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Good News Agency – Year VIII, n° 10
Weekly - Year VIII, number 10
– 27th July 2007
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.
It is an all-volunteer service
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
London, UK, 13 July – After
more than ten years of lobbying by WWF, shipping states within the UN’s
International Maritime Organization (IMO) have ratified legislation that bans
the use of tributyltin (TBT) in anti-fouling systems of ships.
TBT is an organic compound
often used as an additive in many marine anti-fouling paints, which kills algal
and barnacle growth and anything else that attaches to ships. The problem is
that the chemical is highly toxic to many marine organisms. Even at low concentrations
it causes deformations in oysters and genital changes in snails. The decline of
commercial oysters along the Atlantic coast of France and the UK in the 1970s
is attributed to TBT contamination.
“This [the ban] is a
tremendous victory for the marine environment, but one that is long overdue,”
said Dr Simon Walmsley, Head of WWF-UK’s Marine Programme. “It has been over
forty years since TBT’s negative impacts were first identified and seven years
since legislation to ban TBT was agreed, yet we have only now achieved a global
ban.”
Panama, which flags one of the
world’s biggest shipping fleets, helped bring about the ban. A total of 25
states representing 25 per cent of world shipping tonnage had to ratify the
IMO’s anti-fouling systems convention to bring the ban into force globally.
The global ban will be
introduced in 12 months time. Any vessel still using anti-fouling paints which
contain TBT will have to use a safer alternative.
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm?uNewsID=108960
Trinidad and Tobago: Ministry of Education and ICRC
agree to implement humanitarian law programme in secondary schools
On 10 July the ICRC and the
Ministry of Education of Trinidad and Tobago concluded an agreement in which
they jointly undertook to implement the ICRC's Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL)
programme in the country's secondary schools. The main purpose of the programme
is to ensure that young people aged 13 to 18 acquire a basic understanding of
humanitarian rules and principles by making the topic an integral part of
secondary-school education.
The agreement was signed,
during the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop on EHL, by Angella Jack,
permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education of Trinidad and Tobago, and
Max Furrer, deputy head of the ICRC's regional delegation in Caracas, which
covers Venezuela, Suriname and the English-speaking Caribbean countries. Also
present were Senator Hazel Manning, the minister of education of Trinidad and
Tobago, and Charles Sabga, head of the ICRC's sub-regional delegation in
Port-of-Spain.
On signing the agreement, Mr
Furrer said that the ICRC and its sub-regional delegation were "fully
committed to supporting the implementation of the EHL programme in the
secondary schools of Trinidad and Tobago." He further stressed the
importance of including international humanitarian law in the civics curricula
of all secondary schools in the twenty-first century and recommended that the
EHL programme be used to do so.
The ICRC's regional delegation
in Caracas has been supporting efforts to introduce the provisions of
international humanitarian law into domestic legislation since it opened in
February 2000.
http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/trinite-et-tobago-news-100707
29 June - The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Denmark and DanChurchAid are pleased to announce the
international seminar "Protection of civilians - Learning from
Darfur" on September 10 - 11, 2007 in Copenhagen. Protection of civilians
is one of the greatest challenges of our times. The rising levels of attacks on
civilians, including women and children are in direct contravention with
international law and the international commitment to the protection of
civilians. (…)
The seminar will discuss
protection of civilians by using the case of Darfur as a learning experience.
Since 2003 protection of civilians from targeted attacks, murder, rape and
looting has been a key challenge in Darfur. To meet this challenge local and
international humanitarian, political and military actors have employed various
strategies. When assessing Darfur’s current situation it must be concluded that
despite achieving some positive results, the majority of protection efforts
have had disappointing outcomes.
Based on an examination of
practical experiences with protection of civilians the seminar will focus on
the following aims: Clarify roles, responsibilities, mandates and capacities of
humanitarian, political and military actors in protection work; discuss
obstacles, weaknesses and strengths and come up with recommendations on
strengthening implementation of protection measures, improve cooperation
between actors and strengthen protection strategies. (…)
Refugees, internally displaced
return to Kosovo
Ad Melkert,
Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator for the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), urged continued support for returning refugees
and internally displaced persons in Kosovo, and stressed the importance of
creating employment and livelihood opportunities for them on the last day of a
4 day visit to Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
"It is important to provide a future for the young people in Kosovo so
that they are not only encouraged to stay, but also are reintegrated into a
society that has a place for everyone,
Melkert said after a visit with two families who have returned. “It is encouraging to see that there is an overwhelming
wish on the part of the returnees to be able to continue their normal lives and
that tolerance can reign again for the future development of Kosovo.In 1999,
after the conflict in Kosovo ended, all of the Serbian inhabitants in the
village of Vidanje in central west Kosovo fled to Serbia and their houses were
completely destroyed. In 2004 the first group of Kosovo-Serbs returned to the
village through the Government Assistance to Returns project, implemented by
UNDP. This project has resulted in the full reconstruction of more than
50 houses, a community centre, the electrical and sewage systems, and a
road.(…)
http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2007/july/refugees-kosovo-20070709.en
Views on Development in Latin
America
New publication presents 14 articles on economic
growth, poverty and inequality.
20
July - The formulation of effective policies
that contribute to greater well-being is based on accurate diagnosis. The need
to assess diverse views and combine efforts grows in urgency in a world where
interdependence is increasingly the norm. In this respect, the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the CIDOB Foundation (Center for Research in
International Relations and Development) have dedicated years to the study of
the most relevant aspects of development. To contribute to the discussion of
regional development, these two organizations are launching a new publication
entitled "Visiones del Desarrollo en
América Latina" ("Views on
Development in Latin America"), on Monday, 23 July 2007 at
3:00 p.m. at ECLAC
headquarters in Santiago. Commenting on the publication will be Alejandro Ferreiro, Chile's Minister
of Economy.
José
Luis Machinea, ECLAC Executive
Secretary, and Narcís Serra,
CIDOB Foundation president, are the editors of this collection of 14 articles
contributed by leading Latin American economists and political figures,
including vice presidents, ministers, academics and top-ranking officials of
key finance institutions. The articles focus on the macroeconomic
dimensions of regional policies - fiscal discipline, financial markets,
currency exchange - and on analysis of the social institutions and policies
that are charged with overcoming poverty and persistent inequalities. (…)
Secretary-General’s
report shows continued strong economic performance of Least Developed Countries
New York, 19 July (UN
Headquarters) -- The Secretary-General’s fifth results-oriented annual progress
report on the implementation of the Programme of Action of the Least Developed
Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 shows continued strong economic performance
by least developed countries, with fewer countries, mainly Pacific islands,
lagging behind. It also suggests that social indicators are also improving, but
overall socio-economic progress in African least developed countries has been
significantly compromised by continuing population growth driven by the highest
fertility in the world. (…)
The report recommends greater
donor focus on enhancing the productive capacity of least developed countries,
particularly in agriculture. (…) It calls upon donors to make significant
efforts to increase their aid volumes in order to achieve the internationally
agreed goals of 0.15 - 0.20 per cent of their Gross National Income (GNI) as the
Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the least developed countries by 2010
and improve aid effectiveness (ownership, harmonization, alignment, results and
mutual accountability) as agreed in Rome and Paris.
The report underscores that
strong commitment by least developed countries and their development partners
to the objectives, goals and targets of the Programme and full adherence to the
principles of country ownership, an integrated approach, result-orientation,
genuine partnership and market considerations in its implementation are crucial
to make further progress in the implementation of the Brussels Programme. (…)
Conference
on happiness examines different approaches to development
UN in Bangkok, 18-19 July
Bangkok, 17
July – The Asia-Pacific region has
shown enviable economic growth as measured by GDP. However, this growth has
come at a heavy environmental cost and has been accompanied by a host of social
problems, calling into question whether GDP-driven development brings people
more happiness. To examine these issues, the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) is co-sponsoring an International
Conference on Happiness and Public Policy which will be held 18-19 July at the
United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.
The meeting, organized by the
Public Policy Development Office (PPDO) of the government of Thailand, is an
effort to establish a new paradigm for development that stresses the quality of
growth over quantity. The meeting is expected to attract over 300 participants
from the region and beyond and will feature high-level government officials such
as the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Paiboon Wattanasiritham, the Minister
of Home and Cultural Affairs of Bhutan, Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley. Kim Hak-Su,
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNESCAP Executive Secretary, will
speak at the opening.
http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2007/jul/n32.asp
July 13 - ACDI/VOCA has been awarded
a multimillion dollar contract to implement the three-year Enterprise
Development and Training Program (EDTP) being funded by BP and its co-venturers
in Azerbaijan through their Regional Development Initiative (RDI).
The EDTP will be involved in the identification of potential local suppliers, introductory workshops for local companies, gap analysis for potential suppliers and, where appropriate, the creation and implementation of a tailored development plan. (…)
ACDI/VOCA will establish a new
private company called Solutions, LLC, to provide financial training and
business advisory services in cooperation with other local business service
providers. The company will be commercially viable by project’s end. (…)
In Azerbaijan ACDI/VOCA also
implements the SME Support through the Financial Sector Development Project and
the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, and continues to support the activities of
CredAgro, an Azeri rural finance institution founded by ACDI/VOCA in 2000.
http://www.acdivoca.org/acdivoca/portalhub.nsf/ID/news_EDPTaward
Turkish
Prime Minister receives Agricola Medal
New
FAO Subregional Office inaugurated in Ankara
11
July, Ankara – FAO Director-General Jacques
Diouf today conferred FAO’s highest award, the Agricola Medal, on Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in recognition of his contribution to
agricultural and social development in Turkey. The ceremony took place at FAO’s
new Subregional Office for Central Asia which the Director-General, together
with Prime Minister Erdogan, formally inaugurated today. The Office was set up
last year as part of FAO’s ongoing decentralization policy, with Turkey
providing premises and contributing staff and funding. (…)
Under Prime Minister Erdogan,
Turkey has launched a major Agricultural Reform Project which aims to provide
direct incentives to farmers to significantly increase production and exports
and raise rural incomes and food security.
Dr Diouf noted that Turkey is one of the few emerging countries directly
participating in food aid operations, to which it has donated millions of
dollars through the World Food Programme over the past few years.(…)
The newly inaugurated Subregional
Office for Central Asia offers agricultural policy and technical expertise to
seven countries – Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Turkey and Uzbekistan. (…)
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000626/index.html
Counterpart International selects communities for
participation in a new community empowerment program
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 10
July – On May 31, 2007, Counterpart International Turkmenistan selected 48
target and nine alternate communities across Turkmenistan to participate in the
three-year, USAID-funded Turkmenistan Community Empowerment Program (TCEP). The program is designed to promote greater
participation of citizens in local governance at the community level. (…)
All selected target
communities will have access to the program technical assistance, such as civic
and business training, consultations, and access to information and grants. As
a result, the communities are expected to benefit as follows: have stronger and
more active adult and youth leadership, better project planning and management
skills, stronger social partnership with local governments and businesses,
better access to improved services, strengthened networks with other
communities, stronger economies measured in terms of jobs, investment, easier
access to credit and economic opportunities for youth, and access to legal
services and resources through a combination of direct consultations, seminars
and dissemination of materials. (…)
For more information, please
contact Counterpart's Turkmenistan office at: hotline@cpart.org
http://www.counterpart.org/Default.aspx?tabid=340&metaid=H8BM0727-6f3
UNECE
Countries in Figures 2007 released
Fast facts about the 56 UNECE countries
·
Did you know that 46% of Armenia’s population is employed in the
agricultural sector?
·
Did you know that in 2005, exports of goods and services accounted for
87.1% of Belgium's GDP?
·
Did you know that Iceland has the lowest youth unemployment rate (7.2%)
within the UNECE nations?
The United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe’s Statistical Division has developed and recently
released a new fast fact guide - UNECE
Countries in Figures 2007 . Each and every UNECE country in
Europe, North America, the Caucasus, and Central Asia* has a two-page
profile of social and economic indicators.
Data is presented for the most recent whole year available. The latest
data is available on-line through the UNECE Statistical Database (http://www.unece.org/stats/data ). The UNECE
Statistical Database contains internationally comparable statistics, and is
regularly updated by statistical experts. UNECE Countries in Figures 2007 provides an example of the
types of data available in that database. This publication is also intended for
readers who are not so familiar with statistical terms or with interpreting
statistical tables. It includes explanations of the terminology used, and
translations of that terminology into French and Russian. (…)
http://www.unece.org/press/pr2007/07stat_p02e.htm
How the Kenya Women Finance
Trust became a model lender
Kudos
to Kenyan Women
Sometimes, numbers speak
louder than words. Six years ago, the Kenya Women Finance Trust (KWFT) was
losing around US$290,000 a year. By 2006, it was posting annual profits of
US$1.87 million and changing the lives of more than 100,000 poor women. By any
standard, this is a remarkable turnaround. But behind the numbers lies an even
more remarkable story. The trust’s outstanding growth is testament to the
importance of taking risks, and to not giving up on a good idea.
There is nothing magical about
what KWFT has done. Its growth and success are based on sound financial
practices that can be replicated in other rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. As
its name suggests, the Kenya Women Finance Trust is a microfinance institution
established by Kenyan women and offering services only to low-income Kenyan
women. IFAD, in partnership with the Belgian Survival Fund, has been a major
donor since 1992. (…) Management had to decide between two basic development
options. The first, and safest, was to consolidate operations in existing
areas, slowly increasing the amount and number of average loans and focusing
increasingly on easy-to-reach clients in urban areas. This was an almost
guaranteed way of providing slow, sustainable growth. The second, riskier,
option was to aim for a bigger impact by expanding aggressively into rural
areas, including the poorest parts of the country, to become a truly national
institution. KWFT chose the second option. It paid off. By 2006, its financial
self-sufficiency ratio had increased to 105 per cent; KWFT’s own income was
more than enough to cover all its operating and financial expenses. This level
of financial independence is rare for any microfinance institution, let alone
one operating in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa.(…) Looking ahead, KWFT
plans to expand into two new regions in the next year. It aims to reach about
250,000 members by 2011, with an outstanding portfolio in the region of US$120
to US$140 million. (…)
http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/english/regions/africa/ken/voices/kwft.htm
17 July - From today, over
10,000 people reliable access to drinking water, thanks to a new ICRC-built
water tank at the Luzira Prison Complex in Kampala. "The ICRC built the
new tank to improve the water supply for the 4,500 inmates of Luzira’s four
prisons.
We are very happy that a total
of 10,000 people, including prison staff and their families, will ultimately
benefit from this project," said Beat Mosimann, the ICRC’s deputy head of
delegation. He added: "The ICRC works to improve the living conditions of
detainees in countries affected by violence all over the world. We have
cooperated with prison authorities to bring safe water to prisons in a number
of African countries, including Burundi and Rwanda."
The old water tank had been
leaking badly, wasting large amounts of water – and money. Less water in the
tank meant less pressure in the pipes, making the prisons’ water supply
unreliable. The new tank sits 12 metres above ground level and can hold up to
330,000 litres, providing a reliable water supply to the Luzira Prison Complex
and minimizing wastage.
The ICRC funded the tank, with
both the ICRC and the Uganda Prison Services (UPS) contributing to the
technical aspects. In cooperation with the UPS, the ICRC delegation in Uganda
is currently improving access to safe water in Gulu, Ruimi and Ibuga prisons.
As well as conducting
protection and assistance activities for people affected by conflict in the
north of Uganda, the ICRC is monitoring the material and psychological
conditions of detainees in prisons, police stations and military barracks
countrywide. The ICRC discusses its observations regularly with the Ugandan
authorities. These discussions are confidential.
In Uganda, as everywhere, the
ICRC carries out its humanitarian activities in an impartial, independent and
neutral manner.
http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/uganda-news-170707
15 July - The ICRC has just
finished delivering rice seed, maize seed and fertilizer to 3,696 households in
122 villages in the departments of Korhogo, Ferkéssédougou, Boundiali and
Bouna. The organization has been supporting 11 associations and 3 agricultural
cooperatives as part of the same project.
The ICRC delegation in Abidjan
issued the following press release on 15 July 2007. With the support of
volunteers from the Red Cross Society of Côte d’Ivoire and an NGO, Animation
rurale de Korhogo, the ICRC supplied 30,000 people with 42 tonnes of maize
seed, 38 tonnes of upland rice seed, 18 tonnes of lowland rice seed, 370 tonnes
of NPK fertilizer and 185 tonnes of urea.
At the end of April, the ICRC
distributed 95 tonnes of maize, rice and yam seed to 1,274 households (11,083
individuals) in the region of Satama Soukoura, east of Bouaké.
The aim is to ensure a degree
of food security for people living in rural areas that the ICRC has identified
as particularly vulnerable. In 2006, the ICRC ran a similar programme in other
regions.
As always, before launching
the programme the ICRC carried out an analysis. This revealed that a number of
areas were particularly vulnerable. It also highlighted the general
impoverishment of the population. Factors include problems in the agricultural
sector on account of the crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, i.e. isolation, a fall in
prices and the disappearance of State support. The lack of rainfall has also
hit agricultural production.
The ICRC will be providing
technical support to farmers until the harvest is in.
http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/cote-ivoire-news-150707
July 11 - Episcopal Relief and
Development (ERD) is providing emergency aid to people in Southern Pakistan
after flooding caused severe damage in the region.
Heavy rains caused flooding in
Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, in the Sindh Province and surrounding
areas. Over 300 people have died from storm-related damage and flooding. Many
areas of Karachi are without electricity and basic amenities, and there is
concern of the development of water-borne diseases due to slow cleanup efforts.
In the Balochistan province, 200 people are missing and two million people in
15 districts were affected by flooding.
Gadap, the city worst affected
by flooding, is located 34 miles outside of Karachi. Over 24 people were
killed, over 200 others were injured, and one thousand homes were heavily
damaged or completely ruined. The destruction was caused by 69 mile per-hour
wind gusts followed by torrential rain that caused many of the homes and
buildings in less developed areas to collapse. Residents are now dependent on
contaminated water after the covers of the town’s concrete water tanks were
blown away. The floods killed livestock and destroyed 75 poultry farms. So far,
the storms have caused damage estimated at 200 million rupees, close to $3.5
million U.S.
ERD is working in partnership
with Church World Service to provide emergency relief to 250 of vulnerable
families in Gadap. Critical food supplies such as wheat flour, rice, cooking
oil, sugar, tea leaves, iodized salt, powdered milk, and matches will be
distributed to each family, particularly those most vulnerable such as widows,
children, and the elderly.
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5869
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will keynote 2007
Hilton Humanitarian Prize events
Los Angeles, July 10 – United
Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be the keynote speaker at the Conrad
N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize Dinner on Wednesday, September 12, 2007, in New
York City at The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
The $1.5 million Hilton Prize, largest in the humanitarian world, will
be awarded to an organization selected by an independent international jury for
its work in alleviating suffering. (…)
This year marks the 12th
anniversary of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize, which is designed to honor
charitable organizations that are effective, innovative leaders in addressing
the most pressing needs of humanity.
Each year more than 200 nominations are received from around the world. The process includes a rigorous examination
of each candidate’s work. A distinguished international jury makes the final
selection. (…)
The Conrad N. Hilton
Foundation is named for its founder, the late hotel entrepreneur, who left
virtually his entire fortune to the foundation with instructions to help the
most disadvantaged and vulnerable throughout the world. The Hilton Foundation, based in Los Angeles,
California and Reno, Nevada (USA), and its related entities have assets of
approximately $3.1 billion and to date has distributed close to $500 million
for charitable projects throughout the world.
More than 50% of its grants fund international projects. The foundation is an independent nonprofit
organization and is not part of the Hilton Hotels Corporation.
http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/press_release_details.asp?id=58
Atlanta, GA, USA, July 6 -
CARE has begun emergency operations in some of the areas most heavily affected by
Cyclone Yemyin that hit southwestern Pakistan last week, but relief supplies
are running out. The storm brought widespread rain, high winds, and flooding
particularly in the Baluchistan and Sindh regions. At least 150,000 people are
left homeless and hundreds were killed in the disaster.
Immediate relief efforts have
been hampered by limited communications and severe road damage in the worst
affected areas. The casualties have gone into the hundreds, and are likely to
rise as hundreds more people are still missing. The Baluchistan Province is
said to be the worst affected, with a million people affected by the floods.
Although relief and rescue
operations are underway by the government, United Nations and aid agencies,
communities are facing severe shortages of medicines, food supplies, health
facilities, safe drinking water and sanitation services.
CARE is providing emergency
packs including water purification items, hygiene kits and kitchen sets to
around 5,000 most vulnerable families, many headed by women with children. To
meet the mounting health needs in the flood affected areas, CARE is also
providing mobile medical health care facilities to hundred of patients. The
medical facilities are focusing on the primary and reproductive health care
needs of mothers and children. CARE is
now seeking funding to expand services immediately to 30,000 people. (…)
http://www.care.org/newsroom/articles/2007/07/20070706_pakistan_cyclone.asp
Mansehra, Pakistan, July 3
- World Vision and other local and
international humanitarian agencies will convene in Islamabad today in response
to a request for aid by the Pakistani government, as some 1.5 million people in
South Asia have been affected by Cyclone Yemyin and flash flooding. World
Vision relief staff in India are already supplying hot meals to families who
have been displaced by the storms. The consortium of aid agencies will
determine needs and decide on a course of action. “The access to scattered
groups of populations is very difficult,” said Graham Strong, World Vision
Pakistan national director. “We can count on the technical capacity and
experience of our team, and the collaboration with our partners, but there are
considerable logistical challenges.”
The Pakistani Meteorological
Department issued a warning that in the next two days heavy winds and rains
will hit already damaged areas. Torrential rains have left an estimated 500
dead and missing and 250,000 homeless. Rising water levels have forced
thousands of families to flee their homes and devastated buildings and grain
stores, destroying food, clothing and school supplies.
Monsoons have wreaked havoc in
six communities in India where World Vision runs programs for sponsored
children. The agency is planning to help families rebuild their homes and is already
providing support to minimize the disruption of schooling for children.
In India, one World Vision
project is organizing medical camps, as many children are suffering from fevers
and colds. Staff members on the ground continue to work alongside the
government, completing assessments and monitoring the situation in other areas.
(…)
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5860
Rotary
- New intercountry committee stresses U.S.-Russian club ties
By Dean Golemis
13 June - Rotarians in Russia,
the United States, and Canada took a big step toward promoting fellowship and
coordinating international projects by launching the United States-Russia
Intercountry Committee. The ICC chartering ceremony on 8 June coincided with
the 12th annual Rotary in Russia Conference, held this year in Skokie,
Illinois, USA. The new ICC, which encompasses 10 districts, is the largest
intercountry committee in the Rotary world. (…)
Eighty delegates from all
participating districts gathered at the three-day Rotary in Russia Conference
to discuss projects, membership, and youth programs in their home clubs and
districts, and chart a course for the new ICC.
Past District 5890 Governor
Jon Eiche, who chaired the conference, said the ICC will form committees to
promote twin club relationships, hold annual meetings hosted by member
districts, identify RI materials and documents to be translated into Russian,
and launch a bilingual Web site. Gian Paolo Marello, of the Rotary Club of
Moscow Arbat and ICC national coordinator for District 2220, stressed that
"club twinning" between Russian and North American clubs is an
important first step for the ICC. (…)
http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/programs/070613_moscow.html
Resolution against depleted uranium weapons is issued
by Church of the Brethren General Board
Elgin, IL, USA, July 13 - A
resolution against the use of depleted uranium weapons has been approved by the
Church of the Brethren General Board. The action came at a meeting on June 30,
held in conjunction with the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference in
Cleveland, Ohio.
Declaring the use of depleted
uranium weapons to be "a specific and compelling example of the sinfulness
of war," the resolution appeals for a halt to their manufacture, lifts up
the work of Christian Peacemaker Teams and the World Council of Churches, and
directs the Brethren Witness/Washington Office to advocate for elimination of
the weapons, among other actions.
Phil Jones, director of the
Brethren Witness/Washington Office, introduced the resolution as a partnership
with Christian Peacemaker Teams and the World Council of Churches, which have
worked against depleted uranium weapons and/or have made statements regarding
use of the weapons. (…)
The Church of the Brethren is
a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully
and simply, and to living out its faith in community. The denomination is based
in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic
Peace Churches. It celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts almost
130,000 members across the US and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister
churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.
http://www.iccr.org/news/press_releases/2007/pr_dubrethren071607.htm
Cambodian National Volleyball League (Disabled): ICBL
acknowledged through Pailin Hawks Volleyball Team
Author(s): Nathaniel Powell
5 July - In acknowledgement of
the ongoing need to keep the International Campaign to Ban Landmines high on
the international public agenda, the Pailin Hawks volleyball team will carry
the ICBL logo on their uniforms for the 2007 National A-League season.
The Pailin Hawks debuted
during the 2006 National League season and impressed everyone with their dignity,
determination and team spirit. Pailin Hawks Coach Khem Peng Thong subsequently
won the 2006 Best New Athlete prize presented at the 2006 National League Grand
Finals.
By acknowledging the
International Campaign to Ban the Landmine through the Pailin ICBL Hawks, the
CNVLD recognises that there has been a fundamental shift in public focus away
from the Landmine issue even though the production, use, stockpiling and cruel
legacies of the Landmine continue. This shift has come in favour of more
‘fashionable’ initiatives, focusing on the G8, demonstrating the largesse
involved when celebrities take on high visibility causes for short – term
publicity. The CNVLD and the Pailin ICBL Hawks urge the international community
to re-invigorate the debate on the Landmine and the long-terms effects of UXO
and not forget the daily casualties across the world without a public voice.
The CNVLD and the
International Campaign to Ban the Landmine – Standing Up together in support of
the Cambodian Survivors of the Landmine.
http://www.icbl.org/layout/set/print/news/icbl_volleyball_in_cambodia
Contact: Sandra Prufer at
+1-847-866-3208
Evanston, Ill., USA, 1 July -
Amid today’s headlines of war, suicide bombings and ethnic and religious
violence emerges some welcome positive news: Rotary International has named a
new class of World Peace Fellows to study peacemaking and conflict resolution
at the six Rotary Centers for International Studies.
Launched in 2002, this
innovative approach to world peace is a master’s level program aimed at
equipping the next generation of government officials, diplomats and
humanitarian leaders with skills needed to reduce the threat of war and
violence. The Rotary World Peace Fellows are selected every year in a globally
competitive selection process based on their professional, academic and
personal achievements.
The Rotary Centers are located
on the campuses of leading universities in five countries: International
Christian University, Japan; Universidad del Salvador, Argentina; University of
Bradford, England; University of Queensland, Australia; University of
California, Berkeley; and — in a shared arrangement — Duke University and
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Like the members of the five
classes preceding them, the 60 students in the 2007-09 class are a diverse
group, representing 32 countries and a wide array of professional and cultural
backgrounds. Their interests and areas of expertise include public health,
education, international law, public policy, economic development, journalism,
and social justice. (…)
The program is already showing
results. Dozens of Rotary Peace Fellow alumni are making a difference in jobs
within the United Nations, the World Bank, governmental agencies and
international non-governmental organizations where their skills are tipping
balance in favor of peace and conflict resolution.
Rotary is the world's largest
privately-funded source of international scholarships and has more than 30,000
Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographic regions. For more information about the Rotary
Centers for International Studies, please visit:
www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/centers/index.html
http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/presscenter/releases/2007/323.html
PeaceInsight - A
new project by the Center for Peace
Peace in Sight is a joint initiative of the “PeaceInsight”
Organization in Sussex, England, the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace at Givat
Haviva, and “PCAS” Organization of Ramallah.
At the base of the initiative
is a program for bringing young Israelis and Palestinians - ages 16 to 18 -
together with the goal of creating acquaintance, holding dialogue and forming
an ongoing connection to influence the communities and the schools from which
the participants come. The public and educational strength and power of the
program is in its being a three-year program, enabling wide ranging
acquaintance and dialogue over the long term.
The Peace in Sight program is aimed at a target population of young
and future leadership within Israeli and Palestinian society.
We believe that only an
in-depth and long term education program can achieve the objective - shattering
stereotypes, acquaintance with and acceptance of the other, internalization of
values of respect, coexistence and peace.
Web:
http://www.givathaviva.org.il/english/
19 July - A study conducted by
the Royal Free Centre for HIV Medicine and the Royal Free and University
College London Medical Schools, and funded by the European Commission, shows
that long term treatment of HIV-infected patients with the combination
antiretroviral therapy (cART) effectively restores their immune function levels
to levels similar to those found in healthy individuals. These findings are
derived from an analysis of a long-standing European collaborative study,
EuroSIDA, a research project that has been funded by the European Commission
since 1994. (…)
The authors of the EuroSIDA
study, Dr Amanda Mocroft of the Royal Free and University College London
Medical Schools, and Prof Jens D. Lundgren, University of Copenhagen, can therefore
conclude that a normalisation of the CD4 cell count in the blood of
HIV-infected patients can be achieved if viral suppression with the cART
therapy can be maintained for a sufficiently long period of time. The EuroSIDA
study has shown that most HIV positive patients who can maintain a viral load
at less than 50 copies per ml of blood continue to have significant rises in
their CD4 cell counts even after five years of cART treatment. The EuroSIDA
study also shows that HIV positive patients who started the cART therapy with a
CD4 cell count of above 350 cells per microlitre of blood had CD4 cells counts
approaching the level seen in HIV-negative individuals after more than three
years of cART therapy.
Somali religious leaders join
the fight against polio
80
Sheikhs from Puntland and Somaliland mobilize support for polio prevention
Nairobi, 18 July – The
Puntland Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs, Abdirizak Yasin Abdulle, led
40 religious leaders from North East Somalia in a joint declaration of support
for polio prevention and immunization today. "We have a big
responsibility,” said Minister Abdulle. “It is now time for the Sheikhs to take
in front of Allah their responsibilities for the eradication of polio. We must
call for the vaccination of all children under five years of age and work for
the benefit of the children."
The declaration could be a
major breakthrough for the polio programme in Somalia, which has faced resistance
from some parents who have cited religious beliefs as a reason to refuse
immunization for their children. Polio re-emerged in Somalia in July 2005,
after almost three polio-free years, with 185 cases confirmed in 2005, 36 in
2006 and eight in 2007. Announcing the declaration on behalf of the religious
leaders, Somaliland Minister of Religious Affairs, Mahamoud Sheikh Sufi Mohamed
said, "Islamic Scholars are required to effectively support community
awareness about polio eradication and immunization in general. Knowing the
facts and proving things is what Islam calls for on any issue. It refuses to
follow untrue things and rumours that are not based on knowledge." The
official support from the group of influential Sheikhs followed their participation
in a two-day workshop in Garowe. During the workshop they met with Dr. Ahmed
Ragaa A. Ragab, a well-known Islamic scholar at Al Azhar University and medical
doctor, who dispelled rumours, myths and misconceptions about polio
immunization and the polio vaccine. (…)
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_40360.html
The European Regional and
Local Health Authorities Platform (EUREGHA) organised this summer 2007 the
conference Health and Nutrition in the Regions of Europe that took place on 5
July in the Committee of the Regions, Brussels. The EUREGHA conference focused
on exploring regional nutrition best practice examples from across the European
Union.
During the event, the European
Commission presented two nutrional initiatives, the White Paper on a strategy
for Europe on nutrition, overweight and obesity and the EU Mini-chefs
initiative, that aims to promote healthy cooking for young Europeans.
For more information about the
event please contact health@nwhbo.org
July - When a storm at sea
sunk a crucial shipment of medical supplies and medicines on route to a Malawi
health organization, the Ministry of Health in Malawi turned to Project HOPE
for help.
CHAM, a network of health
facilities in Malawi provides 40 percent of the health services in the country
through its education and health facilities that include nine nursing colleges,
18 hospitals, 17 community hospitals and 128 health centers. Close to 90
percent of these facilities are located in rural settings.
Four of CHAM’s facilities were
on the verge of closure this month because their annual shipment of medicines
and medical supplies on route from Europe to South Africa sunk in a storm at
sea this spring. But Project HOPE, with
help from Food for the Hungry, another non-governmental organization (NGO)
working in Malawi, stepped in to insure the facilities would stay open. After
assessing the critical needs of the health facilities, Project HOPE pledged
approximately $1.7 million in
pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to arrive in Malawi by the end of
June.
“Over the years Project HOPE
has built strong working relationships with the various Ministries of Health in
the countries we serve. This close relationship coupled with Project HOPE's
reputation and dedication to helping others has allowed us to be uniquely
positioned to offer assistance in time of emergencies (…)” said Byron Owens, Director International
Humanitarian Assistance and Gifts-in-Kind Programs. “By cooperating with other
NGOs and working with our own flexible Humanitarian Assistance department, we
were able to respond to this emergency request in a prompt and practical manner
and help to continue providing accessible, affordable, quality health services
for the people in Malawi.”
http://www.projecthope.org/headlines/view.asp?id=12388000
Conakry, Guinea, June 27 –
Helen Keller International (HKI), in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry
of Public Health, launched Guinea’s first bi-annual integrated child survival
campaign for 2007 in the capital of Conakry. During the campaign, almost 2
million children under five years of age will be given life-saving vaccinations,
vitamin A supplements and deworming medication. (…) The launch of the
integrated child survival campaign coincided with the Month of the African
Child and was attended by the First Lady, the Honorable Mme Henriette Conté,
the Ministers of Justice and Social Affairs, and the wife of Prime Minister
Lansana Kouyaté. Representatives from UNICEF, the Government of Canada, and WHO
also attended the event, which was hosted by the Mayor of the Commune of Matam
in Conakry. Funding for the campaign was provided by the Government of Canada
through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the GAVI
Alliance (formerly known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation.)
(…)
In addition to launching the
integrated child survival campaign, the national vaccination program unveiled
its new logo, and presented a radio jingle designed to encourage people to
participate in vaccination programs was broadcast during the event. If the
dancing and singing of attending school children were any indication, the new
jingle will be very successful!
http://www.hkworld.org/about/press_releases/GuineaCSJune2007.html
(top)
July 18 - The Green Cross
Solar Park, a joint venture between Green Cross Sri Lanka and Green Cross Japan
has recently been completed. After the installation of 17 units of solar
powered LED lighting at the end of June, the park awaits only cosmetic touches
before its official opening in mid September, which will be attended by Sri
Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse. The park is guarded by Navy soldiers 24
hours a day, and visiting families can enjoy a comfortable and safe time, even
after dark under the solar powered lights. Use of cutting edge solar technology
in the park is expected to be a milestone for further development of renewable
energy in Sri Lanka.
http://www.greencrossinternational.net/index.htm#
European
Solar Energy Conference & Exhibition attracts experts from all over the
World to Milan, Italy – 3-7 September
Well over
3,000 Conference participants from the fields of research, energy management,
industry and politics are expected to attend
This September, the European
Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition will be taking place for
the 22nd edition. The Conference and Exhibition, which is supported by the
European Commission, UNESCO, the Italian Government as well as industrial
organisations and other agencies, is held every year in a different European
country. The host this year is Milan, Italy. Over 3,000 experts and decision
makers from industry, research and politics from over 75 countries are expected
to meet from 3–7 September.
During these five days, the
world’s leading experts will be discussing the latest developments in the area
of solar power generation. The Conference is regarded worldwide as a leading
platform for the transfer of information between research and industry. Running
parallel to the Conference is the international industrial Exhibition, the
biggest ever held in the area of PV solar energy. (…)
The EU PVSEC 2007 is supported
by the European Commission, the UNESCO, the Italian Government, the World
Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE) and the European Photovoltaic Industry
Association (EPIA).
http://www.photovoltaic-conference.com/
Pakistan
cuts pesticide use dramatically
FAO-EU
project shows way to higher profits, better health
Vehari,
Pakistan
– In the cotton-growing heart of the Indus Valley, Pakistani taxpayers are now
financing what European Union taxpayers helped start – a movement to give
farmers the skills and confidence to rein in indiscriminate and dangerous use
of pesticides, while reducing their poverty at the same time. "Before, we
used to follow what the neighbours did in spraying pesticide," says
small-scale cotton farmer Muhammad Younis, 27. "Last year, I used six to
seven applications and this year, after observing my field, I used commercial
pesticides only three times and biopesticides like neem and aloe vera twice.
The crop looks as good as last year, and I've saved money on the
pesticide."
Mr Younis learned field
ecology in a Farmer Field School, a method pioneered by FAO and first
introduced in Pakistan to train cotton farmers in Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
The FAO-EU IPM Programme for Cotton in Asia, worth US$12.4 million, promoted
this approach to pest management from 1999 to 2004 in Bangladesh, China, India,
the Philippines and Viet Nam, as well as Pakistan. Since 2004, Pakistan has
committed US$7.7 million in public funds to integrate IPM into public policy,
university curricula, provincial extension services and research and
development. Projects at both national and provincial level are well on their
way to using Farmer Field Schools to train 167 000 farmers in IPM over five
years. (…)
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/field/2007/1000497/index.html
How
hi-tech nuclear science is feeding the poor
The hi-tech and often baffling
field of nuclear technology may seem a world away from the poorest developing
world farmers and families struggling to make a dollar a day.
Yet nuclear methods applied to
agriculture are enabling millions of these farmers to grow more crops and rear
healthier livestock. Since most of the world's 854 million hungry people live
in rural areas where agriculture is the main livelihood, such technology can
have a direct impact on poverty and hunger. In addition, despite public concern
over nuclear technology, such methods have passed rigorous safety checks – in
fact they increase the safety of food while benefiting the environment. Since
1964, FAO and the International Atomic Energy Agency have harnessed such
technology to help promote food security, through the Vienna-based Joint
FAO/IAEA Programme. (…)
For example, scientists use a
method called irradiation to create crop varieties that are more
disease-resistant and grow better in poor soils, a massive benefit to countries
across drought-prone Africa, where the poorest farmers try to survive on the
most marginal lands.(…) Nuclear techniques can also be used to detect excessive
pesticide or veterinary drug residues in food and monitor implementation of
good agricultural and veterinary practices. There are numerous other areas
where nuclear technology helps the environment. For example, one technique
suppresses, or in some situations even eradicates, insect pests by the
systematic release of sterilized males of the species – a type of birth
control. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides that can harm other
organisms and soils. Another example involves a nuclear technique that measures
water storage and tracks water and nutrients in soil, reducing wastage of these
valuable commodities. (…) http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/focus/2007/1000511/index.html
2010 Biodiversity Indicator Partnership
launched in support for the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity
Paris,
12 July - A multi-million dollar
effort to track the fate and fortune of the world's biological diversity is
being launched today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with
funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The 2010 Biodiversity
Indicator Partnership aims to complete a set of indicators that will allow the
international community to better assess whether conservation efforts are
succeeding towards the target of 'reducing the rate of loss of biodiversity by
2010'. "This new partnership helps ensure that the bar is raised around
the globe for accounting for biodiversity loss," stated GEF CEO Monique
Barbut. "It is more important than ever for the biodiversity community to
elevate its discourse and to reinforce the relevance of biodiversity
conservation to sustainable economic development in the 21st Century.
(…)"
Several indicators already
exist which are giving an insight into how well the world is addressing the
biodiversity challenge. (…) The indicator of Protected Areas shows that around
12 per cent of the Earth's land surface is currently covered by more than
105,000 protected areas. However, the area of sea and ocean under protection is
relatively tiny: just 0.6 per cent of the ocean's surface area and 1.4 per cent
of coastal shelf areas are protected. This has major implications for the
sustainability of marine resources including fish and shellfish and for the
livelihoods of coastal communities that are reliant upon their continued
supply. Other existing indicators include forest cover and the generation of
nitrogen from sources such as fossil fuel burning, industry and fertilizer
which can impact on biodiversity and wildlife habitats. (…)
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=514&ArticleID=5630&l=en
Kathmandu, Nepal, 17 July –
WWF Nepal has appointed Sitashma Chand, Miss Nepal 2007, as the organization’s
conservation ambassador. As such, Sitashma will play an important role in
encouraging rural and urban youth to get involved with conservation, particularly
freshwater and climate change issues effecting Nepal. During her tenure, she
will visit WWF project areas and local communities. (…)
WWF Nepal started the
conservation ambassador programme in 2004. The “ambassadors” have proved to be
a valuable asset to the organization in disseminating important conservation
messages throughout the country. In 2006, Sugarika KC, a former Miss Nepal and
WWF’s second conservation ambassador, encouraged urban Nepali youth in
Kathmandu on a popular radio show to be proactive on conservation issues. She
also took part in a WWF-supported theatre programme in Chitwan National Park,
home to endangered greater one-horned rhinoceroses.
The newly appointed Chand is
also looking forward to partaking in WWF activities. "I will first do an
internship at WWF to orient myself with various wildlife and conservation
issues," Sitashma said. "Then I will contribute the best I can to
making an honest effort [to conservation]."
Sitashma Chand will also
represent Nepal in this year’s Miss World contest, which will be held in China
on 1 December 2007.
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm?uNewsID=109000
WRI Receives $750,000 grant
for climate policy research from Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
Washingon, DC, July 5 - As part of the first round of grants from its $100 million Climate Change Initiative, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) today announced that the World Resources Institute (WRI) is one of six organizations that will receive grants to deliver analysis and recommendations on different approaches to tackling climate change through government policy. The foundation is awarding a two-year grant of $750,000 for work by WRI's Climate and Energy Program in three areas. The first is to demonstrate the need for a mandatory federal greenhouse gas registry that is consistent with global greenhouse gas accounting standards. Such a registry will provide the foundation for measuring and tracking major emission sources and will be the basis for a federal cap-and-trade program. The second is to inform the debate regarding various climate policy design elements through the production of issue briefs and communication efforts. The third is to identify ways to integrate climate impacts and opportunities into the national energy security debate. (…)
Putting a price on carbon and
developing a new international agreement that encourages nations like the U.S.
and China to participate are the primary objectives in the first of three
climate strategies DDCF will be supporting. The second strategy, which will
receive the bulk of the funds from the initiative, will be to identify and
promote policies that accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy
technologies, particularly technologies related to energy efficiency, renewable
energy and low-emission uses of coal. The third strategy will be to advance
efforts to assess the likely effects of climate change and identify adjustments
that can be made to lower the impact of those effects on people and the
environment. (…)
http://www.wri.org/newsroom/newsrelease_text.cfm?nid=389
17th August, 2007 - Global
Green USA: release of The 11th Hour
Leonardo DiCaprio's “The 11th
Hour” is a feature length documentary concerning the environmental crises
caused by human actions and their impact on the planet. The 11th Hour documents
the cumulative impact of these actions upon the planet's life systems and calls
for restorative action through a reshaping of human activity. (…)
With the help of over fifty of the world's most prominent thinkers and activists, including reformer Mikhail Gorbachev, physicist Stephen Hawking, and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai, “The 11thHour" documents the grave problems facing the planet's life systems. Global warming, deforestation, mass species extinction, and depletion of the oceans' habitats are all addressed, and their causes rooted in human activity. The combination of these crises call into question the very future not of the planet, but of humanity.
However, the most powerful
element of “The 11th Hour is not a portrait of a planet in crisis, but the
offering of hope and solutions. Scientists and environmental advocates such as
David Orr and Gloria Flora paint a portrait for a radically new and exciting
future in which humanity seeks not to dominate the earth's life systems, but to
mimic them and coexist. “The 11th Hour" calls for a future now within our
grasp that is both sustainable and healthier.
www.11thhourfilm.com http://www.greencrossinternational.net/index.htm#
Why do some villages remain
poor despite execution of development programmes? Why are certain villages
prosperous? Why is the high growth in the Indian economy not translating into
prosperous villages? Why is the gross national produce (GNP) not an indicator
of real wealth? Why will the conventional development model not make villages
poverty-free? Why is the GNP an answer to sustainable villages? How is a
poverty line created? How can the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(NREGA) be used to eradicate poverty?
Centre for Science and
Environment (CSE), New Delhi, announces a five-day refresher workshop on how to
use the environment to eradicate poverty in rural India.
For more than two decades,
CSE’s campaigns and research have shown that India’s poverty is ecological in
nature. This means that to eradicate poverty, we have to regenerate our
ecology. Many villages have done this. CSE has been studying their experiences.
The refresher workshop seeks
to learn from these models and put in place a framework for sustainable
villages. This highly interactive course is designed to clarify the linkages
between environment and poverty, and to demonstrate its feasibility through a
two-day field trip to Laporiya, a village of pastoralists who have collectively
drought-proofed their village and created sustainable livelihoods. In addition
to experienced CSE staff, the course faculty includes eminent development
experts.
http://www.cseindia.org/misc/tgv_november07.htm
The fourth Middle East and
North Africa Renewable Energy Conference
UNESCWA
co-organized "The Fourth Middle East and North Africa Renewable Energy
Conference- MENAREC4" in cooperation with the Syrian Ministry of
Electricity, the United Nations Environment Programme - Regional Office
for Western Asia, and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for the
Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The conference was held in
Damascus & Palmyra, Syria from 21 to 24 June 2007.
The
main theme of the conference was "The Way Forward for Renewable Energy
(RE) Development &Technology Transfer, EU-MENA Cooperation". The
conference covered topics on Renewable Energy (RE) resources; potential and
prospects in the MENA Region, State-of-the-Art of (RE/EE) technologies,
enhancing MENA-EUROPE RE cooperation Initiatives and technology transfer,
policies, legislations, financing and awareness tools, and for promoting RE
applications in the MENA Region. Delegations and representatives from 38
countries, among them 19 national and international organizations, 15
ministers, 7 of them from Europe and MENA countries, participated in the
Conference, including the former chancellor of the German Federal Republic, Mr.
Gerhard Schroder.(…)
The
participating ministers, delegations and representatives approved Damascus
Declaration which focused on the need to diversify energy resources, to set
national targets for RE deployment, to support the use of all forms of RE and
the need to developed countries to scale up their technical & financial
assistance to MENA countries for RE programs including technology transfer. http://www.escwa.org.lb/
The
Interfaith Encounter Association participates actively to international
dialogue
Istanbul, Turkey, July -
IEA's research fellow participated in the 6th Annual International Conference
on an Inter-faith Perspective on Globalisation for the Common Good, organized
under the title: “A Non-violent Path to Conflict resolution and Peacebuilding”.
He presented at the conference the IEA and the paper "Inter-religious
Research as a Resource for Conflict Resolutions: Demonstrated in the case of
the Temple Mount in Jerusalem".
Clearwater, Florida, USA, July
- A coordinator of one of IEA's groups, who is also a member of IARF Council,
represents IEA in the 33rd General Meeting of the International Association for
Religious Freedom (IARF).
Trust
across the world’s divides? Dignity for all
A
series of international conferences - Caux, Switzerland, 5 July-19 August
Millions struggle for
survival. Others want to protect their own wealth and interests. The challenges
of the environment and global warming, the rising tide of greed and the
explosive impact of humiliation all threaten our common future. Hunger, homelessness
and ill health undermine the well-being of peoples. Globalization and the
market need ethical values to meet these challenges. All struggles are connected. Humans share in suffering. Every
human life is precious, unique, of infinite value and justice and human dignity
are indivisible. As regions struggle with the challenges of living with
different cultures and languages, there is a growing need to work for an
alliance of civilizations.
Never before have there been
so many efforts to dialogue with ‘the other’. Though they can offer no simple
answers in this violent, complex and interdependent world, these efforts do
help us to draw inspiration from each other. Initiatives of Change continues to
encourage building trust across the world’s divides, person by person, group by
group and year by year. The alternative to conflict is a thorough review of
personal and collective motivations, learning to live and work with one another
in equity and dignity. Then trust can be reborn as others discover through our
actions that we are trustworthy.
http://www.iofc.org/en/conferences/caux/conferences/
The Interfaith Summer Institute - Canada, 5-12-August
Building Interfaith Solidarity
- Moving Beyond the Racialization of the Religions Other
The content of the 2007 summer institute is a response to current social
and political crises. It addresses the critical intersections between religion,
racism, and racial profiling - be it Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, communalism
or the “clash of civilizations” - and how these are played out locally and
globally. It increases participants’ understanding of the concepts and issues
related to religious diversity. Central to the curriculum is the foregrounding
of women, youth, and children, and their role in conflict and peacemaking; and
Indigenous environmental logic and knowledge of place. The significant focus on
Native peoples explores ways of righting the relationship between First Peoples,
the land, and the settler history of colonialism in Canada .
The skills component of the summer institute is comprised of a range of
practices in peacemaking. Each year specific skills are highlighted from the
following areas: cultural production, community organizing, cross-cultural
conflict resolution, restorative justice; instructional design for peace-making
curriculum; education for environmental justice; active non-violence; popular
theatre and the use of art, spirituality, and ritual to heal communities
traumatized by violence. The importance of spiritual practice in peace and
justice-making is explored through individuals sharing from their different
traditions.
http://www.interfaithjustpeace.org/program.php
http://www.interfaithjustpeace.org/vision.php
“Social Justice” Conference with
the Inter Religious Council of Cambodia
Phnom Penh, 17 August - In cooperation with the Konrad
Adenauer Foundation
“Social Justice” in Inter Religious Perspective.
The topic of the conference is the concept of “social justice” as understood by
different religion groups in Cambodia: Buddhists, Muslims and Christians.
http://www.kas.de/proj/home/events/17/2/-/veranstaltung_id-26626/index.html
Religious
Youth Service Paramaribo
Youth
Peace Through Interreligious Dialogue and Action
Theme: “Young leaders of all
faiths, serving together for peace”
Paramaribo, 18-30 August 2007
-We are inviting youth leaders between the ages of 18-30 years to attend the
upcoming Religious Youth Service (RYS) in Paramaribo, Suriname South America
August 18-30, 2007. The Suriname project brings together international youths
in an effort to offer models of intercultural and interreligious cooperation
through service.
Together with volunteers from
the local communities, the RYS participants will be involved in the restoration
of a Children facility (SOS Kinderdorp) and Habitat for Humanity. These
projects will improve the living environment of children and families. The work
project will include the rebuilding of sanitary facilities, repairing,
painting, landscaping and construction.
http://www.religiousyouthservice.org/projects/details/2007/suri.html
Silent Meditation for World Peace – September 21
A peace movement rooted within the soul
Washington
D.C., 3 July - On the occasion of the
International Day of Peace, The Zambuling Institute for Human
Transformation invites you to a Silent Meditation for World Peace on
September 21, 2007 at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, 12:00 to 2:00 pm.
We invite you to meditate,
contemplate, pray or simply remain in silence, focusing your mind and awareness
on world peace. It is through your power, the fullness of your silence, and our
collective silence that the group will be able to reach every corner of the
planet, to eliminate violence and conflict and to open the doors for world
peace. (...) This Type of event is being organized in several countries of the
world. (...)
You will experience how
silence creates a unique and singular state of unbounded qualities. Silence transcends all possible physical
and nonphysical frontiers. It travels to every country and human and natural
environments. It is in silence where we embrace activity. There is no activity
that results from activity. Therefore, it is essential to extend our entire
existence to the self realization of the fullness of silence. It is the
fullness of silence that creates the conditions for inner peace. (...)
www.silentpeacemeditation.com silentpeace.meditation@gmail.com
July 6, Santa Monica, CA, USA
- International Medical Corps (IMC) and UNICEF have joined forces to develop 25
Child-Friendly Schools in some of Lebanon’s most vulnerable regions. The
Child-Friendly School concept seeks to promote a holistic approach to
education, through activities that advocate good health and hygiene,
initiatives to ensure children’s physical and emotional well-being, and
environments that are conducive to learning.
UNICEF’s $ 2.7 million grant
to IMC will benefit an estimated 6,000 children, aged 3-15, living in 25
villages covering four regions of Lebanon that have historically struggled with
poverty and instability or were affected by last summer’s conflict. (…)
IMC’s new program, which began
earlier this month, will dramatically re-shape 25 of these schools,
transforming them into stimulating educational environments conducive to
learning and development. To achieve these goals, IMC, in collaboration with
Lebanon’s Ministry of Education and UNICEF, plans to train teachers to
understand and identify behavioral problems in children and address them
creatively; to offer teachers health education and first-aid training; to
rehabilitate playgrounds and provide schools with toys and recreational
equipment; and to encourage parents to become involved in decisions about their
children’s health and well-being both at school and in the community. (…)
IMC was one of the first
international NGOs to begin relief activities in Lebanon in July 2006, in
response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the war between Hezbollah and
Israel. Since launching operations there, IMC has rehabilitated approximately
40 health clinics and six water reservoirs damaged in the conflict, in addition
to establishing nine child-friendly play spaces.
International Medical Corps is
a Santa Monica-based global, humanitarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to
saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training and relief
and development programs. Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses,
IMC is a private, voluntary, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization. Its
mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and
related activities that build local capacity in underserved communities
worldwide. (…)
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5871
2 July (BWNS) - It's only
three words - a total of six letters. But the "Me to We" slogan helps
students understand what service is all about, says the principal of the
Maxwell International School, located in the woods of Vancouver Island.
"By adopting what Canadian youth activist Craig Kielberger calls the 'Me
to We' philosophy, we help our students to be less 'me'-centered and more
centered on the needs of others," said the principal, Dan Vaillancourt.
"Through service to others, students develop empathy and understanding
while being exposed to many of the social issues that plague society," he
said. "Working with the elderly, the handicapped, the homeless, the sick,
the less fortunate - both here and abroad - will reinforce in our children the
belief that we are all responsible for creating a better world."
Since its founding by the
Baha'is of Canada nearly two decades ago, Maxwell International School - a
college-preparatory institution, grades 7 to 12, with an enrollment of 150
students from some 25 countries - has placed heavy emphasis on service. (…)
Overall, programs at the school reflect a spiritual view of humanity; use of
practical, integrative and theme-based projects; the encouragement of creative
and artistic expression in all aspects of school life; and the use of service
as a tool for learning. "Maxwell's aim is to encourage students to become
servants to humanity, to see the world as an arena for community action, and to
determine their active roles as transformers of society," the principal
said.
The students come up with
projects on their own, through organized programs, with the assistance of
faculty or staff, or at the request of outside parties. (…)
http://news.bahai.org/story/567
World
Children’s Festival - Children from
around the world create masterpieces for world leaders including Mandela, Bush
and Gates
July 2 - The most creative
children from around the world gathered in Washington, DC on June 23-25, 2007
to create spectacular artwork for global leaders (…) This was part of the World
Children’s Festival, a three-day celebration on the National Mall that marked
the tenth anniversary of the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF).
Approximately 10,000 people attended, making it the largest celebration of
children’s creativity and imagination in the world (..)
“Over the past decade ICAF has
been at the forefront of efforts to foster children’s innate creativity,” said
Dr. Ashfaq Ishaq, ICAF executive director. “Our Arts Olympiad program and
educational festivals are designed to harness children’s imagination for
positive social change. The World Festival promotes trust, friendship and
cultural empathy by engaging American children, our finest ambassadors, in the
development of future global leaders.”
The ICAF integrates the arts
with science, sport and technology for the development of children’s creativity
and empathy -- preconditions for a more just, prosperous and nonviolent world.
The weblink to the World Children's
Festival is http://www.icaf.org/worldfestival/
and to children's masterpieces is http://www.icaf.org/gallery
60th
Annual DPI/NGO Conference, UN Headquarters, New York, 5-7 September
Media
Committee for the 60th annual DPI/NGO Conference: A Progress Report
By Joan Levy on NGO Reporter, July 2007
The media committee for the
Annual DPI/NGO Conference has two goals: to publicize the Conference and its
theme to interested parties in various parts of the world and to publicize the
work of NGOs in partnership with the United Nations to combat the ills of
climate change.
To date, the co-chairs of the Conference
and members of the planning committee have conducted video and radio interviews
on the work and goals of the Conference. A press conference was held in early
May for United Nations journalists. Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, one of the opening
round table speakers at the Fall Conference, spoke about climate change and
responded to questions. Also, the committee was successful in placing a
full-page ad in "The Interdependent", the official magazine of UNA/
USA (United Nations Association of the United States), a magazine with a wide
circulation.
A Student Journalism Program,
started last year as a pilot project, has been considerably expanded. College
journalists are applying for accreditation to cover the three-day Conference
with the intention of submitting articles to their local college newspapers.
The committee has been working with the ArtCenter College of Design on climate
change and global warming public service announcements, to be broadcast during
the Conference. In addition, the committee has formed a core group of NGO press
representatives who will relay Conference announcements and newsworthy
information to their constituents.
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Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to over 3,700 editorial offices of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations with an e-mail address in 48 countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, USA. It is also distributed free of charge to over 2,800 NGOs around the world and it is available in its web site: http://www.goodnewsagency.org
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered non-profit educational organization chartered in Italy in 1979 and associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations.
The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing.
Via Antagora 10, 00124
Rome, Italy. E-mail: s.tripi@tiscali.it
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