e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 143
10 December, 2001

CONTENTS

A. From the desk of the CIVICUS Secretary-General
B. Relevant position listings
C. General news about civil society and citizen action
D. International conferences/workshops/meetings/fairs and exhibitions
E. Training courses
F. New publications
G. Internet news and websites
H. Scholarly support and awards
I. From the reader
J. Funders and donors profile

A. FROM THE DESK OF THE CIVICUS SECRETARY-GENERAL

RELIGION AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN A TIME OF CONFLICT

We are in the midst of the holy month of Ramadan. The Hindu observance of
Diwali was held a few weeks ago. The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah,
begins this weekend and will continue for eight days. In many parts of the
world, homes and stores have taken on a festive air in preparation for
Christmas. Earlier this week, Sikhs around the world celebrated the
anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, who laid the basis for the Sikh
religion in the fifteenth century. This is a time for reflection, renewal
and worship in many cultures. Thus, the timing of the escalation of conflict
between Israel and Palestine is both tragic and ironic, as is the ongoing
war in Afghanistan.

It is ironic as well that, most of the conflicts today - even those rooted
in deep economic or social inequalities - seem to have a distinct religious
angle. Religion has unparalleled mobilising power, to the extent that it
sometimes can distract from the political, social and economic aspects of a
conflict. This raises important questions for civil society activists. Is
religious loyalty incompatible with greater citizen participation in public
life? How is it that we find that citizens around the world, especially
youth, are coming forward to assert their religious identity in the public
arena in increasingly visible ways? Can the mobilising power of religion be
used to focus attention on global poverty and related issues in a
non-sectarian manner? Millions of voluntary religious organisations around
the world are already engaging youth and older persons in community service
and development work. How should secular and religious civil society
organizations relate, such that it is not setback by outbreaks of violence
or conflict? And finally, in what ways can we come together to explore means
of pre-empting and preventing sectarian violence?

As a civil society practitioner, it is a struggle to stay optimistic when
recent international events have demonstrated that war apparently weakens
the need for citizen participation (except when called upon to demonstrate
patriotism in a prescribed manner) and shrinks the civil liberties and space
for civil society. To be sure, the indispensability of certain sections of
civil society, especially humanitarian aid workers, during times of war is
nevertheless widely acknowledged, as is the generosity of people across the
United States to the families who lost loved ones on 11 September. Not
surprisingly though, this is a time of heightened visibility for political
and military elites. It is important to note overwhelmingly, with a few
notable exceptions, these elites are men. Religious institutions too are
overwhelmingly led by men.

As members of civil society, we must question how citizens everywhere fit
into political crises or their resolution? When talks are being held to
determine the future of a region at war, we do not as yet have mechanisms,
which will guarantee that civil society perspectives are represented. In
fact, despite progress on several social issues in the past century, there
is still a high probability that when it comes to “grand” projects such as
“nation building”, the most marginalised voices will continue to be
under-represented or invisible. The round of talks held in Bonn this week to
decide the future of post-conflict Afghanistan, brings only cautious and
limited optimism at this difficult time. While some will say, “at least
there where a few women there”, it must remain a cause for concern that it
was mainly the men with guns, with dubious track records, that dominated the
proceedings. Notwithstanding reservations about the lack of Aghani civil
society’s input and the continuing marginalisation of women, we can only
hope that this will lead to peace and ultimately justice for all Afghanistan
’s people. As the interim executive council begins reconstruction efforts in
Afghanistan, all parties concerned should make a commitment to bring in
civil society perspectives, including those of various women’s
organisations, children’s rights activists, rural, pastoral as well as urban
constituencies, and democracy activists.

Likewise, as the conflict intensifies in Israel and Palestine, we can only
hope that reason prevails and that there is a return to meaningful peace
talks that can provide security to the people of Israel and Palestine; and
equally important a just political outcome that can meet the aspirations of
the Palestinian and Israeli people. Some of the most important strides made
to work for peace and reconciliation within Israel have come from civil
society groups, with many women in particular demonstrating amazing courage,
strength and innovation. Palestinian NGOs continue to provide much needed
basic services to people in need. Again, finding creative ways for civil
society’s voice to be heard can only but assist the difficult journey to a
sustainable and just peace in the Middle East.

In the Middle East, civil society activists have been toiling for decades
to widen the space for citizen participation, in the hope that diverse
perspectives will be considered in talks of war or peace. There is an
opportunity and necessity for civil society activists around the world to
reinforce these efforts to bring citizens’ voices to the forefront.
Extending solidarity across our traditional bases or constituencies is
mutually enriching and beneficial.

In this season of spiritual renewal for many people around the world, it
is rather appropriate for us to come together as a human family determined
not to yield to pessimism. This is a time for us to recognise our strengths
and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities, challenges and threats that
lay before us, and to rededicate ourselves to building a just world, where
people’s voices are genuinely respected.

Religious leaders of all persuasions must step forward and speak out
against violence on women and children who suffer the most during war and
conflict. They need to strongly support the involvement of civil society in
public life and they need to be a voice of reason and calm calling for
justice, peace and reconciliation. In particular, they need to recognize
that full gender equality, is an indispensable part of building democracy,
peace and justice.

The convergence of the various religious observances during this time is,
something that does not happen all that regularly. It should be an
encouragement to us all to embrace diversity and difference as a source of
strength and humanity, and not a source of division and destruction. Secular
civil society activists, many who do not embrace a particular religion but
are deeply spiritual in their own way, and who express their spirituality in
their service to humanity, are also challenged to build bridges, work for
peace and reconciliation, while maintaining their steadfast commitment to
social, political and economic justice for all the people on our planet.

Warm regards, Kumi Naidoo

B. RELEVANT POSITION LISTINGS

JOBS AT CIVICUS

CIVICUS is an international civil society movement with members in over
one hundred countries. CIVICUS works with its members, and a rapidly growing
network of partners at national and global levels, to ensure that civil
society organisations enjoy the rights to organise, speak freely and to
promote the common good. CIVICUS facilitates activities to nurture the
founding, growth, protection and resourcing of citizen action worldwide and
especially where participatory democracy, freedom of association and
expression, and other enabling conditions for civil society are threatened.
Recent global events have reinforced our commitment to these values.

CIVICUS is entering a dynamic phase of expansion, with offices in
Washington, DC, London and Johannesburg. Several new positions have now
become available in our Johannesburg office, among them:

- Chief Operating Officer
- Director of Programmes
- Director of Communications
- Manager for Finance and Administration
- Human Resources and Logistics Manager

In our Washington office, we currently have an opening for: Assistant
Director, Development & Public Affairs

CIVICUS is committed to developing an internationally diverse staff. The
official working language is English, but preference will be given to
candidates who are also fluent in major international languages as well as
those with relevant experience at the national and international levels. For
full position descriptions please visit www.civicus.org [2].

Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume detailing
relevant experience, qualifications, current salary, three letters of
reference, and salary expectations to:
CIVICUS, Personnel Department
ADDRESS: 919 18th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC 20006, USA
FAX: (1-202) 331-8774
E-MAIL: [email protected] [3] (preferred).

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Closing date for applications for the Assistant Director, Development &
Public Affairs, Washington, DC and for the Human Resources and Logistics
Manager, Johannesburg, South Africa is 8 January, 2002. For all other
positions in Johannesburg, South Africa the closing date is 15 January,
2002.

C. GENERAL NEWS ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY AND CITIZEN ACTION

CALL FOR INTEREST
In Preparing the CIVICUS Civil Society-Environment Relationship Paper
For the Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2002

At the CIVICUS conference in Vancouver, Canada, a small group of
interested people, self-named ‘the environmental kitchen table’, banded
together one evening to discuss the linkages between the health of the civil
society and the health of our natural world. Kumi Naidoo asked this group if
they would lead in the preparation of a paper that would represent the
varied perspectives of CIVICUS members that could be presented at the Earth
Summit in 2002. In response, we are now issuing this call for interest.

The environmental kitchen table was particularly concerned about the
dominant worldview of “human domination over nature” which has evolved, at
least in the north, for over a century. With industrialization in the late
1800s came the ability to look at and utilize nature as a commodity. This
era replaced people’s relationship with nature with a relationship with
commerce. It also permitted us to no longer view ourselves as “part of
natural systems” but as being “evolved above natural systems”, separate and
the dominant species. This perspective is not only leading us to the demise
of the essential life support systems that we all depend upon, it has also
led to social disintegration of communities.

Academics, some governments, ecosystem managers, advocates of sustainable
development have recognized the limitations and dangers to this pathological
separation and are looking at ways to re-integrate humans with their natural
systems. This involves new ways of thinking about our relationships with
nature.

This includes the concept that people are one element in a complex web of
interdependent living systems, and as we strive towards treating all of
humankind with dignity, respect and caring, we must also do the same with
nature. If we abuse and misuse these natural living systems then we risk
loosing the basic elements of survival as a species. We must embrace
sustainability as a globally accepted social norm. In doing so humankind
must consider the values by which we will define:
- Our relationships with the natural world around us;
- Our relationships with each other (the worlds between us), and
- Our relationship to the world within us (who we choose to be).

These three relationships form an inseparable “trinity” for moving towards
sustainable societies, that we share with all life forms on Earth.

If you are interested in participating in the preparation of this paper,
please forward your statement of interest to Jennie Sparkes,
[email protected] [4] by 25 January, 2002. You can either provide a few
bullets expressing thoughts you would like included in the paper; or just
indicate that you would be interested in commenting on drafts of the paper.
We welcome your thoughts.

VOLUNTARY SECTOR ACCORD SIGNED IN CANADA
[CCP] 5 December, 2001

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien signed on 5 December a landmark Accord
between the Government of Canada and Canada’s voluntary sector. The Accord
spells out the values, principles and commitments that will underlie the
future relationship. Joining the Prime Minister for this announcement was
the Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board and Chair
of the Reference Group of Ministers on the Voluntary Sector, as well as
Marlene Deboisbriand, Chair of the Voluntary Sector Steering Group for the
Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI). Ms Deboisbriand signed the Accord on
behalf of the voluntary sector. Attendees at the signing ceremony included
Patrick Johnston, President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy,
who is co-chair of the VSI Joint Coordinating Committee.

The Accord was jointly developed by representatives from the federal
government and the voluntary sector. An initial draft of the Accord was
substantially revised after extensive consultations with voluntary sector
leaders across Canada.

In his opening message about the Accord, the Prime Minister said: “Today,
more than ever before, Canada depends on the combined strength of its
private, public and voluntary sectors. While each of these contributes to
our quality of life and deserves recognition, we are showcasing today the
special value of the voluntary sector. A sector that is, in short, essential
to our collective well being.”

The Government of Canada and the voluntary sector have long worked
side-by-side. Now, the Accord between the Government of Canada and the
Voluntary Sector marks the launch of a new era of co-operation and respect.

To see the final Accord, please visit
www.vsi-isbc.ca/eng/joint_tables/accord/the_accord_doc.cfm [5].
---
Prime Minister Chrétien also announced funding of CND 50 million over five
years for the Canada Volunteerism Initiative(CVI), a new program to
strengthen volunteerism, and undertake data collection, analysis and
dissemination to improve our understanding of volunteerism’s impact on
Canada’s economic and social well-being. Like the Accord, the CVI was
developed jointly by voluntary sector and federal government representatives
as part of the five-year Voluntary Sector Initiative.

BUILDING PEACE AMONG CHILDREN IN WAR-TORN AFRICA
Young Peace Ambassadors to promote conflict resolution and tolerance among
refugee children in Africa

On 10 December, 2001, Soroptimist International launches its new appeal,
Building Peace Among Children, with the World Association of Girl Guides and
Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Funds raised by the Soroptimists' appeal will finance
a Peace Ambassadors programme through which Peace Ambassadors will be
identified from among African Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who live in
situations of conflict, violence, and instability.

Peace Ambassadors will be trained on issues such as working in a
democracy, building multicultural acceptance, tolerance and conflict
resolution during a peace seminar which will be held in Rwanda at the start
of the project.

“Working with young people, today, is a challenge and a must. Giving the
young responsibilities and listening to them, is a chance for us all to
build a better world. Education is the key." said Irmeli Torssonen,
President, Soroptimist International.

Once trained, the Peace Ambassadors will return to their own countries,
and use their knowledge and experience in their own communities, working
with children and peers who are affected by conflict and violence. The
project is anticipated to reach 10,000 children and young women in some of
the most war-torn countries in Africa through peer group education.

For more information please visit: www.wagggsworld.org [6]

UNESCO’S NEW EDUCATION STRATEGY
[UNESCO E-Bulletin on EFA]

The 31st session of UNESCO's General Conference approved the
Organization's new education strategy and its programme and budget for
2002-2003. Delegates unanimously agreed that the Education for All
initiative is the lynchpin of UNESCO's action, as highlighted during the
first meeting of the High-Level Group on EFA (see below).

The delegates also reiterated the need for placing education at the core
of an agenda for peace and stressed that learning is above all a means for
enabling people to live together in a world community based on tolerance,
democracy, non-violence and inter-cultural dialogue.

"This has always been at the heart of UNESCO's agenda, but the renewed
urgency created by dramatic world events, and the dangers and fears that
these in turn generated made our reflections on the educational challenge
ever more topical, ever more relevant," said Professor Michael Omolewa,
Chairman of the Education Commission.

The General Conference endorsed UNESCO's three main strategic objectives
in education: to promote education as a fundamental right, to work to
improve the quality of education, and to stimulate innovation and the
sharing of knowledge and best practices.

The General Conference in Paris took place between 15 October - 3
November, 2001.
---
EDUCATION FOR ALL TASK FORCE UNDER PREPARATION

As stipulated in the Communiqué of the High-Level Group meeting in Paris,
UNESCO is now working to set up a Task Force to operationalize the Dakar
Framework for Action. The main task of the Task Force is to develop a
strategy by March 2002, which will identify major actions to be taken within
specified timelines; general roles and responsibilities of partners;
linkages among activities, including a clear description of how flagships
are integrated into country-level activities; and a consensus on the global
initiative. UNESCO is currently considering the composition of the Task
Force, which will be announced shortly.

The Communiqué is available in English, French and Spanish on UNESCO's EFA
Website where you will also find all documents related to the first meeting
of the High-Level Group.
INTERNET: www.unesco.org/education/efa/global_co/policy_group/index.shtml [7]

CIVIL SOCIETY AND KNOWLEDGE
Growing your own...
How lay people turn into experts

This is the title of the keynote address which the German science
journalist Wolfgang C. Goede delivered at the International Conference of
Science and Technology Journalists in Tokyo (23-26 October, 2001). Below you
find an abstract from the speech, for the entire manuscript contact Wolfgang
C. Goede ([email protected] [8]).

“We are standing on a goldmine - the knowledge and expertise of billions
of people. So far it has been tapped only socially and politically as the
fast growing number of self-help and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
demonstrates. Worldwide more than one million NGOs are operating, in Germany
alone 70,000 organizations with three million members. Political parties by
contrast have only 1,5 million members. These new groups constitute civil
society and have become a strong pillar of our democracies. But "lay
knowledgeability" (Brian Wynne, University of Lancaster) must also be
utilized for the scientific process if we want to meet the challenges of
this century: energy, nutrition, climate, and above all peace. We science
journalists must not only present the results of research and its
applications in comprehensive and popular ways, we also must invent new ways
of communication and interaction between scientists and the public. A new
partnership of the stakeholders is needed, "a new social contract" (Michael
Gibbons, Assoc. of Commonwealth Universities) which cultivates open
democratic dialogues. Civic scientists and civic journalists can create
civic engagement which will produce the social capital to settle our major
problems.”

D. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, MEETINGS, FAIRS, EXHIBITIONS
(Conferences marked with an asterisk (*) are appearing in this newsletter
for the first time)

DEVELOPMENT MARKETPLACE 2001 (*)

Established by the World Bank, Development Marketplace (DM) an internet
site to create a place of ideas, talent and resources that address
development challenges. Every year DM is open for proposals to develop
innovative approaches addressing a range of issues in poverty. The 2001
winning projects will share USD 3 million in start-up funds.

The 2001 winners will be chosen by an international jury from 205
finalists and award seed money to implement those projects. The event will
take place in January 2002 in Washington DC (the event postponed from Autumn
2001 due to 11 September events.)

Registration for the DM is now open to the public. Admission to the event
is free and open to all individuals and organizations in the international
development community.

DATE: 9-10 January, 2002
VENUE: Washington, DC, USA.
ORGANISER: DM, World Bank
INTERNET: www.developmentmarketplace.org [9]

For further information, guidelines on submitting a proposal for 2002 and
to register please visit: www.developmentmarketplace.org [9]

THIRD INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MOBILISATION:
DEVELOPING LOCAL ROOTS (*)

The Resource Alliance is pleased to present the Third International
Conference on Sustainable Resource Mobilisation: Developing Local Roots in
partnership with the South Asian Fundraising Group.

The conference will focus on the key issues involved in building an active
and accountable non-profit sector strongly rooted in local support and
legitimacy. Leading speakers include: Kumi Naidoo, Rajesh Tandon, Richard
Holloway, Elkanah Odembo and Tony Elischer.

Key conference themes include:

- Governance and accountability of NGOs;
- Identity, Image and Communications of NGOs within the local community;
- Building effective relationships between local NGOs, International NGOs,
the corporate sector and donor agencies;
- Advocating for an enabling environment for domestic resource
mobilisation.

This all-inclusive event is a must for key stakeholders working within the
voluntary sector in developing countries, including NGO and CSO leaders,
decision makers and implementers in donor agencies and INGOs.

If you book before 17 December, 2001 you can benefit from a USD 90 early
booking discount.

DATE: 4-7 March 2002
VENUE: Agra, India
ORGANISER: The Resource Alliance
TEL.: (44-20) 758-70287
FAX: (44-20) 758-24335
E-MAIL: [email protected] [10]
INTERNET: www.resource-alliance.org/upload/Agra/index.htm [11]

E. TRAINING COURSES

WOMEN'S STUDIES PROGRAM AT EL COLEGIO DE MÉXICO HOST ITS XIII SUMMER
COURSE IN 2002
1 July - 2 August, 2002

Since its creation in 1983, research and teaching in the field of gender
relations have made the Programa Interdisciplinario de Estudios de la Mujer
(PIEM) at El Colegio de México a pioneer in Latin America.

Every summer PIEM offers an introductory course in Spanish to
international and national students who seek to expose themselves to a
program of conferences and classes in a relaxed atmosphere, characterized by
academic rigor and intense intellectual exchange. PIEM has become a model
for other academic and government programs dealing with gender and women´s
studies in Mexico, and Latin America at large.

During the five weeks students discuss diverse methodological, theoretical
and empirical perspectives dealing with novel issues in the field of gender
studies to enrich their work as graduate students, activists or
professionals eager to gain new insights into solid interpretations of
social phenomena.

Topics for discussion: the impact of global capital on women's lives,
women's rights as human rights, violence against women, and contemporary
debates around sexuality.

Students will enjoy access to El Colegio´s excellent library and
cafeteria; they will participate in visits to colonial and contemporary
buildings that host important activities or historical events related to
women's lives.

Proficiency in Spanish is requested, but each student will be evaluated on
an individual basis.

The course has a cost of USD 1,200 which includes photocopies, visits to
museums and afternoon activities. Accommodation information will be provided
upon request.

Deadline of application: 30 March, 2002.

For further information and application form
CONTACT: Adriana Ortiz - Ortega, Coordinator
E-MAIL: [email protected] [12], [email protected] [13]

F. NEW PUBLICATIONS

THE CHARITABLE IMPULSE:
NGOS AND DEVELOPMENT IN EAST AND NORTH EAST AFRICA
Edited by Ondine Barrow and Michael Jennings

ISBN 1-56549-137-8 USD 24.95 paperback
ISBN 1-56549-138-6 USD 60.00 cloth

NGOs have forged a dominant, but problematic, role in the political
landscape of relief and development, and in many Southern nations. In
Northern countries they are increasingly visible through publicity, advocacy
and lobbying activities.

The Charitable Impulse explores how NGOs have responded to the problems
thrown up by this increased prominence, through historical and contemporary
case studies from East and North-East Africa. It includes not only sectoral
analyses - in particular refugees, famine relief, democracy and human
rights - but also an institutional focus on specific NGOs such as Oxfam and
Christian Aid. The contributors illustrate key ongoing debates about the
role of NGOs in both relief and development work.

The book's emphasis on actual practice will make it extremely useful for
students of international development and international civil society, as
well as NGO practitioners.

To order this book please visit the Kumarian website at www.kpbooks.com [14] or
send and e-mail to [email protected] [15].

A GUIDE TO BUDGET WORK FOR NGOS AVAILABLE ONLINE

The International Budget Project (IBP) has published the second version of
"A Guide to Budget Work for NGOs," and it is available on IBP's Web site. It
includes the basic principles of budget work, examples of useful resources,
and best practices. The Guide provides a basic understanding of the roles
that NGOs can play in this field.

INTERNET: www.internationalbudget.org/resources/guide/index.htm [16]

G. INTERNET NEWS AND WEBSITES

ITRAINONLINE.ORG: NEW ONLINE TRAINING RESOURCE

Six leading organisations in the Internet and IT field have come together
to launch Itrainonline.org, an online resource containing the best and most
relevant computer and Internet training resources for social justice and
sustainable development.

APC, Bellanet, INASP, IICD, IISD and OneWorld.net have joined forces
reducing duplication in both their online content and training programs.
More importantly they have created a single online entry point for trainers
and organisations looking for online resources related to the Internet and
computer training.

Itrainonline.org was launched on 30 November, 2001. At present the site is
available in English and Spanish with more languages to be added later.
Topics covered include computer basics, building online communities, email,
security and web design.

For further information on the new initiative please visit
www.itrainonline.org [17]

H. SCHOLARLY SUPPORT AND AWARDS

FELDMAN GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Combining Study in the U.S. and Fieldwork in Sri Lanka

Deadline: 31 December, 2001

The Feldman Fellowship for the Master of Arts in Sustainable International
Development (SID) will be awarded to an early to mid-career planner
interested in integrated conservation and development. The Fellowship begins
September 2002.

The Fellow joins SID graduate students from over 30 countries for an
interdisciplinary study of development and project management emphasizing
poverty reduction, gender, human rights, and biodiversity conservation. The
Feldman Fellow will concentrate on integrated conservation and development
and work with the Sinharaja Village Trust in Sri Lanka during her/his second
year.

Fellows receive full tuition, fees, airfare and living expenses for the
year-in-residence at Brandeis, and airfare and subsistence allowance for the
second year fieldwork. Nominations are encouraged from development
institutions including international, governmental and NGO. Self-nominations
are accepted. Women are especially encouraged to apply.

Nominations or applications should be FAXED or sent by E-MAIL preferably.
Applicants should include a curriculum vitae and a statement describing
her/his career objectives and work experience. Three letters of
recommendation (at least one professional and one academic) on letterhead
should follow by airmail. An unofficial transcript of university record is
acceptable to begin consideration. Please write the applicant’s name in the
upper right corner of each page if faxed.

To learn more about the SID Master of Arts Program, see enclosed and on
the web at http://heller.brandeis.edu/sid [18].

The Heller School is rated one of the top 10 schools of social policy in
the United States. Brandeis is located outside of Boston, Massachusetts,
USA.

Sustainable International Development Program
Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Brandeis University, U.S.A.
FAX: (1-781) 736-2774
E-MAIL: [email protected] [19]

HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD TO B92 JOURNALISTS
Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 7 December, 2001

Radio B92 journalists Svetlana Lukic and Svetlana Vukovic have won the
2001 Konstantin Obradovic Award for the development of the culture of human
rights. The award was given for their weekly program Pescanik (The
Hourglass).

The Konstantin Obradovic Award was established by the Belgrade Centre for
Human Rights in memory of its founder, one of the greatest Yugoslav and
international figures in international humanitarian law and an active
fighter for human rights.

The jury for the award was Filip David, Vesna Pesic and Vojin
Dimitrijevic.

Lukic and Vukovic received the award on 9 December night at a ceremony
celebrating Human Rights Day on 10 December, 2001.

I. FROM THE READER

Dear all Friends at e-CIVICUS,

My family wishes you a very happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Goutam Sanyal & Monika Sanyal
Dhaka

J. 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
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request that appropriate information about your organisation be included in
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the following e-mail address: [email protected] [20].
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
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To unsubscribe: send a blank e-mail with 'unsubscribe' in the subject line
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Co-ordinator of e-CIVICUS:
Miklos Barabas, Programme and Communications Director
TEL.: (36-1) 356-8440 FAX: (36-1) 356-8499
E-MAIL: [email protected] [20]
INTERNET: www.civicus.org [2]