transport and electricity
generation during the month long tournament.(…) A preliminary snapshot
indicates that the ‘Green Goal’, which is supported by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and private business, is meeting if not
exceedingly expectations.
The Local Organizing Committee
(LOC), whose President is the German football legend Franz Beckenbauer, had
hoped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions drastically-- partly by encouraging 50
per cent of the estimated 3.2 million fans to take public transport (…) On
average, 55 per cent of spectators have been using public transport to travel
to and from the stadiums.
Some cities have exceeded
expectations. For example Munich had estimated that 30 per cent to 40 per cent
of fans would take public transport. So far an astonishing 60 per cent have
used the underground train. A significant proportion of fans have also been
walking to matches especially in Dortmund, Hanover, Kaiserslautern and Leipzig.
(…) Overall the preliminary figures indicate that 70 per cent of fans are
coming to matches by means other than private motor cars. The Oeko-Institute
cites the introduction of the Kombiticket as one reason for the success. The
ticket allows spectators to travel free on public transport on match days.
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=483&ArticleID=5309&l=en
Finding
good news about Latin American and Caribbean forests
FAO
meeting highlights examples of effective forest management
Santo
Domingo/Rome, 26 June – Latin American and Caribbean countries
gathered here for a high-level FAO meeting on forests today launched a new
initiative to collect case studies of successful forest management from around
the region so that they can be replicated elsewhere.
(…) "The idea is to use these examples of responsible forest management to
help chart a course for improved management of forestry resources across the
entire Latin American and Caribbean region," said Carlos Marx Carneiro, an
FAO senior forestry officer.
On the surface, the task seems
a daunting one: FAO statistics show that Latin America and the Caribbean had
the world's highest rate of forest loss for the 1990-2005 period, with the
region's forest area declining from 51 percent to 47 percent of the total land
area, primarily due to the conversion of forest land to agriculture. Yet
despite the grim picture painted by such figures, both forestry authorities and
FAO experts say there are numerous examples from around the region of sound
forestry management programmes in which people are succeeding in effectively
managing forests and the benefits of forestry are being shared among local
communities. (…)
Through the initiative,
government institutions, private sector companies, local communities, and
individuals are being invited to nominate examples of success forestry
management programs. These will then be carefully screened and analyzed by an
inter-regional panel of experts, with some 25-30 programmes covering a wide
range of forestry management topics ultimately being selected for in-depth
study. (…)
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000341/index.html
WWF expedition makes discoveries in the Amazon
Juruena National Park, Brazil,
29 June – A WWF expedition into the newly created Juruena National Park deep in
the Amazon forest has revealed several potentially new species to science.
Following a preliminary
survey, expedition scientists from Brazil's National Institute for Amazon
Research and the Amazonas Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable
Development discovered two new frog, fish and bird species, one tree species
and one primate. (…)
In addition to these
potentially new scientific discoveries, experts on the expedition came across
200 species of birds, ocelots (wild cats), and a pink dolphin. (…) The Amazon
river dolphin, one of the world's three freshwater dolphins, is widely
distributed throughout much of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. Its
habitat, however, is threatened by river development projects, and is
classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (…)
Covering 1.9 million hectares,
the establishment of the Juruena National Park is part of ongoing efforts by
the Amazon Region Protected Areas (ARPA) Programme, a large-scale conservation
programme aimed at creating and supporting a system of well-managed protected
areas and sustainable natural resource management reserves in the Amazon.
ARPA is a partnership between
the Brazilian government, the World Bank, Global Environment Facility, German
Development Bank, Brazilian Biodiversity Fund and WWF. (…)
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm?uNewsID=74300
First MOU between UNESCAP and
Korean water supply company
Bangkok, 21 June
(United Nations Information Services) -- The United Nations Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water). The MOU covers regional water resource
management, as well as risk management to reduce the impact of disasters such
as floods, droughts, typhoons in the Asia-Pacific region. “This is the first
MOU to be signed between UNESCAP and a national enterprise from a member
country of UNESCAP,” said Executive Secretary of UNESCAP Kim Hak-Su. The MOU
was signed by Kim Hak-Su and the President of K-water Kwak Kyul-ho at the
Headquarters of UNESCAP in Bangkok. UNESCAP and K-water agreed to work together
to promote regional cooperation in water resources, especially in identifying
opportunities for direct investment, and training within the region.(…)
http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2006/jun/n28.asp
“The
Tripartite Interfaith Forum: A Backgrounder” – New York, 7 July, 10 am – 12
noon
The
First Informal Information Session at the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium, UN
Headquarters
The Tripartite Forum on
Interfaith Cooperation for Peace is a new initiative to bring together Member
States, UN system Agencies and Departments and Religious and Spiritual
NGOs. The Committee of Religious NGOs
at the UN and other interested NGOs are invited to attend this first informal
session. An interest in building interfaith
cooperation for peace and a UN grounds pass are all that is needed to attend
this meeting.
If you can not attend and want additional information, please contact
Monica Willard, Secretary for the Committee of Religious NGOs at mbwillard@aol.com
Habitat
for Humanity and Armenia Apostolic Church join forces to serve people in need
An exciting “Building on
Faith” project is underway in Armenia:
The Armenian Church and international housing charity Habitat for
Humanity are preparing for a 37-home build for families in need, September 5-9.
During the “Catholicos Karekin II Work Project: An Armenian Building on Faith
Project”, 37 homes will be built with families in need - symbolizing 36
worldwide Dioceses, plus the Holy See, representing the Catholicos of all
Armenians - near the Armenian capital city, Yerevan. Supporters are needed -- Armenian churches are encouraged to
galvanize teams to fundraise and to join the build.
In Armenia, 45% of the
population lives in poverty. Over the
past decade, the country has suffered ramifications of a devastating earthquake
which left 500,000 homeless; a conflict, which hampered rebuilding; the
collapse of the Soviet regime, and a newfound independence. All have led to economic crisis, and
poverty. The partnership seeks to rebuild Armenia.“Through this partnership, we
are ‘putting our faith into action,’” said Bishop Vicken Aykazian. “Morally and spiritually, we share common
values with Habitat for Humanity: above all, to help people in need.”
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian
organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. More than 1 million people around the world
are living in Habitat homes they helped build, and pay for through no-profit
mortgages. For information on how to become a supporter, or how to get involved
in the Armenian Build on Faith event, please visit: www.habitateurope.org/catholicos , or write to Catholicos@habitat.org
Russian professor receives award for contributions to discourse on
science and spirituality
Moscow, Russian Federation, 29
June (BWNS) -- Despite what might be expected from a scientist, for Dr. Gudrat
Seyfi, faith plays a key role in his understanding of science. "For me
faith implies wisdom that gives answers to the question to which science has
not found answers yet," he explains. "The principle of the
interaction of science and religion allows a scientist to advance a more
complete cognition and understanding of the world as a whole." Dr. Seyfi's creative and innovative approach
in understanding the sciences from a spiritual perspective and his contribution
to the discourse of science and religion were formally recognized at a special
session of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences
this March.
The author of several books
and numerous articles on faith and science, spirituality and comparative
religion, Dr. Seyfi, the vice-director of the Scientific Centre
"Eurasia" of the Russian Academy of the Natural Sciences, was awarded
a diploma with the highly merited status of "Academician" by the
Academy. He recognizes, however, that his perspective, once considered radical,
is becoming more widespread. (…) A member of the Baha'i Community of Moscow,
Dr. Seyfi describes his own approach to science as being deeply connected to
his understanding of the spiritual evolution of humanity. (…)
http://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=458
The Creative Gallery on
Sustainability Communications
UNEP is presenting the first
international online database of corporate and public advertising campaigns
specifically dedicated to sustainability issues and classified by
sustainability themes.
The Creative Gallery on Sustainability Communications is the
result of a thorough selection, which started with the viewing of over 40,000
ads. The campaigns highlighted in this Gallery address sustainability issues
through various themes, tones, types of media and strategies. Some reflect
companies' public commitment towards social and environmental issues. Others
feature awareness campaigns from public authorities. Some aim to favour the
purchase of green products and services, others strive to change citizens' or
consumers' attitudes. The Gallery also compile case studies taken from existing
UNEP publications like Communicating Sustainability and Talk the Walk. By gathering
these campaigns from all around the world, UNEP wishes to inspire and foster
more and better communication on sustainability issues from all stakeholders
involved in the promotion of sustainable development. However, the selected
campaigns do not constitute an endorsement by the United Nations Environment
Programme for any message, brand, company or public advertiser.
This Creative Gallery is also
designed to aid and promote the area of research, education and information
relating to the marketing, advertising and communication business. Therefore,
we invite all advertisers - companies, governments, local authorities, consumer
organisations, NGOs, etc. - to submit their campaigns in this database in order
to share their experience with other communication experts and to ensure that
this Gallery remains a living tool, constantly fed by external inputs.(…)
http://www.unep.fr/pc/sustain/advertising/ads.htm
World Vision to provide 10 temporary schools
by Bartolomeus Marsudiharjo -
World Vision Indonesia Communications
World Vision will provide 10
temporary schools in Bantul and Klaten districts so that the children in the
area can have a comfortable study environment when the new schooling year start
in mid-July.
Hundreds of school buildings
collapsed when a powerful quake struck the districts on May 27.
World Vision will set up
temporary schools in Kebon Dalem, Baturan, Mlese, Banyuripan and Balak villages
in Klaten district in Central Java province; as well as in Pandowoharjo,
Canden, Terong, Mangunan, Karangtalun villages in Bantul district, in
Yogyakarta province. Ronny Ichwan, World Vision Indonesia area coordinator for
Klaten district, said each school would be provided with seven large tents, 240
tables, 240 chairs, six blackboards, 2,400 sets of textbooks, a water tank and
latrine rooms. “We have ordered the equipment, and hope to handover the
temporary schools early in July,” Ichwan predicted.
Six tents will be used for
classrooms as primary schools in the region consist of six grades. One tent
will be used as teachers’ room.
June
21, 2006: First Global Harmony Day
On June 21, 2006, co-authors of
the International site "A New Culture of Peace from Social Harmony and
Children’s Priority" (www.peacefromharmony.org ), which unites about 150
authors from 28 countries of the world, celebrated the first Global Harmony Day
in the history of
mankind, established in the Harmonious Era Calendar, which is created by the
site’s 27 co-authors. Global Harmony Day is a key date of this Calendar. Dr
Semashko, director of the named site and initiator of the Calendar is a founder of
this day. He defines its as the uniting centre, common denominator and focusing
date of a new Calendar in view of the special vital meaning of harmony. (…)
The Global Harmony Day unites
all people of the world. It is a happy holiday of Harmony for Mankind! The
authors have congratulated all people with harmony, which mankind begins to
master as a positive alternative to poverty, injustice, pollution, humiliation and
wars!
Surprising, but a nonrandom
coincidence has taken place on June 21, when simultaneously, together with the
Global Harmony Day, the Global Harmony Foundation in Washington DC rang the
Global Harmony Bell at Capitol Hill and took a Minute of Peace. (…)
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