Back Issues

GLOBALISATION: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

Kate Prendergast, Fahamu

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/4394

The effects of global poverty have been much in the news this week. At a World Bank meeting in Ottowa last weekend, there were prominent calls for an increase in aid from richer to poorer nations. Gordon Brown, the UK Chancellor, called for rich countries to double the aid they give to the poor, while Clare Short, the UK Development Secretary strongly criticised America for "almost turning its back" on the rest of the world. It was a "paradox" that a country that prided itself on its generosity gave only 0.1 percent of its GDP in international aid, compared to Britain's 0.3 percent and the UN target of 0.7 percent, she said. At a recent meeting of EU development cooperation ministers in Brussels, increasing member contributions of aid was high on the agenda, while at the WTO meeting in Doha, the developing world won a significant victory over the right to medicines at times of public-health emergencies.

European diplomats, Clare Short and the World Bank have all cited the ‘Bin Laden effect’ as having a galvanising effect on richer nations view of poverty across the world. The terrorist attacks created an "historic opportunity" for the international community to make a concerted effort to try to solve global poverty, Short said. “The suicide bombers of September 11 appeared not to come from poor countries, but the conditions which bred their bitterness and hatred are linked to poverty and injustice." The World Bank too has come to the view that poverty alleviation in states like Afghanistan is needed to stop them becoming breeding grounds for terrorism, while the World Trade Organisation has promised to address the marginalisation of least developed countries and contribute to a durable solution to world debt. With such a concerted interest in global poverty from many of the biggest players this week, it is hard to believe that half of the world's population still lives on less than $2 a day, while the richest 20 percent consumes more than 80 percent of the world's resources,

But as George Monbiot has argued in this week’s UK Guardian, one of the reasons why the current institutions charged with managing the global economy – the IMF, World Bank, and more recently, the World Trade Organisation - have failed to deliver economic justice and sustainability is because they were not designed to do so. Despite the recent resolutions from the World Bank and WTO on debt cancellation, and a concern for greater global economic equity, these reforms are not, in Monbiot’s words, “in the WTO’s gift”.

As Monbiot demonstrates, the architects of the modern world economy had a vastly different vision than the system we have ended up with today. Many economists at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944 were aware that issues of economic justice would have to be addressed if greater commercial freedom was to work. Among the proposals made at Bretton Woods were calls for an international trade organisation, which as well as working to reduce tariffs would also protect workers rights, transfer technology to poorer countries, and regulate the world economy to prevent big corporations from becoming too dominant. But, Monbiot reports, US corporations blocked the proposals. GATT – the general agreement on tariffs and trade - was strung together on a temporary basis to bring down trade barriers, while negotiations for a proper trade body continued. It never saw the light of day; GATT turned into the WTO, and the moment was lost.

The ITO was not the only institution proposed at Bretton Woods. John Maynard Keynes, the British economist, is often credited as the mastermind behind the IMF and World Bank, the major institutions to emerge from Bretton Woods; but Monbiot argues that in fact, Keynes was bitterly opposed to them, believing that if such institutions managed the world economy, they would preside over deepening inequalities between rich and poor. Keynes called instead for an “international clearing union” which would redeem imbalances in trade, and cancel debt, by the radically simple method of charging creditors the same rates of interest on currency surpluses as those charged to debtors. But, the British delegation, lead by Keynes, was also forced by the US to back down. The US threatened to withdraw its war loan unless Keynes withdrew his proposal, and he ended up having to agree to the bodies that later became the World Bank and IMF.

The problem with the World Bank, IMF and World Trade Organisation is, therefore, that they are constitutionally designed to fail in delivering greater economic justice in world trade. All they can do, in Monbiot’s words, is “set maximum standards for global trade, rather than the minimum standards which might restrain big corporations”. In other words, the IMF, World Bank and WTO police existing inequalities that have been allowed to develop on behalf of richer nations: world debt, tariff inequalities, the lack of regulation; and despite noises to the contrary, pursue these inequalities further in the name of liberalisation.

This is perfectly illustrated by the rejection by WTO of the recent proposal made in Doha, Qatar, by seven African countries that WTO study the impacts of trade liberalisation measures imposed by structural adjustment programmes (SAPs). The proposal - submitted by Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Zambia - was made in response to the original draft declaration issued by WTO General Council chair Stuart Harbinson in September. These countries pointed out that many developing countries were subjected to "an over-ambitious liberalisation programme" as a result of structural adjustment reform policies that did not offer flexibility in their tariff-cutting exercises. These countries were, as a result, experiencing widespread unemployment and the collapse of local industries.

What is now needed therefore is not the spectacle of Gordon Brown promising to deliver more aid to developing countries, desperately needed though that aid is, nor of the WTO promising everything and delivering nothing. As Monbiot puts it, “if the men who had planned the Bretton Woods conference knew that in 2001 we would be arguing about about how much aid to give to poor nations, they would have packed up and gone home. The stated purpose of their meeting was to render generosity redundant.”

The recent WTO negotiations may be a potential indicator of the way the future of such institutions may develop. While the negotiations at Doha were only a partial success for developing countries, they were also far from a neo-liberal victory that many in the developed world would have liked. Important areas of negotiation have effectively put on hold, to be dealt with in the future; and perhaps most importantly of all, developing countries are prepared to fight their corner much harder than in previous rounds. But, the inadequacy of the WTO as an institution capable of managing these issues was also very much in evidence, and the effectiveness of its future in increasing doubt. Without root and branch reform of world economic institutions, greater economic equity – a more distant dream now than in 1944 – is never going to be established, and the credibility of such institutions restored.

Tinkering with poverty
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,602342,00.html

Doha Dreams?
http://www.fpif.org/commentary/0111dohaconc.html


WTO rejects Africans' request for study of SAP effects before more tariff cuts

http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/topic/adjustment/a26africadoha.htm

ACTION FOR FAIRER TRADE RULES

2001-11-22

http://www.aefjn.org/english/actions/wto_0110.htm

Contact your government, the World Trade Organisation and European Union, to demand fairer trade rules for developing countries. Join the Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network's letter writing campaign and state your concerns.

ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: A GLOBAL ACTION AND REFLECTION GUIDE

2001-11-22

http://www.kpbooks.com

"ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: A GLOBAL ACTION AND REFLECTION GUIDE"
by David Cohen, Rosa de la Vega and Gabrielle Watson

Published in 2001 in the US by Kumarian Press

Drawing on Oxfam America's and the Advocacy Institute's experience as
progressive social change organizations, Advocacy for Social Justice offers
a framework for understanding advocacy in today's globalizing worked.

Above all, Advocacy for Social Justice celebrates the innovative and
inspirational advocacy efforts that are already creating change in so many
countries, in both the North and South.

Intended for the advocacy practitioner and trainer alike, Advocacy for
Social Justice explores the elements of advocacy and offers a toolkit for
taking action, comprehensive case studies, and hundreds of resource
listings for hungry activists around the world.

Part One: Reflections on Advocacy
Part Two: Advocacy Skills
Part Three: Advocacy Case Studies
Part Four: Advocacy Resource Directory

TO ORDER:

CONTACT: Guy Bentham, Editor and Associate Publisher, Kumarian Press, Inc.
ADDRESS: 1294 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002-1302, USA
TEL.: (1-860) 243-2098
FAX: (1-860) 243-2867
E-MAIL: GBenthamKPBooks@aol.com
INTERNET: www.kpbooks.com

Amnesty International Fair Trials Manual

2001-11-22

http://erc.hrea.org/Library/legalprofessions/fairtrial.html

This is a guide to international and regional standards for fair trial which are incorporated in human rights treaties and non-treaty standards. Intended for Amnesty International staff, lawyers, judges and others working for protection of the right of fair trial.

Circle of Rights

A Training Resource

2001-11-22

http://erc.hrea.org/Library/organisational_development/ihrip00.html

This manual is aimed primarily at trainers who are or will be engaged in training human rights activists as well as development workers, members of organisations representing disadvantaged groups and others who are addressing economic, social and cultural issues. The hope and expectation is that trainers working with these various groups will be able to take the material in the manual and, if necessary, adapt and expand upon it to conduct training programs on economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights and ESC rights activism. The manual intends to contribute to the process of learning that is currently underway and to encourage an expansion of activism that has as its goal the promotion and protection of ESC rights.

TAKE ACTION ON GLOBAL RULES

2001-11-22

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/e-campaigns/cut2.html

Email the UK government for reform of global trade rules in the run up to the WTO meeting in Qatar. State your concern about Trade Related Intellectual Property agreements (TRIPs).

ZIMBABWE: KUBATANA WEBSITE OF THE NGO NETWORK ALLIANCE PROJECT

2001-11-22

http://www.kubatana.net

As traditional media becomes increasingly repressive in Zimbabwe, the launch of a local web site, www.kubatana.net is a breath of fresh air. The NGO Network Alliance Project, the energy behind the development of Kubatana, has brought Zimbabwean NGOs, CSOs and development organisations together under one online umbrella. Kubatana is a Shona word which means "working together" - an apt name when a strengthened civic response to the current social and political unrest in Zimbabwe needs to be encouraged.

a gift for santa?

antarticu@aol.com

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/4373

i want to live in a world where the past tense, the present tense, and the future tense--all avoid pre-tense.
i want to live in a world where the future protects the past...and, where, without question or doubt, the past protects the future...this may be the greatest present we may ask for.

i want all of the best dreams of all ages to be the "ourstory" of the future.
i want all the horrors of all our pasts to be forgiven, miscellaneous errors of ignorance, miserably multiplied by unmitigated arrogance.

i want to live in a world where no child will ever ask, why did you save my life?
i do not want to live in a world where children ask us, the well-fed, the educated, the healthy, the rich, the powerful, "innocent questions" for which i have no innocent answers.

Warren Feek

Director, The Communication Initiative

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/4374

AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES ON ADULT LEARNING

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST BY AFRICAN PUBLISHERS

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/books/4254

The Department of Adult Education of the University of Botswana, the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association, and the UNESCO Institute for Education, are cooperating to develop a textbook series entitled AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES ON ADULT LEARNING. The purpose of the series is to provide accessible textbooks to students in Africa studying adult education, especially at the Diploma and Bachelor's degree level. The Series Editorial Board invites the submission of Expressions of Interest by commercial publishers in Africa. Expressions of Interest by African Publishers should be submitted by January 4th, 2002.
Department of Adult Education
University of Botswana, Gaborone

UNESCO Institute for Education, Hamburg

Institute for International Cooperation
German Adult Education Association, Bonn

AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES ON ADULT LEARNING
A TEXTBOOK SERIES

CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST BY AFRICAN PUBLISHERS

The Department of Adult Education of the University of Botswana, the
Institute for International Co-operation of the German Adult
Education Association, and the UNESCO Institute for Education, are
cooperating to develop a textbook series entitled AFRICAN
PERSPECTIVES ON ADULT LEARNING. The purpose of the series is to
provide accessible textbooks to students in Africa studying adult
education, especially at the Diploma and Bachelor's degree level. The
books will be co-published by a commercial publisher in Africa with
the UNESCO Institute for Education (first co-publisher) and the
Institute for International Co-operation of the German Adult
Education Association (second co-publisher).

Initially, there will be five titles in the series, as follows:

* Foundations of Adult Education in Africa
* The Psychology of Adult Learning in Africa
* Programme Development in African Adult Education
* Research Methods in African Adult Education
* The Social Context of Adult Education in Africa

Each book will be between 200 and 250 pages long, and it will be
expected to provide an overview of the topic, to introduce
appropriate theory, to provide discussion and examples rooted in
professional practice, actual policies and empirical research, and to
indicate further areas of inquiry and reading. A key principle is
that the textbooks will reflect African social realities, theoretical
and cultural perspectives, policies and modes of practice.

The Project Proposal document containing full details of the Textbook
Series specifies the co-publishing arrangement as follows:

The project will identify a commercial publisher in Africa willing to
be the primary publisher and to co-publish the textbook series with
the UNESCO Institute for Education and IIZ/DVV. The primary
publisher will receive approved manuscripts and take responsibility
for preparing them for publication (including insertion of
illustrations where appropriate). The primary publisher will oversee
printing, and develop an Africa-wide marketing and distribution
strategy. The co-publishers will assist with the marketing and
distribution of the books. The subsidy inherent in the project will
support manuscript development costs and guarantee an initial
purchase of a specified number of books, so that the unit costs of
the books will be kept as low as possible. (For example, the project
will pay writing fees to authors and there will be no royalty
payments.) The primary publisher will be expected to retain books in
stock and ensure that titles remain in print for a period of time to
be determined by the Series Editorial Board. The decision on the
primary publisher will be taken at the meeting of the Series
Editorial Board in January 2002. The criteria for choice will
include: textbook publishing track record; business viability;
evidence of commitment to project goals; willingness to participate
in the Series Editorial Board and support capacity-building
activities for authors; and accessibility for communication.
Following the decision, a formal co-publishing agreement will be
entered into between the primary publisher and the UNESCO Institute
for Education and IIZ/DVV.

The Series Editorial Board invites the submission of Expressions of
Interest by commercial publishers in Africa. The Expression of
Interest letter should address the criteria listed above. It must be
accompanied by samples of the company's published textbooks.

The decision of the Board will be conveyed to the publisher in the
first week of February 2002. The selected publisher must be willing
to attend a workshop with authors in Gaborone, Botswana in mid-March
2002, at which the expectations of the Series Editorial Board and of
the co-publishers will be discussed and clarified.

Expressions of Interest by African Publishers should be submitted by
January 4th, 2002 to:

Professor Frank Youngman
Series Managing Editor
Department of Adult Education
University of Botswana
P/Bag 0022,
Gaborone,
Botswana.

e-mail: youngman@mopipi.ub.bw
tel: 267-3552266

Further clarification and advice can be sought from Professor
Youngman.

Alternative Trade Network of Nigeria

2001-11-22

http://www.ifat.org

The Alternative Trade Network of Nigeria is an NGO based in Jos Nigeria and works with the less privileged rural artisan on product development, quality control, packaging and marketing for the aim of empowering them in a sustainable way. The network was formed in 1996 and currently works with over 65 cooperative groups from all over Nigeria. ATNN is a pioneer member of International Federation for Alternative Trade(ifat).

Gospel fever seizes Swazi kingdom

2001-11-22

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/archive/2001nov/features/20nov-swazi.html

When King Mswati III, of Swaziland, recorded a track for a gospel album earlier this year, the sensation of a head of state singing holy praises was merely a part of the cresting enthusiasm his country has for the infectious music.

Miguel Petchkovsky: The 'Black and White Copies'

2001-11-22

http://www.africancolours.com/?content/miguelpetchkovsky.html

Petchkovsky's engagement in an art project with a social content, involving a wide range of public, not only the art educated elite, had a fantastic response. The project was specially designed in the context of the world conference against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

States of Denial

Stanley Cohen

2001-11-22

http://www.blackwellpub.com/asp/book.asp?ref=0745616577

States of Denial is the first comprehensive study of both the personal and political ways in which uncomfortable realities are avoided and evaded. It ranges from clinical studies of depression, to media images of suffering, to explanations of the 'passive bystander' and 'compassion fatigue'. The book shows how organized atrocities - the Holocaust and other genocides, torture, and political massacres - are denied by perpetrators and by bystanders, those who stand by and do nothing. Blackwells, 2001, ISBN: 0745623921.
States of Denial
By Stanley Cohen

States of Denial is the first comprehensive study of both the personal and
political ways in which uncomfortable realities are avoided and evaded. It
ranges from clinical studies of depression, to media images of suffering, to
explanations of the 'passive bystander' and 'compassion fatigue'. The book
shows how organized atrocities - the Holocaust and other genocides, torture,
and political massacres - are denied by perpetrators and by bystanders,
those who stand by and do nothing.

Blocking out, turning a blind eye, shutting off, not wanting to know,
wearing blinkers, seeing what we want to see ... these are all expressions
of 'denial'. Alcoholics who refuse to recognize their condition, people who
brush aside suspicions of their partner's infidelity, the wife who doesn't
notice that her husband is abusing their daughter - are supposedly 'in
denial'. Governments deny their responsibility for atrocities, and plan them
to achieve 'maximum deniability'. Truth Commissions try to overcome the
suppression and denial of past horrors. Bystander nations deny their
responsibility to intervene.

Do these phenomena have anything in common? When we deny, are we aware of
what we are doing or is this an unconscious defense mechanism to protect us
from unwelcome truths? Can there be cultures of denial? How do organizations
like Amnesty and Oxfam try to overcome the public's apparent indifference to
distant suffering and cruelty? Is denial always so bad - or do we need
positive illusions to retain our sanity?


-Winner of the American Society of Criminology's International Division
Award for outstanding publication of 2000-2001.

'The sociologist Stanley Cohen, who spent many years in Israel before
continuing his academic work in Britain, offers one key to why wars happen,
why peace settlements do not take, and why terrible conflicts are ignored or
dealt with ineffectively. His new book stresses how central denial is in
conflict, indeed in all human life. The concept is well known, but Cohen's
careful building up of the detail of denial in its many forms is truly
illuminating. He leads the reader to the conclusion that it is denial that
is "normal" and an ability to see the truth and act accordingly which is
rare, whether in individuals or in governments.'
--Martin Woolacott, The Guardian

'This is a pathbreaking and comprehensive study of how political actors,
civic groups, and private citizens manage to know and not know about the
atrocity and suffering around them, a rare book whose practical value for
activists and officials is as great as its contribution to scholarship.'
--Eric Klinenberg, Le Monde Diplomatique


February 2001
360 pages - paperback/hardcover
ISBN: 0745623921
List Price: $29.95; $62.95

Ordering Information:

To order States of denial, please go to:
http://www.blackwellpub.com/asp/book.asp?ref=0745616577 or call Blackwell
Publishing at 1- 800-216-2522.



Thank you,
Thu Yen Mac
Blackwell Publishing, Boston, MA - Oxford, UK
<tmac@blackwellpub.com>

Please feel free to forward to other colleagues who would find this
interesting.

TENGENENGE: A LITERARY PERSPECTIVE

2001-11-22

http://www.africancolours.com/?content/booklaunch.htmt

Two books by Celia Winter Irving, author and art writer, exploring the famed Tengenenge Art Community, crucible of Zimbabwean stone sculpture are being launched by the Book Cafe in Harare, on 29 November. Each book deals with the way of life and art at Tengenenge and reflect the author's 15- year association with Tengenenge as a writer, painter, curator and lecturer. The books are edited by Anne Derges.

Horn of Africa: Conference on Women and ICT

11th - 15th February 2002

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/4296

The aim of this Conference is to raise awareness on ICT amongst women in the Horn of Africa region and to explore opportunities for harnessing the technology to work as a tool for their development. The conference will provide an opportunity to hear what is happening on the ground for the purposes of learning and replication.
Horn of Africa: Conference on Women and ICT
-------------------------------------------------

11th - 15th February 2002
Nairobi, Kenya

Towards a Horn of Africa Region Women's Knowledge Network


INTRODUCTION

Rapid developments in information and communication technology (ICT)
has led to dramatic transformation in the social, economic, cultural
and political development in the world today. ICTs offer through the
Internet, new avenues for information/knowledge acquisition, exchange
and decision-making necessary for participation in the 21st Century.
While the above remains true, there also exists a broad concern on
the growing gap in information/knowledge between those who are acces-
sible to the technology and those who are not. Majority of those who
are not accessible are women as many already experience difficulties
in accessing traditional resources in their countries. They risk to
be excluded from participation in the emerging global information so-
ciety if action is not taken.

AIM

The aim of this Conference is to raise awareness on ICT amongst women
in the Horn of Africa region and to explore opportunities for har-
nessing the technology to work as a tool for their development. The
conference will provide an opportunity to hear what is happening on
the ground for the purposes of learning and replication.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

* To discuss/share knowledge on the emerging information and communi
cations technology, its services and their impact on development;
* To exchange/learn lessons from women ICT practitioners within the
region and beyond as well as take stock of progress being made at
the regional/international levels to ensure that women benefit from
the opportunities provided by ICTs;
* To develop an action plan for ensuring women's greater access to
and effective utilisation of ICT in the Horn of Africa region.

For more information, contact:
Conference Secretariat
Horn of Africa Regional Conference on Women & ICT
P.O. Box 20956
K.N.H Ngong Road
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-2-560-486
Fax: +254-2-567-112
mailto:conference@acwict.or.ke

--
Send mail for the `AFRO-NETS' conference to `<afro-nets@usa.healthnet.org>'.
Mail administrative requests to `<majordomo@usa.healthnet.org>'.
For additional assistance, send mail to:
`<owner-afro-nets@usa.healthnet.org>'.

How well does the UN address women?

2001-11-22

http://www.genderandtrade.net/

In this article, Riley analyzes the effectiveness of the United Nations system in defending women&#8217;s economic concerns. Her main focus is on the Outcomes Document resulting from the Beijing +5 meeting in 2000 which, she argues, does not adequately the concerns of women&#8217;s organizations who participate in these meetings. Thus, she advocates that women formulate a new economic agenda, one which accurately represents their concerns and which defines these concerns in terms of economic rights for all.
How Well Does the United Nations System Address Women&#8217;s Economic
Concerns?

Summary of &#8220;Women&#8217;s Economic Agenda in the 21st Century&#8221; by Maria Riley,
published on Gender and Trade website, www.genderandtrade.net

In this article, Riley analyzes the effectiveness of the United Nations
system in defending women&#8217;s economic concerns. Her main focus is on the
Outcomes Document resulting from the Beijing +5 meeting in 2000 which, she
argues, does not adequately the concerns of women&#8217;s organizations who
participate in these meetings. Thus, she advocates that women formulate a
new economic agenda, one which accurately represents their concerns and
which
defines these concerns in terms of economic rights for all.

The bulk of the article details the negative consequences of globalization.
The author examines the various aspects of the globalization process such as
Structural Adjustments Programs (SAP&#8217;s), trade and investment
liberalization,
foreign debt reduction programs and stabilization policies and the ways
these
increase poverty and inequality and, in particular, increase burdens on
women. In regards to SAPs, for example, Riley notes how the withdrawal of
the state from providing many social services merely shifted the
responsibility for social needs to women. She connects the current debt
relief programs put forward by the G8, the World Bank and the IMF to the
problems of SAPs. For Riley, the conditionalities placed on countries
receiving debt relief mean that they are being forced into further trade
liberalization and marketization and this means women will be disadvantaged.
She also indicates that the amount of debt forgiven under these programs is
minimal.

The above issues have been discussed many times before. The more
interesting
aspect of this article is its argument that the UN system is inadequate for
addressing women&#8217;s concerns related to globalization. Examining the Beijing
+5 meeting and the Outcomes Document which came out of it, she discusses how
the political nature of the UN means that it cannot fully represent women&#8217;s
issues. For example, she discusses how during the Beijing +5 meeting,
delegates had initially succeeded in including paragraphs in the Outcomes
Document describing the negative consequences of globalization for women.
However, in the end, the U.S. government representatives were able to have
this wording removed since any criticism of globalization is against U.S.
interests.

Other deficiencies of the Outcomes Document and the UN system in general
include the document&#8217;s support of debt reduction initiatives, the problems
of
which were discussed above. Also, Riley criticizes the document&#8217;s support
of
the World Bank&#8217;s Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). Her main
criticism of these is that they quite correctly advocate broad participation
in the formulation of national poverty reduction programs but provide few
mechanisms for ensuring this participation.

Another major problem with the UN&#8217;s pronouncements Riley identifies is that
they often adequately describe the negative consequences of globalization
and
trade liberalization for women but offers few concrete solutions to correct
them. Thus, it will advocate that national governments adopt policies to
improve the rights of women under globalization without recognizing the
barriers governments face in implementing these as a result of Structural
Adjustment Programs and other conditionalities placed on them by the World
Bank and the IMF. These recommendations, then, are often meaningless.

The final thrust of the article articulates a new economic agenda to move
beyond the limitations of the UN system. For Riley, such an agenda would
place social issues at the core of economic policy in order to make poverty
reduction and equity a priority. Here, she argues that women&#8217;s movements go
beyond promoting these issues as women&#8217;s rights and begin promoting them as
concerns for all. Women are in a good position, she says, to promote such
an
agenda on poverty reduction and equity since they have experienced the brunt
of the negative effects of globalization.

While a large part of the article focuses on the widely discussed issues of
the problems of globalization for women, this article is useful for two
reasons. First of all, it provides an interesting analysis of why the UN
system is inadequate for addressing women&#8217;s concerns. Also, it proposes
moving beyond the UN system by articulating a framework in which women
define
their economic agenda as an agenda for all. In order to increase the
strength of her argument, Riley should further outline how such a new agenda
would work. In particular, she does not discuss which forums and
organizations could be used to advance this agenda given that the UN, in her
opinion, is largely ineffective.



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North Nigerian women reject Sharia

2001-11-22

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/archive/2001nov/features/20nov-nigeria.html

More than two months after the introduction of Islamic Sharia (laws) in northern Nigeria, women, in working class neighbourhoods such as Tudun Wada in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state, are beginning to get rid of their chador, or veil, and to wear "sexy" clothing.

SOUTH AFRICA: ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE

2001-11-22

http://womensnet.org.za/pvaw/16%20Days%20of%20Activism.htm

The 16 Days of Activism Against gender Violence starts on the 25th of November. Women'sNet has added a new page to their site for more information.

Swaziland: Implications of Sex Ban on Young Women

Interview With Phepsile Maseko, National Youth Gender Caucus

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/wgender/4212

On 16 September 2001, the Swaziland government announced a five-year sex ban for young women in an attempt to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. This means that during the five-year period, young women will have to observe a five-year prohibition on sex which includes no shaking of hands with males, no wearing of pants and in addition, young women will have to wear woolen tassels (symbolizing their untouchability) wherever they go for the next five years. The age group targeted has not been clearly stated, but women who are in relationships and older than 19 years will be expected to wear red and black tassels, and those still virgins will wear blue with yellow. This new intervention will be policed by traditional chiefs who still rule over much of Swazi society. Anyone who fails to observe the rules would be fined 1,300 Emalangeni (about $152) or one cow.
What Are the Implications of the New Sex Ban for Young Women in
Swaziland?

Interview With Phepsile Maseko, Coordinator of the National Youth
Gender Caucus of Swaziland

By Shamillah Wilson

What is the five-year sex ban imposed on young women recently?

On 16 September 2001, the Swaziland government announced a five-year sex ban
for young women in an attempt to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. This means
that during the five-year period, young women will have to observe a five-
year prohibition on sex which includes no shaking of hands with males, no
wearing of pants and in addition, young women will have to wear woolen
tassels (symbolizing their untouchability) wherever they go for the next
five
years. The age group targeted has not been clearly stated, but women who
are
in relationships and older than 19 years will be expected to wear red and
black tassels, and those still virgins will wear blue with yellow. This new
intervention will be policed by traditional chiefs who still rule over much
of Swazi society. Anyone who fails to observe the rules would be fined
1,300
Emalangeni (about $152) or one cow.

Why did the government impose this ban?

Following the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the breakdown of the social fabric and the
general crisis of the present system in Swaziland, the ruling monarch needed
an excuse to disguise and avoid responsibility for the area's problems. In
doing so he resorted to all sorts of schemes and short-cut fixations such as
the sex ban on women only. This means he will also be able to freely
identify
all virgins to satisfy his limitless social appetite. In so doing he is
laying the blame for this crisis on young people in general and young women
in particular and ignoring the problems caused by the government. He has
just built a hospital for the royal family while the majority of the
population cannot access basic health. Also, he has built huge palaces and
infrastructure projects that benefit only the royal family and has increased
army spending to protect royal privileges from the wrath of the poor masses.

Do you think this ban will meet its desired objective of combating
HIV/AIDS? What do you think the impact will be?

In terms of the impact of HIV/AIDS, more than 50,000 have died in Swaziland,
which has a population of about one million. But the problem is much
bigger. By announcing this ban, the government is clearly demonstrating an
unwillingness to deal effectively with the epidemic. First, it does not try
to address the problem through government policies and programs. It does
not
address the need to care of those already infected with the virus nor it
does
not introduce ways to prevent the spread of the disease through preventative
methods such as good public awareness and education programmes. In addition,
it does not increase access to reproductive healthcare services and
information for young people. What it does do is demonize the issue of
HIV/AIDS hoping that this approach will simply make it go away while further
marginalizing those people already infected.

Finally, it only entrenches the power imbalances within such a patriarchal
culture by making women's sexual activity an unnatural one that can have
fatal consequences for men and reinforces that control of women within
society. It encourages male sexual patterns and absolves them of any
responsibility in preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Instead of stopping sexual activity, it could have the effect of making it
one of those underground activities.

What has been the response from young people?

The announcement has generally been met with outrage from young people.
Why? Because it only focuses on young women and in turn violates the rights
of young women. It violates their rights to non-discrimination, their right
to liberty and security and their right to enjoy the highest standard of
physical and mental health. It explicitly places the blame for HIV/AIDS at
the feet of women and does not even mention anything about men and their
sexual patterns. So, it very clearly delays progress as it is contrary to
gender equality.

What is the National Youth Gender Caucus and what are organizations
such as yours doing about the ban?

The National Youth Gender Caucus is an outcome of a process of joint
programs
between a wide range of youth formations, ranging from church, rural
students
and SWAYOCO. It was founded in 1998 and has since been an independent
organization. The organization focuses on building the capacity of young
women by involving young people around issues of gender, development and
human rights. Furthermore, it is a vehicle to lobby and advocate for gender
equality in Swaziland. The organization believes that if women become
conscious of their human rights, they will start resisting and challenging
abuses in their daily lives.

How can organizations like ours organize around this ban? We want to launch
a
campaign to raise funds to challenge the ban. Currently, we have a
situation
where women do not necessarily understand their rights. So the first thing
we need to do is to start building that capacity. This will include looking
at gender issues from economic, political, health, education and cultural
perspectives and how they affect women in their daily lives. We would
initially target young women and men because in order to challenge the ban,
a
partnership between young people will be imperative. The campaign would
also
need to go much wider. We would also need to start making our voices heard
in government and of course begin sensitizing all members of society,
particularly the traditional leaders themselves. Our goal would be to help
them realize the importance of challenging inequalities and its
institutionalization through a ban such as this.

Is anyone openly challenging this sex ban in Swaziland at the moment?

Yes, PUDEMO (People`s United Democratic Movement), SWAYOCO (Swaziland Youth
Congress), Trade Unions, SCAPEI (Economic-Justice movement), Swaziland
National Union of Students, Swaziland Association of Students, churches,
various rural movements, the Human Rights Association of Swaziland and
several women's organizations.

Have there been any consequences for them?

They have been politically prosecuted and socially victimized.

Also, has anyone been caught disobeying the ban?

Yes, students have been kicked out of school by soldiers when they
could not pay the fine.

In terms of broader advocacy, what human rights instruments is
Swaziland a signatory to which could assist you in lobbying against
this ban?

Swaziland is a signatory to CEDAW, the United Nations Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and the Beijing Platform of Action. It is important to
note,
however, that the women who attend these international events are either the
wives of the King or the wives of Members of Parliament. When they are in
these spaces they are quiet, simply because the human rights violations that
occur do not impact on them in the same way as the ordinary Swazi citizen.

Are there other organizations that can assist you in challenging and
mobilizing against this ban?

We are working closely with other human rights NGO's, women`s and student
formations in Swaziland as well as the trade unions to strategize on how to
collaborate to challenge human rights abuses.

Secondly, support from the international human rights community would also
be
welcome. We need help in raising funds to challenge these human rights
violations, share strategies with us and participate in other collaborative
efforts as well. As noted before, the international human rights community
should be skeptical of Swaziland's human rights structures. It may have
signed on to many human rights conventions but given that the people who
represent Swaziland at these meetings do not really represent the Swazi
people we should be suspect of the government's real commitment.

Shamillah Wilson is AWID's Young Women and Leadership Theme Manager



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TOGO: Traditional chiefs vow to fight abuses against girls

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15430&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=TOGO

Traditional chiefs in Togo, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the government, have agreed to support efforts against violence on girls through a 'national league' -in commemoration of the International Day of the Child that was celebrated on 20 November.

Women Foreign Ministers Organize at UN Session

2001-11-22

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-un-women-afghan.html?ex=1006735073&ei=1&en=2eb009e68b204e1a

Some 16 women foreign ministers appealed to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to make sure women in war zones get special treatment as victims and are invited to be partners at the peace negotiating table.




From the office of Lesley Abdela, FYI -


Women Foreign Ministers Organize at UN Session

November 14, 2001
By REUTERS

Filed at 1:12 a.m. ET

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Some 16 women foreign ministers
appealed to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to make sure
women in war zones get special treatment as victims and are
invited to be partners at the peace negotiating table.

In a letter circulated on Tuesday, the women said they were
''fully convinced that human development toward human
security can be achieved only in societies that grant and
protect the human rights of women.''

Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, one of
the organizers of the letter, said the foreign ministers
expected principles of equality to be applied to
Afghanistan, where women under Taliban rule have been
barred from most employment and almost all schools.

She told reporters that 85 percent of Afghan refugees were
women and children and needed to be involved in any
internationally sponsored reconstruction of the central
Asian nation.

The organizing of women foreign ministers at the annual
high-level U.N. General Assembly session was begun several
years ago by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,
who flew to New York for a dinner earlier this week with
the ministers.

The foreign ministers signing the letter included: Arta
Dade of Albania, Janet Bostwick of the Bahamas, Billie
Antoinette Miller of Barbados, Maria Soledad Alvear
Valenzuela of Chile, Maria Eugenia Brizuela de Avila of El
Salvador, M'mah Hawa Bangoura of Guinea, Lydia Polfer of
Luxembourg, Llinka Mitreva of Macedonia, Lila
Ratsifandriamanana of Madagascar, Lilian Patel of Malawi,
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zumi of South Africa, Maria Levens of
Suriname, Anna Lindh of Sweden, Aichatou Mindaoudou of
Niger and Antonieta Rosa Gomes of Guinea-Bissau.



Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company

Womens Worlds Conference 2002:

Gendering Pleasure

2001-11-22

http://www.jendajournal.com/jenda/vol1.1/announce.htm#4

The Department of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda is organizing the Womens Worlds 2002, 8th International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women, making Uganda the first African country to host the congress. The congress will be held between the 21st - 26th July, 2002 at Makerere University Campus in Kampala, Uganda. The Women's Worlds 2002 Congress is inviting abstracts on the theme: Gendering Pleasure Possible topics include: The Pleasures and significance of reading poetry, novels etc; The pleasure and significance of closeness/touch/the body/sex; The pleasure of motherhood/parenting; Other pleasures from a historical/sociological/anthropological, religious or literary persepective.

Burundi: Massacres and abductions of children continue

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/4270

Whilst the world's attention is directed towards Afghanistan and the wider fall-out of the events of 11 September in the United States of America, Amnesty International today urged the international community not to ignore Burundi, where the short period since the commencement of a government of transition on 1 November has been marked by massacres of civilians by government forces and the abduction of hundreds of children by an armed political group.
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *

14 November 2001
AFR 16/041/2001
201/01


Whilst the world's attention is directed towards Afghanistan and
the wider fall-out of the events of 11 September in the United
States of America, Amnesty International today urged the
international community not to ignore Burundi, where the short
period since the commencement of a government of transition on 1
November has been marked by massacres of civilians by government
forces and the abduction of hundreds of children by an armed
political group.

"Two weeks into the new transitional government and the
key players in the Burundi conflict are showing little sign of
strengthening their commitment to the protection of human
rights," Amnesty International said.

"Human life continues to be treated with contempt, while
cynical efforts are made to drag children as young as 12 into the
horrendous cycle of violence that has plagued the country in
recent years," the organization added.

Between 2 and 4 November 2001, at least 93 civilians are
reported to have been massacred by government forces at Maramvya
in Rural-Bujumbura province. The killings reportedly began at
around 1pm on 2 November, apparently in reprisal for an incident
the previous day in which combatants, believed to belong to the
armed political group the Forces nationales pour la libJration
(FNL), National Liberation Forces, opened fire on a government
army vehicle. Some of the civilians were shot as they worked in
the fields, while others, who took refuge in their homes when
they heard the gunshots, were bayonetted to death. The bodies
were buried some days later in mass graves, with as many as six
bodies to a grave.

The Maramvya killings followed the extrajudicial
execution by government forces of at least 31 unarmed civilians,
including at least six women and two children, on 25 October in
the Buzige and Migereka II collines in Bubanza Province.

In a separate and disturbing new development, another
armed political movement, the Conseil National pour la DJfense de
la DJmocratie - Forces pour la DJfense de la DJmocratie
(CNDD-FDD), National Council for the Defence of Democracy -
Forces for the Defence of Democracy, has begun abducting
school-children and students from schools.

In the early hours of 6 November four teachers and around
54 children, aged between 12 and 15, were forcibly abducted from
a primary school in Ruyigi, while on 9 November some 250
children, aged between 15 and 18, were abducted from Musema
boarding college in Kayanza province. The college itself was
burned down.

All of those abducted from Musema are understood to have
been subsequently released or to have escaped, and the four
teachers and 25 of the children abducted from Ruyigi have also
returned home. However, as many as 29 of the children abducted
from Ruyigi remain unaccounted for and their current whereabouts
are unknown.

Claims by the CNDD-FDD that the children were taken away
in order to protect them from reprisals by government troops
appear to be misleading. Some of the children were reportedly
made to carry military equipment or assist wounded soldiers, and
it is feared that one of the motives in abducting the children
may have been to forcibly recruit them as child soldiers for the
CNDD-FDD.

On 13 November the United Nations Children=s Fund
(UNICEF) reported that over the previous three days 107 children
had also been abducted from refugee camps in Tanzania by Hutu
armed political groups. The fate of these children is currently
unknown.

Amnesty International is calling for the immediate
release of all the abducted children and is renewing its appeal
to all parties to capitalise on the start of the transitional
government by establishing a new era of respect for fundamental
human rights in Burundi.

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International.

DRC: Congolese Activist Detained and Beaten

2001-11-22

http://docs.hrw.org/news/2001/DRC1115.htm

The head of a Congolese non-governmental organization from Uvira has been detained and severely beaten by the rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) Human Rights Watch has said.

GUINEA-BISSAU: Authorities, civil society seek better rights climate in border area

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=14856

Some 400 representatives of security forces, state bodies and civil society in Gabu, eastern Guinea-Bissau, have recommended the formation of a commission to monitor the observance of human rights in the area.

KENYA: Army contests Kenya bombs claim

2001-11-22

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1663000/1663817.stm

The UK government wants the courts to throw out a multi-million pound compensation claim brought by Kenyan herders over damage from British army bombs.

MALAWI: Muluzi urged to 'defend constitution'

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15192&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=MALAWI

The Magistrates' and Judges' Association of Malawi has written to President Bakili Muluzi, urging him to reject his United Democratic Front (UDF) MPs attempts to sack three senior High Court judges.

Morrocco: Release of Prisoners

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/4214

The Moroccan authorities have taken the important step of releasing 56 political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, following a royal pardon.
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *

8 November 2001
MDE 29/010/2001
197/01


The Moroccan authorities took the important step yesterday
evening of releasing 56 political prisoners, including prisoners
of conscience, following a royal pardon earlier in the day.

"The release of the prisoners is a positive move,"
Amnesty International said today. "We urge the Moroccan
authorities to take the next step in addressing, as a matter of
urgency, the outstanding cases of political prisoners still
detained after conviction in unfair trials in previous years."

Among those released yesterday evening was the
longest-serving prisoner of conscience in Morocco, Mohamed
Daddach, a Sahrawi who was arrested in 1979 and was serving a
life sentence for having tried to desert from the Moroccan
security forces into which he had reportedly been forcibly
enlisted.

Three Sahrawi prisoners of conscience sentenced following
a trial in 2000 to four years' imprisonment also benefited from
the royal pardon. Brahim Laghzal, Cheikh Khaya and Laarbi
Massoudi had been convicted solely for the peaceful expression of
their political beliefs. They were charged with "threatening
state security" in connection with alleged links with the
Polisario Front, a movement which calls for an independent state
in Western Sahara (see background). Salek Bahaha ould Mahmoud,
who was sentenced to four years' imprisonment on a similar charge
in a separate trial in 2000, was also released.

The other releases concerned people who had been
imprisoned in a number of trials since 1999 in connection with
demonstrations in the cities of Laayoune and Marrakech. These
included protesters arrested and imprisoned following
demonstrations in Laayoune in September 1999 which were violently
suppressed by the security forces. Their sentencing to prison
terms of up to 15 years for, among other things, destruction of
property and looting followed unfair trials. Allegations that
dozens of the protesters had been tortured in detention were not
investigated by the courts during the trials.

Amnesty International urges the Moroccan authorities to
take further steps to resolve the outstanding cases of political
prisoners in the country. In particular, the organization calls
on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release
prisoner of conscience Mustapha Adib, a Moroccan Air Force
captain who is currently serving a two-and-a-half-year prison
sentence detained for the non-violent expression of his beliefs
on charges of indiscipline and dishonouring the army following an
unfair trial in 2000. The trial followed the publication of an
article in a French newspaper which quoted him as denouncing
corruption in the Moroccan armed forces.

Some 30 political prisoners sentenced after unfair trials
since the 1970s should also be released unless they are
immediately retried in full compliance with international
standards for fair trial.

Amnesty International urges the Moroccan government to
ensure that its ongoing revision of existing legislation
culminates in changes in domestic law which guarantee compliance
with the country's obligations under international human rights
treaties. In particular, all provisions that permit the
imprisonment of prisoners of conscience must be removed and
further safeguards for fair trials introduced.

Background
Western Sahara is the subject of a territorial dispute between
Morocco, which annexed the territory in 1975 and claims
sovereignty there, and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de
Saguia el-Hamra y Rio de Oro, Popular Front for the Liberation of
Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (known as the Polisario Front),
which calls for an independent state in the territory.

A UN Settlement Plan was agreed to in 1988 by both the
Moroccan authorities and the Polisario Front and was approved by
the UN Security Council in 1991. After more than a decade of
conflict both parties agreed that a referendum in which the
Sahrawi population would be asked to choose between independence
and integration into Morocco would be organized and conducted by
the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
The referendum was originally set for 1992, but has been
repeatedly postponed.

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need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International.

NIGERIA: Federal Government, Sokoto Fight Over Woman

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111180041.html

The Federal and Sokoto State governments are poised for a fight over the sharia verdict passed by a Gwadabawa sharia court to stone a woman, Safiya Hussaini to death for committing adultery.

RWANDA: UN tribunal upholds life sentence on genocide convict

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=14822&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has upheld the conviction of Alfred Musema, 52, for genocide and for extermination as a crime against humanity.

SIERRA LEONE: New election system gets green light

2001-11-22

http://www.oneworld.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi?root=129&url=http://www.reliefweb.int/IRIN

Politicians, former rebels and civil society representatives have given the thumbs up to a new election system in Sierra Leone at a three-day national consultative meeting in the capital, Freetown.

South Africa: Freedom of Expression under threat

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/rights/4298

Debates and space for critical engagement is essential for democracy. There can never be enough emphasis on this point. It is therefore unfortunate that African National Congress (ANC) has chose to stifle debates by resorting to use of derogatory terms to describe opposing voices in the Congress of South Africans trade Unions (Cosatu), South African communist Party (SACP) and ANC alliance.
Source: Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI)

Freedom of Expression under threat within the SACP, Cosatu and ANC alliance

Debates and space for critical engagement is essential for democracy. There
can never be enough emphasis on this point. It is therefore unfortunate that
African National Congress (ANC) has chose to stifle debates by resorting to
use of derogatory terms to describe opposing voices in the Congress of South
Africans trade Unions (Cosatu), South African communist Party (SACP) and ANC
alliance.

Cosatu's Patrick Craven says there is a tendency within the ANC to label in
derogatory terms those who have different views. Members of the ANC have
used terms such as ultra left and counter-revolution to describe Cosatu
members.

Craven says the labeling is aimed at nothing but stifling debate in the
alliance. "Calling someone counter-revolution in South African basically
means those people are enemies and you do not debate with your enemy you do
away with them," says Craven.

Last month the Mail and Guardian newspaper reported that the ANC released a
paper in which they launched an attack on Cosatu leaders who are seen as
ultra left. The document is said to be targeting Willie Madisha, Cosatu's
general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, SACP secretary general Blade Nzimande,
National Union of Mineworkers general secretary Gwede Mantashe and Cosatu's
public sector policy coordinator Neva Makgetla.

It accuses them among other things of having ultra left tendencies and it
threatens to stamp out left wing elements. According to the Mail and
Guardian, the ANC's paper speculates that Cosatu may want to de-link labour
from the ANC, and that the Cosatu may end up forming an opposition political
party.

Cosatu have however denied these allegation. Despite the fundamental
differences between the two organizations Craven says there are no talks of
forming another political party. "We are a very patient organization," says
Craven.

He says Cosatu is there to look out for its members' interests. He added
that at the moment Cosatu is working towards drawing members from the
country's 20 million people which is the country's workforce to increasing
its membership that currently stands at about two million people. According
to Craven the federation tapping into the informal sector such as the taxi
industry and street traders. The federation has also announced that its
membership is on the rise.

Cosatu and the ANC have fundamental differences around economic policies.
While the two fought apartheid as a united front, they continuously find
themselves at odds in the post apartheid South Africa as ANC follows
pro-market economic policies which are in sharp contrast with Cosatu that
believes in strong developmental state intervention.

Cosatu says it gives credit to the ANC in its major victories against
racism, provision of housing and widening accessibility of other social
services. It however argues that these achievements have been cancelled by
rising unemployment and increasing poverty. "The electricity crisis in
Soweto is a classical example where more people received electricity but
cannot afford to pay for it," Say Craven.

Since the ANC adopted the Growth Employment and Redistribution (gear) policy
Cosatu has been fighting the ruling party to reverse its policies. However,
very little has been achieved from the debates. But, Cosatu remains hopeful
that sooner or later the ruling party will come to its senses. According to
Craven the federation is planning to continue with bi-lateral talks with the
ANC and already there is a meeting schedule to deal with current crisis.
"The problem," says Craven "is that we are not operating as an alliance."
Given the poor servicing of black communities under apartheid South Africa,
critical engagement and cooperation on issues of service delivery and
freedom of expression are crucial. It will be improper for the ANC to coerce
its allies in accepting the ruling party's point of view.

The ANC cannot claim a monopoly on solutions to unemployment, poverty and
other economic, social and political problems of the country. It is
therefore the duty of all organizations, social, political and economic
groups to make a contribution and they should be given a platform to air
their views.

The ANC with its history of struggle against the apartheid regime is better
placed to understand the need for tolerance as far as debating is concerned.
There must be space for critical debates, and they also must accept and
consider valid point coming from the opposing voices.

Denial of space for critical engagement has been a pitfall for almost all
post-colonial government in Africa. Today Zanu Pf in Zimbabwe after 21 years
in power has not build sound political and economic policies for the country
because it completely shut out criticism.

The ANC must learn that the denial of space for critical debate will only
lead to its failure to see alternatives and hence its pitfalls in governing
and retaining democracy.

UN Committee Against Torture Probes Lusaka Government

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111200179.html

Zambia has faced hard questions by the UN's Committee Against Torture over the lack of legal protection of suspects against maltreatment by the police, a statement by the Office for the High Commissioner of Human Rights has said.

US: Lawmakers Accept Provision Against World Court

2001-11-22

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44-2001Nov8.html

After last-minute intervention by House GOP Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), House and Senate negotiators agreed to prohibit any U.S. cooperation in the establishment of the International Criminal Court, which is being established in the Netherlands to prosecute war crimes, genocide and other crimes against humanity.

ZAMBIA: Protest over election date silence

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15411&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=ZAMBIA

Zambian human rights groups are divided over whether to support a call by opposition parties for a public disobedience campaign to press President Frederick Chiluba to announce the date for general elections.

ZAMBIA: UN Committee Against Torture probes government

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15415&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=ZAMBIA

Zambia has faced hard questions by the UN's Committee Against Torture over the lack of legal protection of suspects against maltreatment by the police, a statement by the Office for the High Commissioner of Human Rights said.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe could fuel violence

2001-11-22

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=3047

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's warning that he will crush the opposition for plotting against his government is likely to see a rise in political violence before elections next year, analysts have said.

Zimbabwe: Mugabe says UK backs opposition 'terrorists'

2001-11-22

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=3036

President Robert Mugabe has raised the temperature further in strife-torn Zimbabwe when he named three opposition politicians as "terrorists" and claimed Britain was funding them.

ZIMBABWE: NGOs fear being targeted as violence escalates

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15172&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe's Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) fear being next on President Robert Mugabe's "hit-list" after a weekend of political violence.

ZIMBABWE: Tsvangirai no terrorist, say courts

2001-11-22

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/news.html#strike

Zimbabwe's Supreme Court has thrown out charges of terrorism against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, declaring that the law under which he was charged was unconstitutional.

BURUNDI: Some 1,700 IDPs arrive in Muyinga

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15349&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=BURUNDI

At least 1,700 people fleeing rampaging rebels in the communes of Kiremba and Gasorwe arrived in the nearby northeastern Burundi town of Muyinga on Monday where most of them were sheltered in two primary schools, humanitarian sources told IRIN.

DRC: WFP reports calm in Zongo despite CAR instability

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15170&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC

Despite recent instability in Bangui, capital of the neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday that the situation in Zongo, across the Bangui river in the northwestern Equateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), remained "calm", with no major new influx of refugees reported.

Making refugees feel welcome

2001-11-22

http://www.teacher.co.za/200111/refugees.html

Clareville Primary, a school in Durban, South Africa, has a number of children of refugees at its school, and has gone out of its way to welcome them.

NAMIBIA: Red cross withdraws from Osire

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15418&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=NAMIBIA

The Namibian Red Cross Society (NRCS) is withdrawing its services from the Osire refugee camp. "We will be withdrawing as of 31 December 2001," Geniene Veii, deputy secretary-general of the NRCS told IRIN on Tuesday. "Part of the reason that we are doing this is because of a lack of donor funding and partly because donors have been slow in making payments."

Botswana: Directorate on corruption and economic crime courts media in graft war

2001-11-22

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=15180

The Director of Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), Tymon Katlholo, has said that a well informed media could play a crucial role in exposing corruption and fraudulent practices in government, private sector and civil society among other areas.

Ghana: Bribing the 'Unbribables'

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111120433.html

The password is " Zero Tolerance for Corruption" and suddenly everyone is telling everyone how to be corrigible. The opposition NDC who are coming out as if they have never faulted in life before head the crusade. Some living angels. Of late, they have been coming out loudly on moral issues.

Kenya: Bench is blasted for quashing fraud case

2001-11-22

http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,969501-6098-0,00.html

Kenya's biggest opposition party criticised judges yesterday for quashing graft charges against a minister, saying it would encourage more theft of state assets in a country stricken by corruption.

KENYA: Bishops call for action on corruption

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/corruption/4253

The Catholic bishops of Kenya this week urged President Daniel arap Moi to intensify the fight against corruption within his government in order to allow it better address poverty alleviation and the provision of basic services for ordinary citizens.
U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

KENYA: Bishops call for action on governance, corruption

NAIROBI, 15 November (IRIN) -
The Catholic bishops of Kenya this week urged President Daniel arap Moi to
intensify the fight against corruption within his government in order to
allow it better address poverty alleviation and the provision of basic
services for ordinary citizens.

The bishops, who have just ended their bi-annual Plenary Conference in the
Kenyan capital, Nairobi, stated that corruption and bribery were the main
factors depriving Kenyans of much- needed public services such as
education, health, road maintenance and public administration.

"It is the poor and the powerless who suffer all the time," they added.

"Whilst we religious leaders are aware of the depressed world economic
situation and the adverse climatic conditions, we cannot - [along] with
many serious economists - admit that the government cannot curb the
scandalous corruption which is found at so many levels, even at the upper
levels," they said in a statement made available to IRIN.

The bishops also expressed concern about the rising cost of living in
Kenya, which, they said, placed most basic social services out of reach of
majority of the population of 28 million, according to the statement,
signed by Rt-Rev John Njue of the Kenya Episcopal Conference.

The meeting, which ended on Tuesday, addressed a broad range of issues
concerning Kenyans' standard of living, with particular focus on areas of
concern to the church, such as abortion and HIV/AIDS.

The bishops put many of the growing social ills of the country - from
crime and drug abuse to violence and poverty - down to "bad governance".

"We cannot, as shepherds, but lament that our politicians seem to be
exclusively concerned with staying in power, growing rich and grabbing
land and businesses from the wananchi (citizens). No wonder our youth have
lost hope and do not trust their elders," they said.

The episcopal conference urged the Kenyan government to launch fresh
investigations into the killing last year of Fr John Anthony Kaiser, the
Mill Hill missionary priest who was found dead, with a gunshot wound to
his head, at Morendat, on the Naivasha-Nairobi road, in what church and
human rights groups believe to have been a murder incident.

The Catholic church has rejected analysis from the American Federal Bureau
of Investigations (FBI) and Kenya's Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) which stated that Fr Kaiser, a committed human rights activist, had
committed suicide.

Kenyan human rights groups in August called upon the government to release
the Akiwumi Commission report, which investigated the country&#8217;s land
clashes of 1992-97. Fr Kaiser had presented his views to this Commission,
implicating government officials in the clashes, in the year before he
died, they stated.

"We have asked the Attorney-General to allow an inquest but we have not
received a formal reply," the bishops stated after this week's Nairobi
conference.

"Since our request seems to have fallen on deaf ears for questionable
reasons, we are considering other possibilities. We are not giving up,"
they added.

[ENDS]

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Kenya: Wavering graft campaign draws new IMF attack

2001-11-22

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=15168

The Government has been unnecessarily shuffling anti-corruption strategies and so far they have failed to yield results, a major donor has claimed.

MALAWI: Suspended aid to resume soon

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15392&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=MALAWI

Millions of dollars worth of aid to Malawi suspended due to corruption and the curtailment of the government's privatisation programme will be released soon, a government spokesman told IRIN on Tuesday.

Mozambique: Lawmakers unanimously support money-laundering bill

2001-11-22

http://www.transparency.org/cgi-bin/dcn-read.pl?citID=15030

The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, on Thursday unanimously passed a government bill on money-laundering on its first reading - but with several deputies indicating that, in the committee stage, they will introduce amendments to widen the scope of the bill.

Sierre Leone: Commissioner Chides Corrupt Produce Merchants

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111140110.html

Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Femi Akingbola, has berated corrupt produce merchants who he alleged have been frustrating government efforts at enhancing the revenue base of the state.

South Africa: 'Cover-Up to Protect Mbeki And Mufamadi'

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111080433.html

Senior police officials are probing detailed claims of an attempt by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to cover up damaging evidence in the trial of a top policeman - and save face for former safety and security minister Sydney Mufamadi.

South Africa: Arms Deal

2001-11-22

http://www.cosatu.org.za/press/latest.html

COSATU welcomes the comprehensive report tabled to the people of South Africa today and welcomes the exoneration of government from any wrongdoing or corruption.

Press statement issued by the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

To receive future press statements go to
http://gate.cosatu.org.za/mailman/listinfo/press

----------------------------------------

When the arms deal controversy erupted, the
Congress of South African Trade Unions called for a
thorough investigation into every detail and all aspects
of the allegations made. We further stated
unambiguously that we had faith and trust in the three
institutions appointed to conduct the investigation and
that the exclusion of Judge Heath did not mean the
investigation would lack integrity.

COSATU welcomes the comprehensive report tabled
to the people of South Africa today and welcomes the
exoneration of government from any wrongdoing or
corruption. COSATU did not believe in the first place
that government or the cabinet as whole would have
decided to embark on any corruption or law breaking.

COSATU further welcomes the recommendations of
the investigating institutions, in particular their call for
the enactment of legislation to stop political leaders
and/or senior government officials from joining
companies that benefited from government contracts
after resigning from government. We also welcome
the fact that the cases of a few individuals, against
whom there is evidence that they involved themselves
in illegal operations or corruption, are going to be
pursued. We call on the government to ensure that
where is evidence of corruption, the perpetrators are
charged and dealt with mercilessly.

The issue COSATU wishes to raise at this stage, with
the escalating costs of the arms deal package to R60
billion, is whether this is the right priority for our
country. In response to the budget speech of
2001/2002, COSATU rejected the decision that in this
financial year, we are going to spend R5 billion on
arms against R1, 5 billion on poverty alleviation. The
escalation of the package to R60 billion means that
we shall spend twice as much money on arms as on
education, which has been our biggest expenditure
item for years.

The only real threat to our stability is not going to be an
army invading our country from outside our borders,
but the deepening crisis of unemployment, poverty,
inequality and hopelessness. Our country is sitting on
top of a ticking time bomb. To COSATU our biggest
priority ought to be tackling job losses and creating
quality jobs that would defeat the scourge of poverty,
disease (including HIV/AIDS) and hopelessness. So
far we have seen no evidence of the promises of jobs
that have been made.

The debate should be refocused away from
sensationalised and unfounded allegations of
widespread corruption into whether the arms package
is really desirable in the face of the social deficit we
face.

Patrick Craven and Moloto Mothapo
Acting COSATU Spokespersons

patrick@cosatu.org.za
082-821-7456
339-4911

*********************************************************

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South Africa: New weapons swing into action to fight white-collar crime

2001-11-22

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/2001/11/11/top100/top40.asp

South Africa is moving on many fronts to combat corruption.

SOUTH AFRICA: NGO CHALLENGES ARMS DEAL

2001-11-22

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=13&art_id=ct20011121093351453L300748&set_id=1

The South African arm of Economists Allied for Arms Reduction has asked the Cape High Court to torpedo the multibillion-rand arms deal on behalf of the "the poor people of South Africa".

South Africa: Report Outlines Government Challenges

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111080364.html

The major challenges facing the public service are combating corruption and maladministration, improving service delivery and developing human resources. This is according to the State of the Public Service Report, released by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in Parliament.

Zambia: ACC Boss Tells Off Sakala Over Probe

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111150527.html

ANTI -Corruption Commission (ACC) director general judge Robert Kapembwa has denounced President Frederick Chiluba's press assistant Richard Sakala's attempt to politicise ACC investigations on him.

'We're Still Here', Africans Remind IMF, World Bank

2001-11-22

http://www.oneworld.org/ips2/oct01/23_36_085.html

A group of African finance ministers has appealed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to acknowledge their countries' sacrifices and not forsake them as the global economic slowdown hits larger and higher- profile nations.

AFRICA: Finance ministers state a continent's demands

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/development/4264

Well before the global economic uncertainties that have followed the 11 September attacks on the US, African countries were carrying out painstaking economic reform programmes, and they still needed the support of international financial institutions and donors to ensure they got the rewards, the continent's finance ministers stated on Tuesday.
U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

AFRICA: Finance ministers state a continent''s demands

WASHINGTON, 14 November (IRIN) - Well before the global economic
uncertainties that have followed the 11 September attacks on the US,
African countries were carrying out painstaking economic reform
programmes, and they still needed the support of international financial
institutions and donors to ensure they got the rewards, the continent's
finance ministers stated on Tuesday.

"We are concerned that the policy reforms that have been carried out in
Africa, and for which we are starting to see some sign of progress, might
be endangered by what's going to happen in the next months and years,"
said Ali Gamatie, Niger's finance minister, at a press conference in
Washington DC, USA. "This is certainly not the time for the Bretton Woods
institutions [the World Bank and IMF] and the donor community to drop out
Africa from their radar screen."

The African delegates spent Tuesday meeting senior IMF and World Bank
representatives, to whom they presented demands, including equitable
access to global markets, faster and deeper debt relief, and Africa's need
for capital investment, among other issues.

Altogether, a total of 23 countries have reached the decision point on
qualification for debt relief under the global Highly Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) initiative, including 19 from Africa, said Gerald
Ssendaula, the Ugandan Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic
Development, who is also head of the African Bureau to the IMF and World
Bank - of which Uganda holds the presidency until 2003.

"Of the 19, [only] two have reached the completion point: Uganda and
Mozambique... Our plea was to speed up debt relief - that is, to close the
gap of the period between the decision and the completion point,"
Ssendaula said. African countries also believed "that the process should
be accompanied with grants or loans on concessional terms" so that they
did not fall into further debt in the future, he added.

The African finance ministers also pressed for equitable access to
international markets, which often have barriers to entry that favour
developed nations.

"Africans are realising that they cannot grow just depending on aid; that
while aid is important, the question of market access is even more
pivotal. And so, in our discussions... the importance of having market
access was very well underscored," said Jean Baptiste Compaore, the
finance minister of Burkina Faso.

"The problem is that in most of the markets where Africa sells its
products, developed world agricultural products are subsidised," Ssendaula
said. "Our concern is that our commodities, which are mainly primary
commodities, agricultural produce, are not getting a fair share of the
market."

The African Bureau to the IMF and World Bank also raised its desire to
have more Africans recruited by and take up responsible positions in the
Bank; additional funding for further research into HIV/AIDS drugs, and to
see the price of essential drugs lowered; and for more foreign direct
investment in Africa.

With the IMF, the African ministers presented issues related to countries'
quota of shares in the Fund and to the Poverty Reduction Strategy Programs
(PRSPs) it promotes for developing countries, Ssendaula said.

Africa would "definitely welcome more grants and aid" rather than debt
relief and loans alone, and that loans should be on concessional terms -
with a rate of interest below 1 percent, a grace period of 10 years and
repayment over 40 years, he said.

"I don't think that there is any other continent where there has been
greater reform than we have experienced in Africa in the last five years -
but, at the same time, we are watching a decline in the flow of aid," said
Gamatie.

"There is an issue of being credible from the international community in
fulfilling the commitment when they say you should have good governance,
you should fight corruption, have sound, good economic policy, then you
will qualify for HIPC. But once you've done that, then sometimes the
response is not there," he said.

"We are going to be more coordinated in Africa to try to press further for
these demands. We shall be repeating them until we get a solution,"
Ssendaula added.

[ENDS]

[This Item is Delivered to the "Africa-English" Service of the UN's IRIN
humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views
of the United Nations. For further information, free subscriptions, or
to change your keywords, contact e-mail: Irin@ocha.unon.org or Web:
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and take full advantage of the new options that are available. This will
automatically remove you from the old distribution list. If you do not
have access to the web or experience any problems please contact
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Tel +41 22 321 8425, Geneva, CH
mobile +41 078 631 9996
joanne@irinnews.org

-------------------


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humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views
of the United Nations. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post
this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Reposting by commercial
sites requires written IRIN permission.]

Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2001

Developing countries face uphill struggle after Doha

2001-11-22

http://www.cafod.org.uk/livefromdoha/doha_uphillstruggle20011115.shtml

The Catholic Aid Agency CAFOD says the final declaration of the WTO Summit in Doha places a heavy negotiating burden on developing countries. They will struggle to build on its positive words and to avoid pitfalls in new and complex areas.

DOHA: AGREEMENT TO LAUNCH A NEW ROUND

A step forward or backwards for developing countries?

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/development/4286

After months of discussions and speculation, last week’s discussions during the 4th WTO Ministerial meeting in Doha ended with the agreement to launch a new Multilateral Trade Round from January 2002. The EU has described this result as satisfactory. EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy has argued that the result represents major progress for sustainable development, and that the future negotiations will be characterised by a balance between regulation and liberalisation. The European Commission claim that by providing the CTE (WTO Committee on Trade and Environment) with a special role, sustainable development and environmental concerns will be mainstreamed in the future negotiations.
4TH WTO MINISTERIAL MEETING IN DOHA AGREES TO LAUNCH A NEW ROUND? - STEP FORWARD OR BACKWARD FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES?

After months of discussions and speculation, last week’s discussions during the 4th WTO Ministerial meeting in Doha ended with the agreement to launch a new Multilateral Trade Round from January 2002. The EU has described this result as satisfactory. EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy has argued that the result represents major progress for sustainable development, and that the future negotiations will be characterised by a balance between regulation and liberalisation. The European Commission claim that by providing the CTE (WTO Committee on Trade and Environment) with a special role, sustainable development and environmental concerns will be mainstreamed in the future negotiations. In the Doha Declaration agreed at the end of the meeting, it is stated that the process of reform and liberalisation should be maintained in order to ensure recovery, growth and development. The WTO members state their aim as to “ensure that developing countries, and especially the least-developed amount of them, secure a share in the growth of world trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development”. See http://trade-info.cec.eu.int/europa/2001newround/pl4.php
Some NGOs have stressed that the main gain for the developing countries is the draft agreement on the “TRIPs Agreement and Public Health”. It provides the developing countries with the right to determine national emergencies and other urgencies, including public health crises and to issue compulsory licenses to produce generic drugs. It is claimed that the balance in the system of patents has been improved since Doha. But there are still a number of problems with the agreement. For example it has not been certified whether a country could have generic drugs produced in another country, and it is up to the WTO to find a solution to this issue by the end of 2002.
According to the Doha Declaration, a focus of the forthcoming round of negotiations will be on agriculture, antidumping and tariffs.

2. WAIVERS FROM THE WTO ON ACP-EU TRADE AGREEMENT SECURED AT A PRICE?

One of the more significant outcomes of the WTO Ministerial in Doha was the approval of the waiver sought by the EU and ACP to practise non-reciprocal preferential trade for the ACP till 2008, when new ACP-EU trade arrangement come in force.
According to press sources the waiver deal was struck after several meetings between trade ministers from the EU, ACP and Latin America. The deal grants the ACP non-reciprocal preferential access to the EU markets until 2008, as the ACP and EU had insisted, but it also allows Latin American countries to maintain some leverage in ensuring that the EU treats them favourably.
Another waiver approved, grants the EU the right to maintain its banana trade regime that otherwise would not comply with WTO rules because of its preferences to ACP countries. According to press reports, the EU has promised, subject to EU Member States approval, to replace its current banana quotas with tariffs by 2006. This would be advantageous to competitive Latin American suppliers provided they do not face a high tariff. The Latin American countries (Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras) by accepting this compromise dropped their demands to be able to request a suspension of the waiver at any time once the waiver was in effect. Ecuador, which initially was reluctant to join the other Latin American countries in the striking the deal, succumbed after it was given assurances by the EU that Ecuador’s access to EU markets would not be negatively affected by access to ACP products.
However under the terms agreed under the waiver on non-reciprocal preferential trade, Latin American countries would be informed of the results of tariff negotiation under article 28 of the WTO and may request arbitration. This is a change from previous GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) rules, which did not allow Latin American countries to participate in such negotiations under article 28. In the new deal, the arbitrator, appointed by the WTO Director General, would be charged with determining whether the rebinding of EU tariffs on bananas would result in a reduction of market access to non-ACP suppliers. If the arbitrator is of the view that tariff bindings do not at least maintain market access to non-ACP countries, the EU will enter into consultations with the complaining countries. If the matter cannot be resolved the waiver granting the ACP preferential access will be suspended. According to an ACP spokesman, this was a price the ACP was prepared to pay to receive zero tariff treatment on bananas.
Apart from the Latin Americans the EU also had to meet the demands of other developing countries. According to press reports, before the waiver was approved Thailand and the Philippines had threatened to block the waiver if their demands on imports of canned tuna were not met. A last minute letter was sent from EU Commissioner for Trade, Pascal Lamy, to the Thai and Philippine representatives promising the EU’s willingness to engage in consultations with the Philippines and Thailand over whether these countries would lose market access to the EU on canned tuna from ACP suppliers as a result of the Cotonou Agreement.
ACP States were not without demands of their own. ACP States had threatened to block the agreement to launch a new WTO round of negotiations if they did not receive a waiver for ACP-EU Trade arrangements. Apart from this demand on the waiver the ACP’s also made a new Round conditional on: discussion and resolution of long-standing implementation and capacity building issues before any new issue is placed on board; and a transparent, democratic, inclusive and consultative decision-making process in the WTO. According to some reports some NGOs at a press conference in Doha voiced their disappointment at the ACP’s willingness to support a new WTO Round (even with certain conditions).

Source: Regular News Update From Eurostep No. 251 16 November 2001

Doha: Ministerial Draft Declaration is biased

Third World Network Statement

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/development/4219

The draft declaration is highly imbalanced and if adopted would seriously jeopardise the development interests of developing countries. It is also unfair and grossly biased because many of the views put forward by developing countries have been ignored in the text, which overall and in many sections one-sidedly reflect the interests of developed countries.
Third World Network Statement

Ministerial Draft Declaration: A highly biased and imbalanced text; many key sections should be rejected
Comment by Third World Network, 13 Nov 2001

The draft declaration is highly imbalanced and if adopted would seriously jeopardise the development interests of developing countries. It is also unfair and grossly biased because many of the views put forward by developing countries have been ignored in the text, which overall and in many sections one-sidedly reflect the interests of developed countries.

This is so in particular in the sections on the new issues (paragraphs 20-27). In Geneva and again at Doha in the past few days most developing countries spoke up in the consultations and put forward proposals to alter the Harbinson text.

The Africa Group, the LDCs group, and the ACP countries have made it clear that they are unable to accept any commitment to negotiate the new issues (investment, competition, transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation). Many other developing countries (such as India) have shared this view.

Their reasons include the lack of capacity to understand and negotiate the proposed issues, and the concern that obligations on them in these new areas would have further negative effect on their development options and policies. As Tanzania&#8217;s Trade Minister Mr Iddi Simba of Tanzania (who represents the least developed countries) put it: &#8220;These are matters of life and death for us.&#8221;

However there has been little change in the new draft. Paras 26 and 27 ask for negotiations to begin immediately on transparency in government procurement and trade facilitation. This is despite the stated views of large numbers of developing countries (including members of the African, LDCs and ACPO groups) that they are unable to start negotiations on these areas.

The section on investment is clearly based on the assumption that there will be future negotiations, as it recognises the case for a multilateral framework, and commits Members to further work to focus on clarifying many issues that are in effect elements of a multilateral agreement. Whilst the text states that the 5th Ministerial will decide on whether to launch negotiations, it is worded in a way to provide a push towards negotiations. This provides an unfair advantage to those advocating negotiations.

Similarly, the section on competition is based on the assumption that future negotiations will be undertaken. It recognises the case for a multilateral framework, and commits Members to a work programme to clarify issues (such as core principles, non-discrimination and procedural fairness) that are in effect elements of an agreement.
Thus, whilst the text states that the 5th Ministerial will decide whether to launch negotiations, it already commits Members to lay the groundwork for an agreement.

On market access for non agricultural products (industrial tariffs), many developing countries (including the least developed countries and several African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania) and supported by India, have called for a study process to examine the effects of past and future tariff reductions on local industries, jobs and government revenue. This proposal arises from concerns that local industries and firms have closed in most African and least developed countries as a result of previous tariff cuts. They asked that new negotiations should be held only after the completion of the study process which could set guidelines on the negotiations. However the request of such a large number of countries has been ignored in the new draft which calls for negotiations to start immediately. It merely states that studies would be carried out during the negotiations, which is vastly different than the proposal to having a study process prior to initiating negotiations.

The section in the main Declaration on TRIPS is extremely disappointing as it does not deal with widespread NGO concerns about the need to prohibit the patenting of lifeforms and ensuring that countries have enough flexibility to protect local community rights in seeds and biological materials as the basis of a sui generis system. Thus the problem of biopiracy and the erosion of farmers&#8217; rights to seeds etc will continue to worsen. Many other important points that NGOs have demanded for needed reforms to TRIPS have also not been dealt with.

The final section on organisation of the work programme (paragraphs 45-52) continues to contain many points that actually launch a comprehensive New Round without the term being used. These include a Trade Negotiations Committee (para 46) and a single undertaking (para 47). The retention of these in the new text goes against the objections by many developing countries and many hundreds of NGOs worldwide that do not want a New Round launched.

If adopted, this draft will initiate a vast expansion of the mandate and work of the WTO in the wrong direction. It will lead eventually to seriously restricting the rights of developing countries to have the development options and policies they require. It would also cause severe economic and social problems. We therefor call on the governments not to adopt this draft. As a minimum, the following changes have to be made:

n On the Singapore issues, there should not be any commitment to negotiations on all the four issues. The relevant paras have to be revised to reflect that the study process should continue with a special focus on the implications and effects (economic, social) of placing new obligations on developing countries.
n On industrial tariffs, the text should be revised. Instead of initiating negotiations immediately, a study process should be established to learn the lessons of past experience so as to guide any decisions on future negotiations, and take account of the real fears of future deindustrialisation in developing countries.
n The section on TRIPS should be amended to take into account the need to prohibit the patenting of life forms and the need to protect local community rights relating to seeds and other biological materials.
n The section on organization of work programmes should be changed to remove the elements of a New Round.
n If these changes (especially on new issues) cannot be made now, due to lack of time or political will) the text as a whole should be rejected. The process should then be transferred to Geneva under the responsibility of the General Council (and not under individuals such as the Director General or the General Council chairman). In that renewed process the present text should not be taken as the basis, due to the bad record of its evolution, both in Geneva and Doha as well as its highly biased and imbalanced contents.

For more information, contact: Martin Khor, Yao Graham, Tetteh Hormeku, Cecilia Oh, Vicky Corpuz Tauli of Third World Network.

Doha: Victory on public health

but few other gains for people in poverty

2001-11-22

http://oxfam.org.uk/whatnew/press/dohafinal.html

Oxfam is giving a four-out-of-ten score to the WTO deal struck at Doha. There is a clear victory on public health, but Oxfam fears that developing countries can be bulldozed into agreeing a huge trade agenda which could exacerbate poverty and inequality.

Drops of Oil in a Sea of Poverty

the case for a new debt deal for Nigeria

2001-11-22

http://www.jubileeplus.org

The demands of past debt on the democratic government of Nigeria is handicapping its capacity to resolve growing internal social and ethnic tensions, says Jubilee Plus, in a new report.
Jubilee Plus Press Release

Drops of Oil in a Sea of Poverty &#8211; the case for a new debt deal for Nigeria





Date: 13 November 2001
Contact: Kwesi Owusu tel: 0207 089 2838
kowusu.jubilee@neweconomics.org


The demands of past debt on the democratic government of Nigeria is handicapping its capacity to resolve growing internal social and ethnic tensions, says Jubilee Plus, in a new report.

In a report to be issued on 16th November 2001 &#8211; "Drops of Oil in a Sea of Poverty &#8211; The case for a new debt deal for Nigeria" &#8211; Jubilee Plus notes that debt service payments of US$1.4 billion per annum is crippling Nigeria&#8217;s capacity to confront critical socio - economic and political challenges. Nigeria ranks 151st out of 174 countries in the HDI poverty index but its creditors are still demanding 15 times in debt service what it is able to spend on poverty reduction. For Nigeria to meet poverty reduction targets set by the United Nations for the year 2015, it needs to spend about US$11 billion per year on social services &#8211; well above present levels and nearly double what we consider to be reasonable given the taxing capacity of its poor population.

The report notes that whilst Nigeria&#8217;s oil revenues have provided welcome relief to the country&#8217;s hard-pressed finances, they cannot be said to enrich Africa&#8217;s most populous nation. "Revenues net of production costs and foreign company earnings are approximately US$11 billion, which for a population in excess of 111 million equates to net revenues of only US$100 per person, per annum or 27 cents a day" says Kwesi Owusu, head of Jubilee Plus&#8217; Africa programme and author of the report.

Nigeria&#8217;s democratic government is carrying US$14 million of debt racked up by previous dictatorships and large amounts of Nigerian reserves are deposited in foreign banks as a result of capital flight. General Abacha alone stole and deposited US$4 billion in Western banks &#8211; in London, Washington, Frankfurt and Zurich. Oil companies such as Shell, Mobile, Texaco and Chevron also owe huge ecological debts to Nigeria as a result of the degradation of the Niger Delta, the main oil producing area, according to the report.

Jubilee Plus is proposing a new concordat between Nigeria and its creditors, based on an independent and transparent process overseen by civil society. "The essential elements of the deal must include a public agreement on what proportion of the outstanding debt must be immediately cancelled, what resources Nigeria should realistically devote to servicing the debt, what losses creditors should bear, including an equitable distribution of the costs amongst all creditors and arrangements to protect the environment" says Kwesi Owusu.

Notes for editors;

- The report "Drops of Oil in a Sea of Poverty &#8211; The case for a new debt deal for Nigeria" is available from www.Jubileeplus.og

- Nigeria is Africa biggest debtor and owes US$28.5 billion to its external creditors, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO), set up by the Nigerian government. The IMF puts the stock of debt at US$31.9 billion.

- Nigeria&#8217;s GDP per capita is US$853 per capita compared to US$22,093 for the UK, US$26,251 for Canada , and US$24,575 for Australia. Maternal mortality is amongst the highest in the world, with 700 women dying out of every 100,000. 10% of infants die at birth.

- Nigeria&#8217;s largest oil spill was an offshore well blowout in January 1980 when an estimated 200,000 barrels of oil (8.4 million) spewed into the Atlantic Ocean from a Texaco facility and destroyed 340 hectares of mangrove. Nigeria flares more gas than any other country in the world &#8211; about 75% of its total gas production, contributing a high percentage of the world&#8217;s total emissions of greenhouse gases.

End


Kwesi Owusu
Head, Jubilee Plus Africa Programme
Jubilee Plus at the New Economics Foundation
Cinnamon House
6-8 Cole Street
London SE1 4YH
Tel +44 (o) 20 70892838
m:07714 895932
Fax: +44 (o) 207407 6473
Email kowusu.jubilee@neweconomics.org
Website: www.jubileplus.org

GHANA: WFP launches US $15.3-million development programme

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/development/4261

The World Food Programme (WFP) is to provide 482,000 Ghanaians with food aid through 2005 to support efforts to reduce poverty in Ghana, the UN agency announced on Wednesday.
U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

GHANA: WFP launches US $15.3-million development programme

ABIDJAN, 14 November (IRIN) - The World Food Programme (WFP) is to provide
482,000 Ghanaians with food aid through 2005 to support efforts to reduce
poverty in Ghana, the UN agency announced on Wednesday. WFP's Ghana
Country Programme, designed in close collaboration with the Ghanaian
government, will supply beneficiaries with 35,000 mt of food over the next
four years. Linked to projects run by other UN agencies and NGOs, it
covers community health and nutrition education, girls' education and
savannah resource management and is budgeted at US $15.3 million. Another
US $4.7 million will be requested for HIV/AIDS programmes, WFP said.

Under one of the programme's three projects, food will be provided for
malnourished pre-school children attending community health and nutrition
centres. Food will also be given to expectant and nursing mothers to
encourage them to attend health and nutrition classes.

A second project will offer some 29,600 girls a monthly take-home ration
of cereals and oil in return for attending school. This project will be
carried out in rural areas in Ghana's northern savannahs, where, WFP said,
only 62 percent of girls and 67 percent of boys are enrolled in primary
schools, which is much lower than the national average. "Take-home rations
have proved an extremely effective way of ensuring attendance, and
therefore improving performance," WFP Ghana Country Director Eva Hodell
said.

WFP said the third initiative would focus on farmers, 58 percent of whom
do not have enough food to feed their families because of recurrent
drought, reduced soil fertility and high population growth, according to
recent studies. These families, who are mainly in the north, endure the
worst food shortages between March and August each year. Under the
project, farmers will receive food as an incentive to invest their time
and resources in adopting new forestry management practices such as
developing tree and plant nurseries, agro-forestry plantations and soil
and water structures, WFP said.



[ENDS]

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[This Item is Delivered to the "Africa-English" Service of the UN's IRIN
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RWANDA: US $250 million needed for poverty reduction

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15200&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=RWANDA

Rwanda's government needs US $250 million "at the very least" in the first two years if its poverty reduction strategy is to be implemented properly, Finance and Economic Planning Minister Donat Kaberuka said. on Saturday.

WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha

World Bank Coverage from the Development Gateway

2001-11-22

http://www.developmentgateway.org/topic/kiaq?kiaq_id=129632&community_id=91&country_id=0

At the core of the questions facing Ministers at the Conference is whether governments are ready to launch a wider process of negotiations-a new round-and if so, what should its content be. Developing countries, more important in size and sophistication than ever before, are now pivotal to the success of the world trading system. How, then, can their interests be taken into account to strengthen the multilateral system?

Zambia: Growth forecasts lowered

2001-11-22

http://www.jubileeplus.org/worldnews/africa/zambia_growth_forecasts_lowered.htm

Weaker copper prices and demand has lowered growth forecasts in Zambia, the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said in its latest update.

African Leadership Must Become More Involved in Fight Against AIDS

2001-11-22

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv_recent_rep.cfm?dr_cat=1&show=yes&dr_DateTime=16-Nov-01#8061

Six months after African leaders at an Abuja, Nigeria, summit pledged to devote more attention and greater resources to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, many health experts say "far too little" has been accomplished, Reuters reports.

BURUNDI: WHO ENVOY FOUND DEAD

2001-11-22

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/news.html#who

The head of the UN World Health Organisation's operations in Burundi, Kassi Manlan of the Ivory Coast, was found dead in Bujumbura on Tuesday.

Doha: Green light to put public health first at WTO ministerial conference

2001-11-22

http://oxfam.org.uk/whatnew/press/doha2.html

The one hundred and forty two countries meeting at the 4th WTO ministerial conference in Doha clearly affirmed that governments are free to take all necessary measures to protect public health. Now, if drug companies price drugs beyond the reach of people who need them, governments can override patents without the threat of retribution.

EAST AFRICA: New agreement on access to drugs welcomed

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/4263

The Ugandan government on Thursday welcomed a declaration by the World Trade Organisation that should allow developing countries to use generic drugs in times of health crises, overriding the patents held by major pharmaceutical companies.
U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

EAST AFRICA: New agreement on access to drugs welcomed

NAIROBI, 16 November (IRIN) - The Ugandan government on Thursday welcomed
a declaration by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that should allow
developing countries to use generic drugs in times of health crises,
overriding the patents held by major pharmaceutical companies.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also welcomed the declaration, and said he
was especially pleased by the WTO's affirmation that nothing in the
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
should prevent developing countries from taking measures to protect public
health.

"This will lead to increased availability of drugs to combat AIDS,
tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics," Annan added.

The United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) also welcomed as "an
historic declaration" the WTO ministers' statement that the global
Agreement on TRIPS "should be interpreted so as to protect public health
and promote access to medicine for all." [full Doha Declaration at
]http://www.wto.org/]

The WHO would continue to work with member states, with the WTO and with
other relevant organisations to help with implementation, it stated on
Thursday.

In advance of the WTO meeting held in Doha, Qatar, from 9-13 November,
developing countries had demanded that the trade regulatory body allow
them set aside patents in certain circumstances to make cheaper, generic
drugs available to their people - especially to combat the HIV/AIDS
pandemic which has wrought havoc on the third world.

The world's Least Developed Countries (LDCs) met in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in
July and agreed a common negotiating position for Doha that they would not
support higher labour and environment standards being promoted by the US
and European Union unless there was progress on access to essential drugs.
There had been concern, however, that pressure from developed countries -
including alleged threats of aid cuts - would undermine that common stand.

Humanitarian organisations have been campaigning hard for WTO rules that
would allow developing countries to manufacture or import low-cost
equivalents of patented drugs, and especially of expensive anti-HIV/AIDS
drug cocktails, to ensure broader access to them. [for more details, go to
http://www.globaltreatmentaccess.org/

Ugandan Minister of State for Finance Sam Kuteesa on Thursday welcomed the
WTO decision as a breakthrough for Uganda, where second-generation drugs
could help reduce costs and increase the number of HIV-positive people
accessing anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs) to control their illness, AFP
news agency reported.

The Ugandan authorities were uncertain about the value and effectiveness
of generic anti-AIDS drugs but said they would certainly use them if they
were proven effective, and patented rugs were not affordable, the
country's independent Monitor newspaper reported on Tuesday, 13 November.

A number of Ugandan companies, including Kampala Pharmaceutical Industries
and Rene Industries, are planning to manufacture ARVs, it added.

The Kenya Coalition for Access to Essential Medicines (KCAEM) also
welcomed the Doha declaration. "Very simply, it puts governments in the
driving seat to be able to put life before profit, while in practical
terms, this means if pharmaceutical company prices are beyond the reach of
the poor, Kenya can disregard the patent without fear of reprisal," it
said in a statement on Thursday.

In Kenya, anti-AIDS drugs are still too expensive for most people who need
them, four months after the government passed a bill intended to allow
access to cheaper drugs, according for campaigners for access to essential
medicines.

ARVs generally cost between US $2.5 and $5 per day in Kenya for those
living with HIV/AIDS who could afford them; the average Kenyan income is
in the region of $1 per day, AFP news agency reported last week.

It quoted Chris Ouma, a doctor working with the nongovernmental
organisation Action Aid, as saying that an estimated 800,000 Kenyans had
died of AIDS since the Kenyan government passed a law in June, which was
intended to increase public access to vital drugs.

No date has been set for the application of the law, the government has
failed to deliver on promises to improve doctors training and laboratory
facilities, and nor has it entered negotiations with drug companies on the
price of essential medicines, AFP reported.

The new WTO declaration was "a great victory that puts the responsibility
squarely on the shoulders of the Ministers for Trade and Health to bring
down the cost of essential medicines and increase access to life-saving
treatments for the Kenyan people," the Kenya Coalition for Access to
Essential Medicines (KCAEM) quoted independent lawyer Sisule Musungu as
saying.

"The next step is to effectively use all existing provisions of the law to
make this a reality," Musungu added.

In a separate development, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said that
for the first time in the Doha Declaration, countries had firmly
acknowledged that the globalisation of commerce and the reduction of trade
barriers must take into account environmental issues and the development
needs of the world's poorer countries.

"Negotiations on trade and the environment were, until recently, a taboo
subject in the WTO," said UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer. "But the
Ministerial Declaration issued in Qatar has shown that countries are now
willing to address these complex links between the need to liberalise
trade and the need to protect the world's forests, fisheries, wetlands,
wildlife and other precious natural resources."

[ENDS]

[This Item is Delivered to the "Africa-English" Service of the UN's IRIN
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Ethiopia: AIDS Resource Center to be Created

2001-11-22

http://www.jhuccp.org/news/111501.shtml

A new resource center with accurate and up-to-date information on HIV/AIDS will be established by The Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs (JHU/CCP) in Ethiopia, a country that has one of the world&#8217;s highest HIV prevalence rates.

Free Access to eMedicine

for Developing Countries

2001-11-22

mailto:bware@emedicine.com

eMedicine.com, the publisher of the world's largest online current medical reference, announced today they will use models developed by major publishers, to determine which third world countries will get free access to their online medical reference.
Free Access to eMedicine for Developing Countries' Professionals
----------------------------------------------------------------

eMedicine Provides Developing Countries' Health Professionals with
Free Access to Online Medical Reference Library

St. Petersburg, FL, USA, November 15, 2001 -- eMedicine.com, the pub-
lisher of the world's largest online current medical reference, an-
nounced today they will use models developed by major publishers, to
determine which third world countries will get free access to their
online medical reference. eMedicine's plan goes further than the re-
cently publicized World Health Organization effort. According to
Scott Plantz, M.D., eMedicine CEO, "We want to ensure that as many
health professionals as possible have access to our online reference,
not just the research facilities."

He added that eMedicine is planning to work with the International
Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP).
"INASP has longstanding experience of working with developing and
transitional countries in matters of information production, access
and dissemination," said Carol Priestley, Director, INASP, "eMedi-
cine's effort will go a long way to further the aims of our program
of work in INASP-Health and will be a welcome addition to the Program
for the Enhancement of Research Information (PERI)."

WHO recently announced it would provide free access to four publish-
ers medical journals to research institutes in developing countries
with a GNP per capita less than US$ 1,000. Countries with a GNP per cap-
ita of between US$ 1,000-3,000 will be offered deeply discounted
online subscriptions to the journals. According to Dr. Plantz, "WHO's
effort to provide developing nation's research institutes with access
to journals inspired us to expand on this program. We will donate
subscriptions of our medical library to the same country's health
professionals and researchers." He added they would expand access to
all countries with per capita incomes of less than US$ 3,000.

Health professionals are already familiar with the eMedicine's online
Emergency Medical Reference, which has seen over 20 million users. It
is the only online medical reference that is updated 24 hours a day.
All content undergoes strict peer-review by four physicians.

Dr. Plantz related how a recent request by an urologist who does vol-
unteer medical work for Malawi illustrates the need for his new pro-
gram. Nicholas Viek, M.D., explained to Dr. Plantz how Malawi is one
of the poorest nations. There are no current medical books accessible
to Lilongwe Central Hospital's physicians. Under the new eMedicine
program, all health professionals in Malawi would have access to
eMedicine's online medical reference.

eMedicine was founded in 1997, and is privately held with headquar-
ters in St. Petersburg, Florida, USA.

Barbara Ware
eMedicine.com
Public Relations
Tel: +1-301-625-9011
mailto:bware@emedicine.com

--
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For additional assistance, send mail to:
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HIV/AIDS Network Launches Search Engine

2001-11-22

http://www.HIVAIDSsearch.com/index.htm

This is a tool for searching the internet for updated news on medications, treatments and vaccines. Sites are listed in categories and further broken down into subcategories. Once a search is performed, you have the choice to further your search instantly on the world's major search engines or NEWS headlines sites. Please add your favourite HIV/AIDS websites to our database. Its online services will be particularly valuable in rural locations where no local organizations exist. People can log in privately from home and have a counsellor to chat with or get answers to questions from the online forum.

KENYA: CHEAP AIDS DRUGS CONSIDERED

2001-11-22

http://www2.womensnet.org.za/news/show.cfm?news_id=763

The Kenyan Ministry of Health is negotiating the importation of cheap generic Aids drugs from Pakistan.

RWANDA: DFID allocates 2.95 million pounds for HIV/AIDS work

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/4308

Britain's Department for International Development (DFID) has allocated ActionAid, a British development charity, 2.95 million pounds sterling (US $4.29 million) for HIV/AIDS work in Rwanda, DFID reported on Tuesday.
U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

RWANDA: DFID allocates 2.95 million pounds for HIV/AIDS work

NAIROBI, 13 November (IRIN) - Britain's Department for International
Development (DFID) has allocated ActionAid, a British development charity,
2.95 million pounds sterling (US $4.29 million) for HIV/AIDS work in
Rwanda, DFID reported on Tuesday.

The money will be disbursed over three years and will allow ActionAid to
help Rwanda's National AIDS Commission (Commission Nationale de Lutte
Contre le Sida) implement a five-point strategy to combat the HIV/AIDS
pandemic. The first of these five points - to set up an office and recruit
staff - began in early October and was to end 31 December, ActionAid
reported.

Other parts of the programme are for Rwanda to build capacity in its AIDS
commission, the NGO Forum on HIV/AIDS and other bodies so that they can
manage and coordinate their activities. The programme also seeks to help
civil society bodies to build their capacity to engage government and
donors in HIV/AIDS work. Another strategy is to encourage behavioural and
attitudinal change in face of the prevalence of the disease. Community,
family and local traditional capacities are to be strengthened in order to
increase on-site support such as counselling centres, and treatment
regimes for people living with AIDS. Last is a strategy to strengthen the
social coping mechanisms of poor rural and urban communities to face the
impact of AIDS.


[ENDS]

[This Item is Delivered to the "Africa-English" Service of the UN's IRIN
humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views
of the United Nations. For further information, free subscriptions, or
to change your keywords, contact e-mail: Irin@ocha.unon.org or Web:
http://www.irinnews.org . If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post
this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Reposting by
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-------------------


[This item is delivered in the "africa-english" service of the UN's IRIN
humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views
of the United Nations. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post
this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Reposting by commercial
sites requires written IRIN permission.]

Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2001

South Africa: Bishop says Mbeki has fuelled spread of AIDS

2001-11-22

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_hiv_recent_rep.cfm?dr_cat=1&show=yes&dr_DateTime=15-Nov-01#8036

South African Anglican Bishop Peter Lee recently sent a letter to Cedric Mayson, the African National Congress' religious affairs director, saying that President Thabo Mbeki's questioning of the causal link between HIV and AIDS has led many men in the rural KwaZulu-Natal province to erroneously believe that sex and AIDS are "not linked," the Daily Mail & Guardian reports.

SOUTH AFRICA: PETITION, HIV TRANSMISSION

2001-11-22

http://womensnet.org.za/cgi-bin/petition.pl

Sign an online petition to support the Mother to Child Transmission court case being brought by the Treatment Action Campaign against the
Government.

TRIPS declaration on public health

final text

2001-11-22

http://www-heva.wto-ministerial.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/

This is the declaration that was finally passed after a seemingly unending Ministerial in Doha. This is an important declaration that marks an significant if partial victory for developing countries.
TRIPS declaration on public health--final text


This is the declaration that was finally passed after a seemingly unending
Ministerial in Doha--also available on the WTO website:

http://www-heva.wto-ministerial.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/
min01_e.htm

This is an important declaration that marks an significant if partial
victory for developing countries.

It is important to emphasize that the strong and lasting solidarity
among the countries fighting hardest for this declaration, such as
the Africa Group, against the US-led minority opposition that overtly
sought to divide "developing" from "least developed" countries.

While this represents substantial progress, it is a declaration that is
not as strong as it could have been, thanks to efforts by the US,
Switzerland, Japan, and the EU.

As anticipated, the strongest language fought for by the Africa Group was
watered down--that is, legally binding verbs like "shall" in para 4,
which is the paragraph dictating the interpretation of the operative text,
were stripped and replaced with "can and should" and "does not and should
not" on the insistence of the US, key representative of the vocal minority.

In addition, the US language that replaced Africa Group language in para.
6 defers serious discussion at Doha on compulsory licensing for export
--the US most likely are hoping momentum will be gone from this
issue by the time the TRIPS council meets again in exciting Geneva. Of
course, the time at Doha should have and could have been used to find an
answer to this problem. But rich countries pushed it off the table.

Asia Russell +1 267 475 2645


WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

WT/MIN(01)/DEC/W/2
14 November 2001
(01-5770)

MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth Session
Doha, 9 - 14 November 2001



DECLARATION ON THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH



1. We recognize the gravity of the public health problems afflicting
many developing and least-developed countries, especially those resulting
from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics.

2. We stress the need for the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement) to be part of the wider
national and international action to address these problems.

3. We recognize that intellectual property protection is important
for the development of new medicines. We also recognize the concerns
about its effects on prices.

4. We agree that the TRIPS Agreement does not and should not prevent
Members from taking measures to protect public health. Accordingly, while
reiterating our commitment to the TRIPS Agreement, we affirm that the
Agreement can and should be interpreted and implemented in a manner
supportive of WTO Members' right to protect public health and, in
particular, to promote access to medicines for all.

In this connection, we reaffirm the right of WTO Members to use,
to the full, the provisions in the TRIPS Agreement, which provide
flexibility for this purpose.

5. Accordingly and in the light of paragraph 4 above, while
maintaining our commitments in the TRIPS Agreement, we recognize that
these flexibilities include:

(a) In applying the customary rules of interpretation of public
international law, each provision of the TRIPS Agreement shall be read in
the light of the object and purpose of the Agreement as expressed, in
particular, in its objectives and principles.
(b) Each Member has the right to grant compulsory licences and the freedom
to determine the grounds upon which such licences are granted.
(c) Each Member has the right to determine what constitutes a national
emergency or other circumstances of extreme urgency, it being understood
that public health crises, including those relating to HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics, can represent a national
emergency or other circumstances of extreme urgency.
(d) The effect of the provisions in the TRIPS Agreement that are relevant
to the exhaustion of intellectual property rights is to leave each Member
free to establish its own regime for such exhaustion without challenge,
subject to the MFN and national treatment provisions of Articles 3 and 4.

6. We recognize that WTO Members with insufficient or no
manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector could face
difficulties in making effective use of compulsory licensing under the
TRIPS Agreement. We instruct the Council for TRIPS to find an expeditious
solution to this problem and to report to the General Council before the
end of 2002.

7. We reaffirm the commitment of developed-country Members to provide
incentives to their enterprises and institutions to promote and encourage
technology transfer to least-developed country Members pursuant to Article
66.2. We also agree that the least-developed country Members will not be
obliged, with respect to pharmaceutical products, to implement or apply
Sections 5 and 7 of Part II of the TRIPS Agreement or to enforce rights
provided for under these Sections until 1 January 2016, without prejudice
to the right of least-developed country Members to seek other extensions
of the transition periods as provided for in Article 66.1 of the TRIPS
Agreement. We instruct the Council for TRIPS to take the necessary action
to give effect to this pursuant to Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement.

_________

Asia Russell
ACT UP Philadelphia
Health GAP Coalition
asia@criptath.org


--

Paul Davis
pdavis@critpath.org
Health GAP Coalition
ACT UP Philadelphia

+1.215.474.6886 direct tel.
+1.215.474.4793 fax
+1.215.731.1844 ACT UP

ZAMBIA: HIV STUDY

2001-11-22

http://www2.womensnet.org.za/news/show.cfm?news_id=757

Can Traditional and Formal Health Workers Tackle HIV Together? A study by the Kara Trust, Zambia, examined the knowledge and beliefs
of traditional healers and formal health workers through interviews and workshops.

ZIMBABWE: AIDS groups accuse government of "playing politics"

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/hivaids/4274

AIDS groups in Zimbabwe this week condemned a "political" decision by the government to transfer control over money from a national AIDS fund to ruling party-run district
councils, activists told IRIN.
U N I T E D N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)

ZIMBABWE: AIDS groups accuse government of "playing politics"

JOHANNESBURG, 15 November (IRIN) - AIDS groups in Zimbabwe this week
condemned a "political" decision by the government to transfer control
over money from a national AIDS fund to ruling party-run district
councils, activists told IRIN.

The cabinet announced last week that the disbursement of money from the
AIDS Trust Fund to independent village AIDS committees had been suspended
because the groups could not be trusted to handle the large sums involved,
the 'Financial Gazette' reported on Thursday. The ministers said funds
would instead be channelled through government structures and ZANU-PF
controlled rural and ditrict councils.

Dr Frank Guni, director of the Zimbabwe Network of People living with
HIV/AIDS and a member of the National AIDS Council (NAC) board, told IRIN
that these local administrative councils had a poor track record in
handling money from the Fund. Guni said he could not rule out political
motives behind putting funds under their control, in the light of
presidential elections due early next year.

NAC convened an urgent meeting with the cabinet's Social Services
Committee on Wednesday, and the cabinet's decision to suspend disbursement
was subsequently withdrawn, Guni said. But he added that the committee
insisted that the money was state property and they didn't want "state
funds in the hands of people they cannot control".

"The Network of People living with HIV/AIDS has made it very clear that we
find this unacceptable. We have told the government that we can't wait for
their politics while people are dying on the ground," said Guni. In an
attempt to make the process more transparent, NAC suggested that the rural
councils open a separate bank account for AIDS funds. It also recommended
that the minister of local government be involved in the disbursement, to
make government accountable for the money.

Despite a lack of evidence proving the government's misuse of the AIDS
Fund, Guni cited the recent example of the minister of health's
disbursement of US $375,000 from the Fund without NAC approval.

NAC is a special entity created by government and it is the only body
charged with the distribution of money from the AIDS Fund. "This was
clearly a political move, because the people thought the money was coming
from the government, instead of from the AIDS levy," said Guni

The AIDS Trust Fund was created last year after the government imposed a
three percent AIDS levy on personal and corporate income. In March, the
government dissolved the NAC, after deciding that the agency "did not have
the legal authority to manage the trust".

Some accused the government of "playing politics," saying that the
agency's board was disbanded because the chair was a member of the
opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).


[ENDS]

IRIN-SA
Tel: +27 11 880-4633
Fax: +27 11 447-5472
Email: IRIN-SA@irin.org.za

[This Item is Delivered to the "Africa-English" Service of the UN's IRIN
humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views
of the United Nations. For further information, free subscriptions, or
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of the United Nations. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post
this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Reposting by commercial
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Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2001

Coping with questions on terrorism

2001-11-22

http://www.dep.org.uk/globalexpress/

Do the children in your classroom ask you questions about the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre? Global express provides a rapid response that would help the students understand the issues involved.

Education Charges

A Tax on Human Development

2001-11-22

http://oxfam.org.uk/policy/papers/educharges/educharges.html

New research illustrates how education charges trap children in a cycle of illiteracy and poverty. Governments and international organizations must act immediately on their commitments to deliver free basic education for all.

NIGERIA: UNICEF to boost girls' education

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15428&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=NIGERIA

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has drawn up a five-year programme to boost girls' education in six Nigerian states starting next year, Maman Sidikou, head of UNICEF's education unit in the country said.

Reducing HIV Infection Among Youth:

What can Schools Do?

2001-11-22

http://www.popcouncil.org/horizons/horizons.html

Although many program planners see schools as a convenient location for HIV prevention programs, there is controversy about whether school programs can ever be strong enough to go beyond improving knowledge and attitudes to increasing the adoption of safe sexual behaviors. Evaluations of school programs in Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand focus on this question: Can school HIV programs change behavior? In each country, local organizations have worked with educators on teacher training and course design to ensure high-quality school interventions.

REFLECT

approach to adult learning and social change

2001-11-22

http://www.comminit.com/ctheories/sld-3417.html

REFLECT - an approach to adult learning and social change that fuses the theory of Paulo Freire with the methodologies of participatory rural appraisal. Enables groups to develop their own learning materials by constructing maps, calendars, matrices, diagrams or using forms of drama, story-telling and songs, which can capture social, economic, cultural and political issues from their own environment.

South Africa: Racism in Advertising Industry

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/racism/4299

Poor communities in South Africa have limited access to media, to enable them acquire information that is relevant to their lives, and also to express themselves in order to contribute to national debates. While the main source of income for media companies in the country is advertising, the findings of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) research report that there is discrimination (on the bases of content and the racial group that listens to the station) and several other problems in the advertising industry is a cause of great concern.
FXI Presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications

Poor communities in South Africa have limited access to media, to enable
them acquire information that is relevant to their lives, and also to
express themselves in order to contribute to national debates. While the
main source of income for media companies in the country is advertising, the
findings of the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) National Community
Radio Forum (NCRF) research report that there is discrimination (on the
bases of content and the racial group that listens to the station) and
several other problems in the advertising industry is a cause of great
concern.

It appears as though the problem of limited access to media among black
communities will never be solved unless something is done urgently.
Adverting is affected and it also affects target audience of a particular
media house. And if distribution of adverts is done through consideration of
the colour of skin and content then it will be very difficult to distribute
the media to reach black South African in rural areas and township with the
kind of media they deserve. FXI Presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio
Committee on Communications raises these problems and also makes
recommendations.

Section One

The findings of the research were as follows:

Community radio stations are still facing problems when they approach
advertisers because of the delays that were caused by the Independent
Communications Authority of South Africa in issuing four-year broadcast
licenses. Advertisers are reluctant to enter into long-term contracts with
stations as they argue that the future of stations that hold one-year
licenses is not certain. For more on this subject see { HYPERLINK
http://www.fxi.org.za/cmrn/cmpru/index.htm }www.fxi.org.za/cmrn/cmpru/index.
htm

There is perceived discrimination on the side of advertisers towards black
stations. It was found that the average advertising income for a largely
white station is R1, 2 million whereas the income for a black station is
R100 000.

Rural stations were most affected by the practice of advertisers. They
faired much more badly than their urban counterparts.

In some cases it was found that advertisers attempted to influence the
content of the stations' programmes. In one case advertisers complained
about the content of a programme which they said was too 'hard', meaning too
political in addressing issues. Advertisers gave the station management an
option of either loosing the revenue or 'toning' down the content of the
programme. The management bowed to this kind of pressure by partnering a
black presenter with a white presenter. For the FXI this is a clear case or
demonstration of suppression of freedom of expression.

Another finding was that there is ignorance on the side of advertisers. Many
seem not to understand community radio and the potential that it has to
attract listeners. What is interesting for the FXI is that while advertisers
might claim ignorance for this new communication medium they (advertisers)
have on the other hand discovered new mediums to place adverts. There is an
increased use of outdoors advertising (billboards, taxis, trains, sports,
etc). It can be argued that advertisers are not simply ignorant but they
might be prejudiced against community radio.

There are also cases of unscrupulous agencies and brokers who take advantage
of community radio management, most of whom do not understand the somewhat
complicated processes of advertising. It was found that in some cases
agencies did not pay stations all the revenue that is due to them. The NCRF
made us aware that there was a news agency that used to act as a brokerage.
What they did was to introduce a barter system where they would provide
stations with news and ask stations to allow them to enter into negotiations
with advertisers. Thus they exchanged news with advertising revenue. The
injustice here is that no value was placed on the news that they were
providing to the stations. It is possible that they received more revenue as
compared to the value of the news that they were selling to the stations.

Lastly, many stations complained that the government does not support them.
What stations are asking for is not donations or subsidies from the
government. Rather, stations are arguing that what the government can do,
through different departments and the GCIS, is to enter into partnerships
with stations for programme sponsorship. An example can be a programme on
Aids prevention. This will assist stations not only to meet some of the
recurrent costs but also to be more relevant in addressing the needs of the
community by being informative and educative.

Over and above making these points, the FXI/NCRF Policy Unit submission
noted that stations are gradually be made to rely on advertising and
therefore become more like commercial stations. The danger with this
approach is that it leads to the commercialisation of community media, a
medium that must be kept as much in the hands of the public as possible.

Section Two- The Commodification of the Media

The second argument advanced by the Policy Unit was around what we see as an
increasing commodification of the media. In advancing this observation we
focused on the developments around the corporatisation of the SABC. Drawing
on the experience of the US public broadcast services, the Unit argued that
over-reliance on advertising revenue for the continued functioning and
growth of the public broadcaster, enforced mainly by the macro-economic
policies of GEAR, will lead to the SABC loosing its character of as a public
broadcaster where the three main functions which are, education,
information, and entertainment, are balance.

The SABC is also undergoing a corporatisation process that is characterised
by commercialisation. This turns the SABC into a business entity rather than
a public institution. Such a development will ultimately compromise the
public mandate of the broadcaster. More than that it will lead to the SABC
being more alienated from the public, whose only value to the broadcaster
will be as taxpayers, whose taxes are used to finance the corporation, and
as payers of television licenses.

Lastly, we argued that there has not been any attempt to give more meaning
to public broadcasting by involving listeners (the public) in the affairs of
the SABC. This for us is a greater challenge that needs to be addressed.
This for us is what is lacking in the debate around racism in advertising.

Section Three- What Can Be Done

The third section of our submission was on what needs to be done to address
racism in the advertising industry.

Firstly, the industry needs to be monitored. While other stakeholders have
argued that a more representative body comprising of advertisers, marketers,
and the media, needs to be formed, we feel that such a body will be lacking
a very important component of the media circle, the listeners and readers.
Our concrete suggestion was that there is a need for a conscious effort to
bring in listeners into the picture, not just as peripheral players but
perhaps as the most central component of a 'watchdog' group. The main
function of this group will be to monitor and hold accountable all players
within the industry. Monitoring will include ensuring that there is
transformation within the industry itself and more importantly to ensure
that there is equity in terms of how adspend is placed in different media.
This body must be independent of government.

The GCIS can assist community radio stations by coordinating programme
sponsorship for various stations. See point 7 in section one.

The most important intervention mechanism will be to reverse the
macro-economic policies that force the state to reduce public spending for
the public broadcaster. The GEAR policy needs a rethink. This will require
that debates around the media (and advertising) need to be taken out to the
broader public. Failure to do so will mean that such debates remain elitist
and ignore the very people that the media is aimed at.

For the Policy Unit, the most important challenge is to popularise these
debates. The time has never been more opportune for us to ensure that
ordinary people gain ownership of the media, especially the public
broadcaster and community media.

The FXI/NCRF Policy Unit presentation was made by Console Tleane. A full
text of the presentation and the final research report will be made
available soon.

For further information contact:
Scotch Tagwireyi, Information and Communications Officer, Freedom of
Expression Institute: Phone 27 11 4038403 Cell 27 72 3572699 Fax 27 11
4038309

FARMERS WATER MANAGEMENT

Training on website and CD Rom

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/environment/4224

The Water service of the Food and Agriculture Organization has developed and compiled a package of training material for the development and implementation of Participatory Training & Extension Programme in Farmers' Water Management. It is in particular relevant to assist communal water users' groups in assuming O&M responsibilities and to give guidance to farmers in adopting efficient water control technologies.
PARTICIPATORY TRAINING AND EXTENSION IN FARMERS WATER MANAGEMENT WEBSITE AND CD-ROM The Water service of the Food and Agriculture Organization has developed and compiled a package of training material for the development and implementation of Participatory Training & Extension Programme in Farmers' Water Management. The material was developed within the framework of FAO Technical Assistance Programmes and has been implemented and tested in a range of countries (e.g. Indonesia, Zambia, Nepal, Cambodia and Bangladesh.
It is in particular relevant to assist communal water users' groups in assuming O&M responsibilities and to give guidance to farmers in adopting efficient water control technologies.

The training material can be reviewed and downloaded from the following website: http://www.fao.org/ag/AGL/aglw/farmerwatertraining The website will provide a platform to exchange experiences and to make available relevant reference documents, web links and training materials developed in various projects. By registering to the mailing list you will be updated on a regular basis. E-mail subscribers will be able to request assistance, initiate discussions and exchange materials.

The training package is compiled on a CD-ROM together with an extensive set of training aids and materials and is available as No 14 in the Land and Water Digital Media Series.

To register to the mailing list, or to obtain a CD-ROM, please write to:
farmer-water-training@fao.org

Implementing the Precautionary Principle

2001-11-22

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=289146

The precautionary principle has become an increasingly important component of environmental policy, considered by the European Union to be a general principle of international law. As the precautionary principle has gained prominence, policy analysts have devoted increasing attention to the issue of implementation. Nevertheless, the practical implications of the principle remain unclear.

NIGERIA: Bayelsa State condemns river dredging

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15406&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=NIGERIA

The House of Assembly of Bayelsa State, southeastern Nigeria, has condemned the proposed dredging of the River Niger by the federal government. In a resolution, the state house members said the dredging would cause negative environmental and ecological effects to riverine communities, vanguard newspaper reported on Monday.

NIGERIA: Paying the price of the bushmeat trade

2001-11-22

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/archive/2001nov/features/21nov-nigeria.html

The bushmeat on which the villagers in Buanchor in Nigeria used to grow fat is all but gone.

OVERCOMING WATER SCARCITY AND QUALITY CONSTRAINTS

2001-11-22

http://www.ifpri.org/2020/focus/focus09.htm

Rapid increases in water use and degradation of water quality are putting extreme pressures on this vital resource. This set of fourteen briefs recommends a number of strategies for dealing with the associated
challenges.

The Earliest Human Ancestors:

New Finds, New Interpretations

2001-11-22

http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2001/nov/ancestor.htm

In the last decade, there has been an explosion of fossil finds of our earliest human ancestors - revealing characteristics that might force a re-interpretation of our earliest ancestry.

The effects of poverty in conservation of biodiversity:

The Nigeria Experience

2001-11-22

http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2001/nov/nigeria.htm

In Nigeria at present the destruction of natural habitats continues apace, resulting in the depletion of the country's biodiversity. In Nigeria today a large population resides and works in rural areas. These rural dwellers are a major contributor to forest depletion. Agriculture is dominant in these areas. It has the greatest concentration of poverty, landless workers, small tenant farmers, small farm owners, the rural unemployed, and the poor of the poor in the Nation. As a result of the poverty level in these areas, biodiversity provides for 90% of their needs, a fact which plays a major role in the destruction and depletion of native flora and fauna.

WTO Aims for Sustainable Development

2001-11-22

http://www.ens-news.com/ens/nov2001/2001L-11-14-01.html

After night-long talks to resolve key points of contention, trade ministers from 142 countries have struck a deal to launch a new round of world trade negotiations. Environmental issues dominated the closing hours of trade negotiations, and the ministerial statement emphasizes sustainable development, but some environmentalists are not convinced.

Guinea-Bissau government detains judges, journalists

2001-11-22

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/archive/2001nov/features/19nov-guineab.html

The independence of the judiciary and the media have come under attack, Amnesty International and Reporters sans Frontieres say.

GUINEA-BISSAU: Two journalists arrested

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/4301

Two journalists were arrested on 14 November 2001 by order of the state prosecutor. The two journalists were taken to the central police station in Bissau. No explanation was provided to explain the motive for the arrests. On 27 October, N'Tchama ordered the indefinite closure of the private daily "Diário de Bissau" and the private weekly "Gazeta de Noticias" because of "irregular activities." The prosecutor also accused the publications of disturbing the country's "peace and stability" and "violating official secrets.
IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression community
_________________________________________________________________

ALERT - GUINEA-BISSAU

16 November 2001

Two journalists arrested by state prosecutor's order

SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris

(RSF/IFEX) - In a letter to State Prosecutor Caetano N'Tchama, RSF protested
the arrests of João de Barros, the daily "Diário de Bissau"'s publication
director, and his colleague Athizar Mendes. RSF urged the prosecutor to take
the necessary measures to ensure that the journalists are released
immediately. "The press freedom situation in Guinea-Bissau continues to
deteriorate," stated Robert Ménard, the organisation's secretary-general.
"The state prosecutor is systematically attacking the country's independent
press, whose very existence is seriously threatened today," added Ménard.

According to information collected by RSF, de Barros and Mendes were
arrested on 14 November 2001 by order of the state prosecutor. The two
journalists were taken to the central police station in Bissau. No
explanation was provided to explain the motive for the arrests. On 27
October, N'Tchama ordered the indefinite closure of the private daily
"Diário de Bissau" and the private weekly "Gazeta de Noticias" because of
"irregular activities." The prosecutor also accused the publications of
disturbing the country's "peace and stability" and "violating official
secrets." That same day, the state prosecutor openly threatened to close the
private radio stations Bombolom-FM and Radio Pidjiquiti unless they
straightened out "their administrative and legal situation within fifteen
days" (see IFEX alert of 5 November 2001).

RSF also recalled that on 17 June, de Barros and Mendes were briefly
detained by Guinea-Bissau's secret police. They were accused of publishing
an article titled "Kumba Yala and corruption", in which the president was
accused of being "principally responsible for corruption in the country".

For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: afrique@rsf.fr, Internet: http://www.rsf.fr

The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of RSF.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Toronto (ON) M6G 1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts email: alerts@ifex.org general e-mail: ifex@ifex.org
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________
IFEX - Nouvelles de la communauté internationale de défense de la liberté
d'expression

MEDIA MONITORING PROJECT ZIMBABWE

MEDIA UPDATE # 2001/45

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/media/4297

The harassment of Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe(Private) Limited, publishers of The Daily News, continued in the week. The paper&#8217;s editor-in-chief, Geoffrey Nyarota, and the company&#8217;s founding Chief Executive Officer, Wilf Mbanga, were arrested, detained and subsequently appeared in court.
MEDIA MONITORING PROJECT ZIMBABWE
MEDIA UPDATE # 2001/45
5- 11 November 2001

CONTENTS
1. SUMMARY
2. THE ANZ SAGA: How to report on a competitor
3. LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS: The Land Acquisition
Act and the Electoral Act
4. THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE POLL
5. THE ABDUCTION OF WAR VETERAN CAIN NKALA
6. COMMENTS FROM SUBSCRIBERS-


1. SUMMARY

o The harassment of Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe
(Private) Limited, publishers of The Daily News, continued
in the week. The paper&#8217;s editor-in-chief, Geoffrey Nyarota,
and the company&#8217;s founding Chief Executive Officer, Wilf
Mbanga, were arrested, detained and subsequently
appeared in court.

o The Zimbabwe Investment Centre (ZIC) accused
Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe (ANZ) of violating
investment laws and exchange control regulations. The ZIC-
instigated arrests came in the wake of claims by Diamond
Insurance &#8211; a minority shareholder in ANZ and an
associate company of Africa Resources Limited (ARL)
owned by Mutumwa Mawere &#8211; that it had unearthed
possible fraudulent misrepresentation in the placing of the
publishing company as a private entity.

o Earlier, Diamond Insurance had made an unsuccessful
High Court challenge to the investment by the Independent
Media Group in the ANZ as represented by Renaissance
Asset Management. Only last month Mawere also caused
the arrests of ANZ shareholders Judith Todd, Dr Burgit
Mohamud, Ndaba Mpofu and Stuart Mattison for allegedly
submitting false information in their High Court affidavits.
Police recorded warned and cautioned statements from
them.

o Coverage of the issue in the public media largely ignored
this background and used the story to discredit The Daily
News. Their coverage relied solely on a ZIC letter written to
ANZ advising the company that due to irregularities it was
canceling its investment licence. Comment from the ANZ
was significantly missing. It was only after The Daily News
carried reports presenting the ANZ position that readers
heard the other side of the story.

o Meanwhile, government amended the Land Acquisition Act
and announced its intention to change the Electoral Act.
The Herald merely reported the amendment to the Land
Acquisition Act by presidential decree as if it was normal
procedure and provided no analysis. Other media missed
the story.

o Although all media reported government&#8217;s intention to
amend the Electoral Act, only the privately owned Press
sourced alternative opinion on the issue. However, all
media failed to give a comprehensive analysis of the
amendments and inform the public on other electoral
issues, such as voter registration, the inspection of the
voters&#8217; roll, and the Citizenship Act.

o Although both ZBC and Zimpapers quoted Information
Minister, Jonathan Moyo, defining the differences between
election observers and monitors, they then confused the
definitions when referring to international requests to send
foreign observer missions in an apparent attempt to justify
government&#8217;s position and particularly its refusal to allow a
European Union (EU) team into the country for the
elections.


2. THE ANZ SAGA: How to report on a competitor

The public media, as exemplified by The Herald (6/11), focused
exclusively on the ZIC letter &#8211; allegedly leaked to them &#8211; and
ignored the ANZ position on the matter. The paper&#8217;s lead story,
Daily News in trouble, and sub-headlined Investment certificate
cancelled, Criminal violations cited, dwelt mostly on how the ZIC
had cancelled the ANZ investment certificate, which &#8220;means that
the basis on which the company was established has been
removed and the company should cease to exit&#8221;.

The paper went on to claim that the ANZ had failed to comply with
investment laws and exchange control regulations and cited an
alleged non-existent company, Motley Investments (Pvt) Limited,
as the reason behind the cancellation:

&#8220;We have now established that in truth and fact, no such
company was registered with the Registrar of
Companies&#8230;Accordingly, had the centre been aware that
Motley Investments was not a registered company, the
certificate would not have been issued.&#8221;

In the same article, the ZIC was reported as having declared the
investment by Renaissance Asset Management in ANZ null and
void.
ZBC (Radio & ZTV 6/11,8pm) simply regurgitated The Herald story
and quoted the police to buttress allegations that the paper&#8217;s
directors had committed a serious crime. The police spokesman
Wayne Bvudzijena was quoted on ZBCTV (8 pm) as saying:

&#8220;&#8230;The cases which we are currently investigating are much
more grave and we would like to go deeper into those cases&#8230;&#8221;

The reporter added, &#8220; highly placed sources alleged that ANZ&#8217;s
foreign ownership is well above 90% much more than the
stipulated 60%&#8221; without providing any supporting evidence.

It became clear that the state media was using the story to
discredit The Daily News when ZBCTV juxtaposed the story about
ANZ&#8217;s licence with the Nigerian Ambassador&#8217;s attack on an opinion
piece carried by the paper alleging that some Commonwealth
Ministerial Committee members might have been bribed during
their fact-finding mission. The report had been broadcast the
previous day (5/11, 8pm). The attack on the paper was also
reported on Radio 2/4 on the 7th in its 6am bulletin.

The Daily News (7/11) countered this article with its front page
story, Herald lies again, through a press statement issued by the
chief executive of the ANZ, Muchadeyi Masunda. The paper argued
that the ZIC had not cancelled ANZ&#8217;s certificate, but that the
certificate itself &#8211; valid for two years &#8211; had expired. Besides,
Mbanga and Nyarota had presented themselves to the ZIC as
directors of Motley Trading and not Motley Investments. &#8220;If ZIC
now wishes to cancel an expired certificate it is their
prerogative,&#8221; Masunda said.

The story also questioned how ZIC could declare null and void the
investment of a Zimbabwean company into another local one.

&#8220;In any event, the High Court had given a ruling on this issue
in favour of ANZ. It is most extraordinary for an acting director
of the ZIC to seek to reverse a High Court decision. He needs
to be careful that he is not held in contempt of court,&#8221; added
Masunda.

Mawere was accused, in the same article, of being in the forefront
in the fight against the newspaper.
&#8220;Never before, in the history of corporate affairs has so much
energy been expended by one minority shareholder to cause
the downfall of a company in which it is an investor.&#8221;

However, The Herald (7/11) article, ANZ investors stand to lose
stake, ignored the information provided by the ANZ and reported
the possibility of the ANZ losing its investment certificate. It quoted
Mawere, and an unnamed &#8220;senior lawyer with expertise in
commercial law&#8221; to give the impression that it had sought an
expert&#8217;s interpretation of the whole saga. Mawere is thus quoted:
&#8220;The investment laws were clearly violated and we are not
protected as a country&#8230;&#8221;

The Herald (8/11) reproduced the ZIC official letter to ANZ lawyers,
signed by Richard Mubaiwa &#8211; acting executive director &#8211; headed,
Violations of provisions of ZIC Act to counter The Daily News of 7
November. The paper also reproduced a letter written on behalf of
ANZ by Price Waterhouse Coopers confirming that Motley
Investments (Private) Limited has been formed and a ZIC-issued
investment certificate bearing the name Motley Investments.

Like The Herald, ZBC (radio and ZTV, 8/11, 8pm) continued to
suggest that ANZ directors violated the Investment Act. ZTV
reporter Justin Manyau cited one of the ANZ&#8217;s shareholders, Stuart
Mattison&#8217;s letter, alleging that his company owned more than 80%
of the shares, much higher than the stipulated 60% for foreign
investment. In the same report, a police officer was quoted stating
that Mbanga and Nyarota were charged with fraud or contravening
section 40 of the Investment Act.

The picture only became more clear in the story, Nyarota arrested,
The Daily News (9/11) in which the paper reported that the arrests
of Mbanga and Nyarota stemmed from an error made by Price
Waterhouse Coopers in a letter to the ZIC on the name of the
company with a shareholding in ANZ. The paper quoted David
Scott, the senior partner of Price Waterhouse Coopers, admitting
his firm&#8217;s mistake in a letter to the ANZ.

ZBC (ZTV and radio, 9/11, 8pm) merely made side reference to the
typographical error during its reportage of the court proceedings.
No comment from Price Waterhouse Coopers was carried.

Lawrence Chibwe of Stumbles and Rowe described the charge laid
against Mbanga and Nyarota as incomprehensible, (The Daily
News&#8217; , Nyarota arrested (9/11). Chibwe was further quoted saying
the arrest of the two came from &#8220;very senior police officers and
political heavyweights&#8221;.
The Zimbabwe Independent (9/11) quoted Masunda corroborating
Chibwe&#8217;s claims describing the arrest as a &#8220;politically-motivated
campaign&#8221; against the paper. The Independent&#8217;s article, Daily
News threaten to sue police, quoted Masunda saying: &#8220;It has
really got to a point where the aggrieved parties will have no
option but to take action against police officers in their
individual capacities&#8230;because there is no way in which it can
be argued they were acting in their official capacity or public
interest.&#8221;

Eric Matinenga, representing the ANZ, also accused the police and
the courts of harassing his clients. The Daily News article Nyarota
Mbanga appear in court (10/11), quoted Matinenga, who while
asking the court to dismiss his client&#8217;s case said, &#8220;There is
nothing on the facts which points to the accused persons
having committed an offence. This particular remand is an
abuse of process, meant to harass the two and it was done in
bad faith.&#8221;

The Herald&#8217;s one-sided reporting of the case was perhaps
predictable, but no less unprofessional for that. The fact that the
Zimpapers daily is the direct competitor of the Daily News only
strengthens the obligation for it to report a story affecting its rival in
a balanced and ethical fashion. Instead, it created a strong
impression that it was itself part of an apparent campaign to drive
the Daily News out of business.


3. LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS

a. The Land Acquisition Act

On 5 November, The Herald reported that Section 8 (3) of the Land
Acquisition Act empowered the government to assume ownership
of listed farms. An Inyika Trust spokesperson was quoted
reinforcing the implication of the Act to farmers. The Information
and Publicity Minister was also quoted as saying &#8220;according to
the laws of Zimbabwe farmers on listed farms are just
occupiers&#8221;. The article was written in the context of the pending
ruling on an application by Mr. Marshall Henry Roper to evict
settlers from his listed farm, probably to influence the outcome in
favour of the settlers.

However, in the event Justice Makarau ruled that the pegging of
plots on Roper&#8217;s farm should stop. The Herald (8/11) reported the
ruling in a rather misleading headline, Defend stay on farm, court
orders settlers, to downplay Roper&#8217;s victory. The Daily News (8/11)
reported the issue in an article with the more accurate headline
Makarau orders Chombo, Made to stop pegging plots.

The Herald (10/11) then reported that Government had used the
Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act to amend the Land
Acquisition Act to give it the right to start allocating land acquired
for resettlement immediately after issuing an acquisition order
without interference from the owner or occupier of the land. The
amendment was reported without analysis as if this were a
perfectly normal step &#8211; whereas it appeared to be a response to
Justice Makarau&#8217;s ruling. The Daily News did not carry the story
and none of the Sunday papers subjected this to any scrutiny.

ZBC missed the story altogether.

b. Electoral Act

Government&#8217;s refusal to admit the EU&#8217;s election observer team in
the previous weeks resulted in the announcement by the Cabinet
that it had decided to amend the Electoral Act. The Herald (7/11)
reported that Government &#8220;resolved to make it clear that the
mandate of the Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC)
includes recruitment, training and deployment of election
monitors for all polls&#8221;. In the same report, Justice, Legal and
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa was quoted as
saying it was undesirable for the ESC to use monitors recruited
and trained by NGOs &#8220;considering the fact that most non-
governmental organizations are partial, foreign funded, loyal
to their funders and therefore produce monitors who were
partisan&#8221;. No comment was reported from any of these
organizations.

The article merely cited comments made by MDC secretary
general Welshman Ncube to The Daily News (6/11) which was then
swamped with a lengthy quotation from Jonathan Moyo.

ZBC (8/11, 8pm) carried the report the following day. Minister
Chinamasa (ZTV, 8/11, 8pm) stated that foreign monitors are only
allowed where a government has collapsed and said, &#8220;But in our
case, the responsibility to monitor elections belongs to the
Zimbabwean government. It is our responsibility to ensure that
the elections are run properly and with integrity&#8230;we are still
the government of Zimbabwe which is going to invite anyone
who comes to our soil&#8221;.


In its follow up, The Herald (9/11) further reported that the
&#8220;Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Patrick
Chinamasa is expected to table the amendments in Parliament
when it resumes sitting on November 20&#8221;.

In another article, misleadingly headlined &#8220;US envoy backs stance
on election monitors&#8221;, the US Ambassador was quoted as
supporting Zimbabwe&#8217;s stance on election monitors and forgot to
edit that the Ambassador&#8217;s comments that his country will be
expecting to be allowed to observe the election.

Without even analysing the implications of the amendment, the
state media went on to distract the public from the issue and
dragged them into the definitions of a monitor and an observer. The
Herald (9/11), Minister clarifies differences between monitors,
observers, quoted Minister Jonathan Moyo explaining the
difference between a monitor and an observer. In fact, Moyo&#8217;s
definition corresponded to the generally accepted distinction
between a monitor &#8211; who has certain powers to intervene to rectify
abuses &#8211; and an observer, who is only entitled to watch and report.
However, the sleight of hand occurred in the claim &#8211; entirely
unsubstantiated &#8211; that the EU wanted to send monitors. In fact the
EU, and other foreign organizations, have asked to send observers.
Hence also the misleading presentation of the US Ambassador&#8217;s
views.

ZBC (radio 6am & 1pm and ZTV, 8pm, 9/11), as is becoming the
norm, followed up the paper and offered the same definitions in a
voice over.

The Sunday Mail (11/11) celebrated the government&#8217;s intention in a
biased article headlined &#8220;State approves amendment of Electoral
Act&#8221;. Part of the article read:

The honeymoon for civic organizations that
have been preaching politics on the pretext of
carrying voter education could soon be over as
the Government has approved the amendment
of the Electoral Act&#8221;.

The article only quoted Minister Chinamasa and failed to cite
alternative voices.

Although radio (5/11, 8pm) quoted EU representative Ms
Francesca Mosca as having said that the union would meet the
government to discuss their intention to send an election team,
there was no effort made to ask the EU exactly what their request
was.

The private press on the other hand viewed the intention to amend
the Electoral Act as one of government&#8217;s clandestine motives to
influence the outcome of the election in its favour.

The Daily News (6/11) quoted the MDC as having said it would
insist that the government allows international observers and
monitors for the election &#8220;&#8230;because they want to cheat left,
right and centre&#8221;.

The Zimbabwe Mirror (9/11) also quoted MDC, accusing
government of &#8220;desperately attempting to manipulate next
year&#8217;s presidential election by refusing to accept international
observers&#8221;. However, its comment argued that the presidential
poll should remain the prerogative of Zimbabweans alone and called
upon the EU to respect Zimbabwe&#8217;s sovereignty instead of
threatening to impose sanctions if it refuses to accede to its
demands.

The Standard (11/11) comment was sceptical of the impartiality of
the recently launched mobile registration exercise taking place in
resettlement areas and occupied farms, which it felt was aimed at
boosting Zanu PF&#8217;s chances of winning the elections. And in its
article, Plans for rigging election begin, quoted both Zimbabwe
Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET) and the MDC accusing the
Government of trying to rig the election.


4. THE FINANCIAL GAZETTE POLL

Results of The Financial Gazette-sanctioned Target Research
opinion poll on Zimbabwe&#8217;s presidential election in 2002 stirred
some interest in the public media.

The Financial Gazette (8/11) carried three front-page stories
stemming from the research findings: Tsvangirai leads Mugabe,
MDC support increases and Poll violence rife. The first two stories
rated the opposition MDC&#8217;s chances of winning the presidential poll
ahead of that of the ruling Zanu PF while the third looked at how
political violence, perpetrated mostly by Zanu PF, was likely to
affect voting patterns in the election.

While The Financial Gazette simply restricted its coverage of these
issues to the findings by Target Research, the public media tried to
divert public attention from the findings by questioning the
credentials of Target Research, which they accused of supporting
the opposition.

When the results of the poll were published, ZTV (8/11, 8pm)
notified its viewers that they were going to carry comments on
findings the following day and invited its audience to e-mail their
comments. ZBC never reported the findings of the poll. In the same
report the newscaster, Obriel Mpofu, exposed ZBC&#8217;s intention to
discredit the results when he said,

&#8220;Last year, towards parliamentary elections the nation
witnessed a series of bogus election surveys. We are
beginning to see similar surveys ahead of next year&#8217;s
presidential elections&#8230;&#8221;

The following day ZBC (radio and ZTV, 9/11, 8pm) carried several
comments from people who questioned whether the sample was
representative and the credentials of Target Research. ZTV
accorded 6 minutes and 55 seconds to the survey and made an
attempt to appear balanced by quoting Dr. Ibbo Mandaza, Dr
Khabele Matlosa from SAPES, Joseph Mandizha, a lawyer, and
both Zanu PF and the MDC.

However, a closer analysis of the voices reveals that they were all
quoted to support the ZBC&#8217;s anti-survey slant. Southern African
Policy and Economic Series (SAPES) Trust, a research institute,
some of whose representatives including Mandaza have previously
commented in support of government policies, were quoted to give
the impression that the broadcaster had sought independent expert
views. The two political parties most affected by the research were
not given equal opportunity to comment. Zanu PF acting secretary
for the Commissariat Dr. Sikhanyiso Ndlovu was accorded more
than a minute and a live sound bite while MDC&#8217;s Welshman
Ncube&#8217;s comments were cited from The Herald and voiced over for
10 seconds.

Dr. Mandaza went on to link Target Research with the opposition
when he said, &#8220;I think polls in this country have always had a
definitively political objective. Maybe to influence voters and
significantly they have been manufactured by persons known
to be in the opposition&#8230;&#8221;

To further discredit Target, Matlosa said, &#8220;&#8230;As SAPES Trust we
work with a number of institutions&#8230; We have never come
across this group at all. I was surprised when I read the paper
that they are renowned opinion polls surveyors&#8230;&#8221;

Dr. Ndlovu, was completely incomprehensible on the methodology
Target should have used when he said, &#8220;&#8230;As long as you don&#8217;t
go to a crowd and interview the whole people of the same
opinion or have people interviewed by newspapers that
already has an opinion, partisan opinion. Therefore the results
for sure will be concocted to suit the editorial policy of that
paper.&#8221;

In MDC and ZANU PF dismiss opinion, The Herald (9/10)
conveniently quoted ZANU PF&#8217;s information secretary Nathan
Shamuyarira accusing Target Research as &#8220;one of the many
racist and biased research organisations from the United States
that were ready and willing to undermine the sovereignty of
the country&#8221;.

Besides, the paper&#8217;s headline was also misleading. Although
Shamuyarira was quoted saying the opinion was nothing but an
attempt to confuse people, neither MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai,
nor his secretary general, Welshman Ncube, tacitly dismissed the
findings. For instance, Tsvangirai was only quoted as saying: &#8220;I
have read that report just like anybody else. I don&#8217;t comment
on stories that come out in papers.&#8221;

The paper also used its comment, Gazette survey contradictory, to
dismiss the Target Research opinion poll&#8217;s findings through the
comparative use of Zanu PF&#8217;s successful performance in
parliamentary by-elections. The comment further said: &#8220;What
makes the whole survey laughable is that no-one would have
expected The Financial Gazette to finance, let alone publish, a
survey that would have contradicted its own prediction of an
MDC victory in 2002.&#8221;

This simplistic dismissal of scientific research remained unbroken
in The Herald (10/11), Institute dismisses Fingaz poll survey. In the
story, the paper quoted director of the little known Southern Africa
Institute for Democracy William Nhari cynically dismissing results
of the poll as having been done &#8220;under a tree in Bulawayo&#8221;.


5. THE ABDUCTION OF WAR VETERAN CAIN NKALA

The abduction of the Bulawayo provincial war veterans&#8217; chairman,
Cain Nkala, received prominence on ZBC. ZBC carried the report
for five days during the week in all news bulletins. ZTV devoted 22
minutes to the abduction and even sent its Chief Correspondent,
Reuben Barwe, to Bulawayo to cover the story. Mention of previous
abductions (e.g. Patrick Nabanyama, an MDC election agent) was
carefully avoided on ZBC. While the state media swamped readers
with conspiracy theories, the private media attributed the abduction
to internal squabbles within Zanu PF, leaving the public confused
as to what the real story was.

The state media quoted war veterans threatening revenge attacks
over the abduction without any analysis of the implications of such
threats.

The Chronicle (7/11) quoted the Zanu PF provincial chairman,
Jabulani Sibanda, saying: &#8220;This is terrorism at its worst which is
being perpetrated by people such as the British Prime Minister
Tony Blair&#8221;.

This was reiterated at the end of the week (ZTV, 11/11, 8pm) when
Ian Beddows, a Zanu PF supporter, made a spurious allegation
that, &#8220;this is a deliberate attempt by MI5 (Britain security
agents) working through MDC&#8230;to destabilize Zimbabwe and
in particular the Matabeleland region&#8221;.

There was no comment on the unlikelihood that Tony Blair was
taking time out from the Afghanistan crisis to attend to events in
Bulawayo &#8211; or that MI5 is in fact the British internal security
service and was therefore unlikely to be operating in Matabeleland.

The Herald (7/11) buried the initial story of the abduction on Page
3. As has become the norm, the police comment was sought to
corroborate Zanu PF&#8217;s unsubstantiated claims that the opposition
was to blame. Assistant Commissioner Oliver Mashonganyika
(ZTV, 9/11, 8pm) said, &#8220;&#8230; It will be difficult to link it to any
other people apart from maybe the opposition party&#8230;&#8221; The
opposition was not accorded any space to defend itself.

Barwe (ZTV, 9/11, 8pm) in his report made reference to the
abduction of a Zanu PF supporter in Nkayi by alleged opposition
members and conveniently ignored incidents where MDC
supporters have been abducted. In particular, failing to relate the
case to that of the MDC&#8217;s Patrick Nabanyama was poor
journalism, since Nkala was accused of involvement in the
Nabanyama abduction.

The private press linked the abduction of Nkala to Zanu PF&#8217;s
internal fighting and dismissed allegations of MDC involvement. The
Financial Gazette (8/11) quoted unnamed sources within Zanu PF
who said that Nkala could have been a victim of internal party
squabbles. Sibanda was quoted denying the allegation. The
Financial Gazette also accorded MDC space to dispel allegations
that the party was behind the kidnapping.
The Daily News (8/11) reported that the police had raided MDC
Bulawayo offices in search of Nkala and linked Nkala to the
abduction of Nabanyama. The MDC was also quoted denying
charges that it was responsible for the kidnapping. In its comment
(9/11) the daily dismissed accusations by war veterans that MDC
was responsible for the abduction. Part of the comment read:

&#8220;In all probability, this abduction was stage-managed by ZANU
PF in conjunction with the war veterans&#8217; association&#8221;

The Standard (11/11) &#8216;CIO behind abduction&#8217; &#8211; war vets quoted
unnamed war veterans who accused state security operatives of
being behind the attack.

The coverage of the Cain Nkala case and others like it is a serious
test of the professionalism of the Zimbabwean media. In a situation
where sentiments are inflamed and lives are at risk the media have
a responsibility to report in a manner that is careful, factual, truthful
and non-inflammatory. In the current atmosphere of lawlessness,
careless and inflammatory reporting could have a very high cost.


6. COMMENTS FROM SUBSCRIBERS

ZBC VOICES OVER FOREIGN FOOTAGE
By WildCahi, Zimbabwe

What about ZBC's latest lack of acknowledgement of its satellite
sources? I have noticed over the past few days that on the news
when ZBC screens CNN or other foreign footage from, for example,
Afghanistan, they cover the cable news logo with their own and use
their own commentary!
They did the same with the live cricket broadcast from Sharjah,
covering the ZTV logo with their own. What are they up to?


PRICE CONTROLS REVISITED
By Reg Rumney, BusinessMap, South Africa.

In Update 2001/42 you carried a comment from a subscriber who
complained about your coverage of price controls.
Price controls have long been discredited, but in any case the
context in which they are being imposed will clearly negate their
usefulness. You can't fix price controls if you can't fix the exchange
rate or peg wage rates. And obviously the government needs to re-
instil respect for the rule of law or few foreigners will feel the desire
to invest any money there, or sell anything there except for a big
premium to make up for the risk.
On SA firms' profiteering, my question would be how Massmart or
any other foreign firm can profiteer if it can't repatriate the profits!
And inflated prices in Zimbabwe cannot be inflated in rands after
being depreciated by the declining Zimbabwe dollar.
I enjoy your analyses of media coverage, and I think we could profit
from something like it in South Africa, which has a fairly vital
media industry, but is beginning to exhibit some worrying
deviations from journalistic standards - and I am not thinking of the
State-owned media necessarily. Some of it is inherited from the
history of opposition media during apartheid.

From MMPZ: MMPZ drew its monitoring methodologies from the
experience of Article 19: Global Campaign for Freedom of
Expression and the Media Monitoring Project in South Africa,
among others. You may wish to get in touch with the MMP-SA on
mmp@sn.apc.org
Ends

The MEDIA UPDATE is produced and circulated by the Media
Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ). Please send all queries and
comments to the Project Coordinator, 15 Duthie Avenue, Alexandra
Park, Harare, Tel/fax: 263 4 703702, E-mail:
monitors@mweb.co.zw
Previous copies of MMPZ reports can be accessed at
http://www.icon.co.zw/mmpz

We appreciate comments on local and international media
coverage of local issues and events and the work of MMPZ from
our subscribers.

Please feel free to circulate this message

Namibia: PM Angered Over Termination of Radio Show

2001-11-22

http://www.mediachannel.org/news/today/

Prime Minister Hage Geingob has reacted angrily to the termination of the popular radio program Prime Minister's Question Time by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) saying the move is political and promising to take the matter up with the Politburo.

Somalia: Telecommunications Shut Down

2001-11-22

http://www.mediachannel.org/news/today/

The Barakaat Telecommunications Company, the largest in Somalia, has closed down its international telephone services throughout Somalia, after its British and American business partners terminated their relationship with the Al-Barakaat group, a senior company official told IRIN. The move has greatly limited telephone contact between the country and the outside world.

World Service will not call US attacks terrorism

2001-11-22

http://www.mediachannel.org/news/today/

The BBC World Service has taken a policy decision not to describe the attacks on the US as "terrorism". Mark Damazer, the BBC's deputy director of news, said the service would lose its reputation for impartiality around the world if it were seen to use such a subjective term.

ANGOLA: UNITA'S BLOODY NOVEMBER

2001-11-22

http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/news.html#blood

Angolan rebel movement Unita claims to have killed 298 government soldiers, police and militia forces in operations between November 8 and 19, according to a statement.

DRC: Latest ICG report analyses impasse in peace process

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15177&SelectRegion=Great_Lakes&SelectCountry=DRC

The failure of the inter-Congolese dialogue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in October was foreseeable, according to a new report from the International Crisis Group, 'The Inter-Congolese Dialogue: Political Negotiation or a Game of Bluff?', that analyses the impasse in the peace process.

DRC: UN says Congo plunder continues

2001-11-22

http://www.zwnews.com/issuefull.cfm?ArticleID=3050

Declaring that the plunder of Congo's riches "continues unabated," a UN-appointed panel called for a moratorium Monday on the purchase of diamonds, gold and other resources from areas controlled by foreign forces or rebel groups.

ERITREA-ETHIOPIA: Peace process "on track"

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=14766&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=ERITREA-ETHIOPIA

Despite continued differences between the two sides the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea is &#8220;on track&#8221; a spokesman for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) said on Friday.

He who pays the Piper

2001-11-22

http://www.redpepper.org.uk/x-bailie.html

Why did the US invade Afghanistan after the Taliban twice offered to extradite Osma Bin Laden? The answer is that they are after the huge oil reserves of Central Asia, argues Donna Baillie in this month's edition of Red Pepper.
He who pays the Piper
by Donna Baillie




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is, of course, no doubt that the US government genuinely wants to get its hands on Osama Bin Laden. They have been after him ever since his involvement in the bombings of two US embassies in east Africa in 1998. But so far they haven't had much luck. Their bombing of a pharmaceutical company in Sudan, which had been wrongly identified as a Bin Laden stronghold, pays testimony to the difficulties the US has had in getting accurate intelligence regarding Bin Laden's exact whereabouts. By the time they were bombing Sudan, Bin Laden had already escaped to Afghanistan. Once they realised this, they started putting pressure on the Taliban to hand him over.

Weeks before the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the Taliban had been warned by the US via the Pakistani government that unless they surrendered Bin Laden, they would be subjected to military strikes. The Taliban refused to comply, and whether indepedently or in response to the threat of military action by the US, terrorist attacks were launched on New York and Washington. George W Bush's subsequent "wanted dead or alive" speech only served to underscore an existing policy. Osama Bin Laden was public enemy number one.

There is also no doubt that the Taliban wanted to avoid being attacked by US military forces. After the events of 11 September, the prospect of US attacks on Afghanisan suddenly became a very real threat. Knowing that they had little hope of maintaining their control of Afghanistan in the face of western military assault, the Taliban twice offered up Osama bin Laden for extradition. Both offers were rebuffed.

The first, at the beginning of October, was barely mentioned in the western press. The Taliban, reportedly with bin Laden's approval, suggested that an international tribunal in Pakistan should be presented with the US evidence against bin Laden (which the US still hasn't let anyone other than its NATO allies and Pakistan see) and decide whether to try him itself or hand him over to the US for trial there. The offer was refused by President Musharraf of Pakistan, on the rather astonishing grounds that he "could not guarantee bin Laden's safety". The second offer, on 14 October, was more widely reported but just as strongly rejected. This time the offer included finding a third country, to be agreed on by both the US and Afghanistan, to serve as the venue for bin Laden's trial. Bush - the alleged leader of the democratic free world - replied, "When I said no negotiations, I meant no negotiations. We know he's guilty. Turn him over. There's no need to discuss innocence or guilt."

Judging by their refusal to negotiate, it would appear that the US government is not actually interested in having the Taliban surrender bin Laden. By imposing a condition that no country in the world would agree to - refusal to provide evidence - the US has made it impossible for the Taliban to extradite bin Laden without undermining their own sovereignty in Afghanistan. So what does the US hope to gain? Their intentions have obviously gone beyond merely getting bin Laden - he has already been offered up twice. What is so important that the US would risk manipulating an already dangerous situation into one of all out war?

The answer is depressingly familiar. When in doubt, follow the money. According to Caspian Media Consulting, which provides news and analysis about the Caspian region, "The biggest oil rush in the last days of our century is underway in the turbulent waters of the Caspian. Rivalled only by the Great Game of the last century, today's battles are fought not over territory, but pipeline routes and political influence".

The Caspian Sea - bordered by Afghanistan's neighbours Iran and Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Azerbaijan - has oil reserves estimated to be at least as great as those in the North Sea. Kazakhstan is generally conceded to be the country with the largest share of the oil, although there is still some dispute over sovereignty. In 1993 the US oil company Chevron and the Republic of Kazakhstan formed a partnership known as Tengizchevroil to develop the Tengiz and Korolev oil fields in the Caspian. The Tengiz field is thought to contain 6 to 9 billion barrels of recoverable oil. As the oil in the Caspian belongs to non-Opec countries who are hungry for foreign investment and technology, you might think that this was a perfect situation for western companies to exploit. The sticking point, however, has been how to transport the oil from the Caspian Sea to western markets.

In 1995 another US oil company, Unocal, began negotiations for a pipeline to transport oil and gas from the region through Afghanistan in order to sell it in Pakistan and India. At this point the Taliban, in spite of growing worldwide concern about its human rights abuses, was considered by the US government to be a useful ally that would play ball when it came to American oil interests. Investors, however, were not so confident. Continued fighting between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance led to fears of disruption and possible terrorist attacks on any pipeline going through the region. This has made financial backing very difficult for the oil companies involved in the region to secure.

So what about other possible routes? Unfortunately, none of them is very US-friendly, and most are long enough to make the cost of transporting the oil prohibitively expensive. From the US point of view, none of the options are very attractive. There is a route through Russia. There is a route through Iran. There is a route through Turkey that President Clinton favoured, but the Turkish government has objected to any increase in tanker traffic through the Turkish straits on environmental grounds.

The huge potential for profit from the transport of the Caspian oil has led to a rather unlikely coalition. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is made up of Russia, Kazakhstan, Oman and a variety of commercial oil companies, the biggest western players being Chevron and BP. The delicate balance of power between the eastern governments - who need western technology and investment, but who are determined to keep control of their natural resources, and the western oil companies intent on maximising their profits, means that there is a constant struggle to maintain strategic advantage between the respective governments of these players. The CPC has already opened one pipeline - the Baku-Novorossiysk - which runs through Russian territory, and there is the prospect of introducing even more pipelines utilising existing Russian infrastructure. The US and Britain, however, are concerned that this would give Russia a very strong advantage in any future disputes. In order for western investors to feel positive about this project, a safer route for the oil needs to be found. The future profits of the oil companies depend on it.

That the Bush administration is heavily tied in with the oil business isn't exactly news. It is interesting to note, however, that the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's major western players, Chevron and BP, were major contributors to Bush's presidential campaign. (Between them they donated nearly £3 million.) And in fact, Bush's National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, was on the board of directors for Chevron from 1991-2001, and has even had an oil tanker named after her. When Bush's vice-president, Dick Cheney, retired as CEO of the Halliburton Company - which is heavily involved in oil exploration in the Caspian region - he was given a $20 million severance package. Cheney has always insisted that there would be no conflict of interest between his governmental duties and his connections with Halliburton (which, incidentally, has just announced record profits for the third quarter of 2001).

And now that China is officially joining the World Trade Organisation in November 2001, the route through Afghanistan becomes even more potentially lucrative. With the opening up of the huge Chinese market, a pipeline through Afghanistan is too important to risk losing. The US needed an excuse to go in and take control of the region, and the terrible events of 11 September provided it.

Trying Osama bin Laden in an international court and leaving the Taliban and the Northern Alliance battling over Afghanistan is therefore no longer a viable option for the Bush administration. In order for western oil companies to achieve their aims, the Taliban must be replaced with a regime that will ensure stability in the region and be amenable to the needs of the oil companies. So the US governmentÕs evidence against bin Laden is only shown to their allies instead of the world at large, and the offers of extradition are ignored. Instead, the bombing starts and the troops are sent in.

Thousands of innocent people in Afghanistan are subjected to bombing raids and the very real threat of death by starvation. US and British troops are sent in to fight a "war on terrorism" whose tactics will only serve to harden the resolve of those already in favour of terrorist action against the west, and make it easier for them to attract more recruits. And by defining the war on terrorism as a global battle, the doors are left open to extend the fight into Iraq, because 10 years of bombing and sanctions still haven't managed to oust Saddam Hussein, who is sitting on the world's second largest known reserves of oil. The Great Game continues.

New Ban on Child Soldiers to Take Effect

2001-11-22

http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/action/index.htm

Human Rights Watch welcomed news that a new treaty banning the use of children in combat will take effect early next year. With New Zealand's ratification on November 12, ten countries have now ratified the treaty, which will enter into force on February 12, 2002.
New Ban on Child Soldiers to Take Effect

(New York, November 13, 2001) -- Human Rights Watch today welcomed news
that a new treaty banning the use of children in combat will take effect
early next year. With New Zealand's ratification on November 12, ten
countries have now ratified the treaty, which will enter into force on
February 12, 2002.

"This is a huge advance in the effort to end the use of children as
soldiers," said Jo Becker, children's rights advocacy director for Human
Rights Watch. "A growing consensus that children are not acceptable
tools of war is now backed up by binding international law."

The treaty, which is an optional protocol to the Convention on the
Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,
prohibits the participation of children under the age of eighteen in
armed conflict, or their forced recruitment or conscription.

An estimated 300,000 children under the age of eighteen are currently
fighting in armed conflicts in approximately 40 countries worldwide.
Countries that are most affected include Angola, Burma, Colombia, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan,
where recent reports indicate recruitment and use of children as
soldiers by both the Taliban and Northern Alliance forces.

"In Colombia, government-backed paramilitaries recruit children as young
as eight years old," said Becker. "In the Democratic Republic of Congo,
unarmed children have been sent ahead of older troops to draw enemy
fire. In Sri Lanka, they have been sent on suicide missions. In northern
Uganda, kids are forced to beat to death others who try to escape. A ban
on this abuse is long overdue."

Human Rights Watch is a founding member of the Coalition to Stop the Use
of Child Soldiers, which was launched in 1998. As part of its campaign
for a global ban on the use of children as soldiers, the coalition has
organized a series of high-profile regional conferences, published
research on recruitment practices in over

180 countries, and built a worldwide network of campaigns and partners
in forty countries. The protocol was adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly on May 25, 2000. To date, eighty-seven countries have
signed the protocol. The ten countries that have ratified the protocol
are Canada, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Andorra, Panama, Iceland, Vietnam,
Holy See, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and New Zealand.

"These ten countries have shown real leadership," said Becker. "We urge
all other governments to follow their example and ratify the protocol as
soon as possible."


WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Although the protocol will now go into force in early 2002, we need many
more ratifications to make the ban on the use of child soldiers truly
global!

Please help by contacting your government to encourage it to sign, or,
if it has already done so, ratify the Optional Protocol without
reservations and setting at least eighteen as the minimum age for all
forms of military recruitment (the "straight-18" position).

We have also identified a list of priority countries that we
particularly want to sign and/or ratify. Please contact as many of them
as you can. Contact information for each, background on why we have
chosen these countries, and sample letters that you can adapt for your
own use are available on the HRW website at
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/crp/action/index.htm

ENCOURAGE TO RATIFY: Cambodia, Colombia, Ireland, Jamaica, Jordan, Mali,
Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Philippines, Sierra Leone, United States,
Uruguay

ENCOURAGE TO SIGN: Algeria, Eritrea, Fiji, Ghana, Japan, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Qatar, South Africa, Thailand, Yemen.

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SIERRA LEONE: RUF official puts resignation on hold

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15427&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=SIERRA_LEONE

The chairman of the Political and Peace Council of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), Omrie Golley, told IRIN on Tuesday that he has put his resignation on hold following "various pressures" from some quarters within and outside Sierra Leone.

SOMALIA: Eighteen Koranic students killed

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15083&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=SOMALIA

At least 18 students were killed and many others wounded when gunmen opened fire on a Koranic school on 16 November, a local source told IRIN on Monday.

SOMALIA: Fighting in Garowe

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15444&SelectRegion=Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=SOMALIA

Fighting broke out in Garowe, the regional capital of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland, northeastern Somalia, on 21 November, a local journalist told IRIN.

Sudan: 'We're Not a Terrorist State'

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111190524.html

Peace has been elusive in Africa's largest nation for almost five decades, the bitter dispute between the Christian and Animist south and the Muslim north dominating the period. US relations with sudan are also ambivalent, as it seeks to place sanctions on Sudan, and wants its cooperation in the fight against terrorism. allAfrica's Charles Cobb Jr. spoke with Sudan's Ambassador to the United States, Khidir Haroun Ahmed.

USA: Presidential order threatens fundamental principles of justice

2001-11-22

http://www.web.amnesty.org/web/news.nsf/WebAll/74762D56523411A180256B05005C5989?OpenDocument

Amnesty International is deeply troubled by the Military Order signed by President George W. Bush on 13 November allowing for the trial by special military commissions of non-US citizens suspected of involvement in "international terrorism."

Zambia: We won't hit back at Angola

2001-11-22

http://www.oneworld.org/afronet/monitor184/headline3.htm

President Frederick Chiluba has said Zambia will not retaliate to the mass abduction and massacre of Zambians by the Angolan armed forces last week.

ZIMBABWE: Poverty breeds opposition

2001-11-22

http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=15104&SelectRegion=Southern_Africa&SelectCountry=ZIMBABWE

Images of poverty and squalor are everywhere at Porta farm, a fast-expanding squatter camp 18 km southwest of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare.

Zimbabwe: Stop Mugabe using grain for gain

2001-11-22

http://www.bday.co.za/bday/content/direct/1,3523,969553-6096-0,00.html

'Six months ago I wrote in these columns that, "Mugabe may well use food in state hands to wreak additional havoc on society by distribution through the party, the so-called war veterans and the nefarious secret service. He undoubtedly will use that power over life and death to elicit party support and commitments to vote for him.'

Zimbabwe: WFP poised to send food

2001-11-22

http://www.europaworld.org/issue57/complexemergency16901.htm

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is preparing to ship food aid to more than half a million people in Zimbabwe who it says are at risk of starvation. The news comes as further measures were announced by the Government to speed the take over of the country's farms for the purpose of land redistribution. The agency plans to start operations later this month, with food aid arriving in December.

BUSY INTERNET OPENS IN GHANA AND LOOKS TO OPEN ELSEWHERE IN AFRICA

Balancing Act News Update

2001-11-22

http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/current1.html

This week sees the opening of BusyInternet&#8217;s first technology development centre in Accra. The company&#8217;s founder Mark Davies has ambitious plans to open a network of technology development centres based upon the same business model across the continent. He has found a young and energetic management team and attracted investors into the project. The Accra opening will be the test case. Russell Southwood describes how the company wants to build something more than just "bricks and mortar".

COMPUTER ERGONOMICS

a fun guide

2001-11-22

http://www.orosha.org/cergos/

This site is geared towards anyone who uses computers in an elementary school, but I believe it is worthwhile reading for anyone who spends time on a computer. There is no time like the present to begin practising "Good Work Habits," and learning about "Work Station Setup."

Digital Divide Network Request for Submissions

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/4271

The Digital Divide Network (DDN) is a national coalition of non-profit institutions and IT companies working together to help bridge the digital divide. DDN is currently seeking articles around a number of issues in this field. Read on for details.
The network's official website is a one-stop online resource to raise awareness about the gulf that exists between those citizens who have access to information technology and the skills to use it effectively, and those who do not.

One of DDN's goals is to provide community leaders, policy professionals and practitioners involved in bridging the divide with a public forum to share information, strategies and programs that promote the expansion of digital opportunity. We are encouraging individuals to submit articles that address the digital divide from a variety of social, cultural, political and/or economic perspectives.

Curently, DDN is seeking articles that address the following topics:
-women and information technology
-hispanics and information technology
-seniors and information technology
-software and Internet accessability for disabled users
-community economic development and information technology
-broadband applications
-broadband deployment
-international digital divide issues
-culturally relevant content
-planning, developing and sustaining community technology centers
-strategic partnerships: community based nonprofits, government and industy

If you are interested in contributing an article to the Digital Divide Network (preferably 700-1500 words), please send queries, via email, to [url=mailto:kade@benton.org]Kade L. Twist[/url] at the Benton Foundation.

EEVL expands to include Mathematics and Computing

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/4293

The formerly titled Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library (EEVL) has expanded its offerings and now brings users resources in mathematics and computing as well. The site should feel familiar to users of the old EEVL database, but along with the widened scope of materials, EEVL has undergone a redesign offering some new features.
Users can search a catalog of more than 7,000 resources as well as search the full text of sites included in the catalog. Each of EEVL's three sections - Engineering, Mathematics, and Computing - is searchable and browseable, and the EEVL Catalogue page offers a more advanced search with a large number of limits, including location and resource type, and fielded searching. Other resources on-site include Web tutorials, an e-journal search engine, job sites, and more.

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2001.

FREE e-BOOKS: HTML AND WRITING GUIDES

2001-11-22

http://www.mantex.co.uk/samples/ebooks.htm

Download useful ebooks for free at this site. One covers Writing SKills and another is a beginners guide to HTML. (Windows only).

KENYA: NEW AGROFORESTRY AND LIVESTOCK SITE FOR FARMERS

2001-11-22

http://allafrica.com/stories/200111190288.html

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), have launched a website to help dairy farmers track current information. The agreement was signed yesterday after a one month's trial link up at the ICRAF campus in Gigiri by representatives from the two organisations.

The demise of safeweb and anonymizer

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/4273

In order to preserve the right to anonymous communication, and for many, secure communication, services like Safeweb and Anonymizer sprang up all over the World Wide Web. Several of these services are now defunct in the wake of the New York terrorist attacks and economic pressures.
Did you know that when you submit data to a web site or when you email somebody, your IP (Internet Protocol) address is recorded? Using anonymous remailers and surfers protects your identity. Despite the fact that some of the more popular services are no longer available there are others out there.

Visit this discussion on Slashdot for more details.

Or simply use one of the following sites:

- SilentSurf - although I received illegal cookies from their advertisers!
- AntiProxy.com lists several.
- Another good place for privacy information is the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)'s Privacy Page.

the internet under siege

2001-11-22

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/issue_novdec_2001/lessig.html

An article by Lawrence Lessig examines legal and corporate trends that threaten to undermine the open, freely accessible nature of this "engine of innovation". Lessig argues that walling off portions of cyberspace with code and infrastructure strictures will limit it's use as a machinery for democracy and change. Long and worth the read.

Two Multimedia resources on Globalization

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/internet/4294

Visit these resources on the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference as well as a critical look at institutions like the World Bank amd the IMF from Globalization in Focus.
Important new developments at the fourth [url=http://www-chil.wto-
ministerial.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/min01_e.htm]WTO Ministerial Conference[/url] held this week include a statement that intellectual property rights (patent
rights) cannot stand in the way of public health for developing countries and the admission of China into the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This site brings users summaries of the meetings, declarations, and proposed procedures. Users can also watch archived Webcasts of the proceedings (.pdf, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player).

The second site, Globalization in Focus, comes to the Web courtesy of Foreign Policy in Focus (FPIF). Here users will
find a more critical look at the WTO as well as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). FPIF here collects links to articles, event announcements, reports, and other resources. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of the offerings.

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2001.

AWID Resource Net Jobs eNewsletter

Issue 87 November 12 2001

2001-11-22

http://www.awid.org

AWID is an international membership organization committed to gender equality and a just and sustainable development process. AWID facilitates an open exchange among researchers, practitioners, policymakers and others in order to develop effective and transformative approaches for improving the lives of women and girls worldwide. If you are not already a member of AWID, find out more about the Association by sending a blank e-mail message to awid.membership@reply.net, or visit our web site at www.awid.org
AWID Resource Net
Jobs / Issue 87
Monday, November 12, 2001

CONTENTS:

1) Program Associates / The Ford Foundation / New York, NY, USA / Closing
date: December 15, 2001.

2) Information and Communication Technology Development Officer / Isis
International-Manila / Quezon City, the Philippines / Closing date:
November 20, 2001.

3) Database Manager / Isis International-Manila / Quezon City, the
Philippines / Closing date: November 20, 2001.

4) Radio and Alternative Media Officer / Isis International-Manila /
Quezon City, the Philippines / Closing date: November 20, 2001.

5) Regional Policy Officer (Equity, Gender and Diversity) / Oxfam GB /
flexible location / Closing date: November 30, 2001.

6) Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist / GroupBasics / Washington, DC,
USA.

7) Advocate, Health and Reproductive Rights Program / The National Women's
Law Center / Washington, DC, USA / Until filled.

8) Senior Counsel, Education Program / The National Women's Law Center /
Washington, DC, USA / Until filled.

9) Counsel, Employment and Family Economic Security Programs / The
National Women's Law Center / Washington, DC, USA / Until filled.

10) Operations Manager / Strategies for Advancing Girls Education (SAGE)
at the Academy for Educational Development / Washington, DC, USA / Until
filled.

11) Education Program Specialist / Office of Women in Development, USAID /
Washington, DC, USA/ Closing date: December 4, 2001.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~
1) Program Associates / The Ford Foundation / New York, NY, USA / Closing
date: December 15, 2001.

Description:

The Ford Foundation Program Associates is a two-year (2002-04),
entry-level, non-career track, professional opportunity for individuals
with Master's or law degrees. The positions are intended to introduce a
diverse group of potential leaders to the field of philanthropy early in
their careers in the not-for-profit sector.

Ideal candidates will have some experience in the not-for-profit sector.
Individuals with extensive experience in the not-for-profit sector,
however, are not eligible for the program. We welcome applications from
mid-career candidates with the requisite skills and background who are
interested in moving from the private sector to the non-profit sector. 16
to 20 individuals will be selected to work directly with Foundation
grant-making staff on a variety of tasks and projects.

Program Associates will join the Foundation's New York headquarters in the
Fall of 2002 for a period of up to two years. Annual salary is $45,000
plus medical and dental benefits.

Requirements:

- An interest in pursuing or developing careers in: development finance &
economic security; work-force development; environment & development;
community development; children, youth & families; sexuality &
reproductive health; human rights; international cooperation; governance;
civil society; education reform; higher education & scholarship; religion,
society & culture; media; and arts & culture;
- must have demonstrate knowledge of and/or experience with the current
issues and research in one of these fields.

To Apply:

The application as well as detailed information about the Program
Associates and the Ford Foundation can be found on our website:
www.fordfound.org

The deadline for submission of applications is 11:00 PM (Pacific Time),
December 15, 2001.

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are fundamental
principles at the Ford Foundation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
2) Information and Communication Technology Development Officer / Isis
International-Manila / Quezon City, the Philippines / Closing date:
November 20, 2001.

Description:

Isis International-Manila, an international women's media information and
communication service organisation based in Quezon City, is in search of
the Information and Communication Technology Development Officer. The post
holder will be primarily responsible for a) developing ICT-based
information and communication services; b) ensuring that the technical
requirements for hosting and maintaining electronic mailing lists and
online conferences, Internet-based news service for Isis and key partners
are met, and c) taking the lead in website development and innovation.

Salary Range: Php. 30,000.00/month (US$600).

Requirements:

- ICT experience specifically on networking, systems development and
project management;
- ability to design and implement ICT solutions;
- experience in web design and site management;
- experience in design, installation, configuration, and administration of
mailing list services;
- experience in implementing web-based databases;
- experience in LINUX, Unix, Windows NT and web-based applications;
- highly proficient in using HTML to build sites;
- strong writing and analytical skills;
- strong networking skills within the context of the women's movement;
- strong analysis of the use of ICT for women's empowerment;
- experience in working in an NGO environment preferable;
- ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English;
- a team player;
- willing to relocate to Quezon City, Philippines for at least 2 years;
- graduate of any IT or computer-related course.

To Apply:

Interested parties may send their application letter, resume and two
reference letters by November 20, 2001 to: The Executive Director, Isis
International-Manila, #3 Marunong St., Central District, Quezon City. Tel:
(632) 4353405; 4353408. Fax: (632) 924-1065. For inquiries, you may e-mail
us at isis@isiswomen.org Website: www.isiswomen.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~

3) Database Manager / Isis International-Manila / Quezon City, the
Philippines / Closing date: November 20, 2001.

Description:

Isis International-Manila, an international women's media information and
communication service organisation based in Quezon City, is in search of
the Database Manager. The post holder will work as a project based staff
responsible for a) expanding and updating the Isis-developed databases as
well as of Isis key networks, and generating information from these (e.g.
targeted mailing lists); b) training of Isis staff in the use and
maintenance of the databases; c) making recommendations and implementing
changes that will enhance Isis' databases for greater usability and
access, and d) participation in the work of Information Technology Team in
implementing the organization's strategic plan in relation to ICT
development.

This is a two-year position. Honorarium: Php 30,000.00/month (US$600.00).

Requirements:

- Strong writing, analytical, and networking skills;
- experience in LINUX, Unix, Windows NT, MS-Access, Visual Basic and
Postgres;
- previous experience in research;
- previous experience in facilitating networking processes within the
context of the women's or other social movements;
- experience in working in an NGO environment preferable;
- ability to communicate effectively in written and spoken English;
- a team player;
- Bachelor's degree in Library and Information Management, Computer
Management or related courses or equivalent experience;
- willing to relocate to Quezon City, Philippines for at least 2 years.

To Apply:

Interested parties may send their application letter, resume and two
reference letters by November 20, 2001 to: The Executive Director, Isis
International-Manila, #3 Marunong St., Central District, Quezon City. Tel:
(632) 4353405; 4353408. Fax: (632) 924-1065. For inquiries, you may e-mail
us at isis@isiswomen.org Website: www.isiswomen.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~

4) Radio and Alternative Media Officer / Isis International-Manila /
Quezon City, the Philippines / Closing date: November 20, 2001.

Description:

Isis International-Manila, an international women's media information and
communication service organisation based in Quezon City, seeks a Radio and
Alternative Media Officer. She will be responsible for a two year project
a) developing the broadcast component of Isis' media information and
communication work; b)coordinating Isis' radio productions; c) planning
and coordinating radio production training courses; d) developing new
approaches to Isis' campaign for gender-sensitive media; and support to
women media practitioners in their advocacy for gender-sensitive media,
and e) assisting in the expansion and consolidation of Isis' networks of
media practitioners, media analysts and activists.

Requirements:

- Awareness and understanding of women and media issues;
- work experience in at least two communications media, e.g., print,
radio, audio-visual, electronic;
- excellent networking, electronic communication skills including email,
mailing lists, online conferences;
- high degree of proficiency in written and spoken English;
- strong writing and analytical skills;
- strong analysis of the use of radio and alternative media for women's
empowerment;
- experience in working in an NGO or community-based environment highly
preferable;
- a team player;
- Bachelor's degree in Communication Arts, Mass Communications or related
courses or equivalent experience;
- willing to relocate to Quezon City, Philippines for at least 2 years.

Compensation/benefits:

Honorarium: Php. 30,000/month (US$ 600.00).

Special Benefits for Expatriates: For expatriates relocating to the
Philippines, there will be a modest relocation package and benefits in
addition to the monthly salary, which include the following:

- monthly salary to be paid in US$ and pesos;
- a monthly housing allowance of US$270;
- a lump sum subsidy of US$500 for furnishings;
- annual one month's paid home leave, including roundtrip airfare to home
country or the equivalent fare cost;
- subsidy for additional freight cost during transfer to and from the
Philippines.

For Filipinos, monthly salary shall be paid in Pesos (as indicated).

To Apply:

Interested parties may send their application letter, resume and two
reference letters by November 20, 2001 to: The Executive Director, Isis
International-Manila, #3 Marunong St., Central District, Quezon City, Tel:
(632) 4353405; 4353408, Fax: (632) 924-1065. For inquiries, you may e-mail
us at isis@isiswomen.org Website: www.isiswomen.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~

5) Regional Policy Officer (Equity, Gender and Diversity) / Oxfam GB /
flexible location / Closing date: November 30, 2001.

Description:

Oxfam works with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and
suffering. It is now seeking a Regional Policy Officer (Equity, Gender and
Diversity) for the Eastern Europe, Former Soviet Union, Russia, Middle
East Region. As a member of the Eastern Europe, Former Soviet Union,
Russia and Middle East regional team, this new post will play a role in
the development of programme direction, quality and impact working closely
with regional programme staff, and concentrating on the equity programme
within the Region.

Base is flexible but within the region. Salary dependant on base, if
Oxford: 20,100 to 25,950 per annum and taxable. Contract: 2 years.

Responsibilities include: advice and development on planning, programme
development and impact assessment; research for policy advocacy, media and
communications; identification of learning and development opportunities.

Qualifications:

You will have proven experience in related research; a good understanding
of the relationship and issues around strategies for achieving basic
rights, and their links between basic services, gender, social and
environmental issues; good advocacy techniques; excellent conceptual and
analytical skills, effective communication skills and a sound
understanding of the development and relief context.

To Apply:

For further details and an application form contact Regional HR
Administrator, Regional Management Centre for Eastern Europe, Former
Soviet Union, Russia, Middle East, Oxfam GB, 274 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2
7DZ, or email loeefsumer@oxfam.org.uk, quoting the job title.

Closing Date: November 30, 2001 (Friday). Interviews: mid December, 2001.
Website: http://www.oxfam.org.uk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~

6) Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist / GroupBasics / Washington, DC,
USA.

Description:

GroupBasics, a majority woman-owned Internet-based Application Service
Provider (ASP) designed to integrate information technology into managing
large-scale international projects, seeks a Monitoring and Evaluation
Specialist.

Responsibilities: Consult clients and project stakeholders to enhance
project effectiveness and integrate IT based management systems into the
project management and evaluation structure.

Requirements:

- 5 years experience in project management, design, monitoring and
evaluation;
- experience in developing countries;
- proven data analysis and report writing skills;
- proven ability to work effectively with funding agencies and with
administrative and technical personnel internationally;
- and Master's degree in International Studies or related discipline.

To Apply:

Send resume or curriculum vitae and a cover letter, including specific
qualifications for the position and salary history to: GroupBasics, 2900
Connecticut Avenue, NW, Apt. 239, Washington, DC 20008; or email:
groupbasics2@hotmail.com

(cross-posted from "Expats_List" of topica.com)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~

7) Advocate, Health and Reproductive Rights Program / The National Women's
Law Center / Washington, DC, USA.

The Organisation:

For almost 30 years, the National Women's Law Center has led the way in
expanding the possibilities for women and girls in the US. The Center uses
the law in all its forms: getting new laws on the books; litigating
ground-breaking lawsuits all the way to the Supreme Court; and educating
the public about how to make the law and public policies work for women
and their families. The Center's experienced staff take on the issues
that cut to the core of women's and girls' lives in education, employment,
health and reproductive rights, and family economic security, with special
priority given to the needs of low-income women and their families.

The Center is now seeking an advocate for its women's health and
reproductive rights program.

Responsibilities:

- Monitoring and responding to key policy developments in the areas of
women's health and reproductive rights;
- identifying opportunities to advance the goals of the Center;
- in collaboration with other staff, developing advocacy strategies
utilizing the resources of the Center;
- will work on a broad range of women's health issues and will represent
the Center in coalitions, with national and state policy makers, and in
various public speaking fora.

Salary commensurate with experience, 4 weeks vacation, excellent benefits.

Qualifications:

- The ideal candidate will be a creative, self-motivated, strategic
thinker with at least five years of legal or public policy experience;
- Direct legislative experience is highly desirable;
- Excellent research, written and oral communications skills are required;
- An advanced degree in law, public policy or a related field is strongly
preferred;
- The ideal candidate will possess proven initiative and follow-through,
the ability to work quickly and well under pressure, and a commitment to
women's health and rights.

To Apply:

If able, submit resume electronically to humanresources@nwlc.org
Otherwise, send to Human Resources Department, NWLC, 11 Dupont Circle, NW,
Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. No calls. Applications accepted until
position is filled. EOE. Website: www.nwlc.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~

8) Senior Counsel, Education Program / The National Women's Law Center /
Washington, DC, USA.

The Organisation:

For almost 30 years, the National Women's Law Center has led the way in
expanding the possibilities for women and girls in our country. The
Center uses the law in all its forms: getting new laws on the books;
litigating ground-breaking lawsuits all the way to the Supreme Court; and
educating the public about how to make the law and public policies work
for women and their families. The Center's experienced staff take on the
issues that cut to the core of women's and girls' lives in education,
employment, health and reproductive rights, and family economic security,
with special priority given to the needs of low-income women and their
families.

Job Description:

The Center is seeking an attorney with substantial trial and litigation
experience to handle cases involving sex discrimination principles arising
under statutory and constitutional protections. The attorney will handle
direct representation of clients in trials and at the appellate level, as
well as participate in litigation as amicus curiae.

The Senior Counsel will have primary responsibility for developing cases
and litigating in the education field, particularly at the trial level.
Among the issues likely to be addressed are gender equity in athletics;
sexual harassment in schools; and equal opportunity for women and girls in
vocational education.

In addition, the Senior Counsel will be responsible for litigation in
other Center program areas, including employment and health and
reproductive rights. Among the issues on which the Counsel might be asked
to focus are coverage of contraceptives in employer and university health
plans and the impact of mergers in the health care field.

Salary commensurate with experience, 4 weeks vacation, excellent benefits.

Qualifications:

Applicants should have substantial litigation experience, including at
least 5 years of direct trial experience. Candidates must have excellent
written and oral communications skills and a commitment to the work of the
Center. Experience litigating anti-discrimination cases is helpful but
not required.

To Apply:

If able, submit resume electronically to humanresources@nwlc.org
Otherwise, send to Human Resources Department, NWLC, 11 Dupont Circle, NW,
Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. No calls. Applications accepted until
position is filled. EOE. Website: www.nwlc.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~

9) Counsel, Employment and Family Economic Security Programs / The
National Women's Law Center / Washington, DC, USA.

The Organisation:

For almost 30 years, the National Women's Law Center has led the way in
expanding the possibilities for women and girls in our country. The
Center uses the law in all its forms: getting new laws on the books;
litigating ground-breaking lawsuits all the way to the Supreme Court; and
educating the public about how to make the law and public policies work
for women and their families. The Center's experienced staff take on the
issues that cut to the core of women's and girls' lives in education,
employment, health and reproductive rights, and family economic security,
with special priority given to the needs of low-income women and their
families.

Job Description:

The Center is seeking a counsel for its employment and family economic
security programs. The position entails advocacy before Congress,
administrative agencies and courts, work with broad-based coalitions in
the states and nationally, research, and public education. Key issue
areas include programs to promote the economic security of women,
especially low-income women, such as child support enforcement, child
care, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and Social Security, as well
as work to advance women's employment opportunities.

Salary commensurate with experience, 4 weeks vacation, excellent benefits.

Qualifications:

Applicants should have one to five years of legal experience. Excellent
written and oral communications skills, and a commitment to the work of
the Center, are required. Experience in legislative or other public
policy advocacy work at the federal or state level, and familiarity with
some or all of the subject areas listed above, are preferred.

To Apply:

If able, submit resume electronically to humanresources@nwlc.org
Otherwise, send to Human Resources Department, NWLC, 11 Dupont Circle, NW,
Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. No calls. Applications accepted until
position is filled. EOE. Website: www.nwlc.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~

10) Operations Manager / Strategies for Advancing Girls Education (SAGE)
at the Academy for Educational Development / Washington, DC, USA / Until
filled.

The Organisation:

SAGE is an activity of USAID's Global Women in Development (G/WID) office
that provides technical and training assistance in girls' primary
education to USAID Missions worldwide. SAGE has field offices in Mali,
Guinea, Ghana, Congo and El-Salvador. SAGE seeks to move from dialogue on
girls' education to the implementation of locally-derived solutions that
engage the support of all sectors of society.

Responsibilities:

- Supervision of administrative and operational support; management
backstopping; and contractual oversight;
- Collaborates on new program development and design as well as
participating in operational monitoring of the Center for Gender Equity
are additional
expectations of the position.

Salary range: $40,000-55,000.

Qualifications:

- Masters in Education, Gender Studies or related field;
- Minimum five years' experience as a manager of large-scale educational
projects in developing countries, especially projects supporting girls'
education;
- Experience in USAID commodity procurement and contracting;
- Demonstrated knowledge of contract, program, and implementation issues
associated with USAID project designs, including budgeting, communication
and personnel;
- Fluency in written and spoken English and a second language, preferably
French.

To Apply:

Interested candidates send resume with cover letter and reference position
#KV1219 to: AED/HR, 1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009,
fax: 202-884-8413. We thank all applicants for their interest in AED;
however, only
individuals selected for interviews will be contacted. Website:
sage.aed.org.

Deadline is ASAP or until filled.
AA/EOE/M/F/D/V

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~

11) Education Program Specialist / Office of Women in Development, USAID /
Washington, DC, USA/ Closing date: December 4, 2001.

Responsibilities:

- The Incumbent of this position serves as USAID's leading expert,
representative and spokesperson on the role of girls' education; leads
G/WID's Strategic Objective (SO) team on girls' education; provides
expertise and professional judgement in addressing the full range of
issues affecting the design and implementation of girls' education
activities.
- Enhances G/WID's field support capacity through collaboratively
determining overseas posts' needs for technical support in addressing
issues in girls' education; working with cooperating agencies in
overseeing a strategic, teamwork-oriented work plan for the specified
activities; ensuring that these activities consistently field highly
qualified technical experts.
- Manages related financial, personnel selection, reporting,
communication, and program documentation process.
- Prepares documentation and participates in the competitive contracting
process.
- Responsible for annual budgeting process for assigned projects and
oversight of financial work performance by contractors, grantees and
sub-grantee institutions.
- Represents USAID at international fora, providing expert opinion and
advice on issues relating to girls' education in developing countries.

Requirements:

- One (1) year of specialized experience which is in or directly related
to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped
the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to
successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, this
experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in
Federal Service. Only experience acquired by the closing date will be
considered.

- Degree: that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours
in a field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at
least 9 semester hours must have been in education courses. OR
- Combination of education and experience-at least 24 semester hours in a
field related to the work of the position to be filled, of which at least
9 semester hours must have been in education courses, plus appropriate
experience or additional education. The experience must reflect the level
and kind described below. OR
- Four years of experience that demonstrated a thorough understanding of
the principles and practices underlying the work of this series. This
experience must have been of such character and diversity to demonstrate
that the applicant possesses an understanding of the field comparable to
that normally acquired through successful completing of a full 4-year
course of study in an accredited college or university. OR
- At least 1 full academic year of professional teaching experience. This
experience is defined as full and primary responsibility, under general
supervision, for instruction of assigned students in an accredited school
or institution. This includes responsibility for preparing and presenting
lessons and for evaluating students' progress, including a determination
of the students' success or failure according to established criteria.
Serving in an assistant capacity to a professor without the authority to
determine the students' success or failure to meet course requirements
does not meet this criterion.
- Knowledge of theory and practice of education sector interventions in
developing countries.

- Knowledge of international donor experience in developing countries in
promoting and strengthening girls' education, including the concepts and
methodology involved in the design, development, implementation,
management and evaluation of assistance programs and projects.
- Skill in analyzing education issues in developing countries, preparing
focused concept papers, designing new activities and managing budgeting
and contracting processes.
- Skill in oral and written communications in order to represent USAID to
other U.S. agencies, other donor institutions and partner organizations.

To Apply:

For a more detailed description of selection procedures, qualifications,
and application process, refer to USAID's website at www.usaid.gov
('employment opportunities' section => 'vacancies in civil service').

Application deadline is December 4, 2001.

(cross-posted from conflictjobs@yahoogroups.com)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




----------------------------------------
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and a just and sustainable development process. AWID facilitates an open
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to develop effective and transformative approaches for improving the lives
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DB Classifieds - Training, Books, Events, Consultants

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/enewsl/4337

DB Classifieds - Training, Books, Events, Consultants
November 7, 2001


from The Communication Initiative partnership
...global forces...local choices...critical voices...telling stories...
http://www.comminit.com


DB Classifieds can include material for which organisations have paid for
placement. Information communicated in The Drum Beat and featured on the The
Communication Initiative web site, will remain, as has always been the case,
the editorial judgement of Communication Initiative personnel. For a more
detailed explanation, please visit
http://www.comminit.com/DBClassifieds/sld-1990.html


'DB Classifieds - Training, Books, Events, Consultants' is issued on the
first Wednesday of each month. Please contact Janice Innes
jinnes@comminit.com to feature your material.


***


TRAINING
http://www.comminit.com/training.html


1. Development Studies Course (Apr 20 - Jul 6 2002) - Birmingham, United
Kingdom

Main themes include: Understanding poverty, & the processes of
underdevelopment & development; Reviewing social & human development &
social policy issues in developing countries; Examining possibilities for
social, political & economic changes at all levels; and, Incorporating
gender; & environmental issues in development programmes & policies.
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2002/551-event.html Contact: Wendy
Banner w.banner@bham.ac.uk


2. Training Programme in International Health - Pan American Health
Organisation

Purpose: Promote leadership in international health by enabling participants
to develop:
a broader vision of the evolution of international and regional health
trends; a capacity for critical thinking on the main trends and challenges
facing countries today; and, a more profound understanding of, and capacity
for, action in international cooperation in health.
http://www.comminit.com/Training/sld-3321.html


3. International Course on NGO Leadership, Development and Social Change
(Jan 21 - Feb 8 2002) - Virtual Course facilitated by School for
International Training in Vermont and BRAC in Bangladesh

A three-week seminar that enables NGO leaders and managers to develop and
refine core competencies strategic to managing development organisations in
an era of rapid globalisation.
http://www.comminit.com/Training/sld-3319.html Contact:
Information@iirr.org


4. Workshop on Molecular Biology & Immunology of Malaria (Jan 2002) -
Maputo, Mozambique

For African scientists employed by African health research/teaching
institutions, who are interested in participating in future malaria vaccine
trials in Africa. http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2002/539-event.html
Contact: Professor W. L. Kilama wkilama@Africaonline.co.tz


5. Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Course - (Jun 24 - Jul 19 2002) -
London, United Kingdom

Introduces participants to the principles and methods of effective social
and demographic research in this field. The sessions draw on students' own
ideas and experience to focus on the design of policy-oriented research.
Conducted by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2002/547-event.html Contact:
shortcourses@lshtm.ac.uk


6. Southern African Regional Training on Child Budget Analysis - (Jan 28 -
Feb 1 2002) - cape Town, South Africa

Targeted to researchers conducting child budget analysis and those just
beginning to learn the skills. Participants will be gathered from
non-governmental organisations and government agencies aimed at child
poverty alleviation and/ or children&#8217;s rights. Conducted by The Children&#8217;s
Budget Project at Idasa and Save the Children Sweden.
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2002/549-event.html Contact: Shaamela
Cassiem shaamela@idasact.org.za


7. Health Promotion through Entertainment Education Module of the CMS -
(from Feb 22 2002 - 12 week course) - Durban, South Africa

Graduate Programme: Students will obtain a clear understanding of - key
theories of health promotion communication; of entertainment education
interventions; how to apply theoretical understanding in the development of
framework for entertainment education activities; and, develop an ability to
create criteria for the research of entertainment education activities.
Conducted by University of Natal.
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/2002/521-event.html Contact: Susan
Govender govends@nu.ac.za



To place your training events in DB Classifieds, please contact Janice Innes
jinnes@comminit.com

See other training events listed at
http://www.comminit.com/training.html with a page of information on each
event.


***


BOOKS and other MATERIALS
http://www.comminit.com/materials.html


8. The Paradox of Africa's Poverty: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge,
Traditional Practices and Local Institutions - The Case of Ethiopia, by
Tirfe Mammo

Author argues that the root cause of Africa's poverty lies in the neglect of
the indigenous knowledge, traditional practices and local institutions of
the continent's peoples. http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3196.html


9. Shots in the Dark: The Wayward Search for an AIDS Vaccine, by Jon Cohen

Author argues that a major obstacle to the successful development of a
vaccine has been the domination of the field by `reductionists' (mostly
virologists) who are interested primarily in understanding the pathogenesis
of HIV infection and the interaction of the virus with the immune system.
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3198.html


10. Making a Living: Changing Livelihoods in Rural Africa, by Elizabeth
Francis

"Livelihoods in rural Africa are changing in response to disappearing job
prospects, falling agricultural output and collapsing infrastructure. This
book explains why the responses to these challenges are so different in
different parts of Africa." http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3197.html


11. Betrayal of Trust: The Collapse of Global Public Health, by Laurie
Garrett

"What do Russia, Zaire, Los Angeles, and - most likely - your community have
in common? Each is woefully unprepared to deal with a major epidemic..."
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3199.html


12. Conveying Concerns: Media Coverage of Women and HIV/AIDS, by Measure
Communications

"...stories emphasize that economic dependence on men and different
standards of behavior for men and women play a role in increasing women's
vulnerability to the epidemic..."
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3281.html


13. Stunted Lives, Stagnant Economies: Poverty, Disease, and
Underdevelopment, by Eileen Stillwaggon

"Houses made of rags and flattened soda cans, filthy water that breeds
disease, counterfeit medicines, no access to decent medical care-how can
children growing up in such an environment become productive workers
contributing to a developing economy? "
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-1991.html


14. Sixteen Decisions - a documentary film about women and economic
development in Bangladesh - Aerial Productions

"As the documentary unfolds, the viewer is inadvertently involved in the
current-day discussion on international development, which includes issues
of micro-credit, social equity, cultural survival and access to reproductive
and health care..." http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3085.html


15. Monitoring & Evaluating Small Business Projects: A Step-By-Step Guide by
Shirley Buzzard & Elaine Edgcomb

"A systems approach to measuring the progress of small businesses owned by
the poor. Based on the experiences of over 25 NGOs..."
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-1869.html


and


AIDS, Sexuality and Gender in Africa: The Struggle Continues
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3200.html

AIDS: The Challenge for South Africa
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3201.html

Health and Human Rights
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3202.html

Is Inequality Bad for Our Health?
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3203.html

Before Hitting Bottom, Compassion for the Addict Down Under
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3282.html

Poverty, Inequality, and Health: An International Perspective
http://www.comminit.com/Materials/sld-3195.html


***


VACANCIES
http://www.comminit.com/vacancies.html


Find details on 16 new posts in the Vacancies section of the web site. Go to
http://www.comminit.com/vacancies.html


To have your vacant posts included in the next 'DB Classifieds - Vacancies',
please contact Carey Hooge chooge@comminit.com


***


for CONFERENCES and other EVENTS please see an extensive listing on
http://www.comminit.com/2001-events.html


***

CONSULTANTS
http://www.comminit.com/exchange.html


You will find details on 250 plus consultants at
http://www.comminit.com/exchange.html
To communicate your consultancy work through DB Classifieds please contact
Janice Innes jinnes@comminit.com


***

To post your job vacancies, promote your training events, market your books
and other materials and advertise your consultancy services, or other
information you wish to convey, not covered under the categories above,
please contact Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com

To unsubscribe from The Drum Beat and DB Classifieds please reply to this
message and type "unsubscribe DB" as subject. Thank you.

e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 140

November 20 2001

2001-11-22

http://www.civicus.org

e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 140
20 November, 2001

CONTENTS

A. From the desk of the CIVICUS Secretary-General
B. General news about civil society and citizen action
C. International conferences/workshops/meetings/fairs and exhibitions
D. Relevant position listings
E. New publications
F. Internet news and websites
G. Scholarly support and awards
H. From the Reader
I. Funders and donors profile

A. FROM THE DESK OF THE CIVICUS SECRETARY-GENERAL

THE HUMAN FALLOUT OF POLITICAL CRISES

As the military action against the Taliban and its allies, proceeds full
speed with its multi front attack, civil society representatives and UN
officials alike are pleading with governments to include the world's
refugees in the overall strategic picture. At the start of the year 2001,
up to 21.8 million men, women and children were listed as "people of
concern" to the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
This figure includes refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum
seekers and returnees still in the process of settling in. These numbers
have no doubt swelled with the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The UNHCR and non-governmental refugee organisations are in a serious bind
because Afghanistan's neighbours, especially Iran and Pakistan have sealed
their borders to the human influx. However, another set of statistics
provides us with some perspective on the hesitation of these countries,
notably Pakistan, in accepting more refugees. The UNHCR notes that the
largest refugee population increase this year was in Pakistan. As with the
year 2000, the number one host country in the world was Pakistan,
sheltering over 2 million refugees. Given the vulnerable economic
condition of the South Asian nation, new refugee populations certainly
place a tremendous strain upon its resources, apart from influencing the
local political dynamics, as we have well observed over the past two decades.

Over 289 UNHCR offices worldwide work with more than 500 non-governmental
organizations (as implementing partners) in caring for, and ultimately,
reducing the number of refugees. Activities range from advocacy to
negotiating with governments to grant safe havens for refugee populations;
maintaining camps which provide food and shelter for refugees; reuniting
families; providing legal assistance to asylum seekers; monitoring and
conducting refugee repatriation (to their countries of origin) or
resettlement (in the host countries or in a neutral third country);
documenting statistics of refugee movements around the world, and so on.
Several UNHCR personnel, NGO representatives and other civil society
volunteers have died while serving refugees, often in conflict situations.

According to the UNHCR and other refugee organisations, including the
International Organisation of Migration and the United States Committee of
Refugees, Afghanis constitute the largest single refugee population in the
world, with an estimated 3.6 million people or 30% of the global refugee
population. The UNHCR also notes that civilians from the central African
state of Burundi constitute the second largest group with 568,000 refugees
living mainly in Tanzania and Iraqis comprise the third largest population,
512,800 people living mainly in Iran. Asia as a whole has the greatest
refugee population (about 8 million), followed by Africa (over 6 million)
and Europe (5.6 million people).

During the year 2000, the UNHCR helped over 800,000 refugees return to
their homes. Just earlier this week, 200 Tanzanian refugees returned home
from Kenya, where they had been encamped since fleeing from an unstable
political situation a year ago. However, each victory like this is set back
by unfortunate situations such as the tragic sinking of an Indonesian ferry
in October 2001, and the drowning of 350 asylum seekers. Strict national
policies towards refugees and uneven implementation, usually varying with
the election years in countries around the world, pose serious challenges
for the UNHCR and its NGO counterparts. For instance, Australia has
toughened its immigration and asylum policies, refusing entry to ships
bearing refugees, and instead diverting the ships to international waters.
Thousands of refugees, including those from Afghanistan, have been turned
away this year alone. In some instances, the Australian government has
negotiated with smaller Pacific island nations, urging them to accept
refugee groups in exchange for generous aid packages. There have also been
instances where refugees on board these vessels have taken to mass hunger
strikes, protesting the cracks in international and national laws which
permit them to slip right through. Last week, however, in a slightly more
fortunate turn of events, the Australian Navy rescued about 230 asylum
seekers from their sinking boat after a 10-day standoff near Australia's
remote Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. The asylum requests of the
refugees on board are currently being negotiated.

Refugees are the human face of global political, strategic and military
standoffs. Non-political natural or man-made disasters as well generate
refugees. In their determination to survive the most tragic and difficult
circumstances, refugees prove that the human need for a safe haven is at
least as important as the sovereign territorial considerations of the
modern nation-state system. The day-to-day efforts of civil society actors
and UN personnel worldwide in guaranteeing such safe havens, and ultimately
helping displaced people return to their normal lives, are often eclipsed
by the more sensationalist coverage of the very crises which generate refugees.

Warm regards, Kumi Naidoo

For further information, please visit
www.unhcr.ch, official website of the UNHCR
www.refugee.org, website of the US Committee of Refugees
www.reliefweb.int


B. GENERAL NEWS ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY AND CITIZEN ACTION

VOLUNTEERING SYMPOSIUM IN GENEVA UNDER WAY - VOLUNTEERS FROM 108 COUNTRIES
TO RECOMMEND FOLLOW-UP TO UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS 2001
[IYV Press]

More than 500 government officials and volunteer leaders from 108 countries
will take part in an International Symposium on Volunteering
(www.isv2001.org) on 18-21 November, 2001 at Geneva's International
Conference Centre. Delegates will evaluate activities of the International
Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV) in order to recommend ways in which
governments, the UN system and civil society at large can support volunteer
action.

"This gathering of volunteering experts is crucial as we take stock of the
year's extraordinary achievements and work out key messages for the United
Nations General Assembly, which will convene two plenary sessions on the
subject on 5 December - the annual International Volunteer Day," said
Sharon Capeling-Alakija, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations
Volunteers programme (UNV). UNV is the global focal point for IYV
(www.iyv2001.org).

Prominent speakers at the four-day event include Mr. Leuenberger; H.R.H.
Crown Prince Felipe de Asturias of Spain who is serving as an IYV Eminent
Person; Dr. Judith Stamm, President of the Swiss IYV National Committee;
Ms. Capeling-Alakija, who is representing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
at the Symposium; Japanese Ambassador Koichi Haraguchi, and local authorities.

For more information visit:
www.iyv2001.org/infobase/press/01_11_14CHE_geneva_symposium_un.htm


RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT USE OF SEPTEMBER 11 FUNDS
[Canadian Centre for Philanthropy]
2 November, 2001

Media reports about a controversial decision by the American Red Cross to
use some of the funds raised post-September 11 for administrative and other
purposes have prompted many inquiries and comments about the obligation of
charities to honour donors' intentions. In responding to these inquiries,
we have been emphasizing 3 key points:

- Charities must use donations only for the purposes indicated during the
solicitation, or they will lose donors' trust;
- Every project entails some administration costs (accounting, managing,
monitoring, etc.) and such costs are properly counted as part of the
overall program costs;
- but they must be reasonable (10-15% is usually an appropriate range).

It appears that the board of the American Red Cross has acted quickly and
decisively by firing the President/CEO who made the disputed decision about
the use of post-September 11 funds, so this is a case where the systems of
governance and board oversight seem to have worked as they are supposed to.

A recent decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, involving The
Aids Society for Children (Ontario), sets out the legal obligations of
charities and charity directors concerning the control and use of
fundraising revenues. (A full description of the Court's findings and the
implications for charities has been prepared by lawyer Terrance Carter of
the firm Carter & Associates, and can be found in his Charity Law Bulletin
No.9 at www.charitylaw.ca.) Every charity board member should be aware of
at least the following points:

- The charity has a legal, fiduciary obligation to use donations only for
its charitable purposes;
- The charity is responsible for the actions of its fundraiser(s), and
cannot avoid responsibility by describing the fundraiser as an independent
contractor;
- The charity is responsible to account for the gross amount of all
donations received from the public and not simply the net amount paid to
the charity by the fundraiser;
- The charity and its directors will have breached their fiduciary
obligation if the charity signs a contract with a fundraiser that causes
prejudice to the charity (such as one that misrepresents the purposes for
which donations are to be used);
- Directors of a charity must therefore ensure, either by enacting policy
or through direct oversight, that all fundraising activities of a charity,
including the terms of contracts with professional fundraisers, meet all
legal requirements;
- The charity must ensure that all aspects of fundraising literature and
communication accurately describe how donations will be used; the charity
and the board of directors will be held accountable for ensuring that funds
are used in accordance with the donors' reasonable interpretation.

These provisions, and more, are included in the Canadian Centre for
Philanthropy's Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code. For
more information about the Code, and how your charity can reassure donors
by adopting it, please go to www.ccp.ca

REVOLUTIONARY ASSOCIATION OF THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN'S (RAWA) APPEAL TO
THE WORLD COMMUNITY
[Association for Women's Rights in Development]
13 November, 2001

The people of Afghanistan do not accept domination of the Northern Alliance
(NA)!

Now it is confirmed that the Taliban have left Kabul and the NA has entered
the city. The world should understand that the NA is composed of some bands
who did show their real criminal and inhuman nature when they were ruling
Afghanistan from 1992 to 1996. The retreat of the terrorist Taliban from
Kabul is a positive development, but entering of the rapist and looter NA
in the city is nothing but a dreadful and shocking news for about 2 million
residents of Kabul whose wounds of the years 1992-96 have not healed yet.
Thousands of people who fled Kabul during the past two months were saying
that they feared coming to power of the NA in Kabul much more than being
scared by the US bombing.

The Taliban and Al-Qaeda will be eliminated, but the existence of the NA as
a military force would shatter the joyful dream of the majority for an
Afghanistan free from the odious chains of barbaric Taliban. The NA will
horribly intensify the ethnic and religious conflicts and will never
refrain to fan the fire of another brutal and endless civil war in order to
retain in power. The terrible news of looting and inhuman massacre of the
captured Taliban or their foreign accomplices in Mazar-e-Sharif in past few
days speaks for itself.

Though the NA has learned how to pose sometimes before the West as
"democratic" and even supporter of women's rights, but in fact they have
not at all changed, as a leopard cannot change its spots. RAWA has already
documented heinous crimes of the NA. Time is running out. RAWA on its own
part appeals to the UN and world community as a whole to pay urgent and
considerable heed to the recent developments in our ill-fated Afghanistan
before it is too late.

We would like to emphatically ask the UN to send its effective
peace-keeping force into the country before the NA can repeat the
unforgettable crimes they committed in the said years. The UN should
withdraw its recognition to the so-called Islamic government headed by
Rabbani and help the establishment of a broad-based government based on the
democratic values.

RAWA's call stems from the aspirations of the vast majority of the people
of Afghanistan.

ZERO VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN - CHILD RIGHTS WEEK IN PAKISTAN

Hundreds of enthusiastic school children and large number of people from
different segments of society took part in a walk on 12 November, organized
by the Madadgaar, a joint venture of the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal
Aid (LHRLA) and UNICEF, to create awareness about the rights of the child
and their protection in the society.

In response to the poor state of children in the Pakistan demands the
immediate attention of all segments of society Madadgaar, Pakistan s First
Child Help Line and Protection Service for Children & Women, organized a
Child Rights Week on 12-20 November, 2001 to create awareness among the
masses about child rights.

The Walk ended at Mazar-e-Quid where President LHRLA, Zia Ahmed Awan,
informed the participants about the services of Madadgaar and asked them to
call Madadgaar Help Line 111-911-922 if they observe any violation of human
rights against children.

IMPROVE MEDIA COVERAGE OF YOUR ISSUE
[Nonprofit Quarterly e-Newsletter, November 2001, Issue 6]

In this economic recession and post September 11 era that is marked by
budget shortfalls and shifting priorities, a critical question nonprofits
are grappling with is "How are resources going to be allocated?"

The role of the media in answering this question must not be ignored. Media
educates and influences public opinion, which then influences legislation
and allocation of resources.

People are asking how they can get their issues, concerns and policy
positions covered in the media. In an age where most news stories come from
government sources and corporate press releases, it is extremely important
that nonprofits understand how reporting works and act to expand their
capacity to inform and influence the media process. To fail to do so is to
confine the nonprofit sector to the margins of social policymaking, and
already isolated communities to silence.

Charlotte Ryan, Co-director of the Boston College Media Research Action
Project, details the current environment and outlines the starting points
and steps nonprofits can take to strengthen their public voice in her
article "Why Take Media Seriously?"

To read the article visit: www.nonprofitquarterly.org/special/ryan.php

WAY COLLECTS EVENTS FOR 2002 CALENDAR

The World Assembly of Youth (WAY) invites interested parties to post
contributions on youth events in 2002 by sending an e-mail to
info@worldassemblyofyouth.org This will allow WAY to compile a
comprehensive calendar of global youth events for the coming year, and also
publicise events to an extensive list of recipients.

Please specify name of the programme, dates, venues, themes, organisers,
participation fee, contact & registration information.

INTERNET: www.worldassemblyofyouth.org


C. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS
(Conferences marked with an asterisk (*) are appearing in this newsletter
for the first time)

17TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR VOLUNTEER EFFORT (IAVE)
CONFERENCE (*)
"Volunteering, Reaching Out for Reconciliation and Peace"

The Korean Organizing Committee formed of 16 major volunteer organizations
will host the 17th World Conference of IAVE in autumn 2002. The main goals
of the five-day conference are to raise the consciousness about the
importance of volunteerism as a basic unit of establishing a civil society:
by solidifying co-operation and sharing information; and to empower
volunteer activity in a way it can contribute to reconciliation and peace,
especially in a disputed region like the Korean Peninsula. The conference
planners hope to host 1200 people from more than 80 countries.

A variety of themes in will be presented in over 100 workshop sessions. A
call for papers will go out later this year, check www.iave.org later for
details.

Topics include:
- Volunteering for human rights and world peace;
- Volunteering for immigrants and refugees;
- Youth volunteering and service learning; sustainable development;
- Healthy civil society;
- Culture;
- Government policy and volunteer facilitation;
- Religion;
- Media and volunteer promotion.

The conference will also include study visits, social and Korean cultural
events.

THEME: Volunteering, Reaching Out for Reconciliation and Peace
DATE: 29 September - 3 October, 2002
VENUE: COEX-ASSEM Convention Center, Seoul, Korea
ORGANISER: International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE)
CONTACT: Kathi Dennis, IAVE
E-MAIL: kdennis@iave.org
INTERNET: www.iave.org


D. RELEVANT POSITION LISTINGS

RAPCAN SEEKS TRAINING MANAGER

The Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (RAPCAN)
is an NGO based in South Africa committed to the development of innovative
child abuse prevention strategies which combat the patterns of abuse which
affect the lives of children and adults everywhere.

RAPCAN seeks to appoint a Training Manager to join its training team.

The Training Manager will be responsible for:

- Coordination and management of the work of the training team to ensure
that the standards are met
- Developing new training material
- Pursuing strategic alliances with others organisations offering services
to abused children
- Developing appropriate materials to market the services of the RAPCAN
training department

The ideal candidate will be an experienced trainer
- with leadership qualities and management experience
- counselling and supervision skills
- materials development skills
- capable of record keeping, report writing, and basic administration
- computer literate
- in possession of a valid code 08 driver's license
- dedicated and reliable
- networking skills
- a dynamic and effective communicator
- able to work independently and in a team
- committed to child abuse prevention.

In addition the following qualities would be advantageous:
- a professional qualification in a relevant field
- knowledge of children's rights and challenges facing children
- knowledge of psychological, social and legal issues relating to child
development and child abuse
- experience in an NGO environment
- own vehicle.

Remuneration is negotiable, based on experience. RAPCAN is an equal
opportunity employer. The organisation is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
The position is available from January 2002.

Applicants should send a letter of application and a CV, including 3
contactable referees, to:
The Selection Committee, RAPCAN
ADDRESS: 28 Lower Main Road, Observatory, 7925
FAX: (27-21) 448-9042
E-MAIL: rapcan@iafrica.com

For more information:
CONTACT: Jean Luyt at RAPCAN
TEL: (27-21) 448-9034.

Application deadline: 23 November, 2001.


E. NEW PUBLICATIONS

"ADVOCACY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: A GLOBAL ACTION AND REFLECTION GUIDE"
by David Cohen, Rosa de la Vega and Gabrielle Watson

Published in 2001 in the US by Kumarian Press

Drawing on Oxfam America's and the Advocacy Institute's experience as
progressive social change organizations, Advocacy for Social Justice offers
a framework for understanding advocacy in today's globalizing worked.

Above all, Advocacy for Social Justice celebrates the innovative and
inspirational advocacy efforts that are already creating change in so many
countries, in both the North and South.

Intended for the advocacy practitioner and trainer alike, Advocacy for
Social Justice explores the elements of advocacy and offers a toolkit for
taking action, comprehensive case studies, and hundreds of resource
listings for hungry activists around the world.

Part One: Reflections on Advocacy
Part Two: Advocacy Skills
Part Three: Advocacy Case Studies
Part Four: Advocacy Resource Directory

TO ORDER:

CONTACT: Guy Bentham, Editor and Associate Publisher, Kumarian Press, Inc.
ADDRESS: 1294 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002-1302, USA
TEL.: (1-860) 243-2098
FAX: (1-860) 243-2867
E-MAIL: GBenthamKPBooks@aol.com
INTERNET: www.kpbooks.com

"YEARBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
2001/2002" NOW AVAILABLE

Articles in the ninth edition:

- Global Environmental Governance: UN Fragmentation and
Coordination Steinar Andresen, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
- ISO Environmental Standards: Industry's Gift to a Polluted Globe or the
Developed World's Competition-Killing Strategy? - Dr Jennifer Clapp, Trent
University
- The 1999 Multi-Pollutant Protocol: A Neglected Break-Through in Solving
Europe's Air Pollution Problems? - Jorgen Wettestad, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
- The Basel Convention and the International Trade in Hazardous Wastes Dr
Johnathan Krueger, Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs,
Harvard University
- The United National Fish Stocks Agreement - Professor Lawrence Juda,
Department of Mariner Affairs, University of Rhode Island
- The World Bank: A Lighter Shade of Green? - Professor David Hunter,
Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

There is also info on Agreements on Environment and Development,
Organizations (IGO's) (NGO's) and (ISO's) as well as Country Profiles.

Order from Earthscan:

TEL.: (44-1903) 828-800
FAX: (44-20) 727-81142
E-MAIL: earthinfo@earthscan.co.uk
INTERNET: www.earthscan.co.uk

BUSINESS PARTNERS FOR DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Business Partners for Development has published a report entitled
'Endearing Myths, Enduring Truths: Enabling Partnerships Between Business,
Civil Society and the Public Sector'. The report provides an insight into
the emerging lessons from BPD's four Clusters. It can be viewed on line at
www.bpdweb.org/krg where you can also register to get on BPD's general
mailing list.


F. INTERNET NEWS AND WEBSITES

11 SEPTEMBER & EARTH SUMMIT 2002 ONLINE DEBATE
[Network2002]

During six days, 19-24November, 2001, the Heinrich-Boell Foundation and
UNED Forum will hold an online forum to discuss the implications of 11
September, 2001 on the Johannesburg process. The organisers have invited
eminent intellectuals from all over the globe to contribute short opinion
articles as "Think Pieces" to start the debate.

Earth Summit 2002 will be held ten years after the historical Rio
Conference on Environment and Development, and one year after the attacks
in New York and Washington. Still, preparations for the Summit go on
apparently untouched by the recent events. But if everything changes, can
the Johannesburg Summit and its preparatory process remain untouched? 11
September and its aftermath pose a whole set of new questions:

- Will the shock create a new climate of international co-operation between
North and South, East and West, thus creating a fertile ground for a new,
"global deal"?
- Will the terrorist attacks shift media attention, and priorities of
governments away from the issues of poverty, environmental degradation and
globalisation that are the centre of the Johannesburg agenda? Will the
climate of an unfolding "global civil war" ultimately lead to the failure
of Johannesburg 2002, symbol of global co-operation?
- Does the Johannesburg agenda need a re-framing, for example in terms of
(environmental) security or the provision of global common goods, peace
being one of them?
- Johannesburg was partly conceived as a global response to the challenges
of globalisation. How will the globalisation debate and the
anti-globalisation movement be affected by the recent developments?
- How can civil society engaged in the preparations towards Johannesburg
2002 react on the new developments? What are strategies to make the World
Summit a success under these new circumstances?

The Heinrich-Boell Foundation and UNED Form, both organisations active in
the Johannesburg process, joined forces to create a space for a global
debate on these questions. We wish to contribute to create a common
understanding on the significance of the recent developments for the
Johannesburg process.

The Online-Forum will be moderated by Jasmin Enayati, UNED Forum.

To register for the debate follow the link under Earth Summit Updates at
www.earthsummit2002.org

KUBATANA WEBSITE OF THE NGO NETWORK ALLIANCE PROJECT IN ZIMBABWE

As traditional media becomes increasingly repressive in Zimbabwe, the
launch of a local web site, www.kubatana.net is a breath of fresh air. The
NGO Network Alliance Project, the energy behind the development of
Kubatana, has brought Zimbabwean NGOs, CSOs and development organisations
together under one online umbrella. Kubatana is a Shona word which means
"working together" - an apt name when a strengthened civic response to the
current social and political unrest in Zimbabwe needs to be encouraged.

INTERNET: www.kubatana.net

PRESS RELEASE ON SYNERGOS
www.synergos.org/01/fdchivaids.htm

G. SCHOLARLY SUPPORT AND AWARDS

GREEN RIBBON AWARD

Deadline 30 April - annually

The Green Ribbon Awards are presented by the Minister for the Environment
to recognise outstanding contributions by individuals, organisations or
businesses to addressing some of New Zealand's environmental problems.

Awards will be presented for outstanding efforts in:
- Caring for our urban environment
- Caring for our rural environment
- Caring for our biodiversity
- Raising awareness of environmental issues
- Business caring for the environment
- State of the environment reporting
- Kids who care - youth action for the environment

For further information visit: www.mfe.govt.nz/management/awards/greenrib.htm

INTERNATIONAL PHILANTHROPY FELLOWS PROGRAM AT THE JOHN HOPKINS INSTITUTE

The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, Center for Civil Society
Studies is pleased to announce a call for applications for the
International Fellows in Philanthropy Program for the 2002-2003 academic
year. This program based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, affords an
opportunity for advanced study, research, and training for up to eight
participants each year who are involved in studying or managing private
nonprofit, or philanthropic organizations outside of the United States, or
working as NGO liaisons in the public or commercial sectors. Fellowships,
which can be an academic year or semester, are available at both the Junior
and Senior level.

Eligibility:

We are soliciting candidates who: 1) have demonstrated a high degree of
interest, experience, and professional competence in research, management,
or general leadership related to the voluntary, nongovernmental, nonprofit,
or philanthropic sector; or 2) nonprofit liaison officers established by
governments and multinational organizations who play a role in linking with
nonprofit organizations through project partnerships, legal reform
initiatives, and a variety of other activities.

Candidates are expected to have attained a university diploma equivalent to
the American Bachelors of Arts or Science degree and be capable of carrying
out independent research and inquiry. A high degree of English fluency is
required as demonstrated by a score of 600 or higher on the TOEFL exam.

There are no restrictions as to nationality (except that US citizens are
excluded from eligibility). Fellows are required to attend the annual
International Fellows in Philanthropy Conference prior to their fellowship
year and are strongly encouraged to participate in subsequent annual
conferences.

Deadline for submission of applications is February 25, 2002.

For more information, or to download an application, visit:
www.jhu.edu/~philfellow or contact Program Manager Carol Wessner at
cwessner@jhu.edu


H. FROM THE READER

PROMOTING A CULTURE OF PEACE

In light of World Peace Week (November 18 - 24), and the events of
September 11th, this message is being sent to inspire and affiliate
organizations with the 'Promoting a Culture of Peace' contest.

In our effort to break the chain of pessimism and loss of hope, we believe
that granting someone the chance to express his/her views on and hopes for
peace is something that can truly help bring people together. With your
help, we can achieve a beautiful community of peace promoters, and at the
same time, display and promote a gallery of expressions that will urge and
inspire others to reflect and carry on the word and actions of peace.

The top 10 submission expressions chosen from the works we receive will be
featured on a postcard that will be sent to the artists and organizations
that help us with this initiative.

The deadline for submissions is 7 December, 2001 and winners will be
announced in the new year.

TakingITGlobal (http://www.takingitglobal.org/) is a not-for-profit,
international organization. Young people from over 100 countries have
signed up as members of our virtual community in just over one year! Our
focus is to inspire, inform and involve youth within their own communities
on a local and global scale, through valuable online resources and real
world projects and initiatives. The 'Global
Gallery' (http://www.takingitglobal.org/gallery/) is one such initiative,
with an aim to inspire and connect youth through the arts and
technology-worldwide!

If you would like more information on how we can work together on this and
future projects, please do not hesitate to reply!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

TakingITGlobal Gallery Team!
gallery@takingitglobal.org

For more information visit:
www.takingitglobal.org/express/gallery/contest.html

HELLO,

I was hoping that you might be willing to mention our organization,
Cross-Cultural Solutions, in your newsletter.

If you have ever wanted to ***volunteer abroad*** but can't commit for
years at a time, you might be interested in Cross-Cultural Solutions. These
programs allow you to work with dynamic grass-roots organizations while
immersing yourself in the local culture. Volunteers typically work in the
areas of education, health care and development, and participants' skills
and interests are carefully matched with the needs of the community.
Activities include working with children in orphanages and children with
disabilities, teaching English, providing companionship for senior
citizens, shadowing doctors, teaching preschool and more! Volunteer
programs range from two weeks to six months and are available in Asia,
Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Please note: Volunteers pay a
tax-deductible program fee that covers all of their in-country expenses,
including in-country transportation, food and lodging. International
airfare is additional.

Kristin Hegazy
Marketing Coordinator, Cross-Cultural Solutions
E-MAIL: kristin@crossculturalsolutions.org
INTERNET: www.crossculturalsolutions.org


I. ABOUT CIVICUS

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international
alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society
throughout the world.

e-CIVICUS is produced weekly, and distributed to thousands of subscribers
worldwide. If you would like to comment on a past issue of e-CIVICUS or
request that appropriate information about your organisation be included in
a future issue of e-CIVICUS, please contact the CIVICUS Newsletter Office
at the following e-mail address: news@civicus.org
Due to space restrictions, we may not be able to include all submissions.

To subscribe: send a blank e-mail with 'subscribe' in the subject line to
news@civicus.org
To unsubscribe: send a blank e-mail with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line
to news@civicus.org

Co-ordinator of e-CIVICUS:
Miklos Barabas, Programme and Communications Director
TEL.: (36-1) 356-8440 FAX: (36-1) 356-8499
E-MAIL: news@civicus.org
INTERNET: www.civicus.org

Media Line: Newsletter of the Press Union of Liberia

2001-11-22

http://www.pul.kabissa.org/newsletter.doc

After a prolonged silence for nearly three years, the official publication of the Press Union of Liberia is back on the newsstand. MEDIA LINE, a monthly publication, is intended to keep our members, supporters and friends abreast of what goes on in the world of Liberian journalism - it's about journalists, about the good, the bad and the ugly things as they affect our job.

OneWorld.net - International Partner News

November 2001

2001-11-22

http://www.oneworld.net

OneWorld International Partner News highlights the top stories from the OneWorld community as selected by our regional centers in Africa, Austria, Italy, Finland, Latin America, the Netherlands, Spain, South Asia, the United States and the UK. If you would like to subscribe to it, email majordomo@oneworld.net with the following text in the body of the message: "subscribe partnernews_international"
OneWorld.net - International Partner News - November 2001

Dear Friends,

A warm welcome to all new subscribers to OneWorld International Partner News
and thanks to all those who forwarded the last newsletter to your contacts.

OneWorld International Partner News highlights the top stories from the
OneWorld community as selected by our regional centers in Africa, Austria,
Italy, Finland, Latin America, the Netherlands, Spain, South Asia, the
United States and the UK.

This is a read-only newsletter so please address any comments about the
newsletter directly to me.

If you would like to subscribe to it, email majordomo@oneworld.net with the
following text in the body of the message:
subscribe partnernews_international

Dale Chadwick, OneWorld International Partnership Manager
<dale.chadwick@oneworld.net>


*****IN THIS ISSUE*****

UPCOMING AT ONEWORLD INTERNATIONAL
FROM THE ONEWORLD CENTERS
ONLINE EVENTS
EVENTS
GRANTS
PUBLICATIONS
TRAVEL TIPS
WEB AND EMAIL RESOURCES

****ONEWORLD PARTNERSHIP INFORMATION****

ONEWORLD ON YAHOO!
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u

OneWorld stories are now live on YAHOO!. Please visit
the URL: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wl/oneworld/?u

This new public platform allows OneWorld to better amplify the
voices of our partners and the world's marginalised peoples.
Early indicators from some of the partners who have been
highlighted, the results are extremely positive.

We have produced an FAQ at http://www.oneworld.net/yahoo/, which
should answer most of your questions. Next month we will be able to
paint a much clearer picture of the quantifiable benefits to the
OneWorld partnership.

If you have any comments, note any broken links, or wish to comment
on issues about the look, design or feel, please feed them back to:
yahooquestions@oneworld.net

PARTNERS, REMEMBER TO PUT ONEWORLD ON YOUR MAILING LIST:
news@oneworld.net


DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION PRODUCE AUDIO FILES OR RADIO PROGRAMS?
Contact Jackie.Davies@oneworld.net
OneWorld is busy preparing a radio exchange network. If someone in
your organization is involved with producing radio programs or
audio files for the web please contact Jackie Davies.


IS YOUR ORGANIZATION LOOKING FOR PEOPLE?
VOLUNTEERS: http://jobs.oneworld.net/unpaid/
PAID STAFF: http://jobs.oneworld.net/
Partners advertise for volunteers or jobs for free at OneWorld.


*****UPCOMING AT ONEWORLD*****

TRAINING MATERIALS RELATED TO ICTs.
Contact Karthik.Venkatesh@oneworld.net
OneWorld in conjunction with APC, BELLANET IICD,INASP and IISD is
producing a single source on the web containing a selection of the
best and most relevant computer and Internet training resources for
development and social change. ItrainOnline will be launched
November 22 in Montevideo, Uruguay.

PARTNERSHIP SURVEY
Contact Dale.Chadwick@oneworld.net
In the coming year, OneWorld, through it centers, will be
conducting a survey of its partnership to determine if ICT is more
than just a tool. The final report will be available publicly April
2002.


*****FROM THE ONEWORLD CENTERS*****

ONEWORLD SPAIN
http://www.oneworld.net/es/
OneWorld Spain won recently the special mention on Internet of
Premis de Comunicaci? i Benestar Social of Barcelona City Hall.
This prize recognises OneWorld Spain "for the high quality of
OneWorld in contents and technical resources, as well as for the
leadership from Barcelona to spread news on development and NGO
issues in Catalan and Spanish through an international network".
OneWorld Spain wants to share this prize with all the international
partners of the network, and especially with those that are based
in Spain.

ONEWORLD LATIN AMERICA
http://www.oneworld.net/latinamerica/
On September 26- October 8, OneWorld Latin America visited
more than 90 organizations in Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador,
Nicaragua and Honduras. The sessions also included a reflection
on the experience of organizations incorporating the internet into
their communications strategies. A copy of the findings is
available in Spanish at:
http://www.acceso.or.cr/internet/vocesgira2001.shtml


*****FROM ONEWORLD PARTNERS*****

*****ONLINE CAMPAIGNS*****

PROTEST KORES INDIA SELLING &#8220;ERAZEX&#8221; - IT HURTS STREET CHILDREN
http://www.potterhouses.org/campaign.html
Potters House Trust has an online petition campaign on inhalant
abuse amongst street children in India. It urges Kores India Ltd
immediately cease the sales and distribution of its' diluter
"Erazex," a chemical that can be very harmful to children, and
support rehabilitation and detoxification programs for street
children.


PROTEST SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT BODY PROCLAIMING &#8220;HOMOSEXUALITY IS
GROSS INDECENCY&#8221;
http://www.companionsonajourney.com/natpress.htm
In Sri Lanka, homosexuality is an offense. Any person found guilty
shall be punished with imprisonment, fine or both. The
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, in
solidarity with Companions on a Journey and in cooperation with the
Asian Human Rights Commission, calls for letters of protest against
a decision by which a government body proclaimed lesbianism "an act
of gross indecency," "unnatural," and "an act of sadism and
salacious."


STOP THE WAR WITH 12 POINTS
http://www.whrnet.org/12points.html
Women's Human Rights Net wants civil society worldwide to protest
the war, rebuild a fair society in Afghanistan and support Women's Human
Rights.
The Twelve Points were developed in exchanges among several women's
human rights activists in New York, Asia and Latin America following
the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
They are intended to suggest alternatives to military action
and the cycle of violence, destruction and death.
Please use these suggestions in whatever way you find helpful.


DENOUNCE IMF BEHAVIOUR IN NICARAGUA
http://www.s-j-c.net/NicaraguaOct2001.htm
The Social Justice Committee asks people to express their dismay
that the IMF has stopped the debt relief programme for Nicaragua in
the midst of a crisis. Flooding, drought and hunger have hit the
country this year but still the IMF has suspended debt relief.
Write or e-mail your IMF representative and demand immediate
restoration of debt relief for Nicaragua.


ACTION FOR FAIRER TRADE RULES
http://www.aefjn.org/english/actions/wto_0110.htm
Contact your government; the World Trade Organisation and European
Union, to demand fairer trade rules for developing countries. Join
the Africa-Europe Faith and Justice Network's letter writing
campaign and state your concerns.


STOP FAST TRACK ACTION IN THE US
http://www.j2000usa.org/fasttrackalert.htm
Fast Track is designed to speed through Congress trade agreements,
similar to the IMF structural adjustment programs that hurt
the poor and create more debt. Join Jubilee campaigners and call
your Congress member to express your opposition.


TAKE ACTION ON GLOBAL RULES
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/e-campaigns/cut2.html
Email the UK government for reform of global trade rules in the
run up to the WTO meeting in Qatar. State your concern about Trade
Related Intellectual Property agreements (TRIPs).


*****EVENTS*****

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: HUMAN RIGHTS DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES
http://hrea.org/courses/
Human Rights Education Associates is accepting applications for their
two free courses, Research and Evaluation in the Human Rights Field
(January 7-April 5 2002) and Human Rights Advocacy (February 4-May 3, 2002).

Space is limited to 25 participants per course. The application deadline is
Nov. 7.

GLOBAL CONGRESS OF CITIZENS NETWORKS
http://www.globalcn2001.org
The Global CN congress to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between
December 5 and 7, 2001, is the annual meeting of the community networks
from all over the world, as well as of people from different sectors
interested
in their promotion. The event will gather members of the community,
governmental,
political, academic, and business sectors involved in the promotion of these
citizen
networks, around a clear theme: "Renewing communities in the Digital Era".

OXFORD, UK. CHANGING EXPECTATIONS? THE CONCEPT AND PRACTICE OF
CIVIL SOCIETY IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
CONTACT: Ceri Angood, c.angood@intrac.org
Between the 13-15 December 2001, the International NGO Training and
Research Centre&#8217;s (INTRAC) aim is to evaluate and appraise the
different approaches to supporting, building and reinforcing civil
society in light of the events of 11 September and the world&#8217;s
subsequent reactions provoke changing expectations of approaches
to civil society.
Keynote speakers: Clare Short - Minister for Development, DFID, and
Dr Rajesh Tandon - Director of PRIA


BANGALORE, INDIA, ICTs AND DEVELOPMENT
http://is.lse.ac.uk/ifipwg94/
The conference May 29-31 2002 is organized by IFIP Working Group
9.4. Past conferences have produced the key reference texts on
information systems and development. They are currently looking for
papers focusing on New Opportunities, Perspectives & Challenges in
the field of ICTs and development.


MEXICO: RE_INVENT GLOBALISATION TO FURTHER THE RIGHTS OF ALL WOMEN
http://www.awid.org/forum/ or e-mail forum@awid.org
The 9th international AWID Forum, 3-6 October 2002 in Guadalajara,
Mexico will take an innovative approach to this central question.
We'll go beyond the all too familiar critique of globalization to
examine what we really see as alternatives and how we translate
these alternative visions into realities.



****PUBLICATIONS*****

YOUNG MEN & HIV: CULTURE, POVERTY & SEXUAL RISK
http://www.panos.org.uk/
This new report, jointly published by Panos and UNAIDS, argues for
the need to target young men in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS.
The Report is now available online at http://www.panos.org.uk and can
be downloaded as a PDF file. Printed copies are available free
to the media and to resource-poor NGO's - contact kellyh@panoslondon.org.uk
to order free copies. Copies otherwise available for £5.00 -
contact colletteb@panoslondon.org.uk

THE SELFISH ALTRUIST: RELIEF WORK IN FAMINE AND WAR
http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3340
For over twenty years Tony Vaux worked as an aid worker for Oxfam
- giving aid to some of the most horrific disaster zones from
Afghanistan to Kosovo. The Selfish Altruist is a compelling
first-hand account of the dilemmas faced by relief workers and
gives a deep and rich understanding of humanitarian motives
and the work aid workers encounter.


*****SITE SPOTLIGHTS*****

A CLICK FOR WATER AID
http://www.givewater.org
Thames Water have set up a website associated with Water Aid and
will donate £50,000 (which will provide safe drinking water for
Life to 6,000 people in Africa and Asia) if they have 2,000,000
visitors to the site in the next 12 weeks. It only takes a few
seconds to visit the site. Currently more than 1.3 million people
have given their support.


IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON URBAN AREAS
http://www.tve.org/lifeonline/archive/index.html
The site, Lifeonline, is a multimedia initiative about the impact
of Globalization. There are weekly features and a great archive
filled with touching urban and SD issues from all over the world.


REBUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM
http://www.accionnewyork.org/events.asp#82
ACCION New York, a leading micro lending organization, has launched
the American Dream Fund to provide desperately needed loans to
small business owners who have lost 50% or more of their clients
or contracts as a result of the attack who are scrambling to keep
their businesses alive. Many of the estimated 17,000 cab drivers,
street vendors and kiosk owners do not have a financial safety net.


AN AFGHANS REACTION TO CURRENT BOMBARDMENT
http://www.doccentre.org/TOD/afghanistan_today.htm
Is war the only way to retaliate against injustice? In the first
place, one needs to understand that people of Afghanistan are
already the most deprived lot. Should violence be the weapon for
pursuing peace and harmony?


INTERNATIONAL LEARNING INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION
http://www.pdhre.org/ilihre.html
PDHRE, People's Movement for Human Rights Education is in the process of
establishing an international learning institution that will conduct
workshops
with human rights educators and community leaders from around the world.
If your organization is interested in participating in this process, please
email pdhre@igc.org


NEW HOPE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
http://ecoethics.net/HSEV/2001-2002/index.htm
Since governments have failed to reach any agreement to protect the
environment, Tufts University, Harvard University, Yale University and
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are partnering to convene
a joint Climate Talks Project. This project is designed as a multi-year
collaboration between these universities to foster and sustain public
discussion of global climate issues, problems and concrete solutions.


*****GRANTS*****

UNDP PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS - DEADLINE 30 NOVEMBER
http://www.undp.org/pppue or send an e-mail to pppue@undp.org
UNDP's Bureau for Development Policy is launching the second phase
of the Public-Private Partnerships for the Urban Environment
facility (PPPUE). At the core of the newly designed programme
is a new grant facility, which awards pioneering PPP projects and
policies with Innovative Partnership Grants. UNDP now invites
project proposals for this groundbreaking initiative.


CITIZEN BASE AWARD- LOCAL RESOURCES - South Africa- Rand 50,000
http://www.citizenbase.org/awards.html
OneWorld partner Sangonet will provide free passes to a two-day IT
training course as part of citizen base awards. South African
NGOs are invited to propose strategies, which are replicable,
innovative and feasible and demonstrate the ability to generate
resources and mobilise citizen support. This is an international
award that has already been held in Brazil, Thailand, Bangladesh
and India; and is currently running in Argentina.


*****TRAVEL TIPS*****

STAYING IN GENEVA
http://www.mandint.org/english/ccadonge.htm
The Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organisations and
Delegations aims at encouraging the participation of
non-governmental delegates at international conferences held in
Geneva and creating a place of meeting and exchange between
delegates of different geographical regions and working in
different fields.


*****WEB & EMAIL RESOURCES*****

GUIDE TO ENCRYPTION SOFTWARE FOR ACTIVISTS
http://netaction.org/encrypt/
Since many organizations are not familiar with encryption software,
and consequently not using it when perhaps they should be,
NetAction has prepared a guide that focuses on its use in the
context of Internet activism.


TOOLKIT: SOCIAL CHANGE THROUGH DOCUMENTARIES (Not Free)
http://www.mediarights.org/toolkit/
Your documentary can move audiences to take action for social
change. The Outreach Toolkit shows you how. The Toolkit includes an
interactive budget, resource binder, case studies, sample funded
proposals, interactive worksheets, exclusive bulletin board, and
phone consultation. Presented by MediaRights.org and the
Association of Independent Video and Film (AIVF).
DISCOUNT for AIVF, IFP and FAF members.

The Drum Beat Classifieds - Vacancies

November 21, 2001.

2001-11-22

http://www.comminit.com

The Drum Beat Classifieds - Vacancies - November 21, 2001.

from The Communication Initiative partnership - http://www.comminit.com
...global forces...local choices...critical voices...telling stories...

==View more active vacancies on the website: http://www.comminit.com/vacancies.html

For information on placing Vacancies in your organisation on The Communication
Initiative web site and through DB Classifieds please contact Carey Hooge -
chooge@comminit.com
This is the first of 2 emails today listing Vacancies. There are 17 vacant posts
listed below. Please look for an email with the subject "more...Vacancies" for 15
further vacant posts.


==1. Internews
ADVISOR FOR HIV/AIDS HEALTH REPORTING PROGRAMS

Extensive health news reporting, expertise in HIV/AIDS issues, experience with gov't
funded grant programs, excellent communication skills. This position is based in
Washington, DC and reports directly to the VP of Programs.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy575.html
Contact: Kay Elewski - injobs@internews.org


2. Developing Countries Farm Radio Network
PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Monitoring, evaluation and continuing development of the program. Developing
projects that will complement the core program activities. Strengthening of the
Network, primarily by enhancing partner participation in our decision-making
processes, and volunteer participation in activities that support our mission.
Bilingual (French/English), with excellent communication (oral/written) skills.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy595.html
Contact: Nancy Bennett - info@farmradio.org


3. The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF
CHILD PROTECTION OFFICERS, New York

Strong communications skills, preferably in more than one language, and be a
creative thinker with a record of building effective partnerships and working
cross-culturally to implement programmes. Human rights knowledge and prior work in
child protection are advantageous.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy581.html
Contact: Human Resources Officer (AB) - unicefrecruit@unicef.org


4. International Medical Corps (IMC)
MEDICAL DIRECTOR, Angola

Monitor and evaluate impact of program on beneficiaries and affected communities.
Recommend necessary changes to ensure objectives are met. Provide technical
expertise for new proposals. Masters in Public Health desired.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


5. EngenderHealth
PROGRAM ASSOCIATE

The principal focus of this position is writing technically and programmatically
sound and compelling proposals to foundations, corporations, and bilateral and
multilateral donors. Ability to travel internationally and domestically 10 to 20 %.
Spanish or French language ability helpful.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy586.html
Contact: Lucy Cheng - hr@engenderhealth.org


6. African Medical and Research Foundation
DIRECTOR GENERAL - Nairobi, Kenya

Will primarily be responsible for providing strategic direction and management to
ensure delivery of AMREF's agenda by spearheading the successful implementation of
the new corporate strategy.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy567.html
Contact: Catherine - fionakm@amrefhq.org


7. International Medical Corps (IMC)
SITE LOGISTICIAN/ADMINISTRATION OFFICER, ANGOLA

The Primary Health Care/Emergency Medicine program is focused on building local
capacity and improving the health status of vulnerable populations. Recruit and
supervise logistics and administrative support personnel. Ability to speak and write
reports in English and Portuguese (Spanish acceptable).
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


==To circulate targeted proposals please contact Carey Hooge &#8211; chooge@comminit.com

=8. The Board of Governors of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI),
Pakistan
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, Islamabad

Must have the ability to represent the institute externally and internally, and to
win the respect and confidence of senior officials in the government, non-government
and private sectors. A willingness and ability to enhance the institute's funding;
and at least 10 years of experience in direction and management of a
multidisciplinary policy research program.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy599.html
Contact: Search Committee - main@sdpi.org


9. International Medical Corps (IMC)
NUTRITIONIST, Pakistan

Nutritionist will work with local teams to address the nutritional needs of Afghan
persons inside and outside of Afghanistan. Provide nutritional surveillance data to
IMC Pakistani office. Applicants with language abilities in Farsi, Arabic, Persian
or Urdu encouraged to apply.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Rhonda Wilhelm - Wilhelm@imc-la.org


===If you are a Communication Consultant or Communication and Development Consulting
Organisation and wish to be listed on The Communication Initiative Consultant
Register please contact Janice Innes jinnes@comminit.com or go to
http://www.comminit.com/exchange_inst.htmlfor further information
=10. Management Sciences for Health
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP (M&L) PROGRAM - COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, Boston, MA

The Communications Officer manages the development and dissemination of all Program
Communications materials, both in print and electronic formats. He or she is aware
of and adheres to MSH procurement integrity standards in all activities.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy578.html
Contact: Jennifer A. Davis - jobs@msh.org


11. International Medical Corps (IMC)
COMMUNITY HEALTH COORDINATOR, Eritrea

The goal of the program is to develop community capacity for health education /
information and to promote activities on such topics as: Integrated Management of
Childhood Illnesses, hygiene and sanitation, mine awareness and injury prevention,
and prevention of communicable diseases such as HIV and STDs. Fluent in written and
spoken English; Arabic an asset.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


12. BASICS II Project
ASSOCIATE TECHNICAL OFFICER FOR AFRICA

In order to work more effectively BASICS II has developed Country Results Teams
(CRT) as the vehicle through which technical and administrative support
(headquarters and field office) is coordinated for BASICS II countries in order to
facilitate implementation of country workplans and to obtain successful performance
results. The ATO is responsible for monitoring the administrative and budgetary
aspects of the CRT work, and to see that the team members have the information and
support they need.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy587.html
Contact: Vance Shaw - vshaw@jsi.com


13. The International Journal of Health Promotion and Education
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Preserves the editorial integrity and quality of substance of Promotion & Education,
in collaboration with the Managing Editor, the Executive Editorial Board, the
Editorial Advisory Board, the Vice-President for Communications and the IUHPE Board
of Trustees.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy590.html
Contact Catherine Jones - iuhpecj@worldnet.fr


******

Advertise vacancies through The Drum Beat Classifieds - Contact Carey Hooge
chooge@comminit.com

******


14. International Medical Corps (IMC)
GENERAL SURGEON, Sierra Leone

The highly energetic surgeon will be a self-starter whose skills complements the
dynamic Sierra Leone surgical programs. Provide and coordinate training in trauma
and emergency care for relevant hospital staff.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy585.html
Contact: Julia Shea, Rhonda Wilhelm, Joy Kusserow - imc@imc-la.org


15. Family Health International (FHI)
SENIOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

The successful candidate will have a MA/MS in public health, education or the
behavioral sciences and three to five years experience in planning, implementing and
evaluating BCC programs. Experience working or living in a developing country.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy582.html
Contact: Human Resources Coordinator - jobs@fhi.org


16. The Department of Communication at The University of Memphis
MEDIA & CULTURE POSITION

Candidates should have a strong theoretical background and a critical perspective;
we welcome a variety of methodological approaches. As part of an urban university,
our department encourages applications from scholars who are civically engaged.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy598.html
Contact: Dr. Pradeep Sopory - clsmith6@memphis.edu


******

CONTRACT AWARD

The Global AIDS Program of the United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) - Request for Proposal (RFP) - contract for the production,
management and broadcast of a radio serial drama promoting HIV/AIDS awareness and
prevention in Zimbabwe.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy603.html
Contact Ms. Jamie Legier - JLegier@cdc.gov

******


17. The Population Leadership Program
TECHNICAL ADVISOR: REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SPECIALIST, USAID/Bolivia, La Paz

Advise the Health Team on policy and technical issues and provide leadership and
vision to the Team's ongoing commitment to innovation in strategic planning and
state of the art programming in reproductive and sexual health. All applicants must
be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
http://www.comminit.com/vacancy602.html
Contact: Recruitment - recruitment@popldr.org

***

Please see further email with subject: more...Vacancies" for 15 more Vacant posts.



***
Send vacancies to Carey Hooge - chooge@comminit.com
==To unsubscribe, reply to this message and type "unsubscribe" as the subject.

WTO Debacle, Africa, Globalization/Militarization

The Progressive Response Weekly

2001-11-22

http://www.fpif.org/progresp/volume5/v5n37.html

The Progressive Response (PR) is a weekly service of Foreign Policy in Focus (FPIF)--a "Think Tank Without Walls." A joint project of the Interhemispheric Resource Center and the Institute for Policy Studies, FPIF is an international network of analysts and activists dedicated to "making the U.S. a more responsible global leader and partner by advancing citizen movements and agendas." We encourage responses to the opinions expressed in the PR and may print them in the "Letters and Comments" section. For more information on FPIF and joining our network, please consider visiting the FPIF website or email us to share your thoughts with us.

************************************************************************

Click http://www.fpif.org/progresp/volume5/v5n37.html to view an
HTML-formatted version of this issue of Progressive Response.

************************************************************************

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Progressive Response 8 November 2001 Vol. 5, No. 37
Editor: Tom Barry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Progressive Response (PR) is a weekly service of Foreign Policy in
Focus (FPIF)--a "Think Tank Without Walls." A joint project of the
Interhemispheric Resource Center and the Institute for Policy Studies, FPIF
is an international network of analysts and activists dedicated to "making
the U.S. a more responsible global leader and partner by advancing citizen
movements and agendas." We encourage responses to the opinions expressed in
the PR and may print them in the "Letters and Comments" section. For more
information on FPIF and joining our network, please consider visiting the
FPIF website at http://www.fpif.org/, or email <feedback@fpif.org> to share
your thoughts with us.

**** We Count on Your Support ****

-------------------------------------------------------------------------


I. Updates and Out-Takes

*** AFRICA AND THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ***
By William Minter

*** WTO SET TO CRASH AND BURN AT QATAR ***
By John Gershman

*** MILITARIZATION IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION ***
By John Feffer


II. Letters and Comments

*** A COUNTER-AGENDA ***

*** WHAT'S AT THE ROOT OF TERRORISM ***

*** IRRESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM ***

*** PROVOCATIVE AND POIGNANT ***


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I. Updates and Out-Takes

(Editor's Note: The Marxist dictum that the captains of capitalism have a
tendency to hang themselves by their own rope is what appears to be
happening at the WTO. Rather than acknowledge that the logic of free trade
has its limits and pitfalls, the trade ministers of the major capitalist
nations maintain their relentless push to apply rigid free trade principles
to all sectors of the global economy--leaving less room for national
development strategies, judging poor and rich countries by the same rules,
and pushing aside social considerations such as environmental and labor
issues. What's more, they don't even honor their own earlier commitments to
end special-interest protectionism in their own economies or to offer
special treatment and aid to the poorer nations. Clearly, there needs to be
some form of global governance for the world's increasingly integrated
trade, investment, and finances. But the WTO, in its dogged pursuit of a
new round of economic liberalization, is undermining whatever credibility
it has left as a fair arbiter of global economy rules and disputes. With
the economic vitality of the world's wealthier nations waning and the
impoverishment of the South deepening, new global leadership is necessary
to shape rules that lead to broad economic development. Without such
visionary leadership, the prospects for economic progress--North or
South--aren't auspicious. Meanwhile, the corporate leaders who drive the
WTO agenda and who complain about sagging profit levels and sales, have
only themselves to blame for a global economy marked more by the daily
struggle to survive than a rising hope for sustainable development.

FPIF offers in this issue of the Progressive Response excerpts from two
reinforcing perspectives about the state of WTO negotiations at the advent
of the 2001 ministerial meeting in Qatar.)

*** AFRICA AND THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION ***
By William Minter

(Editor's Note: Excerpted from a new Global Affairs Commentary available in
full at: http://www.fpif.org/commentary/0111africawto.html.)

Two years ago in Seattle, demonstrators in the streets brought previously
esoteric negotiations of government ministers at the World Trade
Organization (WTO) to the world's eye as never before. Less noticed, inside
the meetings, African trade ministers denounced the lack of transparency in
the proceedings. "African countries are being marginalized and generally
excluded on issues of vital importance for our peoples and their future,"
they declared in a public statement. The next day the summit adjourned with
no agreement, as developing countries rebelled at being pushed aside, and
Europe and the U.S. also failed to resolve their own differences.

Demonstrators will be sparse at the tightly controlled site of the Seattle
sequel in Doha, Qatar. The focus on security threats--not from
demonstrations but from international terrorism--is likely to overshadow
the substantive issues at stake. But these issues, cloaked by the technical
language of international trade negotiations, are vital to the fate of
ordinary people around the world, and particularly in Africa and other
developing regions. Since Seattle, African governments have joined with
other developing nations in sustained efforts to develop common positions
and present them to the WTO. African and international nongovernmental
organizations have followed the negotiations closely, and prepared detailed
critiques. Rich country governments and the WTO have promised greater openness.

Despite all this, final proposals presented at the last minute by the WTO's
inner club as the basis for consensus almost totally disregard these
critiques. Instead of dialogue, the U.S. and other rich countries have
opted for raw political power. African countries are under enormous
bilateral pressure to go along with the rich countries' agenda for a new
round of trade talks on their terms, and to accept vague promises to deal
with African concerns later.

Whether or not this power play results in imposing a false "consensus"
declaration in Doha, the contentious issues will not go away. Below are the
points of most concern to African and other developing countries, as
concisely and in as non-technical language as possible.

* Crisis Now Worse than Seattle

Speaking off the record, many developing countries representatives say the
levels of tension between rich and poor countries are now at even higher
levels than in Seattle. Instead of taking the opportunity for dialogue,
rich countries have offered little or nothing to address the concerns of
African and other developing countries. The poor are asked to accept the
agenda whether they like it or not and to swallow their rage as rich
countries, claiming to represent global interests, once again impose their
minority views.

If rich countries do succeed in imposing an artificial consensus in Doha,
it will be a hollow victory. They will store up more fuel for future
conflict by demonstrating once again that the wealthy of the world are
oblivious to the opinion of the world majority.

(William Minter <wminter@igc.org> is senior research fellow at Africa
Action, whose website at www.africapolicy.org provides extensive policy
analysis about Africa and U.S.-Africa affairs. This commentary was written
for Africa Action and Foreign Policy In Focus, online at www.fpif.org.)


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** WTO SET TO CRASH AND BURN AT QATAR ***
By John Gershman

(Editor's Note: Excerpted from a new FPIF Global Affairs Commentary
available in its entirety at: http://www.fpif.org/commentary/0111doha.html.)

Amid widespread recriminations from developing counties and NGOs, the
preparations for launching a new round of trade negotiations at the Fourth
WTO Ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar on November 9-13 are plunging ahead.
Security concerns and restrictions on the participation of civil society
organizations by the host country will insure a smaller and quieter meeting
that the one held in Seattle nearly two years ago.

The Bush administration has opportunistically draped its call for the
launch of a new trade round in the rhetoric of the fight against terrorism.
So far it appears that gambit has failed to work, with many developing
countries opposed to the outlines of a new round as laid out in the revised
October 27 Draft Ministerial Declaration. Particularly galling to Southern
members was the failure to include brackets indicating disputed language
around text that failed to present alternative or competing perspectives
from Southern members. A statement from Nigeria said the draft, was "empty
of content on the issues of interest to developing countries" while a
coalition of 14 Southern and Northern NGOs argued that "the tone and
content of the new text presumes a consensus on a future WTO agenda which
does not exist."

Nevertheless, the U.S., the European Union (EU), and the WTO Secretariat,
still stung by the failure in Seattle, are pushing the draft ahead despite
opposition from the overwhelming majority of the WTO's membership. The
substantive disagreements also highlight an important problem of process,
namely the recurring practice of the "Quad" (U.S., EU, Japan, and Canada)
to engage in exclusive negotiations among themselves, occasionally and
selectively including other countries, and then presenting a draft text as
a fait accompli.

The major bones of contention in the current situation include so-called
"implementation issues," the relationship between Trade-Related
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) and Public Health, and the inclusion
of the four "Singapore issues" (investment, competition, government
procurement, and trade facilitation, which were introduced at the 1996
Singapore Ministerial). With respect to the Singapore issues, the revised
draft is worse than the initial draft for the developing countries,
according to Third World Network's Martin Khor. For example, with respect
to investment and competition issues, the first draft provided a choice
between either beginning negotiations or continuing the study process in
the working groups. This option no longer exists in the revised draft.

Even among those developing countries that support continued trade
liberalization, the core issue remains that of implementation issues.
Strategic differences exist between those countries that are willing to
support a new round that gives priority to the implementation issues, and
others (especially from Africa and the Least Developed Countries) that want
these issues addressed prior to the launch of a new round.

* No New Round or a Development Round?

The developing country agenda has largely been framed as advocating a
"Development Round," a term that foregrounds their collective concerns
while being vague enough to capture the often disparate interests of the
developing countries, divisions that were acknowledged by the head of the
G-77 when it released its own statement on Doha
(http://www.g77.org/Docs/Doha.htm).

Meanwhile, under the slogans of "No new round, turnaround" and "Shrink or
Sink" Southern and Northern civil society activists have called for a
rolling back of the purview of the WTO and a return to a framework more
akin to the WTO's predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT) as a framework for governing international trade. They argue that
such a framework provides greater policy autonomy and room for maneuvering
for developing countries. Such an agenda is reflected in the declaration
signed by nearly 400 civil society organizations worldwide entitled "Our
World is Not for Sale: Shrink or Sink."

Whatever their strategic differences, Southern governments and civil
society groups are largely unified in opposition to the current proposed
agenda as outlined in the draft declaration. In contrast to Seattle,
developed country trade officials and the WTO secretariat will not be able
to pit civil society activists and Southern political leaders against each
other.

(John Gershman <john@irc-online.org> is codirector of the Global Affairs
Program of the Interhemispheric Resource Center (online at
www.irc-online.org) and Asia-Pacific Editor of Foreign Policy In Focus
(online at www.fpif.org).)

For more information, see:

What's This Organization: An Annotated Glossary of Terms and Concepts about
the WTO
http://www.fpif.org/wto/index.html
By Tom Barry


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** MILITARIZATION IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION ***
By John Feffer

(Editor's Note: In the name of national security, governments intervene
repeatedly in their economies to enhance the competitive edge of their
military producers in the international marketplace. State-planned
economies have largely disappeared in the post-cold war world, except for
the subspecies known as the military-industrial complex. Multilateral
economic institutions such as the WTO and IMF have helped sustain an
environment in which this far-from-endangered species can flourish. The
security exception enables governments to globalize their military
production while largely bypassing the fiercely competitive forces of
globalization. This investigative article by FPIF analyst John Feffer looks
at the hidden links between globalization and militarization. Excerpted
from a New Global Affairs Commentary available in its entirety at:
http://www.fpif.org/commentary/0111mic.html.)

Weapons, from handguns to fighter jets, are a profitable business. Generous
government contracts, huge profit margins, and inevitable cost over-runs
ensure spectacular dividends for weapons producers. Conflicts burning
throughout the world guarantee plenty of buyers. After a post-cold war
decline, global weapons purchases rose in 2000 to $800 billion. In the
aftermath of the September 11 tragedies, arms production and sales
worldwide will likely continue their upward trajectory--encouraged by
national policies and supported by multilateral economic institutions.

Although most military contractors are neither "infant" industries in need
of nurturing nor spent giants on the verge of bankruptcy, states continue
to subsidize the production of arms. Even the most die-hard laissez-faire
governments, committed on paper to maintaining a firewall between the state
and the economy, are propping up their arms manufacturers. The United
States, for instance, provided $1.2 billion in tax relief when Lockheed
merged with Martin Marietta to form the world's largest arms manufacturer,
Lockheed Martin.

According to the logic of free trade, the cornerstone of globalization,
such subsidies are "nontariff barriers to trade." They are, in other words,
an unfair advantage enjoyed by a company doing business in the world
market. And international financial institutions are committed to removing
such advantages.

* Military Subsidies Treated Differently

But every trade accord treats military subsidies as different from all
other subsidies. This is known as the "national security exception."
Included in the original General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in
1947 and every trade accord since, this provision allows states to
subsidize production, promote sales, and impose trade embargoes they deem
necessary for the maintenance of national security. So, according to free
trade rules, if the U.S. subsidizes the production for export of a Boeing
747, other countries can file grievances through the World Trade
Organization (WTO). But the U.S. can subsidize the production of a Boeing
F-15 fighter jet that is sold overseas, and no country will call foul.

In some cases, this security exception channels money from the civilian to
the military sector. The Canadian government subsidized civilian passenger
jets produced by Bombardier Aerospace until other countries protested
through the WTO. So Canada switched to subsidizing Bombardier's military
production. Other countries view military production as the dangling rope
that will pull them out of their current economic difficulties. The South
African government continues to subsidize Denel, the state-owned weapons
producer. As a hedge against Denel's eventual privatization and to boost
industrial production, the government created the Industrial Participation
Programme to solicit civilian investment from European arms manufacturers
that offsets the costs of major weapons systems. In such cases, civil
investment is held hostage to arms acquisitions.

Government subsidies often result in cheaper weapons. For arms importing
countries, the security exception means more bang for the bucks spent
buying weapons abroad--and a heightened risk of regional conflict escalation.

* Challenging the Militarization-Globalization Nexus

The Pentagon, the Commerce Department, and international financial and
trade institutions make for a powerful trinity. At a global level, when
this unholy trinity supports the spread of arms, the increase of defense
budgets, and the dominance of arms manufacturers, the deck is stacked. Yet
there are some ways to challenge this nexus of globalization and
militarization.

The chief dilemma, a variation on the "inside-outside" conundrum, is
whether to challenge these institutions to play by the rules they have
developed or to challenge the rules themselves.

Let's consider the first tactic of using the rules to challenge
militarization. Because of the criticisms of watchdog organizations and
demonstrators in the streets, the IMF is now more willing to argue for
reductions in defense budgets, as it has done in South Korea, Peru, and
throughout Africa. Activists can challenge the institution to follow its
own "best practices." According to this tactic, the IMF's budget-cutting
zeal is turned back on itself in order to reduce military expenditures
worldwide.

By the same logic, the Bush administration could be pressed to extend to
the military sector its well-known aversion to industrial policy (that is,
government policies that foster development through support for selected
industries). The defense industry enjoys the advantages of corporate
welfare through tax loopholes, export assistance, R & D, and various
guarantees. Even a soupcon of laissez-faire would improve this toxic
recipe. Moreover, the Defense Export Loan Guarantee program and the drug
war exemption in the Export Import Bank charter are innovations of the
Clinton administration. Republicans should be encouraged to play the
partisan card and trim the Democratic pork in the military sector.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration's aggressive diplomacy on behalf of
domestic defense contractors could also be targeted as a nontariff barrier
to trade.

To persuade the South Korean government to buy F-16 fighter planes, the
U.S. announced that it would not help integrate U.S. weapons and
cryptographic systems should South Korea opt for the French fighter
instead. Here again, activists could charge the Bush administration with
blatant interference in the free market.

Activists can similarly press the WTO to begin severing the ties that bind
together the military-industrial complex. Although there is little support
among WTO members for eliminating the WTO's security exception, WTO members
may successfully challenge subsidized military programs whose primary
purpose is to enhance civilian production. The various incentives that the
U.S. government offers private cargo carriers to purchase Boeing's C-17
Globemaster military transport plane could, for example, be criticized on
such grounds. Similarly, if transportation services are liberalized at the
WTO level, there could be a successful WTO challenge to the Maritime
Security Program in the United States.

The second tactic is to challenge the rules themselves, because the rules
are biased in favor of the powerful. One of the more powerful tools to be
deployed against the military-industrial complex is transparency. By
implementing registers of arms transfers and exposing corrupt deals such as
the recent British-Saudi Arabian weapons-for-oil deal, journalists and
activists can begin to build new systems of rules that will contain global
arms trade in much the way that the Lilliputians used slender filaments to
restrain the giant Gulliver. International codes of conduct, like the one
proposed by former Costa Rican president Oscar Arias, could introduce
minimum standards into a destructively liberalized environment.

Such measures would pave the way for more radical steps. A military Tobin
tax, levied on every cross-border military deal, would generate funds for
destroying nuclear and other weapons as well as to convert defense
industries to civilian production. More subversively, such a tax could
throw sand in the cogs of the emerging global military-industrial complex
just as economist James Tobin imagined his tax on financial transactions
would slow the rapid-fire transfer of capital around the world.

As a result of the September 11 attacks, the dangers of globalized
militarism--the deregulation of weapons markets and the privatization of
militaries--has become apparent even to the Bush administration. Weapons
can end up anywhere; terrorists can raise funds in deregulated financial
markets and unregulated black markets; private armies can rival state
militaries. State subsidies for military production, protected by the
security exception, have only increased the number of weapons available. In
this new era, international institutions should permit government
subsidies, investments, and taxes that scale down arms production, redirect
funds from the military to the civilian sector, and otherwise dismantle the
economic motor of globalized militarism. This is the one type of security
exception to free trade regulations and budget restrictions that makes
sense in a world awash in weapons.

(John Feffer <johnfeffer@aol.com> is the author of Shock Waves: Eastern
Europe After the Revolutions, the editor of the forthcoming Living in Hope:
Community Challenges to Globalization (Zed, 2002), and recently returned
from three years working on East Asian issues out of Tokyo.)

See related FPIF Policy Brief:

Globalized Weaponry
http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol5/v5n16arms.html
By Tamar Gabelnick and Anna Rich


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Letters and Comments

*** A COUNTER-AGENDA ***

I don't mean to quibble about the best way to stop a war, or how to say it.
While I support the agenda [FPIF's "A New Agenda to Counter Terrorism" at
http://www.fpif.org/justice/tobedone.html ], so far as it goes, it fails to
articulate the main reason for opposing this war:

While mentioning that the U.S. should not support "repressive regimes," it
does not go far enough in condemning the well-documented record of the U.S.
as a state committing terrorism, with a proven record of sponsoring and
harboring terrorists. In developing a response to U.S. policy, we must be
clear in our analysis of U.S. war aims, not merely the methods employed to
achieve them.

At precisely the moment when the United States issued demands and
threatened the use of force, it committed a terrorist act. International
law is clear, and I won't go into detail here, but appeals to international
law are not enough. We must explain why the government goes to war, why it
resorts to force. We must be clear to ourselves and those we would
influence and mobilize exactly what this war is really about:

This "war against terrorism" is an excuse for a war for oil and minerals,
for geopolitical advantage, for extension of military power in support of
transnational corporations; it is therefore a war against civilians, a war
against civil liberties, a war against the rule of law in the name of
order. For all these reasons, it is terrorism, not counterterrorism.

Nor is it unprecedented; in the historical and factual sense, and contrary
to the propaganda, nothing has changed: Lawlessness is the norm in U.S.
policy and behavior.

As for deterrence, we agree that there can be no real security at home
without democracy abroad, "no peace without justice." But justice requires
mutual recognition of reciprocal responsibility. Justice demands first and
foremost that we hold accountable the government that acts in our name when
it violates international law and acceptable standards of human conduct. We
have not only a right to object, but a duty under law and the common
decency it expresses, to resist unlawful orders that require atrocities
against unarmed people.

But justice alone cannot deter violence and guarantee peace: Only by
demanding that our own government conform to a universal standard of
justice, uniformly applied rather than selectively enforced, and submit to
the jurisdiction of an international court, can we expect any other state
or people to accept such rules in derogation of their own sovereignty or
right of self-defense, or can we credibly claim a right to self-defense in
response to aggression.

Just as the first casualty in war is the truth, the first battle against
such a war is to define the language that justifies resistance, defends
liberty, and promotes solidarity. We must denounce every restriction on the
right of expression, the right to information, and the right to assemble.
We must defend these rights not only for citizens and immigrants in the
U.S., but everywhere.

By conceding the validity of the government's claim to conduct this war in
self-defense against terrorism and in our name, the agenda has surrendered
this first confrontation for the hearts and minds of people in this, the
rogue state responsible for more terror abroad than any other since World
War II. (Again, I won't list the atrocities, but any appeal should include
them, from meddling in elections, to propping up the dictators, to
genocidal wars.)

Second, we must not grant nor accept the current U.S. regime as legitimate,
let alone its right to decide what constitutes a legitimate regime
elsewhere: This war does not confer legitimacy on an illegitimate regime
here anymore than it would in Afghanistan, Israel, or Iraq; to the
contrary, the means by which this war is conducted and the ends to which it
is dedicated remove any veil of credibility this regime might otherwise claim.

Third, we affirm the right of self-defense, embodied in the common
tradition of human experience, shared by all societies and cultures, and
recognized in international law. This extends to collective and preventive
defense by use of armed force, but requires those who claim and exercise
that right to respond to an attack or threat of attack with measures that
are proportional, to minimize casualties of non-combatants, and to stop the
use of force when the threat is no longer immediate.

Fourth, no unilateral or multinational process for prosecution and
punishment of an aggressor, no matter how broad its acceptance or deep its
commitment, can be effective, let alone legal or just, without a standard
of evidence and a procedure for evaluating it impartially and fairly.

- Doug Vaughan <DLVinvest@cs.com>


(Editor's Note: See a reply from FPIF to a similar critique of the New
Agenda to Counter Terrorism at:
http://www.fpif.org/progresp/volume5/v5n36.html.)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** WHAT'S AT THE ROOT OF TERRORISM ***

Thank you for a well-balanced, thoughtful group of proposals. I like all of
your ideas; I only take issue with the broad proposition regarding a "root
cause" of terrorism, namely the argument that we must do more to promote
and defend "basic human rights and democracy" abroad, presumably in
terror-sponsoring nations. The actual root cause of terrorism is precisely
our effort to do this. What bin Laden, the Mullahs of Teheran, the
terrorists in Sudan, the ISI in Pakistan, and the teachers of Islam in the
schools sponsored by Saudi Arabia deplore, above all else, is Western
democracy and human rights. This is because those ideals threaten their
geopolitical objectives. Efforts to bring Western-style law and democratic
institutions to those peoples would undoubtedly result in increased
terrorism, as do all peace initiatives in the Middle East. Nevertheless, we
must step up that effort, as you say, although it will incite, rather than
quell, acts of terror. The main tool of terrorists is disinformation, and
only a free society can permit, well, websites like this. Do you think more
of "Radio Free Islamic Iran, Sudan, Somalia, etc." might be useful? Ah,
maybe we have to sell them radios first.

- William Youmans <billyouman@aol.com>


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** IRRESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM ***

"Pearl Harbor Redux: The Warning Failure"
http://www.fpif.org/commentary/0110cia.html is unworthy of your website.
The White House and Congress were warned for years about potential
terrorism in the United States. The warnings fell on deaf ears. Blaming the
intelligence agencies is irresponsible journalism.

- Ralph Horst <ralphhorst@pobox.com>


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

*** PROVOCATIVE AND POIGNANT ***

I thought FPIF Policy Brief "Women in the Middle East"
http://www.fpif.org/briefs/vol5/v5n30women.html was very informative and I
would like to thank you very much for identifying many of the questions I
had about history of sexism versus the current situation in the Middle East
and around the world. Your article was very provocative and poignant.

- Emily Black <netthz@hotmail.com>


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

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The Progressive Response aims to provide timely analysis and opinion about
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RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT USE OF SEPTEMBER 11 FUNDS

2001-11-22

http://www.ccp.ca

Media reports about a controversial decision by the American Red Cross to use some of the funds raised post-September 11 for administrative and other purposes have prompted many inquiries and comments about the obligation of charities to honour donors' intentions.
[source: eCivicus]

RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT USE OF SEPTEMBER 11 FUNDS
[Canadian Centre for Philanthropy]
2 November, 2001

Media reports about a controversial decision by the American Red Cross to
use some of the funds raised post-September 11 for administrative and other
purposes have prompted many inquiries and comments about the obligation of
charities to honour donors' intentions. In responding to these inquiries,
we have been emphasizing 3 key points:

- Charities must use donations only for the purposes indicated during the
solicitation, or they will lose donors' trust;
- Every project entails some administration costs (accounting, managing,
monitoring, etc.) and such costs are properly counted as part of the
overall program costs;
- but they must be reasonable (10-15% is usually an appropriate range).

It appears that the board of the American Red Cross has acted quickly and
decisively by firing the President/CEO who made the disputed decision about
the use of post-September 11 funds, so this is a case where the systems of
governance and board oversight seem to have worked as they are supposed to.

A recent decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, involving The
Aids Society for Children (Ontario), sets out the legal obligations of
charities and charity directors concerning the control and use of
fundraising revenues. (A full description of the Court's findings and the
implications for charities has been prepared by lawyer Terrance Carter of
the firm Carter & Associates, and can be found in his Charity Law Bulletin
No.9 at www.charitylaw.ca.) Every charity board member should be aware of
at least the following points:

- The charity has a legal, fiduciary obligation to use donations only for
its charitable purposes;
- The charity is responsible for the actions of its fundraiser(s), and
cannot avoid responsibility by describing the fundraiser as an independent
contractor;
- The charity is responsible to account for the gross amount of all
donations received from the public and not simply the net amount paid to
the charity by the fundraiser;
- The charity and its directors will have breached their fiduciary
obligation if the charity signs a contract with a fundraiser that causes
prejudice to the charity (such as one that misrepresents the purposes for
which donations are to be used);
- Directors of a charity must therefore ensure, either by enacting policy
or through direct oversight, that all fundraising activities of a charity,
including the terms of contracts with professional fundraisers, meet all
legal requirements;
- The charity must ensure that all aspects of fundraising literature and
communication accurately describe how donations will be used; the charity
and the board of directors will be held accountable for ensuring that funds
are used in accordance with the donors' reasonable interpretation.

These provisions, and more, are included in the Canadian Centre for
Philanthropy's Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code. For
more information about the Code, and how your charity can reassure donors
by adopting it, please go to www.ccp.ca

USAID PROGRAMME STATEMENT

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/fundraising/4343

Applications for USAID's
Civil Society Strengthening Programme will be accepted up to one year of the issuance date of the Annual Programme Statement, 9 March 2002.
ANNUAL PROGRAMME STATEMENT OF USAID FUNDED ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING THE CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING PROGRAMME

On 9 March 2001, Creative Associates International, Inc., known locally as CREA SA, publicized on this website the availability of an Annual Programme Statement (APS) to qualified South African Non-Profit
Organisations (NPOs) to submit applications for funding under the
USAID Civil Society Strengthening Programme (CSSP). The notice had
indicated that applications would be accepted up to one year of the issuance date of the Annual Programme Statement, 9 March 2002.

The purpose of this announcement is:

1)to bring an early closure to the Annual Programme Statement with immediate effect

2)to close off the acceptance of applications under this
Annual Programme Statement and

3)to announce that a new Annual Programme Statement for the CSSP will be released early in 2002.

This action is necessary because funds available for this year have already been exhausted. This notice supersedes paragraph IV of the APS.

Any organization whose application has not yet been evaluated may elect to resubmit a new or revised application as soon as the new APS is announced. Conversely, all applications still pending will
automatically be included in the first round of application under the new APS.

For more information contact Tumi Mahape on tumi@crea-sa.co.za or call 012-460 2890

Citizen Participation in Human Rights Advocacy Learning Fellowship

IDS, Brighton United Kingdom, April 22 to May 31 2002

2001-11-22

http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/particip/

The Participation Group, (PG), at the Institute of Development Studies, (IDS), University of Sussex, is inviting applications for our first Learning Fellowship Programme. The LF will focus on the experiences of human rights activists and advocacy groups who have, in their advocacy, sought to involve those normally seen as "beneficiaries" in their work. The LF will closely examine the rationale, methods, and results of the participatory approach in human rights advocacy. Examples of human rights work include: law and constitutional reform, human rights education, women's rights, rights of minorities, and socio-economic rights advocacy. The LF seeks to highlight the challenges and successes of citizen-centred advocacy in different contexts, using different methods.
Citizen Participation in Human Rights Advocacy Learning Fellowship

Date: April 22nd to May 31st, 2002
Venue: IDS, Brighton United Kingdom.

The Participation Group, (PG), at the Institute of Development Studies, (IDS),
University of Sussex, is inviting applications for our first Learning
Fellowship Programme. The theme of the Learning Fellowship (LF) will be
'Citizen Participation in Human Rights Advocacy' with a focus on rights based
approaches to development. The LF will focus on the experiences of human
rights activists and advocacy groups who have, in their advocacy, sought to
involve those normally seen as "beneficiaries" in their work. The LF will
closely examine the rationale, methods, and results of the participatory
approach in human rights advocacy. Examples of human rights work include: law
and constitutional reform, human rights education, women's rights, rights of
minorities, and socio-economic rights advocacy. The LF seeks to highlight the
challenges and successes of citizen-centred advocacy in different contexts,
using different methods.

What is the Learning Fellowship?

For a number of years now, IDS has hosted Visiting Fellows. This is a
programme that provides space for practitioners and researchers from the
Global South, to reflect and write about their work/experiences. Individuals
have come through for periods ranging from a few weeks to three months at the
end of which they produce a paper, and/give a public seminar at IDS. Over the
years however, the Participation Group has felt the need to restructure the
Visiting fellowship so that this programme can be utilised more effectively to
meet other needs that have been identified in the course of our networking and
engagement with Southern practitioners. Some of these include:

* The need for a more structured programme so that the Visiting Fellows can
realise maximum benefit from the experience. In particular, practitioners have
expressed the need for support with theoretical grounding and input from
researchers and academics to strengthen the practical reflection process.

* The need for a more sustained long-term process of reflection and learning.
Capacity building is a long- term process, not a one- off


Key elements of the Learning Fellowship

1. Peer Learning and Support

The Learning Fellowship will bring together up to 8 practitioners/activists
from the global South, with comparable levels of experience. The Learning
Fellows, (LFs), will work around the same theme but not necessarily on the
same topic. This will create space for the necessary peer learning and
support, and enhance the reflection and documentation process.

2. Linking theory and practice

Many practitioners often do not have time and opportunities to "theorise"
about their work, let alone to debate or be exposed to cutting edge theories
on the issues that they are working on. The first week in the learning
fellowship will be set aside for mapping Learning Fellows' expectations,
sharing experiences and exploring current debates and theoretical bases for
citizen participation in human rights advocacy. During this time the LFs will
work with Research Fellows from IDS, or other institutions of learning. They
will also have access to written material from the IDS library, which is one
of the best Development Libraries in the world. IDS also hosts a number of
development web-sites such as Bridge, ID21, which LFs can access.

3. Provision of back-up and support throughout the process

Writing and reflection are skills. Each LF will have the support of a
writer/researcher, who will:

* give advice as and when needed,
* act as a sounding board for ideas,
* help with conceptual outline of written pieces,
* review written pieces on request,
* help with identifying relevant reading materials.

4. Publication of case studies, or papers, as "tangible out-puts" from the
process

There is little published material from Southern practitioners. The LF
programme aims to bridge this gap. At the end of each programme, the LFs will
produce publishable papers, and case studies.


Highlights of the Learning Fellowship Programme

The Learning Fellowship is a six-week fully residential programme, at the
Institute of Development Studies. The main elements of the six-week programme
will be:

*week 1 - Introduction to LF, expectations, concepts, theories and laying
ground work for writing
*week 2 - Reading , reflection and drafting
*week 3 - Writing, reflection, peer learning
*week 4 - Writing and reflection continued
*week 5 - Visits to Northern based institutions of relevance, and UK based
Donors
*week 6 - Seminars led by LFs, and refinement of pieces.

Applicants Note: You will be required to be at IDS in the UK for the entire
six-week period.


Who pays for the Learning Fellowship?
The Participation Group meets the cost of round-trip airfares. The PG will
also provide a small stipend for the LFs' subsistence while at IDS. As this is
a very small amount, the PG would encourage applicants to bring additional
funds for their personal use.


Who can apply?

Applications are invited from human rights and advocacy activists or
practitioners who are working or have worked on human rights advocacy issues
as outlined above. The Learning Fellowship is open to Southern based
practitioners who have five to ten years of 'hands-on' experience in the
advocacy initiatives that they seek to reflect and write on.


How does one apply?

Please send us your personal data

Section A:

1. Surname
2. First Name and Initial
3. Date of Birth
4. Nationality
5. Sex
6. Home address
7. Telephone/fax
8. Name of organisation and Address
9. Telephone/fax
10. Email


Section B

You are required to submit a synopsis of the case study or experience you
would like to write about. The synopsis should be no less than 1500 and not
more than 2000 words. The synopsis should highlight:

*A brief description of the country or region in which the advocacy work you
were involved in was undertaken and a background of the organisation that led
the advocacy work.

*Positioning yourself in the process; provide a description of your role(s) in
the advocacy work.

*A brief elaboration of the key issue(s) or problems that the advocacy work
you were involved in sought to address and why these issues were considered to
be of importance.

*A brief description of the major objectives, strategies and activities of the
advocacy. In what way did these strategies involve the constituents? Include a
brief outline of the key achievements and challenges of your work.


Who to send the application to?

Please send your personal data and synopsis by post, fax or email by the 30th
of November 2001 to:

Sammy Musyoki
Networking and Capacity Building Co-ordinator; Participation Group
Institute of Development Studies
University of Sussex
Brighton BN 1 9RE
UK

Fax: +44-1273-621202 / 691647
Email: s.musyoki@ids.ac.uk

More information can be found at: http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/particip/

[[Source: AWID Resource Net. Contact: contribute@awid.org]]

Egypt: Diploma in Forced Migration and Refugee Studies

2001-11-22

http://www.aucegypt.edu/schools/huss/fmrs/Affiliation_Opportunities/affiliation_opportunities.html

Refugees have the right to legal representation during the asylum determination process, but until recently, for thousands of refugees in Egypt, professional legal services have been almost non-existent. Egypt guarantees the right to asylum in its constitution; it has acceded to UN and the Organisation of African Unity conventions on refugees. However, in Egypt, it is the Office of the UN High Commissioner (UNHCR) who determines who gets refugee status, not the Government of Egypt. There is no independent appeal process against negative decisions. There are more than 23 nationalities represented in Egypt's refugee population. In July 2000, the Forced Migration and Refugee Studies programme at the American University in Cairo began to address this deficiency. It now provides formal training in refugee law through courses that are part of the Diploma in Forced Migration and Refugee Studies and the MA in Human Rights Law, as well as 'hands on' practical experience of preparing cases for refugees seeking asylum in Egypt.
ANNOUNCEMENT

Refugees have the right to legal representation during the asylum determination process, but until recently, for thousands of refugees in Egypt, professional legal services have been almost non-existent. Egypt guarantees the right to asylum in its constitution; it has acceded to UN and the Organisation of African Unity conventions on refugees. However, in Egypt, it is the Office of the UN High Commissioner (UNHCR) who determines who gets refugee status, not the Government of Egypt. There is no independent appeal process against negative decisions. There are more than 23 nationalities represented in Egypt&#8217;s refugee population.

In July 2000, the Forced Migration and Refugee Studies programme at the American University in Cairo began to address this deficiency. It now provides formal training in refugee law through courses that are part of the Diploma in Forced Migration and Refugee Studies and the MA in Human Rights Law, as well as &#8216;hands on&#8217; practical experience of preparing cases for refugees seeking asylum in Egypt. Through these training activities we aim to promote:

· The assistance of refugee clients in preparing their testimony and to write legal briefs based on international refugee and human rights law for each case.
· The training of Egyptian lawyers and students in refugee law and legal practice to take major responsibility for providing legal aid.
· Advocating for the improvement of policies and practices concerning refugees.
· The involvement of other Egyptian and Middle Eastern NGOs in refugee-related work, and to provide training to their staff.

There are now three centres which are actively involved in providing legal aid: the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), which began offering free legal advice to refugees in Cairo in August 2001, the Centre of Studies and Human Development Programmes, the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid, and Musa&#8217;adeen (a refugee self-help group situated at four locations in Cairo).

Lawyers and non-lawyers are encouraged to apply to work as volunteers in these programmes. Volunteers take testimonies, prepare legal arguments, collect country of origin information, and represent clients who are applying for refugee status or appealing against rejection at UNHCR. Volunteers are also urgently needed to provide intensive English training in legal vocabulary and writing skills. For information on how to apply, see: http://www.aucegypt.edu/schools/huss/fmrs/Affiliation_Opportunities/affiliation_opportunities.html

INTERNATIONAL LEARNING INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

2001-11-22

http://www.pdhre.org/ilihre.html

The People's Movement for Human Rights Education (PDHRE) is in the process of
establishing an international learning institution that will conduct workshops with human rights educators and community leaders from around the world. If your organization is interested in participating in this process, please email us.

Society for International Development Annual Conference Dec. 3

Washington DC

2001-11-22

http://sidw.org

The Washington Chapter of the Society for International Development will hold its annual conference on December 3 at the InterAmerican Development Bank, from about 8 am to 6pm, including plenary speakers, luncheon speaker, breakout panels and closing reception.
The Washington Chapter of the Society for International Development will
hold its annual conference on December 3 at the InterAmerican
Development Bank, from about 8 am to 6pm, including plenary speakers,
luncheon speaker, breakout panels and closing reception.

The Conference's theme is Globalization and Its Implications for
Development. The Conference will include high level speakers and
experts on a variety of topics. Two - the panel on USAID's Global
Development Alliance and the panel on Globalization and Corruption -
will be of particular interest to those of you interested in information
technology and economic development.

Details on Conference speakers, and fees can be found on the SID-W
website: sidw.org, or call the SID-W office at 202-884-8590.

SOUTH AFRICA: ARTS HEALING

November 23 - 25, 2001

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/4342

A Healing Through Creative Arts Conference is being hosted by the Centre for the Study of Violence and
Reconciliation in collaboration with the cultural desk of Evangelischer
Entwicklungsdienst Deutschland, at Museum Africa, Newtown, Johannesburg.

We would like to inform you about the Healing Through Creative Arts Conference that is being hosted by the Centre for the Study of Violence
and Reconciliation in collaboration with the cultural desk of Evangelischer
Entwicklungsdienst Deutschland, at Museum Africa on 23 - 25 November 2001.

The conference will be opened with an exhibition and the launch of the South
African Network of Trauma Service Providers (Themba Lesizwe) on Thursday 22
November at 17H00 at Museum Africa. (Market Theatre Cultural Precinct Newtown).

Africa is a continent that consists of an enormous diversity of culture,
tradition and religious practices. We all have a sense of the world we
inhabit within which are high levels of trauma and political and social
violence. This conference emerged out of an active exploration of the arts
as therapeutic and healing within a South African context. This is the
context in which we begin to explore the creative Arts and its potential for healing at this conference.

This conference will include plenary sessions with keynote addresses by, inter alia, Professor Chabani Maganyi, Judge Albie Sachs, the Head of the South African Traditional Healers Association, Dr Zungu and Dr Robert Mtonga, Federation Vice President of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) from Zambia. It also offers a range of experiential workshops and an opportunity to play within a potential space.

A space that includes the creative modalities of traditional healing,
Caroline Mokoena preparing the space through a sangoma ritual, talking and storytelling by Gcina Mhlope and Nomsa Mdlalose, Mass Appeal, and the Drum Cafi using drumming as a therapeutic approach to healing, Pedro Espi-Sanchis inviting us to enter a world of magic through storytelling and music, an interactive play from Kenya , Sangoma- a Search for Healers, Art
Therapy, Drama Therapy, Music Therapy and Dance/Movement Therapy facilitating links between our internal and external worlds.

Exhibitors include: Gail Neke, Diane Levy, Mandla Mabila, Maggie Mokgoena,
The work of a Katlehong/Thokosa group of women involved in an Art Therapy training programme, together with the work of children they work with
exploring how they have implemented the training and are facilitating expression in these highly traumatised children. Artists Proof Studio's project of Paper Prayers(HIV/AIDs), Giselle Wulfson's photographs of men and women with AIDS and their stories, The Quilts done by rural woman's AIDS project that were presented to the Ministries as pledges. Students of the Foundation Course in Art Therapy exploring their healing process in their images. Kim Berman's images called Toxic Memories exploring the TRC.
Marilyn NcDowell's photographs of working in Wilderness therapy with
members of the San community. Hayley Berman's images representing the therapeutic relationship of holding and containing. The Visual Arts and Crafts Academy exhibiting work done in inclusion
projects within disabled schools; including the work of children and trainers.

Children's images made in Thembisa, Thokosa, (witness to violence and sexual and physical abuse), children's images from the Bereavement group at Bara, The refugee children's images from Art Therapy group work at the
Trauma clinic.

For further information contact: Dorothea Giesche at 082 6831 328 /
e-mail:mwdoro@mweb.co.za

South Africa: CITIZEN BASE AWARD- LOCAL RESOURCES

2001-11-22

http://www.citizenbase.org/awards.html

Sangonet will provide free passes to a two-day IT training course as part of citizen base awards. South African NGOs are invited to propose strategies, which are replicable, innovative and feasible and demonstrate the ability to generate resources and mobilise citizen support. This is an international award that has already been held in Brazil, Thailand, Bangladesh and India; and is currently running in Argentina.

UK: CHANGING EXPECTATIONS? THE CONCEPT AND PRACTICE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2001-11-22

http://pambazuka.org/en/category/courses/4330

Between the 13-15 December 2001, the International NGO Training and Research Centre&#8217;s (INTRAC) aim is to evaluate and appraise the different approaches to supporting, building and reinforcing civil society in light of the events of 11 September and the world&#8217;s subsequent reactions provoke changing expectations of approaches to civil society. Keynote speakers: Clare Short - Minister for Development, DFID, and Dr Rajesh Tandon - Director of PRIA

WOMEN AND ICT CONFERENCE

11-15 February, 2002

2001-11-22

http://www2.womensnet.org.za/events/show.cfm?id=293

Horn of Africa Regional Conference on Women and Information and Communication Technologies.

ZIMBABWE: COMMUNITY-BASED WORKSHOPS

2001-11-22

http://www.comminit.com/pds9-2001/sld-2992.html

In its current civic education programme the Popular Education Collective is conducting community-based workshops in Masvingo and Manicaland. The workshops are on good governance, choosing effective leaders, citizen participation, non-violence and tolerance, transparency and accountability. Civic education materials such as posters, leaflets, T-shirts, stickers etc. will be produced on the above topics.

Advocate for Health and Reproductive Rights Programme

Washington DC

2001-11-22

http://www.nwlc.org

The National Women's Law Center seeks an advocate for its women's health and reproductive rights program for Monitoring and responding to key policy developments in the areas of women's health and reproductive rights; identifying opportunities to advance the goals of the Center; in collaboration with other staff, developing advocacy strategies utilizing the resources of the Center; will work on a broad range of women's health issues and will represent the Center in coalitions, with national and state policy makers, and in various public speaking fora.
Advocate, Health and Reproductive Rights Program / The National Women's
Law Center / Washington, DC, USA.

The Organisation:

For almost 30 years, the National Women's Law Center has led the way in
expanding the possibilities for women and girls in the US. The Center uses
the law in all its forms: getting new laws on the books; litigating
ground-breaking lawsuits all the way to the Supreme Court; and educating
the public about how to make the law and public policies work for women
and their families. The Center's experienced staff take on the issues
that cut to the core of women's and girls' lives in education, employment,
health and reproductive rights, and family economic security, with special
priority given to the needs of low-income women and their families.

The Center is now seeking an advocate for its women's health and
reproductive rights program.

Responsibilities:

- Monitoring and responding to key policy developments in the areas of
women's health and reproductive rights;
- identifying opportunities to advance the goals of the Center;
- in collaboration with other staff, developing advocacy strategies
utilizing the resources of the Center;
- will work on a broad range of women's health issues and will represent
the Center in coalitions, with national and state policy makers, and in
various public speaking fora.

Salary commensurate with experience, 4 weeks vacation, excellent benefits.

Qualifications:

- The ideal candidate will be a creative, self-motivated, strategic
thinker with at least five years of legal or public policy experience;
- Direct legislative experience is highly desirable;
- Excellent research, written and oral communications skills are required;
- An advanced degree in law, public policy or a related field is strongly
preferred;
- The ideal candidate will possess proven initiative and follow-through,
the ability to work quickly and well under pressure, and a commitment to
women's health and rights.

To Apply:

If able, submit resume electronically to humanresources@nwlc.org
Otherwise, send to Human Resources Department, NWLC, 11 Dupont Circle, NW,
Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. No calls. Applications accepted until
position is filled. EOE. Website: www.nwlc.org