PAMBAZUKA NEWS 57 * 7600 SUBSCRIBERS
PAMBAZUKA NEWS 57 * 7600 SUBSCRIBERS
The Women-Refuge Of Africa (WORA) is condemning in no uncertain terms the recent spate of murders of women in their own homes where they are suppose to be safest, by men who are supposed to defend them from such acts.
Tension remained high in Jos, Plateau State , through-out last week following the fire outbreak that razed down the Jos main market. Three people were burnt to death and property worth millions of naira destroyed, February 12. There were fears that the incident might spark off a new round of crisis in the state.
Reporters Sans Frontieres [RSF] announced Thursday that Ethiopia has no journalist in prison for the first time in since 1993 after a newspaper director was released on bail this month.
"The Millennium Declaration has given us an overriding mission for the twenty-first century. As we pursue that agenda and work for freedom from fear, freedom from want, and protection of the resources of this planet, our guiding motto is clear: putting people at the centre of everything we do. Thus, we are resolved to work for gender equality and the empowerment of women as vital tools to combat poverty and disease, and to achieve development that is truly sustainable; equally, we are determined to build on the contribution of women in managing conflict and building peace."
Members of the Congolese Banyamulenge community recently arrested by police in Burundi are not refugees officially recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the agency's representative in Burundi, Stefano Severe, told IRIN on Thursday.
Despite some improvements, the Sudanese government's record on human rights remained a serious concern throughout last year, the US State Department reported this week.
Where sometimes words fail us, images have always been captivating. They are a
reflection of our lives and are part of the political landscape. They exert an influence over societies, attitudes and opinions and bear witness to the injustices of our times
while they inform, educate, decorate and warn us against complacency. Ultimately
they add to our life experience. During the countdown to the Zimbabwe 2000 elections many of you will remember I produced around 50 'graphic commentaries' in an attempt to chronicle and highlight the many issues that shaped the reality and atmosphere of our predicament, with one aim in mind, -to raise the consciousness of our situation and similar ones in the world at large. These were distributed daily by email on the internet. The Zimbabwe presidential elections are to be held on 9th & 10 March, once again under a cloud of violence and intimidation, that has surpassed our worst nightmares. Now Robert
Mugabe's ZANU-PF party cynically cloak their human rights abuses in legislation using laws to dismember and disenfranchise our citizenry. The country is practically destroyed, and on its knees facing hunger and starvation because of the power hungry. Once again these images are intended for all and anybody's eyes and can be disseminated and used in any way and every way to spread the truth about our deteriorating situation. The madness has to be stopped and if these images can make the slightest difference, then they need to be out there.
In a recent two-week visual arts workshop, kindly financed by the sculptor, Dominic Benhura and held at his premises at Christon Bank in Zimbabwe, Sculptors, painters, installation artists all worked together. Artists experimenting with found objects, tying and sewing canvas, paints splashed on canvases, against the background of the sculptors hammering on stones. Watching the artists what was apparent was not the 'finished object' but the process. The process of artists working side by side, experimenting, reflecting and enjoying a scenic environment to produce work. A network of painted A4 painted images lay on the floor to be added to by each artist as the workshop continued, so that a large collective piece could be formed.
The Kenyan Community Abroad (KCA) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the murder of innocent Kenyans in the recent Kariobangi rampage! That a mob of 300 hooligans could occasion such carnage in a country of “law and order” is a crime of the highest degree.
The Report covers the experiences of women in situations of armed conflict in the districts of Soroti, Katakwi and Kumi, which make up the Teso region in Eastern Uganda. It unveils the uniqueness of the Teso conflict which is multi dimensional in that it has an aspect of rebel insurgency and attacks by Karamajong warriors. The findings reveal a pathetic, gynaecological, psychological and orthopedic situation. The report is now in the final editing process and will be made public soon.
The African Human Rights and Access to Justice Programme (Access to Justice Initiative) was started in 2001 as a joint project of the Kenyan and Swedish sections of the ICJ. The overall objective is to work towards the incorporation of international human rights standards in national legal systems. One of the key activities of the project is to support innovative litigation across Africa in the field of human rights. A major contribution of the Initiative will be providing international legal expertise, in the form of expert opinions that may be used as lobbying tools or submitted as amicus briefs. The Access to Justice Initiative will give modest amounts of money (up to $3,000) to defray expenses incurred in human rights litigation. Applications should be submitted by the 15th of each month to the regional contact point in your region.
There has been much speculation in recent weeks about whether real engagement on economic policy will take place. Reneé Grawitzky looks at the process leading up to the drafting of a new economic growth path, which could lay the basis for a social accord.
The adoption of a 'briefing note' by the ANC's NEC last year, which accused
elements in Cosatu of 'counter-revolutionary' and 'ultraleftist' plans to
launch a political party, remains a thorn in the side of some. Dinga Sikwebu
concludes the SACP's response fails to take into account the changes taking
place in the ANC.
Sakhela Buhlungu and Eddie Webster report on how the 'war against terriorism' sparked a controversial and potentially divisive debate during the sixth congress of the Southern Initiative on Globalisation and Trade Union Rights (Sigtur) held in Seoul, South Korea.
Governments around the world are being urged by international organizations to take swift action to prevent the deaths of hundreds of thousands of women every year due to a lack of medical support during pregnancy or child-birth.
A ground-breaking lawsuit against a major multinational oil corporation accused of complicity in serious abuses of human rights in Nigeria has passed a major judicial hurdle and moved a big step closer to trial.
Oxfam International has warned that the death of UNITA leader, Jonas Savimbi, does not necessarily bring the end of suffering and war in Angola. Angola is at a crossroads; peace is one option, but the country could just as easily descend into fresh bloodshed if the right moves are not made now.
The silence surrounding the sexual abuse of learners in Namibia is "deafening", says Basic Education Deputy Minister Clara Bohitile.
Many children in the world are affected by conflict, and many lives have been shattered by on-going cycles of violence and despair. Action for Children in Conflict seeks to provide safe and supportive environments where such vulnerable children can begin to feel comfortable and be looked after. The story of Mary, a four-year-old orphan from Kenya, is a case in point.
Attorney-General Amos Wako has accepted a media industry plan to set up a self regulatory council. The industry will be allowed to run the independent council for up to a year after which its performance will be reviewed and a decision made on whether to make it statutory.
Opposition parties have criticised the proposal to empower a government department to nominate a member to the board of directors of the proposed Media Diversity and Development Agency.
Scientific American - "Slavery still flourishes underground in many parts of the world. This case study presents the perspectives of West African social scientists, diplomats, activists and escaped slaves in Gabon. Of particular interest is the Gabonese effort to rehabilitate and repatriate those children who have the luck and courage to escape their bondage."
A new report suggests that scientists have achieved nuclear fusion-- the energetic process by which two light atoms join to form a third, heavier atom and energy as a by-product--in a beaker sitting atop a laboratory bench. The results have attracted plenty of skepticism from within the scientific community. [source: Scientific American]
The National Clearinghouse on Youth Employment (NCYE) is seeking a qualified Outreach Specialist.
The Renaissance Network in conjunction with Dr Neville Bews and Associates presents its national seminar on social impact assessment in the transforming socio-economic landscape and private sector in South Africa.
The Curriculum Development Project Trust (CDP), based in Gauteng, is a dynamic NGO dedicated to the training of educators and learners in Arts and Culture in the formal and non-formal sectors. It requires an Arts and Culture Senior Phase materials developer with experience and expertise in Visual Arts education and its cultural contexts.
The Non Profit Partnership (The NPP), an NPO committed to supporting democratic transformation by strengthening the financial sustainability of the non-profit sector in South Africa, is looking to appoint an Administrative Secretary.
CIVICUS is an international civil society movement with members in over one hundred countries. It is currently looking for a Communications and Research Associate.
[Information technology] is often blamed for invading privacy and depersonalising communications, but it is also praised for the increased efficiency of communication [source: Mail & Gaurdian]
CIVICUS is an international civil society movement with members in over one hundred countries. It is currently looking for an Executive Secretary.
CIVICUS is an international civil society movement with members in over one hundred countries. It is currently looking for a Professional Assistant.
People's Dialogue, a national NGO working in the field of Poverty Eradication is looking for a psychiatric nurse to run a training and outpatient centre in Philippi, Western Cape, for the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/Aids, substance abuse and domestic violence.
The Community Education Computer Society (a computer training NGO established in 1985) will be conducting the ICDL course from the 18 March 2002 for 6 weeks for those who are computer literate.
The Non Profit Partnership in conjunction with Tlhavhama Training Initiative will be hosting a one-week training course on Financial Sustainability for CBOs, NGOs and government officials working with these structures in Limpopo.
The National Association of People Living With HIV/AIDS will be unfolding a series of picketing and demonstrations targeting the major insurance companies for their policy on HIV positive people. The pickets will be on the 13, 14 and 15th of March 2002 at Old Mutual, Sanlam and Metropolitan.
The European Union (EU) and the Department of Trade and Industry signed an agreement on Tuesday under which the EU will donate 55-billion euros (about R550-million) to start a risk capital fund for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The fund is intended to boost black empowerment and create jobs.
EU foreign affairs ministers on Monday failed to agree on a common EU position for the Monterrey Development Summit on financing development due to opposition by four EU states, notably Germany and the Netherlands, to a Spanish compromise proposal.
Bill Gates has given a huge financial boost for Gauteng's fight against HIV/Aids. GPGAA would support NGOs in a number of their ongoing initiatives, including preventing mother-to-child infection, testing, support and counselling.
William Gates, the father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, announced a $2-million grant for HIV prevention in Kenya from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This transpired in his visit to Kenya, together with former President of US Jimmy Carter.
Donated by Thintana Communications, the Corporate Citizenship Programme includes the donation of R30m to a maths, science and technology initiative, which will result in the establishment of 18 science and technology centres at a rate of two per province over the next six months. The grant has been described as the largest ever single intervention in the teaching and learning of Maths Science and Technology.
An Aids Orphans Trust Fund is to be established by the Makana Municipality. The trust wll be established to gather financial resources from private, corporate and international donors and channel support to established, functional organisations providing effective services to Aids orphans.
A programme to curb the spread of Aids among the youth in schools has been launched in Kenya. It involves establishing clubs in primary and secondary schools to create awareness and sensitise the youth about HIV/Aids. The programme is supported by the Child Welfare Society of Kenya and Save the Children, Canada.
The Dimitra project of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has published the first edition of its Guidebook on Rural Women and Development. This book contains profiles of 650 organizations based in Europe, Africa and the Near East which have projects or programmes involving or concerning rural women and development.
Trau-Mail will launch its first edition of on-line weekly mail on 3 April 2002 with the objective of enabling South Africans to share their traumatic experiences with others. People will be provided with a platform to publish interesting and touching life experiences, specifically traumatic experiences.
The Book explores key ideas about raising money to fund women's rights work. It is especially designed for first-time fundraisers and for women's groups in developing countries. It captures the essence of the Global Fund's Women, Money and Empowerment workshops, which were given for activists at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.
The most visited web site in South africa closed for interenational business this month.
The Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army [SPLM/A] have agreed to accept a group of European and U.S. monitors, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher announced Monday.
Junior officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) who are threatening to embark on strike have written to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), requesting affiliation to the central labour body. However, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Alexander Ogomudia whose non-commissioned officers are also reported to be planning a similar strike declared that there could never be a strike by soldiers.
The American response to September 11th did not change the terms of international relations. It only enhanced and deepened a trend that was manifest in Bush's foreign policy from the beginning. Surprisingly, this trend should give pause to the corporate executives who lined up behind Bush's candidacy. Unsurprisingly, nobody else wins either. Bush is the ultimate lose-lose president.
A broad coalition of Sudanese civil society groups and indigenous nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) this week called on the United Nations Security Council to create "safe havens" in southern Sudan in order to protect civilians from what it called a government "scorched earth policy".
The 2nd revised and substantially extended virtual edition of the Directory of African Organisations and Businesses in the Netherlands has been been put online. The number of entries has grown from 280 to nearly 800. The number of categories has risen from 9 to 13. Categories are amongst others artists (painters, sculptors and musicians), professionals, trade and commerce and religion. We have focused mainly on Africans from Sub-Sahara Africa. However we made an effort to include especially Morocco. The virtual Directory will be updated regularly.
In recognition of International Women's Day, March 8, women leaders from Brazil, India, Uganda, and the United States, discussed the successes and challenges facing women in different parts of the world in a series of live chats from March 5-7. Participants addressed questions to these dynamic women leaders representing diverse experiences in civil rights, health, education and activism. Global Women’s Voices: An Online Dialogue is a joint initiative of OneWorld U.S., Feminist Majority Foundation, PLANetwire.org, Women’s EDGE, Global Health Council and Digital Freedom Network.
The latest release of the Mozilla web browser (free) is now available. An excellent browser, and downloadable for free and available for Linux, Windows, Solaris, Mac and Irix.
SAGBVHI, which was formed in 2000, is a partnership of 15 organizations working on gender-based violence and health issues. SAGBVHI plans to host an annual conference on gender based violence and health from 17-19 April 2002. Set to become an annual event, the conference will attempt to raise awareness about intersection between gender-based violence and health and to find creative ways of building a violent-free society.
An Australian has made use of adapted World War II spy technology to foil car theives. He attached "millions of the laser- etched identification dots to cars and industrial products. In the future, the dots could also be used on legal documents and even cattle" (Wired).
Digital Opportunity Channel is a joint endeavour of OneWorld and the Digital Divide Network. This global portal will highlight uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable development. The content in this portal will be collected from thousands of organisations around the world working in the field among marginalized and poor communities.
The Earth Summit this September in Johannesburg marks a decade since the first Summit in 1992 at Rio. The RSA in partnership with Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future (formerly UNED Forum) hope to mark the event by recognising those individuals or groups of individuals who have made a significant contribution to the implementation of sustainable development by their work during this time. The aim will be to publicise their efforts on this web site at regular intervals between now and the Summit in September to act as an inspiration to others to work towards the ideals of Agenda 21, as set out at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.
For malicious computer hackers and virus writers, the next frontier in mischief is the mobile phone.
The EU's Council of Europe has published draft plans to combat racism on the internet. The draft protocol is aimed at criminalising the dissemination of racist or xenophobic material via computer networks.
A food shortage has forced a United Nations agency to slash aid rations to the bare minimum for 50,000 Congolese refugees in Zambia, a spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Saturday.
Upon the first indications of HIV/AIDS in 1986, the government of Senegal moved to confront the epidemic, galvanizing community groups, working with religious leaders, and introducing AIDS prevention in the school curriculum in primary and secondary schools. Communication campaigns also reached people by radio, in mosques, and at the markets. Parents and other adults were encouraged to speak to their children about HIV/AIDS. As a result, HIV prevalence among pregnant women has remained under 2%, with no upward trend. In addition, condom use has risen among young men. Today, only about 10% say they do not use condoms with casual partners.
Many adolescents are at risk because no one—including parents, educators, counselors, health care workers, or the media—has taught them about HIV/AIDS or about how to protect themselves and others. Despite over 15 years of international recognition of the need for education and communication to prevent HIV/AIDS, young people today still have only limited opportunities to learn about the virus and the disease.
There is considerable disagreement over HIV/AIDS education - including what to teach, at what age, in what setting, by whom, and to what end. Political pressures often keep sex education - and thus HIV/AIDS education - out of the classroom. Sensitivities about sexuality and young people's behavior often obstruct AIDS education even where there is a strong national commitment to address the AIDS crisis.
The mass media—especially television and radio—reach large numbers of young people around the world and have enormous influence. In a 23-country study among 12-year-old school children whose homes had electricity, over 90% watched an average of three hours of television per day (365). In virtually all developing countries most women ages 15 to 19 have regular access to television and radio (45). While young people obtain a great deal of information about reproductive health from entertainment programs in the mass media, many of these programs have the effect of promoting unsafe attitudes and behavior and portraying sex in ways that encourage risk-taking.
"It is not easy for an African parent to sit down and talk to their children about sex. The topic has been taboo for as far back as African tradition goes. But our teenagers today are going around getting wrong information from their peers and from magazines, and they end up infected with HIV/AIDS... I am an African man, but when it comes to my children's health, I put my traditional beliefs aside. I talk to my children about sex... A lot of teenagers fear talking to their parents about sex because they think that their parents will accuse them of sleeping around. Instead, they go to their friends... Teens make their own decisions, but parents can have a lot of influence. Parents have to do away with traditions and start to talk openly to their children about sex."
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and the government of Rwanda have agreed to establish a four-member taskforce to investigate the alleged mistreatment of witnesses at the tribunal. The team will also investigate claims that people suspected to have been involved in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda are working as defense investigators at the ICTR.
The shaky transitional government in Somalia -- a possible target of the U.S. war on terrorism -- has called for urgent international help in combatting terrorist activity. In a recent report, the government said the United Nations has two choices: watch the country slide back into anarchy and chaos or lend active support to the government in its struggle against terrorism.
This Paper is a response to the recommendation of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee in its report on Sierra Leone (HC116-I) that in respect of mercenary activities, the Government publish a Green Paper outlining options for the control of private military companies which operate out of the UK, its dependencies and the British Islands.
Two foreigners were yesterday arrested and powerful communication equipment seized in Nairobi's Eastleigh estate. The police said they impounded two radios, four chargers and six batteries. The radios were used to communicate with militiamen in war-ravaged Somalia.
Voting in Zimbabwe's presidential elections was concluded on Monday, March 11, 2002. The Zimbabwe chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Zimbabwe) did not receive any serious reports of incidents in which a journalist(s) were either beaten up or arrested.
BROADCASTING is a complex profession demanding special attention. It has surpassed its traditional role of informing, educating and entertaining. In fact it is a mobilizer and a formidable factor in the new world order in economy, technology and politics.
The hearing of the appeal of Tunisian communist leader Hamma Hammami, editor of the party newspaper El Badil, against a nine-year prison sentence for subversion was postponed for three weeks by the Tunis appeal court on 9 March.
e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 153
13 March, 2002
CONTENTS:
SECTION 1. FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
(Peace in Colombia: Appeals from Civil Society)
SECTION 2. FEATURED NEWS-ITEM OF THE WEEK
(Colombia and Zimbabwe go to polls)
SECTION 3. CITIZEN ACTION AROUND THE WORLD
(Women's Justice Centre Forum; Balkans Peace Studies Centre; Youth and
Family Planning Programme Council; Global Exchange; 'Bol' ? forum to
discuss gender, reproductive health and rights issues in South Asia)
SECTION 4. JOBS/ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
(Postings from CIVICUS; Institute for Sustainable Communities; Family
Health International Youthnet Program)
SECTION 5. SCHOLARSHIPS/ AWARDS
(Announcements from International Centre for Human Rights and
Democratic Development; UNDP Equator Initiative)
SECTION 6. CONFERENCES/ MEETINGS/ EXHIBITIONS
(European Festival for Peace; OECD Forum 2002; National Multicultural
Institute's Seventeenth Annual Conference)
SECTION 7. TRAINING COURSES/ ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
(Carr Center Fellowship Program; Century Foundation's 2002 Century
Institute Summer Program)
SECTION 8. PUBLICATIONS/ CALLS FOR PAPERS
('The Heart of War in Colombia'; 'Seeding Solutions Volume 2, a
followup to People, Plants and Patents'; 'L'Afrique ? Societe Civile,
Multilinguisme et Developpement'; OECD Forum 2002 Essay Competition for
Tomorrow's Leaders)
SECTION 9. INTERNET NEWS/ FEATURED WEBSITES
(Reports magazine (IDRC); El Centro de Derechos Economicos y Sociales;
Web Anthology from Women's Learning Partnership)
SECTION 10. "CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH No. 4" ? a special supplemental digest
(The Largest Displaced Population in the World)
SECTION 11. HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US (Contacting the eCIVICUS team)
******************************************************************
SECTION 1. FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
Peace in Colombia: Appeals from Civil Society
Three weeks ago, Colombian President Andres Pastrana Arango called off
the peace process started in 1998, and launched a military offensive in
the territory held by the leading leftist guerilla group FARC.
Following the kidnapping of a senator by FARC rebels at a time when
international peace negotiators were in the country, the government
declared all-out war, and began bombing the 40,000 square-kilometre
territory controlled by FARC. More recently, the kidnapping of Ingrid
Betancourt, a candidate in the Presidential elections scheduled for May
2002, also made international headlines.
Despite longstanding mistrust and hostility between the government and
guerilla forces, there were hopes of a negotiated settlement to end the
four decade-old conflict that has left 40,000 civilians dead and over
two million refugees in their own country. This is no ordinary conflict
or "civil war". Rather, it involves complex issues, starting with
control over a large territory (with five districts) and extending to
international links with narcotics rings, weapons sales and oil
pipelines. FARC and the government agreed to come to the negotiating
table in 1998, thus initiating a 'peace process'. However, the past
three and half years have been anything but 'peaceful', with massacres,
kidnappings, arbitrary disappearances, threats to trade unionists and
civil society activists, loss of property and massive human
displacement.
Local and international human rights observers blame these atrocities
on the ultra-left guerillas as well as ultra-right wing paramilitary
forces, reported to be allied with the army. They are also cautious
with their assessment of 'Plan Colombia', a US initiative, which aims
at a comprehensive attack on the drug trade. Plan Colombia seems to be
a mixed blessing at best. On the one hand, it has infused much needed
resources into the economy and strengthened the government's position.
On the other hand, the large-scale fumigation of cocaine and poppy
fields in the countryside has affected other crops, the health of
civilians as well as that of the national economy. Plan Colombia is
also supplying resources for the current military offensive.
Ultimately, there is concern from all fronts that the USD 1.3 billion
aid package might spill-over from its 'anti-narcotics' mandate into a
full-fledged war against FARC and other guerilla groups, thereby
inadvertantly strengthening right wing paramilitary forces.
Currently, there seems to be significant public support for the
military offensive by the government, since FARC rebels and their
allies have lost credibility as serious negotiating partners. However,
Colombians, understandably have other concerns as well, especially the
sinking economy (with the fall of staples such as coffee and bananas in
the commodities market), and the need to elect a President who can
provide unity and stability. Amnesty International, UNHCR, MADRE (an
international organisation for women's rights), CODHES (Consultancy on
Human Rights and Displacement), PCN (Black Communities Process) and
other local and international groups are campaigning for the safety and
dignity of civilians. Afro-Colombians, black communities, women
and children are in disproportionately high numbers among those
killed, wounded and displaced by the conflict.
There is immediate concern for the safety of civilians who are in the
rural areas being bombed by the army. There is concern that right-wing
paramilitary forces will use this opportunity to flush out 'FARC-
supporters', and massacre innocent civilians. Urban residents fear a
reprisal from urban guerillas, and do not rule out further kidnappings,
murders and destruction of vital infrastructure. However, Colombians,
especially civil society representatives are relentlessly organising
themselves ? documenting and monitoring events, conducting peace
marches, teach-ins, and appealing to international civil society for
support.
CIVICUS partners in Colombia point to the fact that although Colombian
civil society is strong, until now it has lacked cohesion. This crisis
seems to offer an opportunity to come together to build greater
solidarity and unity amongst civil society activists. There is the
possibility for international civil society to respond to appeals for
peace in Colombia. I urge you to offer support to our colleagues in
Colombia.
For further information, please visit:
for full coverage of the crisis in Colombia
for documentation of rights
violations
for updates from MADRE
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/in_depth/africa/2002/zimbabwe/
For indepth news coverage of events in Colombia, please
visit: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/World/Colombia/
******************************************************************
SECTION 3. CITIZEN ACTION AROUND THE WORLD
Women's Justice Centre Forum - bilingual Spanish & English forum where
victims, activists, advocates, & professionals can communicate on all
aspects of violence against women & children.
http://www.justicewomen.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html
Call for Peace in the Balkans:
BALKAN PEACE STUDIES CENTRE (BPSC) seeks to build a broad coalition of
citizens' groups and movements to work in solidarity to achieve high
level of consciousness and action for world peace. The object of this
task is to promote a multilevel approach to peace issues related to
the Balkans and international/local relations, which has been lacking
thus far. If you or your organisation would like to contribute to this
action, kindly write your views and your analysis addressing global
and/or regional aspects of peace. The aim of the call is to continue
the strong task in building world peace by building connections between
activists, organisations and groups who are doing good things for the
society and culture. To endorse this call for world peace and justice,
please e-mail your maximum 300 word abstract including your name,
email, name and address of the institution/ organisation that you are
affiliated with to: Dr. Olga Murdzeva-Skarik [email][email protected] or
Ljupco Efremov [email][email protected]
Information Kit on Sexual Abuse and Sexual Exploitations of Children
and Youth:
The Youth and Family Planning Programme Council (YFPPC) is in the
process of compiling an Information Kit on Sexual Abuse and Sexual
exploitation of Children and Youth for organisations either working or
interested to work against the sexual exploitation/abuse of children
and youth. The Information Kit will be in Hindi and distributed to all
interested organisations working in India. If you have information
that would be useful for the Kit or would like to receive information
please contact: [email][email protected] or
Youth and Family Planning Programme Council
Post Box No. 3850 New Delhi 110 049, India
The international human rights organisation, Global Exchange, launched
a grassroots Fair Trade Cocoa Campaign on Valentine's Day to pressure
the chocolate industry to take substantial steps to help end modern day
child slavery and poverty wages in the production of cocoa. In San
Francisco, citizens held protests and rallies to call on See's Inc., to
take immediate steps to end child slavery in the cocoa fields. For
further information please visit www.globalexchange.org
'Bol' (Talk) - people & organisations within & outside South Asia,
discuss issues of gender, reproductive health, rights & legal
developments pertaining to human rights within the region. Contact Ms.
Anju Vyas [email][email protected]
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/Organizations/healthnet/frame2/frame2.html
******************************************************************
SECTION 4. JOBS/ VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
ORGANISATION: CIVICUS WORLD ALLIANCE FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
POSITIONS: Research Associate, Professional Assistant, and
Executive Assistant
DESCRIPTION: CIVICUS has openings for the above positions in the
Johannesburg office.
Application deadline: 19 March 2002
For full details please visit: www.civicus.org
ORGANISATION: Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC)
POSITION: Program Officer for the Balkans, Ukraine, or Russia; Project
Accountant for the Balkans, Ukraine, or Russia; Human Resources Manager
DESCRIPTION: The ISC seeks candidates for the above positions in its
home office in Montpelier Vermont to manage and support its growing
programs. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the
United States. For more information, please visit the ISC website:
www.isctv.org or email: [email][email protected]
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 31 March 2002
Please indicate which position you are applying for and submit your
resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to:
ISC
56 College Street; Montpelier, Vermont 05602, USA
Fax: 1-802-229-2919 Email: [email][email protected]
ORGANISATION: Family Health International YouthNet Program
POSITION: Internship Opportunities in Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS
DESCRIPTION: Applications accepted for an eleven-week internship
programme designed to give current and recent undergraduate university
students from developing countries experience in designing,
Implementing and evaluating youth reproductive health (YRH) and
HIV/AIDS programmes. Six positions based in the Washington, DC area are
available. The internship programme will run from 27 May ? 9 August
2002. Applications and inquiries can be sent to:
YouthNet Interns
Family Health International
2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22201, USA
******************************************************************
SECTION 5. SCHOLARSHIPS/ AWARDS
JOHN HUMPHREY FREEDOM AWARD FOR RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY:
International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
presents the John Humphrey Freedom Award each year to an organisation
or individual from any country or region of the world, including
Canada, for exceptional achievement in the promotion of human rights
and democratic development. The Award consists of a grant of $25,000
as well as a speaking tour of Canadian cities to help increase
awareness of the recipient's human rights work. It is named in honour
of the Canadian John Peters Humphrey, the human rights law professor
who prepared the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights. For more information (Information française disponible sur le
site web/ Información en español disponible en la página de Internet)
UNDP ? Equator Initiative:
In support of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), to be
held in Johannesburg, South Africa from August 26-September 4, 2002,
IDRC is partnering with UNDP, the UN Foundation, and Environment Canada
to showcase highly successful and innovative partnerships in
sustainable development through the Equator Initiative. The Equator
Initiative seeks to promote a worldwide movement to reduce poverty and
conserve biodiversity through the recognition of local achievements,
the fostering of South-South capacity building, and by contributing to
the generation and sharing of knowledge.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 May 2002
For more information and to download application forms, please visit:
http://www.equatorinitiative.org
CONTACT: Environmentally Sustainable Development Group
Bureau for Development Policy
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
One UN Plaza; New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: 1.212.906-6206 Fax: 1.212.906-6973
E-mail: [email][email protected]
Web: www.EquatorInitiative.org
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SECTION 6. CONFERENCES/ MEETINGS/ EXHIBITIONS
(Conferences marked with an asterisk (*) are appearing in
e-CIVICUS for the first time)
(*) A FESTIVAL FOR PEACE: Building a Culture and Vision for Peace in
Europe ,
Cluj Napoca, Romania, 21 ? 27 April 2002
European Festival for Peace is a youth conference for the promotion of
a culture of peace, human rights and multi-culturalism, building
bridges and promoting dialogue between young people and students of
Europe. Combining training programmes, workshops, interactive panel
discussions, and artistic celebration, the Peace Festival will provide
a forum for the celebration of diversity and a culture of peace and
youth participation for democratization and human rights. Particapants
will be 18-25 years of age and will be youth leaders and/or NGO
activists within their communities. The Coordinating Committee will
work to ensure gender equality and geographical diversity in the
selection of participants. For further information please contact:
[email][email protected]; Web: www.transcend.org
(*)OECD FORUM 2002, "Taking Care of the Fundamentals: Security, Equity,
Education and Growth"
Paris, France - 13 to 15 May 2002
The OECD Forum is an international public conference offering civil
society, business, labour and civil society the opportunity to discuss
key issues of the 21st century with government ministers and leaders of
international organisations. What is unique about the OECD Forum is
that it allows participants to shape the outcome of the OECD annual
ministerial summit meeting to be held on 15-16 May 2002. For Forum
details, visit:
(*)THINKING GLOBALLY: BROADENING THE CONTEXT OF MULTICULTURAL DIALOGUE
AND ACTION
The National Multicultural Institute's 17th Annual National Conference
30 May ? 2 June 2002
Issues of culture, ethnicity, race, age, gender, and sexual orientation
have assumed greater significance in the United States as a result of
changing demographics and the growing national awareness of ifferences.
New skills and knowledge are required in fields such as workforce
diversity, human resource management, education and conflict
resolution. The major goals of this conference are to: offer an
opportunity for in-depth diversity training and skills building; focus
on unique issues that professionals face in working with culturally
diverse population; create an environment in which an open, cross-
cultural dialogue can occur.
VENUE: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capital Hill
CONTACT: National Multicultural Institute
3000 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 438
Washington, DC 20008-2556, USA
Tel: 1-202-483-0700 ext 227; Email: [email][email protected] Web:www.nmci.org
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SECTION.7 TRAINING COURSES/ ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES
CARR CENTER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy
School of Governance:
The Carr Center's Fellows Program brings together a diverse group of
human rights practitioners, scholars and activists to conduct research
on human rights policy, contribute to the Center's programs, and
participate in broader dialogue with students, faculty and researchers
in the Harvard community. At the Center, fellows will have an
opportunity to advance their own professional development by completing
works in progress, bridging into new fields or disciplines, or pausing
for reflection or consolidation in a practitioner career. Fellows are
expected to devote some portion of their time to collaborative
endeavors, as arranged by the Fellows Program Director. Fellows are
also expected to complete a significant publication or research
project during their period of residence. Applications must be received
by 1 April 2002. Decisions will be announced 1 May 2002. Resident
fellowships will begin 2 September 2002 and end 30 June 2003
For further information, eligibility and application details, please
visit: www.centuryinstitute.org To request an
application via postal mail call 1-212-452-7728 or send an email to
[email][email protected]
*****************************************************************
SECTION 8. PUBLICATIONS/ CALLS FOR PAPERS
PUBLICATIONS:
THE HEART OF WAR IN COLUMBIA By Constanza Ardila Galvis
Ardila tells the stories of ordinary Colombians who have been directly
affected by the war, as victims, witnesses or perpetrators of violence.
She goes beyond the dramatic statistics to portray the culture of
violence which permeates Colombia and which has consistently emanated
from the most powerful in society, and whose victims are in their
majority the poor.
CONTACT: Guy Bentham, Kumarian Press, at 860-243-2098.
The Heart of the War in Colombia by Constanza Ardila Galvis
ISBN 1-899365-42-7 US$ 22.95 paperback
Latin America Bureau, 224 pp., 2000
SEEDING SOLUTIONS VOLUME 2: Options for National Laws Governing Access
To and Control Over Genetic Resources by The Crucible II Group
Version française disponible en 2002 / Edición en español disponible en
2002
This book brings readers up to date on what has changed -
scientifically, politically, and environmentally - since the
publication in 1994 of the landmark PEOPLE, PLANTS AND PATENTS. Volume
2 discusses legal mechanisms to address three key issues: (1) the need
to conserve and exchange germplasm for the benefit of present and
future generations; (2) the need to encourage innovation in the
conservation and enhancement of germplasm; and (3) new options for
securing and strengthening the rights and interests of indigenous and
rural peoples in their role as creators and conservers of biological
diversity. IDRC/IPGRI/DHF 2001, ISBN 0-88936-958-5, $35 CAD
"L'AFRIQUE: SOCIETE CIVILE, MULTILINGUISME ET DEVELOPPEMENT"
by Latévi Lawson Anani-Bo
D+C Développement et Coopération (No. 2, Mars/Avril 2002,p. 26-27)
Cet article est un interview avec M. Yamar Mbodj, chargé des projets de
programme de l'ANAFA (L'Association Nationale pour l'Alphabétisation et
la Formation des Adultes). M. Yamar Mbodj explique ses espoirs pour
l'Afrique au sein de la société mondialisée qui doit mettre en avant
l'action des citoyens en vue du changement économique et social.
http://www.dse.de/zeitschr/df202-11.htm
CALL FOR PAPERS
On the occasion of Forum 2002, the OECD is launching its Forum Essay
Competition for Tomorrow's Leaders. Students under the age of 25 years
old, from the world over, are invited to prepare an essay on the
following topic: "The state of the world in 2002: how can international
co-operation make the world a better place?" Authors of the four best
essays will be invited to participate in the opening panel of the OECD
Forum 2002 on 13 May in Paris. These essays will also be published in
the special "Forum 2002 Highlights" magazine to publish in July 2002.
Essays should be no longer than 1,000 words in length and written
in English or French.
Deadline: 31 March 2002
Kindly send submissions by Email: [email][email protected]
or Paper mail to: John West
Public Affairs Division, OECD,
2 rue André Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.
******************************************************************
SECTION 9. INTERNET NEWS/ FEATURED WEBSITES
To mark International Women's Week, Reports magazine is running a
retrospective of stories that focus on gender and research for
sustainable development:
www.cdes.org
Web Anthology from Women's Learning Partnership (WLP):
Edited with an introduction by Mahnaz Afkhami, President of WLP.
WLP announces the web anthology Toward a Compassionate Society, which
addresses the importance of cultural pluralism and women's role in
promoting peace in a rapidly globalising world. The issues are examined
from a variety of gender-focused cultural and inter-disciplinary
perspectives including sociology, anthropology, human rights,
philosophy, and religion. The anthology is available at
http://www.cultureofpeace.net
******************************************************************
SECTION 10. CIVICUS CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH #4
THE LARGEST DISPLACED POPULATION IN THE WORLD
"?One of the major causes of the over two decades long ordeal suffered
by the people of Afghanistan was not only the exclusion of their civil
society from public affairs but also deliberate attempts to suppress
it?"(1) (excerpt from the declaration adopted at a joint meeting of 300
representatives of Afghanistan and Pakistan civil societies)
Over 20 years Afghanistan has produced the world's largest refugee
group ever, at times as high as 6.2 million people.(2)
WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT?
Over 350 asylum-seekers drowned while trying to reach the remote
Australian Christmas Islands, travelling in a tiny, ramshackle boat.
The 44 survivors recounted horrible tales. They are helpless victims of
an unjust world divided between rich and poor and of unscrupulous human
smugglers who exploit desperate people by promising deliverance from
poverty or persecution in some distant 'promised land'.
The tragedy also reflects how growing instability in parts of the globe
is increasingly met with barriers against asylum seekers and illegal
immigrants. With affluent countries becoming more vigilant, desperate
refugees are paying greater sums of money to agents and adopting
increasingly risky modes of transportation to reach their destinations.
Accepting asylum seekers is an unpopular option in the developed world.
Ironically, a poor country like Pakistan, already home to some two
million Afghan refugees, has received increasing international pressure
to open its borders to more refugees - a case of blatant double
standards on the part of affluent countries unwilling to accept
refugees themselves.(3)
Meanwhile, violence, crime, ethnic persecution, lack of food, and
insecurity in Afghanistan mean people continue to leave. UN official
Yussuf Hassan noted that they are "concerned about minorities in the
north," predominantly Pashtuns, who have been forced to flee. These
latest victims of the turbulent situation have fled persecution
and violence as former ethnic rivalries resurface.(4)
However, with limited public debate, EU members, Canada, Australia, and
the United States have all begun changing immigration laws in the
"fight against terrorism." A proposal by US Attorney General John
Ashcroft to reform the immigration appeals process is being attacked by
human rights groups as the latest attempt to remove independence
from immigration judges post-11 September. Timothy Edgar of the
American Civil Liberties Union noted that this "would effectively deny
thousands of innocent immigrants their day in court", put their fate
into the hands of the Attorney General, and turn immigration courts
into a "rubber stamp for the Attorney General."(5)
Cautioning that the fight against terrorism might weaken international
laws meant to protect refugees and asylum seekers, the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Ruud Lubbers, told the Security
Council that such people risked becoming "convenient scapegoats" who
may be unfairly victimized.(6)
At a UN Security Council meeting on the links between refugees and
international peace and security, Mr. Lubbers said refugees and asylum
seekers must not be discriminated against because their religion,
ethnicity, national origin or political affiliation somehow assume
links to terrorism. He added that governments "must avoid resorting to
the mandatory or arbitrary detention of asylum seekers" and that
detention "must remain the exception, not the rule."(7)
REPATRIATION
Five million Afghans have been displaced persons or refugees for as
long as 23 years, two million each in Iran and Pakistan and about one
million people displaced within Afghanistan. UNHCR is preparing for a
massive repatriation of refugees to Afghanistan this spring and also to
assist large numbers of internally displaced Afghans in returning
to their homes. But since the fall of the Taliban, sizeable numbers of
refugees and displaced have also returned to their homes voluntarily
and without international assistance.
Despite the uncertainties, most Afghan refugees interviewed recently by
Refugee International in Pakistan indicated they planned to return to
Afghanistan. The UNHCR has proposed a repatriation package for
returning refugees and displaced including transportation, food,
shelter materials, and miscellaneous items, such as seeds and
agricultural tools. UNHCR will also undertake Quick Impact Projects ?
short-term investments to generate income for returnees, dig wells,etc.
The factors that will influence the number of Afghan refugees and
displaced who return home are security, economic opportunities, and
economic ties in countries of asylum. Enayatollah Nazeri, the Afghan
interim administration's Minister of Repatriation and Refugee Affairs,
rates the challenge he faces as enormous, but achievable with
international assistance. Provided that peace and stability are
maintained, he expects five million Afghans to return over the next
five years ? one million of them in 2002.(8)
For Afghans in Pakistan, uncertainty reigns. The presence of refugees
has burdened the Pakistani social fabric and civic amenities. There has
been great pressure on hospitals and the transport system and increased
competition in the local labour market and in business. The government
of Pakistan has been working with UN agencies to relocate refugees, and
since mid-November, UNHCR has moved 37,000 people to new camps. It is
expected that these camps, in addition to the camps at Ashgaro and
Khanzadgan, will receive 67,000 re-located people by the end of March
2002. NGOs, however, are concerned that these moves may be involuntary,
and that people may be pressured to return to Afghanistan against their
will.(9)
AFGHANISTAN ? ARE THEY PREPARED?
The murder of Aviation and Tourism Minister Abdul Rahman less than two
months after the UN-backed interim administration took office has
underlined concerns about their ability to ensure security in the
country. The interim government is a coalition of armed factions
representing disparate ethnic groups while real power is wielded by
local warlords.(10)
In addition, sky-high property rents could force local NGOs to close.
In Kabul, one NGO that was paying US $200 a month has been told to "pay
US $1,000 or move out". Abdul Fatah Mamnoon of the Agency Coordinating
Body for Afghan Relief noted that local NGOs don't have the money and
"if it continues this way I fear the worst." International aid
agencies face similar difficulties. A representative of Médecins sans
Frontières noted that the foreign media have pushed wages up
significantly. People who were previously paid $200 a month are now
being paid US $100 a day.(11)
AFGHANS WORK TOGETHER TO REBUILD CIVIL SOCIETY
Empowering ordinary Afghans and providing them with the necessary
skills to rebuild grassroots civil society will be the key to
rebuilding Afghanistan, according to Sima Wali, an Afghan-American
woman who directs Refugee Women in Development.
Wali states that "these are the silent majority, the unheard voices in
the Afghan community, the people who are rebuilding the shattered lives
of traumatized women, the elderly, the handicapped and land-mine
victims? at grave risk to themselves. Against all odds, they form
institutions and organizations, with no assistance from the
international community. They have demonstrated remarkable leadership
and ability. They are our link to democratic-minded civic institutions
in Afghanistan. They are our hope for Afghanistan ? and their voices
must be included in the peace process, in the reconstruction
Dialogue."(12)
1.www.dawn.com/2001/12/11/nat5.htm
2.www.afghanwomensmission.org/background/
3.www.dawn.com/2001/10/26/ed.htm
4.www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8
ad5/ffcac6e4b1e3f081c1256b67005659c9?OpenDocument
5. http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/terror/01110505.htm
THIS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL DIGEST IS PRODUCED BY THE CIVICUS TEAM IN OUR
VANCOUVER OFFICE. WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AT
[email][email protected])
*******************************************************************
SECTION 11. HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US
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. To post announcements, comments and
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(Due to space restrictions, we may not be able to include all
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To unsubscribe: send a blank e-mail with 'unsubscribe' in the subject
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THE e-CIVICUS TEAM:
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Sipher, Gail Goodall, Jan Wells
Address: CIVICUS, World Alliance for Citizen Participation
919, 18th Street, NW, 3rd Floor
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Tel: 1-202-331-8518 Fax: 1-202-331-8774
Email: [email][email protected] Web: www.civicus.org
Gail Goodall
New Membership Recruitment
CIVICUS
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Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Ph: 61 2 8267 6366
Fax: 61 2 8267 6352
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Email: [email][email protected]
www.civicus.org
The Carr Center's Fellows Program brings together a diverse group of human rights practitioners, scholars and activists to conduct research on human rights policy, contribute to the Center's programs, and participate in broader dialogue with students, faculty and researchers in the Harvard community. At the Center, fellows will have an opportunity to advance their own professional development by completing works in progress, bridging into new fields or disciplines, or pausing for reflection or consolidation in a practitioner career. Fellows are expected to devote some portion of their time to collaborative endeavors, as arranged by the Fellows Program Director. Fellows are also expected to complete a significant publication or research project during their period of residence.
The place for volunteering posts in sustainable development, environment and human rights.
The place for job opportunities across the field of human rights and sustainable development.
Course designed to develop practical skills in resolving specific problems and issues that policy makers and managers confront when they reach the implementation phase of health reforms. The two week AAHPTI ESA regional course builds basic competencies in reform implementation, and focuses on specific issues facing countries throughout the ESA region.
Britain and other western countries were left frustrated and impotent yesterday after Robert Mugabe formally declared that he had overwhelmingly won Zimbabwe's presidential election.
The government of Zimbabwe should immediately and unconditionally release more than 1400 people, most of them polling agents and civil society election observers, who were arrested nationwide, mostly on Monday 11 March, and detained in police custody following last weekend's presidential election, says Amnesty International.
If the Zimbabwe turnout figures published by the government are to be believed, more people have voted in President Mugabe's stronghold of Mashonaland East province than anywhere else.
President Mbeki is the one man who can make an immediate difference as Mugabe pushes Zimbabwe further towards anarchy. It is a time for leadership, writes ZWNEWS.
African states come down on the side of Mugabe, while the West slams the poll as unfair.
President Robert Mugabe won re-election on Wednesday in a victory immediately rejected by his challenger Morgan Tsvangirai, who claimed the Zimbabwean people had been "cheated".
For a breakdown of polling stations, voter turnout and other facts and figures about the Zimbabwean presidential elections.
A useful resource for electoral facts and figures in southern Africa, including the Zimbabwean presidential poll.
The Rural Development Services Network has withdrawn from the World Summit on Sustainable Development secretariat, insisting that the political independence of civil society is being undermined.
At the second Preparatory Committee of the WSSD in New York, women from all
regions and sectors came together to strategize about how to make our voices
heard at Johannesburg. The idea of the All Women's Voices Tent follows on
the success of Planeta Femea at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 - women's
organizing to mainstream gender into the final Agenda 21 document resulted
in 172 references to women, Chapter 24 devoted to women, and recognition of
women as a major group.
A rebellion against government policy on the treatment of HIV/AIDS is taking place in South Africa, with four provincial governments openly defying national policy and announcing the provision of nevirapine to all pregnant women in the public sector.
The Kenya Family Planning Association operates 14 health clinics in Kenya, giving low-income women family planning options as well as breast cancer screening and annual pap smears. For many, the clinics are the only means through which they can afford reproductive healthcare, but now, many of the clinics are in danger of closing. Last year, President Bush reinstated the global gag rule, a U.S. policy that prevents clinics receiving U.S. funds from providing, counseling, or promoting abortion even if these activities are funded with separate monies.
A study by leading South African NGO, the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) has investigated the link between HIV/AIDS and violence against women in the country. "There is quite a lot of anecdotal evidence we found in the media about women who experienced a range of abuses after disclosing their positive status," CSVR researcher Kailash Bhana, told PlusNews.
The State of the Environment report for Uganda 2000/2001 has said that Uganda's high economic growth may not be sustainable, and comes at the expense of the environment. The report released recently by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) said that although the economy of Uganda is growing fast every year, this growth may not be sustainable.
The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA)has formally launched it’s new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Progamme Guidelines.
About 6,000 girls a day undergo genital mutilation, often willingly, and up to 115 million African women have already had it, US-based development agency World Vision have said.
While men have been the high profile targets of Zimbabwe's political violence, concern is beginning to emerge that women may have been its hidden victims.
Toward a Compassionate Society, published by the Women's Learning Partnership (WLP), is an anthology on creating a culture of peace that addresses the importance of cultural pluralism and women's role in promoting peace in a rapidly globalizing world. The issues are examined from a variety of gender-focused cultural and inter-disciplinary perspectives including sociology, anthropology, human rights, philosophy, and religion.
The Pentagon's new blueprint on nuclear forces has raised the question whether the Bush administration is lowering the threshold for using nuclear arms. In its Nuclear Posture Review, the Pentagon cites the need for new nuclear arms that could have a lower yield and produce less nuclear fallout. The weapons, the Pentagon said, could be designed to destroy underground complexes, including stores of chemical and biological arms. The targets might be situated in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya or North Korea, a reorientation away from cold war scenarios involving Russia.