e-CIVICUS - Connecting civil society worldwide - Number 140
20 November, 2001

CONTENTS

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

A. FROM THE DESK OF THE CIVICUS SECRETARY-GENERAL

THE HUMAN FALLOUT OF POLITICAL CRISES

As the military action against the Taliban and its allies, proceeds full
speed with its multi front attack, civil society representatives and UN
officials alike are pleading with governments to include the world's
refugees in the overall strategic picture. At the start of the year 2001,
up to 21.8 million men, women and children were listed as "people of
concern" to the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
This figure includes refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), asylum
seekers and returnees still in the process of settling in. These numbers
have no doubt swelled with the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

The UNHCR and non-governmental refugee organisations are in a serious bind
because Afghanistan's neighbours, especially Iran and Pakistan have sealed
their borders to the human influx. However, another set of statistics
provides us with some perspective on the hesitation of these countries,
notably Pakistan, in accepting more refugees. The UNHCR notes that the
largest refugee population increase this year was in Pakistan. As with the
year 2000, the number one host country in the world was Pakistan,
sheltering over 2 million refugees. Given the vulnerable economic
condition of the South Asian nation, new refugee populations certainly
place a tremendous strain upon its resources, apart from influencing the
local political dynamics, as we have well observed over the past two decades.

Over 289 UNHCR offices worldwide work with more than 500 non-governmental
organizations (as implementing partners) in caring for, and ultimately,
reducing the number of refugees. Activities range from advocacy to
negotiating with governments to grant safe havens for refugee populations;
maintaining camps which provide food and shelter for refugees; reuniting
families; providing legal assistance to asylum seekers; monitoring and
conducting refugee repatriation (to their countries of origin) or
resettlement (in the host countries or in a neutral third country);
documenting statistics of refugee movements around the world, and so on.
Several UNHCR personnel, NGO representatives and other civil society
volunteers have died while serving refugees, often in conflict situations.

According to the UNHCR and other refugee organisations, including the
International Organisation of Migration and the United States Committee of
Refugees, Afghanis constitute the largest single refugee population in the
world, with an estimated 3.6 million people or 30% of the global refugee
population. The UNHCR also notes that civilians from the central African
state of Burundi constitute the second largest group with 568,000 refugees
living mainly in Tanzania and Iraqis comprise the third largest population,
512,800 people living mainly in Iran. Asia as a whole has the greatest
refugee population (about 8 million), followed by Africa (over 6 million)
and Europe (5.6 million people).

During the year 2000, the UNHCR helped over 800,000 refugees return to
their homes. Just earlier this week, 200 Tanzanian refugees returned home
from Kenya, where they had been encamped since fleeing from an unstable
political situation a year ago. However, each victory like this is set back
by unfortunate situations such as the tragic sinking of an Indonesian ferry
in October 2001, and the drowning of 350 asylum seekers. Strict national
policies towards refugees and uneven implementation, usually varying with
the election years in countries around the world, pose serious challenges
for the UNHCR and its NGO counterparts. For instance, Australia has
toughened its immigration and asylum policies, refusing entry to ships
bearing refugees, and instead diverting the ships to international waters.
Thousands of refugees, including those from Afghanistan, have been turned
away this year alone. In some instances, the Australian government has
negotiated with smaller Pacific island nations, urging them to accept
refugee groups in exchange for generous aid packages. There have also been
instances where refugees on board these vessels have taken to mass hunger
strikes, protesting the cracks in international and national laws which
permit them to slip right through. Last week, however, in a slightly more
fortunate turn of events, the Australian Navy rescued about 230 asylum
seekers from their sinking boat after a 10-day standoff near Australia's
remote Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. The asylum requests of the
refugees on board are currently being negotiated.

Refugees are the human face of global political, strategic and military
standoffs. Non-political natural or man-made disasters as well generate
refugees. In their determination to survive the most tragic and difficult
circumstances, refugees prove that the human need for a safe haven is at
least as important as the sovereign territorial considerations of the
modern nation-state system. The day-to-day efforts of civil society actors
and UN personnel worldwide in guaranteeing such safe havens, and ultimately
helping displaced people return to their normal lives, are often eclipsed
by the more sensationalist coverage of the very crises which generate refugees.

Warm regards, Kumi Naidoo

For further information, please visit
www.unhcr.ch, official website of the UNHCR
www.refugee.org, website of the US Committee of Refugees
www.reliefweb.int

B. GENERAL NEWS ABOUT CIVIL SOCIETY AND CITIZEN ACTION

VOLUNTEERING SYMPOSIUM IN GENEVA UNDER WAY - VOLUNTEERS FROM 108 COUNTRIES
TO RECOMMEND FOLLOW-UP TO UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF VOLUNTEERS 2001
[IYV Press]

More than 500 government officials and volunteer leaders from 108 countries
will take part in an International Symposium on Volunteering
(www.isv2001.org) on 18-21 November, 2001 at Geneva's International
Conference Centre. Delegates will evaluate activities of the International
Year of Volunteers 2001 (IYV) in order to recommend ways in which
governments, the UN system and civil society at large can support volunteer
action.

"This gathering of volunteering experts is crucial as we take stock of the
year's extraordinary achievements and work out key messages for the United
Nations General Assembly, which will convene two plenary sessions on the
subject on 5 December - the annual International Volunteer Day," said
Sharon Capeling-Alakija, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations
Volunteers programme (UNV). UNV is the global focal point for IYV
(www.iyv2001.org).

Prominent speakers at the four-day event include Mr. Leuenberger; H.R.H.
Crown Prince Felipe de Asturias of Spain who is serving as an IYV Eminent
Person; Dr. Judith Stamm, President of the Swiss IYV National Committee;
Ms. Capeling-Alakija, who is representing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
at the Symposium; Japanese Ambassador Koichi Haraguchi, and local authorities.

For more information visit:
www.iyv2001.org/infobase/press/01_11_14CHE_geneva_symposium_un.htm

RESPONDING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT USE OF SEPTEMBER 11 FUNDS
[Canadian Centre for Philanthropy]
2 November, 2001

Media reports about a controversial decision by the American Red Cross to
use some of the funds raised post-September 11 for administrative and other
purposes have prompted many inquiries and comments about the obligation of
charities to honour donors' intentions. In responding to these inquiries,
we have been emphasizing 3 key points:

- Charities must use donations only for the purposes indicated during the
solicitation, or they will lose donors' trust;
- Every project entails some administration costs (accounting, managing,
monitoring, etc.) and such costs are properly counted as part of the
overall program costs;
- but they must be reasonable (10-15% is usually an appropriate range).

It appears that the board of the American Red Cross has acted quickly and
decisively by firing the President/CEO who made the disputed decision about
the use of post-September 11 funds, so this is a case where the systems of
governance and board oversight seem to have worked as they are supposed to.

A recent decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, involving The
Aids Society for Children (Ontario), sets out the legal obligations of
charities and charity directors concerning the control and use of
fundraising revenues. (A full description of the Court's findings and the
implications for charities has been prepared by lawyer Terrance Carter of
the firm Carter & Associates, and can be found in his Charity Law Bulletin
No.9 at www.charitylaw.ca.) Every charity board member should be aware of
at least the following points:

- The charity has a legal, fiduciary obligation to use donations only for
its charitable purposes;
- The charity is responsible for the actions of its fundraiser(s), and
cannot avoid responsibility by describing the fundraiser as an independent
contractor;
- The charity is responsible to account for the gross amount of all
donations received from the public and not simply the net amount paid to
the charity by the fundraiser;
- The charity and its directors will have breached their fiduciary
obligation if the charity signs a contract with a fundraiser that causes
prejudice to the charity (such as one that misrepresents the purposes for
which donations are to be used);
- Directors of a charity must therefore ensure, either by enacting policy
or through direct oversight, that all fundraising activities of a charity,
including the terms of contracts with professional fundraisers, meet all
legal requirements;
- The charity must ensure that all aspects of fundraising literature and
communication accurately describe how donations will be used; the charity
and the board of directors will be held accountable for ensuring that funds
are used in accordance with the donors' reasonable interpretation.

These provisions, and more, are included in the Canadian Centre for
Philanthropy's Ethical Fundraising and Financial Accountability Code. For
more information about the Code, and how your charity can reassure donors
by adopting it, please go to www.ccp.ca.

REVOLUTIONARY ASSOCIATION OF THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN'S (RAWA) APPEAL TO
THE WORLD COMMUNITY
[Association for Women's Rights in Development]
13 November, 2001

The people of Afghanistan do not accept domination of the Northern Alliance
(NA)!

Now it is confirmed that the Taliban have left Kabul and the NA has entered
the city. The world should understand that the NA is composed of some bands
who did show their real criminal and inhuman nature when they were ruling
Afghanistan from 1992 to 1996. The retreat of the terrorist Taliban from
Kabul is a positive development, but entering of the rapist and looter NA
in the city is nothing but a dreadful and shocking news for about 2 million
residents of Kabul whose wounds of the years 1992-96 have not healed yet.
Thousands of people who fled Kabul during the past two months were saying
that they feared coming to power of the NA in Kabul much more than being
scared by the US bombing.

The Taliban and Al-Qaeda will be eliminated, but the existence of the NA as
a military force would shatter the joyful dream of the majority for an
Afghanistan free from the odious chains of barbaric Taliban. The NA will
horribly intensify the ethnic and religious conflicts and will never
refrain to fan the fire of another brutal and endless civil war in order to
retain in power. The terrible news of looting and inhuman massacre of the
captured Taliban or their foreign accomplices in Mazar-e-Sharif in past few
days speaks for itself.

Though the NA has learned how to pose sometimes before the West as
"democratic" and even supporter of women's rights, but in fact they have
not at all changed, as a leopard cannot change its spots. RAWA has already
documented heinous crimes of the NA. Time is running out. RAWA on its own
part appeals to the UN and world community as a whole to pay urgent and
considerable heed to the recent developments in our ill-fated Afghanistan
before it is too late.

We would like to emphatically ask the UN to send its effective
peace-keeping force into the country before the NA can repeat the
unforgettable crimes they committed in the said years. The UN should
withdraw its recognition to the so-called Islamic government headed by
Rabbani and help the establishment of a broad-based government based on the
democratic values.

RAWA's call stems from the aspirations of the vast majority of the people
of Afghanistan.

ZERO VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN - CHILD RIGHTS WEEK IN PAKISTAN

Hundreds of enthusiastic school children and large number of people from
different segments of society took part in a walk on 12 November, organized
by the Madadgaar, a joint venture of the Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal
Aid (LHRLA) and UNICEF, to create awareness about the rights of the child
and their protection in the society.

In response to the poor state of children in the Pakistan demands the
immediate attention of all segments of society Madadgaar, Pakistan s First
Child Help Line and Protection Service for Children & Women, organized a
Child Rights Week on 12-20 November, 2001 to create awareness among the
masses about child rights.

The Walk ended at Mazar-e-Quid where President LHRLA, Zia Ahmed Awan,
informed the participants about the services of Madadgaar and asked them to
call Madadgaar Help Line 111-911-922 if they observe any violation of human
rights against children.

IMPROVE MEDIA COVERAGE OF YOUR ISSUE
[Nonprofit Quarterly e-Newsletter, November 2001, Issue 6]

In this economic recession and post September 11 era that is marked by
budget shortfalls and shifting priorities, a critical question nonprofits
are grappling with is "How are resources going to be allocated?"

The role of the media in answering this question must not be ignored. Media
educates and influences public opinion, which then influences legislation
and allocation of resources.

People are asking how they can get their issues, concerns and policy
positions covered in the media. In an age where most news stories come from
government sources and corporate press releases, it is extremely important
that nonprofits understand how reporting works and act to expand their
capacity to inform and influence the media process. To fail to do so is to
confine the nonprofit sector to the margins of social policymaking, and
already isolated communities to silence.

Charlotte Ryan, Co-director of the Boston College Media Research Action
Project, details the current environment and outlines the starting points
and steps nonprofits can take to strengthen their public voice in her
article "Why Take Media Seriously?"

To read the article visit: www.nonprofitquarterly.org/special/ryan.php

WAY COLLECTS EVENTS FOR 2002 CALENDAR

The World Assembly of Youth (WAY) invites interested parties to post
contributions on youth events in 2002 by sending an e-mail to
[email protected]. This will allow WAY to compile a
comprehensive calendar of global youth events for the coming year, and also
publicise events to an extensive list of recipients.

Please specify name of the programme, dates, venues, themes, organisers,
participation fee, contact & registration information.

INTERNET: www.worldassemblyofyouth.org

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

17TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR VOLUNTEER EFFORT (IAVE)
CONFERENCE (*)
"Volunteering, Reaching Out for Reconciliation and Peace"

The Korean Organizing Committee formed of 16 major volunteer organizations
will host the 17th World Conference of IAVE in autumn 2002. The main goals
of the five-day conference are to raise the consciousness about the
importance of volunteerism as a basic unit of establishing a civil society:
by solidifying co-operation and sharing information; and to empower
volunteer activity in a way it can contribute to reconciliation and peace,
especially in a disputed region like the Korean Peninsula. The conference
planners hope to host 1200 people from more than 80 countries.

A variety of themes in will be presented in over 100 workshop sessions. A
call for papers will go out later this year, check www.iave.org later for
details.

Topics include:
- Volunteering for human rights and world peace;
- Volunteering for immigrants and refugees;
- Youth volunteering and service learning; sustainable development;
- Healthy civil society;
- Culture;
- Government policy and volunteer facilitation;
- Religion;
- Media and volunteer promotion.

The conference will also include study visits, social and Korean cultural
events.

THEME: Volunteering, Reaching Out for Reconciliation and Peace
DATE: 29 September - 3 October, 2002
VENUE: COEX-ASSEM Convention Center, Seoul, Korea
ORGANISER: International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE)
CONTACT: Kathi Dennis, IAVE
E-MAIL: [email protected]
INTERNET: www.iave.org

D. RELEVANT POSITION LISTINGS

RAPCAN SEEKS TRAINING MANAGER

The Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (RAPCAN)
is an NGO based in South Africa committed to the development of innovative
child abuse prevention strategies which combat the patterns of abuse which
affect the lives of children and adults everywhere.

RAPCAN seeks to appoint a Training Manager to join its training team.

The Training Manager will be responsible for:

- Coordination and management of the work of the training team to ensure
that the standards are met
- Developing new training material
- Pursuing strategic alliances with others organisations offering services
to abused children
- Developing appropriate materials to market the services of the RAPCAN
training department

The ideal candidate will be an experienced trainer
- with leadership qualities and management experience
- counselling and supervision skills
- materials development skills
- capable of record keeping, report writing, and basic administration
- computer literate
- in possession of a valid code 08 driver's license
- dedicated and reliable
- networking skills
- a dynamic and effective communicator
- able to work independently and in a team
- committed to child abuse prevention.

In addition the following qualities would be advantageous:
- a professional qualification in a relevant field
- knowledge of children's rights and challenges facing children
- knowledge of psychological, social and legal issues relating to child
development and child abuse
- experience in an NGO environment
- own vehicle.

Remuneration is negotiable, based on experience. RAPCAN is an equal
opportunity employer. The organisation is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
The position is available from January 2002.

Applicants should send a letter of application and a CV, including 3
contactable referees, to:
The Selection Committee, RAPCAN
ADDRESS: 28 Lower Main Road, Observatory, 7925
FAX: (27-21) 448-9042
E-MAIL: [email protected].

For more information:
CONTACT: Jean Luyt at RAPCAN
TEL: (27-21) 448-9034.

Application deadline: 23 November, 2001.

E. NEW PUBLICATIONS

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

Published in 2001 in the US by Kumarian Press

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

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

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

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

TO ORDER:

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

"YEARBOOK OF INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
2001/2002" NOW AVAILABLE

Articles in the ninth edition:

- Global Environmental Governance: UN Fragmentation and
Coordination Steinar Andresen, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
- ISO Environmental Standards: Industry's Gift to a Polluted Globe or the
Developed World's Competition-Killing Strategy? - Dr Jennifer Clapp, Trent
University
- The 1999 Multi-Pollutant Protocol: A Neglected Break-Through in Solving
Europe's Air Pollution Problems? - Jorgen Wettestad, Fridtjof Nansen Institute
- The Basel Convention and the International Trade in Hazardous Wastes Dr
Johnathan Krueger, Belfer Centre for Science and International Affairs,
Harvard University
- The United National Fish Stocks Agreement - Professor Lawrence Juda,
Department of Mariner Affairs, University of Rhode Island
- The World Bank: A Lighter Shade of Green? - Professor David Hunter,
Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

There is also info on Agreements on Environment and Development,
Organizations (IGO's) (NGO's) and (ISO's) as well as Country Profiles.

Order from Earthscan:

TEL.: (44-1903) 828-800
FAX: (44-20) 727-81142
E-MAIL: [email protected]
INTERNET: www.earthscan.co.uk

BUSINESS PARTNERS FOR DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Business Partners for Development has published a report entitled
'Endearing Myths, Enduring Truths: Enabling Partnerships Between Business,
Civil Society and the Public Sector'. The report provides an insight into
the emerging lessons from BPD's four Clusters. It can be viewed on line at
www.bpdweb.org/krg where you can also register to get on BPD's general
mailing list.

F. INTERNET NEWS AND WEBSITES

11 SEPTEMBER & EARTH SUMMIT 2002 ONLINE DEBATE
[Network2002]

During six days, 19-24November, 2001, the Heinrich-Boell Foundation and
UNED Forum will hold an online forum to discuss the implications of 11
September, 2001 on the Johannesburg process. The organisers have invited
eminent intellectuals from all over the globe to contribute short opinion
articles as "Think Pieces" to start the debate.

Earth Summit 2002 will be held ten years after the historical Rio
Conference on Environment and Development, and one year after the attacks
in New York and Washington. Still, preparations for the Summit go on
apparently untouched by the recent events. But if everything changes, can
the Johannesburg Summit and its preparatory process remain untouched? 11
September and its aftermath pose a whole set of new questions:

- Will the shock create a new climate of international co-operation between
North and South, East and West, thus creating a fertile ground for a new,
"global deal"?
- Will the terrorist attacks shift media attention, and priorities of
governments away from the issues of poverty, environmental degradation and
globalisation that are the centre of the Johannesburg agenda? Will the
climate of an unfolding "global civil war" ultimately lead to the failure
of Johannesburg 2002, symbol of global co-operation?
- Does the Johannesburg agenda need a re-framing, for example in terms of
(environmental) security or the provision of global common goods, peace
being one of them?
- Johannesburg was partly conceived as a global response to the challenges
of globalisation. How will the globalisation debate and the
anti-globalisation movement be affected by the recent developments?
- How can civil society engaged in the preparations towards Johannesburg
2002 react on the new developments? What are strategies to make the World
Summit a success under these new circumstances?

The Heinrich-Boell Foundation and UNED Form, both organisations active in
the Johannesburg process, joined forces to create a space for a global
debate on these questions. We wish to contribute to create a common
understanding on the significance of the recent developments for the
Johannesburg process.

The Online-Forum will be moderated by Jasmin Enayati, UNED Forum.

To register for the debate follow the link under Earth Summit Updates at
www.earthsummit2002.org

KUBATANA WEBSITE OF THE NGO NETWORK ALLIANCE PROJECT IN ZIMBABWE

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

INTERNET: www.kubatana.net

PRESS RELEASE ON SYNERGOS
www.synergos.org/01/fdchivaids.htm

G. SCHOLARLY SUPPORT AND AWARDS

GREEN RIBBON AWARD

Deadline 30 April - annually

The Green Ribbon Awards are presented by the Minister for the Environment
to recognise outstanding contributions by individuals, organisations or
businesses to addressing some of New Zealand's environmental problems.

Awards will be presented for outstanding efforts in:
- Caring for our urban environment
- Caring for our rural environment
- Caring for our biodiversity
- Raising awareness of environmental issues
- Business caring for the environment
- State of the environment reporting
- Kids who care - youth action for the environment

For further information visit: www.mfe.govt.nz/management/awards/greenrib.htm

INTERNATIONAL PHILANTHROPY FELLOWS PROGRAM AT THE JOHN HOPKINS INSTITUTE

The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies, Center for Civil Society
Studies is pleased to announce a call for applications for the
International Fellows in Philanthropy Program for the 2002-2003 academic
year. This program based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, affords an
opportunity for advanced study, research, and training for up to eight
participants each year who are involved in studying or managing private
nonprofit, or philanthropic organizations outside of the United States, or
working as NGO liaisons in the public or commercial sectors. Fellowships,
which can be an academic year or semester, are available at both the Junior
and Senior level.

Eligibility:

We are soliciting candidates who: 1) have demonstrated a high degree of
interest, experience, and professional competence in research, management,
or general leadership related to the voluntary, nongovernmental, nonprofit,
or philanthropic sector; or 2) nonprofit liaison officers established by
governments and multinational organizations who play a role in linking with
nonprofit organizations through project partnerships, legal reform
initiatives, and a variety of other activities.

Candidates are expected to have attained a university diploma equivalent to
the American Bachelors of Arts or Science degree and be capable of carrying
out independent research and inquiry. A high degree of English fluency is
required as demonstrated by a score of 600 or higher on the TOEFL exam.

There are no restrictions as to nationality (except that US citizens are
excluded from eligibility). Fellows are required to attend the annual
International Fellows in Philanthropy Conference prior to their fellowship
year and are strongly encouraged to participate in subsequent annual
conferences.

Deadline for submission of applications is February 25, 2002.

For more information, or to download an application, visit:
www.jhu.edu/~philfellow or contact Program Manager Carol Wessner at
[email protected].

H. FROM THE READER

PROMOTING A CULTURE OF PEACE

In light of World Peace Week (November 18 - 24), and the events of
September 11th, this message is being sent to inspire and affiliate
organizations with the 'Promoting a Culture of Peace' contest.

In our effort to break the chain of pessimism and loss of hope, we believe
that granting someone the chance to express his/her views on and hopes for
peace is something that can truly help bring people together. With your
help, we can achieve a beautiful community of peace promoters, and at the
same time, display and promote a gallery of expressions that will urge and
inspire others to reflect and carry on the word and actions of peace.

The top 10 submission expressions chosen from the works we receive will be
featured on a postcard that will be sent to the artists and organizations
that help us with this initiative.

The deadline for submissions is 7 December, 2001 and winners will be
announced in the new year.

TakingITGlobal (http://www.takingitglobal.org/) is a not-for-profit,
international organization. Young people from over 100 countries have
signed up as members of our virtual community in just over one year! Our
focus is to inspire, inform and involve youth within their own communities
on a local and global scale, through valuable online resources and real
world projects and initiatives. The 'Global
Gallery' (http://www.takingitglobal.org/gallery/) is one such initiative,
with an aim to inspire and connect youth through the arts and
technology-worldwide!

If you would like more information on how we can work together on this and
future projects, please do not hesitate to reply!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

TakingITGlobal Gallery Team!
[email protected]

For more information visit:
www.takingitglobal.org/express/gallery/contest.html

HELLO,

I was hoping that you might be willing to mention our organization,
Cross-Cultural Solutions, in your newsletter.

If you have ever wanted to ***volunteer abroad*** but can't commit for
years at a time, you might be interested in Cross-Cultural Solutions. These
programs allow you to work with dynamic grass-roots organizations while
immersing yourself in the local culture. Volunteers typically work in the
areas of education, health care and development, and participants' skills
and interests are carefully matched with the needs of the community.
Activities include working with children in orphanages and children with
disabilities, teaching English, providing companionship for senior
citizens, shadowing doctors, teaching preschool and more! Volunteer
programs range from two weeks to six months and are available in Asia,
Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Please note: Volunteers pay a
tax-deductible program fee that covers all of their in-country expenses,
including in-country transportation, food and lodging. International
airfare is additional.

Kristin Hegazy
Marketing Coordinator, Cross-Cultural Solutions
E-MAIL: [email protected]
INTERNET: www.crossculturalsolutions.org

I. ABOUT CIVICUS

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is an international
alliance dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society
throughout the world.

e-CIVICUS is produced weekly, and distributed to thousands of subscribers
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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]
INTERNET: www.civicus.org