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From: Ricardo Ocampo <redluz@...> 
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2006 11:50:42 -0500 
To: Foro Interredes <interredes@...> 
Subject: Good News Agency 
 
 
 
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From: universalalliance.org@... 
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2006 08:58:10 +0100 
To: Positive News <office@...> 
Subject: Good News At Last! Please Share Widely! 
 
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David Allen Stringer 
The Universal Alliance 
 
 
----------------- 
 
 
 
Good News Agency 
 
Weekly - Year VII, number 9 -  7 July 2006 
Managing Editor: Sergio Tripi, Ph. D. 
Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000 
http://www.goodnewsagency.org 
 
 Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the 
world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non 
governmental organizations, and institutions engaged in improving the 
quality of life – news that doesn’t “burn out� in the space of a day. 
 
Editorial research by Fabio Gatti (in charge) and Elisa Peduto. Good News 
Agency is published in English on one Friday and in Italian the next.  It is 
distributed free of charge through Internet to the editorial offices of more 
than 3,700 media in 48 countries and to 2,800 NGOs. 
 
It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e 
della Buona Volontà Mondiale, NGO associated with the United Nations 
Department of Public Information. The Association has been recognized by 
UNESCO as “an actor of the global movement for a culture of peace� and it 
has been included in the web site 
http://www3.unesco.org/iycp/uk/uk_sum_monde.htm 
 
Contents 
 
International legislation – Human rights – Economy and development – 
Solidarity  
Peace and security – Health – Energy and Safety – Environment and wildlife

Religion and spirituality – Culture and education 
International legislation 
(top) 
 
Europe: shrinking safe haven for war criminals 
‘Universal Jurisdiction’ prosecutions bring justice for victims 
Brussels, June 28  – Prosecutors in Europe are using the concept of 
universal jurisdiction to pursue foreign war criminals in national courts, a 
strategy that is gaining momentum across the continent and should be 
expanded, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The theory is 
that some crimes are so horrendous that they should be tried regardless of 
the geography of victims and perpetrators. “Opponents have proclaimed the 
death of universal jurisdiction, but in fact it’s alive and well in Europe,�

said Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice Program at Human 
Rights Watch. “This principle is a vital weapon in winning justice for the 
victims of the world’s worst atrocities.� 
In the 101-page report released today, “Universal Jurisdiction: The State of 
the Art,� Human Rights Watch looks beyond shrill debates about the concept 
and examines how it is working in practice. Based on interviews with judges, 
investigators, lawyers and officials in eight European countries, the report 
describes how some governments, including Britain, Denmark, Norway and the 
Netherlands, have created special war crimes units to conduct investigations 
across the globe.   
Universal jurisdiction is the power of a national court to try genocide, war 
crimes, crimes against humanity or torture – even if neither the suspect nor 
the victim are nationals of the country where the court is located, and the 
crime took place outside that country. It was most famously utilized in the 
1998 arrest of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet on torture charges 
in London at the request of a Spanish court.   (…) 
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/06/28/eca13622.htm 
 
DR Congo: UN speeds up police training to provide security for elections 
29 June – As the United Nations prepares for next month’s elections in the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the largest and most challenging it 
has ever helped organize, the UN mission there is training thousands of 
police to provide security for a vote that is meant to cement the vast 
country’s transition from a disastrous civil war. 
Just this week two companies of the National Congolese Police (PNC) 
completed their training under the auspices of the UN mission in the DRC 
(MONUC) in collaboration with the Japanese Cooperation Agency (JCA). (…) 
With the help of the international community, a total of over 46,000 police 
officers have been trained so far, 14,000 of them by MONUC. The majority has 
been trained by partners such as South Africa, Angola, France, the European 
Union and Japan. (…) 
The Congolese electorate of 25.5 million voters will be called upon, for the 
first time in 45 years, to cast their vote in some 50,000 polling stations 
for some 33 presidential, over 9,000 national legislative and over 10,000 
provincial assembly candidates, in polls that will cost hundreds of million 
dollars.  
In a related development, the UN refugee agency reported that the 
reintegration of thousands of refugees in DRC’s Equateur province is 
surpassing expectations and could encourage others to return from the 
neighbouring Republic of Congo. (…) 
http://www.un.org/apps/news/ticker/tickerstory.asp?NewsID=19045 
Codex Alimentarius Commission meets in Geneva 
Ensuring safer food for everyone 
Geneva/Rome, 29 June - The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international 
food standards body of the United Nations, will meet in Geneva from 3-7 July 
2006 to consider the adoption of a number of important proposals to improve 
protection of consumers from disease-causing organisms and substances by 
reducing their contamination of foods. If adopted, the proposals would set 
standards that would also facilitate international food trade by eliminating 
unjustified technical barriers. Some 500 delegates from about 100 countries 
and numerous nongovernmental organizations are expected to attend. (…) 
Topics on the agenda are complex and some are likely to cause intense debate 
such as the discussion on the establishment of a Task Force on Antimicrobial 
Resistance. 
Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria is a potential threat to human health. 
The incorrect use of antimicrobials, or antibiotics, in animals can result 
in the selection of bacteria that are resistant to these drugs. Through the 
slaughtering process such bacteria can end up in food. Resistant bacteria in 
food consumed by humans may cause disease in humans, which cannot be treated 
by known medicines. The new Codex Task Force would have the mandate to 
develop a risk assessment policy and strategies to reduce food safety risks 
associated with use of antimicrobials.(…) 
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000347/index.html 
 
International conference paves the way for red crystal 
June 22 - The 29th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red 
Crescent has amended the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red 
Crescent Movement to incorporate the additional emblem of the red crystal, 
which now has the same status as the red cross and red crescent. In addition 
the participants to the International Conference requested that the ICRC and 
the International Federation recognize and admit the Palestine Red Crescent 
Society (PCRS) into the Movement. 
As a consequence of this successful outcome the ICRC has now recognized the 
Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Israeli National Society, 
Magen David Adom (MDA), and the International Federation of Red Cross and 
Red Crescent Societies will admit both National Societies. This outcome 
extends the universality of the Movement to an important area of Red Cross 
and Red Crescent operations and strengthens the operational cooperation of 
the two National Societies with each other and with their international 
partners in the Movement. 
The Conference had been convened as a follow-up to the diplomatic conference 
of States in December 2005, which adopted the Third Additional Protocol to 
the Geneva Conventions, creating an additional protective emblem for the 
Movement, known as the red crystal. (…) 
The acceptance by States party to the Geneva Conventions of the Movement’s 
amended Statutes also means that National Societies can benefit from the 
flexibility afforded by the Third Additional Protocol in the use of the red 
crystal or of a combination of emblems recognized by the Conventions. The 
use of the red crystal will also provide additional protection to war 
victims and humanitarian workers in conflict situations where the red cross 
or the red crescent cannot be used. (…) http://www.icrc.org/ 
 
Lithuania joins the UNECE Agreement on global vehicle regulations 
Geneva, 15 June -- On 25 July Lithuania will become a Contracting Party to 
the 1998 Agreement on Global Vehicle Regulations. This will bring the total 
number of Contracting Parties to the Agreement to 28. At present, 
Contracting Parties include the USA, Canada, the European Community, Russian 
Federation, Japan, China, Republic of Korea, India, Malaysia, South Africa, 
New Zealand and many other European States. The 1998 Agreement is the legal 
framework for the development of global technical regulations for vehicles 
and their components, with the aim of increasing their active and passive 
safety, reducing their emissions and improving their security (anti-theft) 
performance. The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations 
(WP.29) is the body that administers the 1998 Agreement. To date, two global 
technical regulations have been adopted in the framework of the 1998 
Agreement. They address door locks and door retention components and the 
measurement procedure for emissions and fuel consumption of motorcycles. (…) 
http://www.unece.org/press/pr2006/06trans_p05e.htm 
 
Human rights 
(top) 
A new financing instrument to promote democracy and human rights 
Brussels, 29 June - The Commission has adopted a proposal for a 
self-standing financing instrument to promote democracy and human rights 
worldwide. The new instrument is to replace the present external assistance 
scheme (European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights – EIDHR), which 
will run out by the end of the year. The proposal has immediately been sent 
to the European Parliament and the Council to ensure an efficient 
legislative process enabling the instrument to become operational by the 
beginning of next year. (…) The proposal for the European Instrument for 
Democracy and Human Rights clearly spells out the particular aims of EU 
assistance under the instrument: 
∑ Enhancing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms where they are 
most at risk and providing support and solidarity to victims of repression 
and abuse;  
∑ Strengthening the role of civil society in promoting human rights and 
democratic reform, developing political participation and representation, 
and supporting conflict prevention; 
∑ Supporting the international framework for the protection of human rights 
, the rule of law and the promotion of democracy; 
∑ Building confidence in democratic electoral processes through further 
development of electoral observation and assistance. 
Past experiences made with the predecessor scheme (European Initiative for 
Democracy and Human Rights) have been taken into account in the new 
proposal. There will be a higher degree of flexibility in the EU’s 
assistance response to changing situations in human rights and democracy 
processes, while at the same time internal Commission reforms will ensure a 
smoother and simpler delivery procedure. 
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/human_rights/intro/index.htm 
 
Fight modern slavery in Cambodia 
29 June - For the fifth year in a row DanChurchAid cooperates with Roskilde 
Festival (Copenhagen, June 29-July 2) about the humanitarian focus "Act 
against slavery". The money raised from the humanitarian bottle refund 
collection will be donated to DanChurchAid partners in Cambodia. 
DanChurchAid cooperates with the Roskilde Festival about the humanitarian 
focus at the festival and the humanitarian refund collecting campaign. 
Since 2002, DanChurchAid youth volunteers have been in charge of the 
humanitarian refund collecting campaign at the Roskilde Festival. 
Like in 2005, the campaign 'Act Against Slavery' will encourage the festival 
guests to donate their refund fees on bottles, beer crates and glasses to 
help the victims of modern slavery. This year - like the previous years - 
DanChurchAid will stage a big event to make everybody at the festival aware 
of the horrors of modern slavery and opportunities to fight it. 
During the opening Sunday, 30.000 eager festival guests took over the 
camping grounds, and it didn’t take long before the party got started. Soon 
79.000 guests are ready for the full scale festival experience. 
DanChurchAid is one of the major Danish humanitarian non governmental 
organisations (NGO), working with churches and non-religious civil 
organisations to assist the poorest of the poor. When you buy your ticket 
for Roskilde Festival, you are supporting a good cause. Each year, Roskilde 
Festival donates any profits from the festival to humanitarian and cultural 
purposes. 
http://www.dca.dk/sider_paa_hjemmesiden/what_we_do/campaigns_activities/rosk 
ilde_festival/fight_modern_slavery_in_cambodia 
http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/object.php?obj=505000a&code=1 
 
World Refugee Day: Sudanese teenager transforms pain into art 
Joyce Mulama  
Nairobi, June 19 (IPS) - The drawing shows a woman clasping a child to her 
chest. Aptly titled 'Embrace', it depicts a memory that has haunted the 
artist, a former child soldier from the civil war in southern Sudan who goes 
by the name of Commander Spoon.  "This woman was carrying one baby on her 
chest, and holding two others in both her hands. As she was fleeing the 
fighting, she met me and my colleague. She was crying, asking us not to 
shoot them, but my colleague shot her and her children," said Spoon, 
describing an incident that took place in 1997. "I really cried, and drew my 
gun at my colleague: I wanted to kill him. He drew his at me, but our 
commander intervened and we dropped the weapons...Since that time, the 
picture of this woman remains vivid in my mind." The image will also be 
imprinted on the minds of others, on World Refugee Day (June 20). Spoon's 
drawing has been copied on T-shirts to be worn by those taking part in 
events to commemorate the day in Kenya, where the teenager now lives as a 
refugee.  
This comes after the work took second place in a contest for child refugees 
attending schools in the capital, Nairobi, which was initiated by the local 
office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) -- 
attracting 180 entries. (…) Spoon told IPS that he wanted to show the world 
what had happened in Sudan during the 21-year war between rebels from the 
Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) and the Khartoum 
government. About two million people died in the course of the conflict, 
which also displaced close to four million, according to the United Nations. 
The incident shown in 'Embrace' was just one of several that Spoon says he 
witnessed after being recruited to the SPLM/A. Unable to deal with these 
events, he eventually fled to neighbouring Uganda, then Kenya in 2004. He is 
now in the Riruta Satellite Primary School in Nairobi. 
Following an agreement last year to end fighting in south Sudan, Spoon would 
have liked to return home. But, the devastation wrought by the conflict gave 
him pause for thought. (…) 
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33686 
 
 
 
ADRA partners with UN to fight human trafficking 
June 28 - The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) leadership from 
its office in Thailand met recently with representatives from the United 
Nations to discuss ADRA’s Keep Girls Safe Project, an initiative that 
combats human trafficking in Thailand. With approximately 800,000 
prostitutes under the age of 18, and 200,000 of these aged 12 or younger, 
Thailand is one of the sex trade’s worst offenders. 
The Keep Girls Safe Project works to reduce the threat of commercial sexual 
exploitation to vulnerable girls and young women from disadvantaged regions 
of northern Thailand. It provides educational support for the girls, 
supplying uniforms, textbooks, stationery, and transportation, along with 
training in vocational skills. Depending on need, some also receive 
assistance with living expenses and housing. The project works to empower 
the girls, as well as raise awareness in the community to the risks and 
problems of human trafficking. (…) 
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5183 
 
FEANTSA conference on ensuring access to health for homeless people – 
Poland, 12-13 Oct. 
FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organisations working with the 
Homeless organises in Poland, on the 12 and 13 October 2006 a conference 
entitled "The right to health is a human right: ensuring access to health 
for homeless people". 
FEANTSA 2006 annual theme focuses on health and homelessness. Withing this 
framework, the conference aims to point out the difficulties and issues with 
which homeless people are faced - ranging from the type of health problems 
faced by homeless people and the issue of complex and multiple needs; 
barriers to care faced by homeless people and finding solutions to overcome 
them; policy solutions to tackle the health needs of homeless people; and 
the right to health for homeless people. 
The conference aims to bring together policymakers, homelessness service 
providers and healthcare professionals from across the EU to establish a 
better common understanding and what could be the role of the EU. The 
conference will feature 5 workshops: Ensuring access to health for homeless 
people; Mental Health and Dual Diagnosis; The Right to Health; Information 
and Training for Health; Health Promotion (…) 
http://www.epha.org/a/2262 
 
Economy and development 
(top) 
General Assembly’s budget committee lifts cap on UN spending 
28 June – The General Assembly’s budgetary committee today decided to lift 
the spending cap on the remainder of the United Nations’ two-year fiscal 
period, authorizing Secretary-General Kofi Annan to utilize the remaining 
funds in the budget for 2006-2007. 
Saying that not enough progress had yet been made in the reform of the 
Organization, the United States, Japan and Australia dissociated themselves 
from the consensus decision to lift the cap, which stems from a December 
decision of Member States to adopt a budget for the 2006-2007 biennium but 
to limit spending authorization to six months and $950 million, pending 
significant progress on such reform. 
Last week, UN Controller Warren Sach warned the budget Committee that under 
the cap the “last dollar available� would be spent before mid-July. Mr. 
Annan has recently expressed optimism that the cap, backed by major donors 
and opposed by many developing countries, would be lifted since progress in 
UN reform is ongoing and the Organization is involved in too many crucial 
operations at the current time for the world to allow them to stall. 
In that vein, before today’s vote, General Assembly President Jan Eliasson 
sent a letter to Member States listing reforms achieved so far during the 
Assembly’s 60th session, including the creation of the Peacebuilding 
Commission, the Human Rights Council, the Central Emergency Response Fund 
and the Ethics Office. He also detailed the work being done on management 
and procurement reform, two priority concerns of the donor nations. Along 
with lifting the cap, he urged all Members to commit themselves to agree on 
a resolution containing “concrete and substantive measures� on the 
management and oversight issues by 30 June. 
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=19040&Cr=UN&Cr1=budget 
 
OECD and FAO to present world Agriculture Outlook at Paris news conference - 
4 July  
Rome, 30 June - How will agriculture develop across the world over the next 
10 years? What will be the effects of rising demand and production in 
countries such as China, India and Brazil? Such questions are tackled by the 
OECD and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation in their latest joint 
study to be presented at a news conference at the OECD’s headquarters in 
Paris at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday 4 July 2006. 
 
 
The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2006-2015 presents the latest forecasts of 
trends and prices of farm products and assesses the challenges and 
uncertainties ahead. A central theme of the study is the increasing 
importance of certain developing countries in shaping the future of world 
agricultural trade. The news conference will be presented by Loek Boonekamp 
of the OECD and Merritt Cluff of the FAO. 
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/ 
 
IFAD to provide an additional US$2.1 million loan to Maldivian fishing and 
farming communities to help recover from the tsunami by building back better 
Rome, 30 June – Fishing families and small farmers in remote islands of the 
Maldives whose livelihoods were devastated by the December 2004 tsunami, 
will benefit from additional financing for a development programme. The 
programme focuses on asset recovery and rehabilitation, and on strengthening 
the country’s fishing and agriculture sectors. The first financial 
contribution towards the US$5 million Post-Tsunami Agricultural and 
Fisheries Rehabilitation Programme was approved by the International Fund 
for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in April 2005 in the form of a US$2.1 
million highly concessionary loan and a grant of US$200,000. The new US$2.1 
million loan will add to this. The remaining programme costs will be covered 
by the Government of the Maldives.(…) 
The IFAD-supported recovery, rehabilitation and development programme will 
help restore the country’s fisheries and agricultural sector. Using the 
principle of building back better, it will provide fishing communities with 
new boats and cold storage facilities and build new receiving stations for 
cleaning and processing fish. Small farmers who lost their harvests will be 
assisted with sustainable farming techniques to help improve their crops and 
make them less vulnerable to natural disasters. New farming tools and 
equipment will replace those damaged by the tsunami and a new agricultural 
produce market will be built in Male’ to help establish marketing channels 
for producers on remote islands. 
 http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2006/35.htm 
 
Nepal to tap promising trade potential 
29 June  - Conflict, poor infrastructure, a narrow range of exports, and 
slow customs procedures have severely limited Nepal’s share of global 
exports (0.02%). Through a million-dollar project launched in Kathmandu 
earlier today, the Government and the United Nations Development Programme 
(UNDP) plan to boost the nations share of international business. As Nepal 
embarks on its peace process, a trade strategy that fosters growth in jobs 
and key sectors like agriculture could significantly rejuvenate an economy 
battered by conflict,� said UNDP Resident Representative Matthew Kahane. 
Under the newly launched project, the Government and UNDP will explore 
Nepals trade potential in three promising new areas: education, health, and 
high-end retail services. According to a new regional report—also launched 
today by UNDP—developing countries need to carve out their own niche to 
succeed in the highly competitive world of global trade; but it is crucial 
that agriculture is not left behind. 
The new Asia-Pacific Human Development Report: Trade on Human Terms, which 
charts trades impact on progress in the region, concludes that in most 
developing countries a greater engagement with international markets has 
been accompanied by a rise in income inequality. 
“Inequality is at the root of Nepals conflict.  Therefore it is crucial that 
Nepal doesnt follow the trend we have seen in other countries. We should 
view trade as a means for achieving human development, rather than an end in 
itself. In a country where most people rely on farming, a trade strategy 
based on human development has to have agriculture at its core,� Mr. Kahane 
said. (…) 
http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/june-2006/nepal-20060629.en;jsessionid=a 
vCOtc6o3jGb 
 
New project to help smallholders and indigenous people in Paraguay improve 
their livelihoods 
Rome, 22 June  – Organizations of small-scale producers in Paraguay, many of 
whom have been badly affected by ten years of decline in the traditional 
cotton industry, will be helped to identify possible new business ventures 
through a project backed by the International Fund for Agricultural 
Development (IFAD). The Empowerment of Rural Poor Organizations and 
Harmonization of Investments Project will also assist small-scale farmers 
with low productivity and limited potential, indigenous groups, rural 
families headed solely by women and young people. About 120,000 people in 
eastern Paraguay will benefit. At least one third of them will be women. The 
project is partly financed by a loan of US$12 million from IFAD. The loan 
agreement was signed at the organization’s headquarters in Rome today by the 
Vice President of IFAD, Cyril Enweze and Paraguay’s Ambassador to Italy, 
Jorge Figueredo Fratta.(…) Young people, indigenous people and women are 
expected to benefit from project activities. About 72 per cent of Paraguay’s 
indigenous people are under the age of 30 and they have very limited 
employment opportunities. Women are largely excluded from social and 
economic development and many rural women are slipping into deeper poverty. 
The project will include both groups in activities to strengthen local 
organizations and in the preparation of business plans. 
 
 
“In the past, there has been little attention to strengthening subsistence 
agriculture in Paraguay�, says Paolo Silveri, IFAD’s country programme 
manager for Paraguay. “This project will support organizations to enable 
them to manage their own resources and improve their access to existing 
national resources.�(…) 
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2006/34.htm 
 
IFAD loan to fight poverty in Albania’s mountain areas 
Rome, 20 June -  A private rural commercial bank providing financial 
services that promote economic growth will be set up as part of a new 
development programme supported by the International Fund for Agricultural 
Development (IFAD). The programme aims to improve the lives of poor Albanian 
men and women living in remote mountain areas of the country. The bank is an 
innovation in Albania. It will be created through the conversion of the 
already-existing Mountain Areas Finance Fund as part of IFAD’s Programme for 
Sustainable Development in Rural Mountain Areas. It is expected that by 2010 
the bank will provide computerized services through 40 branches in rural 
areas, catering for around 20,000 clients with savings accounts. About 
10,000 borrowers will be able to expand their rural businesses through bank 
loans. The new bank will have a total loan portfolio of US$40 million. 
The five-year programme will cost US$24 million and will be partly financed 
by a loan of US$8 million from IFAD. The loan agreement was signed today at 
IFAD’s Rome headquarters by the President of IFAD, Lennart Båge, and the 
chargé d’affaires, Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Rome, Ilir 
Tepelena.(…) 
http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2006/32.htm 
 
Asia’s first Training Centre for Information Communication Technology for 
Development (APCICT) opens in the Republic of Korea 
Bangkok, 16 June (United Nations Information Services)--- The United Nations 
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) opened 
today its first Information and Communication Technology for Development 
Training Centre in Incheon, Republic of Korea. 
The Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication 
Technology for Development (APCICT) aims to improve knowledge and 
productivity for long-term economic growth and sustainable development of 
the region. The Centre is located in the Metropolitan City of Incheon and is 
expected to contribute to bridging the digital divide through providing 
training to policy makers, ICT professionals and trainers, and assisting in 
the sharing best practices in the area of ICT development among member and 
associate member countries of UNESCAP.(…)Under the terms of MOU, Microsoft 
will support the APCICT in a variety of ways including the provision of 
software and services, and assistance in the development of a technology and 
training roadmap for the Centre. Microsoft will also provide ICT education, 
certification, and support to APCICT trainers. 
The ICT training centre being inaugurated in the Republic of Korea in month 
of June when the first computer was installed in the country in 1967 and has 
since been celebrated as the “information month� since 1988. 
http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2006/jun/g29.asp 
 
 
Solidarity  
(top) 
Save Eradicating hunger: the European Commission steps up its efforts in 
food aid and food security with a €197 M package 
Brussels, 27 June - The European Commission has adopted its 2006 Annual Work 
Programme for grants in the area of food aid and food security with a global 
budget of € 197 million. The EC approach is focused on the integration of 
food security policy within the fight against poverty, hence recognizing 
hunger as the basic dimension of poverty. Activities foreseen in the Annual 
Work Programme aim at contributing to the achievement of the first 
Millennium Development Goal: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. (…) 
The European Commission is committed to give priority to food security 
operations instead of food aid. Reinforcing rapid alert systems, developing 
national strategic stocks to prevent dramatic imbalances of local markets in 
case of severe drought or plagues or improving children's nutrition through 
schools are key actions of Commission's sponsored programs. 
The present Annual Work Programme covers commitment appropriations available 
in 2006 for grants to International Organisations and Non-Governmental 
Organisations. (…) 
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/AMMF-6R6HF4?OpenDocument 
 
 
 
 
Direct Relief International gives additional half-million dollars for Asian 
tsunami aid 
Direct Aid will assist partner organizations in the areas of maternal and 
child health  
Santa Barbara, CA, June 26 – One and a half years after southeast Asia was 
devastated by the tsunami of December 26, 2004, humanitarian assistance 
non-profit organization Direct Relief International has announced it is 
disbursing an additional $595,551 in grants to host country partners in the 
still-recovering region. 
The sum is split among seven individual grants, with five directed to 
partners in Sri Lanka and two to partners in Indonesia (…)  With these new 
grants, Direct Relief has provided over $54.8 million in medical material 
aid and cash grants to the Indian Ocean region since the disaster struck, 
serving over 4.4 million people. (…) 
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5182 
 
Paul Tergat: school meals help guarantee success 
Tokyo, 3 July - Paul Tergat, the world-record holding marathon runner from 
Kenya, is the star of this year’s Japan Advertising Council campaign which 
starts rolling out next month all over the country. In the series of TV, 
print and radio ads, Tergat attributes much of his success to the meals 
provided by WFP to his school while he was growing up. “Without those meals, 
I probably would not have become the achiever that I am today,� said Tergat 
at the launch of the Japan Advertising Council campaign. Tergat is also a 
WFP Ambassador Against Hunger, and thus a very active advocate in the fight 
against global hunger.  “Paul Tergat is truly one of the most impressive 
examples of what people can achieve when they get an education and good 
nutrition,� said James Morris, Executive Director of WFP. “We are so 
grateful to the Japan Advertising Council, which is helping us reach a much 
wider audience of people willing to support our cause.� 
This is the third consecutive year that the Japan Advertising Campaign has 
chosen to support the work WFP, the world’s largest humanitarian 
organisation. Last year, it provided school meals for 22 million children in 
74 countries, and it aims to increase that number dramatically. (…) The 
campaign will run on television and radio for one year, thanks to the Japan 
Advertising Council. It will also feature in magazines and on billboards in 
subway stations around thecountry. One of Japan’s leading actors, Takashi 
Naito, narrated the advertisements in Japanese. (…) 
http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2156 
 
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation contributes $500,000 for earthquake 
relief 
Westport, CT, USA, June 20 - Save the Children announced today a $500,000 
grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support emergency relief 
efforts in Java following the devastating earthquake that hit the region on 
May 27. (…) More than 40,000 children were affected by the earthquake. Even 
more have been displaced due to a looming volcano eruption from Java's Mount 
Merapi.  
In the immediate aftermath of the devastation, Save the Children has been on 
the ground focusing on providing shelter to the displaced children and 
families, and attending to the emotional needs of children by providing play 
kits and designating safe play areas. Because the earthquake happened around 
the same time students in Java were preparing to take their end-of-year 
final exams, Save the Children has also committed to distributing school 
supplies for teachers and students, and classroom tents so that their 
education may continue. 
In December of 2005 the foundation gave a $60 Million grant to Save the 
Children’s Saving Newborn Lives global initiative. This generous 
contribution to earthquake relief efforts from the foundation puts Save the 
Children significantly closer to reaching its goal of raising $3 million in 
emergency relief funds that will be needed to continue to help communities 
recover in the next three to six months. 
http://www.savethechildren.org/news/releases/earthquake-indonesia-release_06 
2006.asp?stationpub=i_hpln_062006&ArticleID=&NewsID= 
 
New Zealand businessman to lead international humanitarian organization 
Evanston, Ill. USA, 5 July – William B. Boyd, a retired magazine 
distribution executive from Auckland, New Zealand, took office on 1 July as 
president of Rotary International, one of the world’s largest humanitarian 
organizations.  Founded in Chicago in 1905, Rotary now supports more than 
32,000 clubs in nearly 170 countries, with 1.2 million members. 
Rotary's top philanthropic goal is to eradicate polio worldwide. Since 
establishing the PolioPlus program in 1985, Rotary members have helped to 
immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries, and have 
contributed more than US$600 million and countless hands-on volunteer hours 
to the cause. 
Besides polio, Boyd says he will make three other major important 
humanitarian issues his priority – literacy, hunger relief, and clean water. 
During his one-year term as head of Rotary, Boyd will encourage Rotary clubs 
around the world to partner with local governments and other 
non-governmental organizations to initiate projects that improve literacy 
and provide clean water to people in developing countries. 
www.rotary.org  
 
NDP honors baseball stars' contributions to Dominican Republic 
Boston, 29 June - In an emotional ceremony, 2004 World Series champions 
David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez were reunited tonight at 
Fenway Park to celebrate another grand triumph: Their generous support to 
the United Nations Development Programmes relief and recovery efforts in 
Jimani, Dominican Republic, in the aftermath of devastating floods in May 
2004. 
Fans at sold-out Fenway Park joined Dominican Ambassador Flavio Dario 
Espinal and UNDP Resident Coordinator Niky Fabiancic in saluting the 
Dominican superstars, Boston Red Sox principal owner John Henry and the 
team’s charitable foundation. The crowd roared when Ortiz and Ramirez 
embraced their former teammate Martinez, now pitching for the New York Mets, 
in the ceremony at home plate minutes before the game, and cheered even 
louder after viewing a video presentation of thanks from the people of 
Jimani. (…) 
As the Fenway Park scoreboard displayed a message saluting the United 
Nations Development Programme “for recognizing these three gentlemen,� 
Ortiz, Ramirez, Martinez and Henry accepted plaques in honor of their 
leadership in the effort. The stadium crowd honored returning hero Martinez 
with some of its loudest cheers. (…) 
 http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/june-2006/undp-baseball-dominican-repub 
lic-20060629.en;jsessionid=avCOtc6o3jGb 
 
Record-breaking swim for Indonesia quake effort 
Java, 26 June - Dodging stinging jellyfish and tackling choppy seas, 
marathon swimmer Monte Monfore has accomplished a world first and new record 
off the coast of Central Java to highlight WFP’s efforts to help last 
month’s earthquake survivors. US-born Mont Menyawakan Island in the South 
China Sea at 4.43am on 9 June, beginning the swim in darkness to represent 
the devastation inflicted by the Indonesia earthquake. He finished four 
hours and four minutes later on the uninhabited Kumbung Island, emerging in 
the morning sun – a symbol of hope for those affected by the disaster. 
Following the 12.5 kilometre swim, achieved without fins or wetsuit, Monte 
made a funding appeal for WFP’s Yogyakarta quake relief effort, saying: 
“Hundreds of thousands have lost nearly everything and now they must begin 
rebuilding their lives.� During the hazardous crossing, Monte battled nausea 
and swam against the current for two hours. The Bali-resident said his love 
for Indonesia, its people and its oceans kept him going. Monte previously 
collaborated with WFP for its May 18 Fight Hunger - Walk the Walk 
initiative, swimming the three kilometre Bali Strait and setting a world 
record at 29 and a half minutes as cities around the world geared up to 
march against hunger. He braved the churning waters of the strait to throw 
the spotlight onto WFP’s school feeding project. 
http://www.wfp.org/english/?ModuleID=137&Key=2152 
 
Caritas helps shocked survivors in Yogyakarta’s remote villages 
Vatican City, 16 June - Caritas Internationalis continues to provide for the 
immediate needs of the victims of the earthquake that struck the Indonesian 
island of Java in the important historical and religious area of Yogyakarta 
on 27 May. The organisation is also looking ahead to the reconstruction 
phase, with Caritas launching an appeal for nearly $US 15.5 million to fund 
its humanitarian work through December 2008. 
According to the most recent report from the United Nations Office for the 
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 5,700 people lost their 
lives in the disaster, and over 150,000 homes were completely destroyed. 
More than 400,000 homes were left damaged. 
The Caritas programme will benefit nearly 130,000 people, particularly those 
in remote rural areas, some of which are only reachable by motorcycle tracks 
passing through rice paddies. The Confederation is planning the long-term 
reconstruction of social infrastructure, including schools and damaged 
medical centres, through their programme in Central Java, in particular in 
the Bantul, Sleman, Klaten and Guning Kidul districts. 
Caritas, using its network of personnel already in the country, is working 
with the national Caritas in Indonesia, known as Karina, and the parish 
network of the the Archdiocese of Semarang to coordinate bringing immediate 
relief to the victims. They have been distributing food, water, tents, tools 
for clearing debris, baby food and supplies, medicines, clothing, household 
utensils and hygiene sets. A roving medical clinic has also been accessing 
the injured in some of the remotest areas, as well as ensuring that children 
get needed vaccines. Many schools have also been re-opened in tents. (…) 
http://www.caritas.org/jumpCh.asp?idUser=0&idChannel=35&idLang=ENG 
Youth philanthropy efforts to help Darfur 
Maryland students raised money and leveraged nearly $500,000 worth of 
critically-needed pharmaceuticals to send to Darfur on the eve of their 
eighth grade graduation. 
Potomac, Maryland, USA, 21 June  – While students throughout the region are 
busy attending graduation parties and preparing for summer jobs, camps and 
family trips, the graduating eighth grade class of Norwood School in Potomac 
will be doing one better, perhaps much better, than their peers at other 
schools.  
With their parents, the students are putting together a shipment of 
desperately needed pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to aid the people of 
Darfur, Sudan this summer.  The money raised by the families was leveraged 
into over a half million US dollars worth of drugs and medications by 
Counterpart International, a DC-based non-profit development agency, which 
delivers about $100 million worth of humanitarian aid a year. (…) 
After almost three years of crises, the western Sudanese region of Darfur is 
acknowledged to be the most serious humanitarian and human rights tragedy 
today. According to reports by the World Food Program, the United Nations 
and the Coalition for International Justice, 3.5 million people are now 
hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced by violence, and 400,000 people have 
already died, with a drought and possible famine on the way . 
Walter Arbib, whose company SkyLink Aviation of Canada is flying the 
medicines to Darfur for free, applauded the students' initiative. (…) 
SkyLink, which operates a lot of the United Nations logistics in the ravaged 
region, will use its helicopters to deliver the urgently needed medicines to 
teams in Darfur operated by the International Medical Corps. 
Lelei LeLaulu, President of Counterpart International, whose son, Blaise, is 
also part of the Norwood graduating class, said, "These students may have 
started a wave of youth philanthropy which could really mature into 
significant giving by young people and their families." 
http://www.counterpart.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=49&metaid=G7MR5506-50c 
 
ADRA opens shelter for victims of domestic violence 
June 15 - The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has opened a 
shelter for victims of domestic violence in northern Mongolia.  The Family 
Information and Service Center (FISC), was established to protect victims 
from their assailants, and provide them with comprehensive legal and 
psychological aid. The center, located in the northern Mongolia province of 
Selenge, was completed in early April 2006. 
The shelter project developed after the ADRA office in Mongolia conducted an 
anti-alcohol program in the region and noticed the prevalence of 
alcohol-induced abuse. (…) One of only four established domestic violence 
shelters in Mongolia, the center is operated and managed by the National 
Center Against Violence, a non-governmental organization in Mongolia that 
works to prevent violence against women and children. 
The 20-bed center is the largest in Mongolia, and serves the entire Selenge 
province. The shelter can accommodate residents for up to three months, 
during which time they receive counseling, legal advice, food, shelter, 
clothing, and skills training that will prepare them to become financially 
independent. (…) 
http://www.interaction.org/newswire/detail.php?id=5155 
 
 
Peace and security 
(top) 
Caritas peace-makers from around the world gather in Sri Lanka 
Bmich, Colombo, 26 June - At a time of crisis in Sri Lanka over 70 
peace-builders from the international Catholic humanitarian organisation, 
Caritas Internationalis, today gathered in Colombo to begin the first ever 
Caritas world Peace Forum. The delegates, from as far afield as Colombia, 
Palestine, DR Congo, Ireland and the Philipinnes, will share their 
widespread experience of working for peace and reconciliation in war-torn 
communities and provide support  to the Sri Lankan Catholic Church’s efforts 
in promoting peace. (…) 
In Sri Lanka, Caritas Sri Lanka-SEDEC runs a National Peace Programme aimed 
at creating a peaceful environment in Sri Lanka which ensures the rights of 
all communities. Trained peace activists based in all Caritas Sri Lanka’s 13 
diocesan centres work with local communities throughout the island, creating 
inter-religious peace groups and organising awareness-raising seminars and 
workshops on peace education, human rights and non-violent conflict 
resolution.   
Exposure visits for children, families, religious and community leaders 
allow people from different communities an opportunity to share cultural 
experiences and values, and to build human bonds with one another. Visits to 
war-affected communities lead to an understanding of the realities of those 
who are displaced. The National Peace Programme also includes 
inter-religious peace rallies and marches which help keep the focus on the 
ongoing peace process. 
Organised jointly by Caritas Sri Lanka and Caritas Internationalis, the 
Peace Forum continues for three days this week. 
http://www.caritas.org/jumpNews.asp?idLang=ENG&idChannel=35&idUser=0&idNews= 
4217 
 
DR Congo: Militiamen disarm ahead of deadline 
Bunia, 29 June (IRIN) - At least 1,100 former militias have arrived at 
transit sites in Ituri, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the 
past three days, ahead of a 30 June ultimatum by the Congolese army for them 
to disarm, an official said. (…) 
The number of militiamen surrendering their guns at the 12 transit sites 
across the district is overwhelming, an official of the National Disarmament 
Commission, known by its French acronym CONADER, said. The officer in charge 
of CONADER's community office in Ituri, François Nguz, said one of the sites 
that had initially planned to accommodate 100 ex-combatants per day had 
received 280 in two days. (…) 
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/ACIO-6R8HDY?OpenDocument 
 
Preventing small-arms proliferation – five-year review 
Geneva (ICRC), 26 June – Governments, international organizations and 
non-governmental organizations will meet in New York from 26 June to 7 July 
for the review of the UN programme to eradicate illicit trade in small arms 
and light weapons. Five years after the programme's adoption, this is the 
first worldwide opportunity to assess progress and decide future action. 
Since 2001, a wide variety of steps have been taken at national and regional 
levels to limit the availability of small arms and light weapons. But it is 
still not possible to conclude that this process has reduced civilian 
casualties, afforded humanitarian organizations safer access to war zones, 
or produced a drop in the availability of illicit arms. The review 
conference will determine whether global efforts to prevent unregulated 
availability of such weapons are to be strengthened in the years to come. 
(…) 
Participating as an observer at the Conference, the ICRC will urge 
governments to draw up a detailed plan to accelerate action on the issue. 
The ICRC believes governments should agree on standards that define when 
international arms transfers should not be authorized. Those standards 
should include a requirement not to transfer weapons that would be likely to 
be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law. (…) 
http://www.icrc.org/ 
 
South Korea: Army removes 2350 land mines 
June 29  - The military has removed a total of 2,350 land mines from around 
military bases in the country heartlands and near the inter-Korean border, 
the Army said Thursday. The Army will end its land mine-removal operations 
that began in March 27 next Friday, it said in a statement. 
About 770 troops were mobilized for the operations, conducted in areas near 
six air defense units in the southern part of the country and four sites 
near the Demilitarized Zone, including areas near to access routes to the 
Kaesong Industrial Complex, it added. Read full text of the article Army 
Removes 2,350 Land Mines on the Korea Times website. 
http://www.mineaction.org/overview.asp?o=66 
 
Italy renews commitment to humanitarian mine action in Latin America through 
the OAS 
June 19 - The government of Italy pledged a contribution of more than 
282,000 euros (some $355,000) to the Organization of American States (OAS) 
to support landmine clearance operations and the destruction of explosive 
remnants of war in Latin America. (…) 
During the recent OAS General Assembly session, which took place in early 
June in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Italy’s Permanent Observer to the 
OAS, Ambassador Gerolamo Schiavoni, underscored his country’s commitment to 
“concrete collaboration� with the Organization of American States, 
particularly in strengthening democracy, protecting human rights and 
supporting humanitarian demining. 
This new contribution brings Italy’s total donations to OAS Mine Action 
Programs to more than $1.4 million. The current contribution will benefit 
humanitarian demining projects in Central America, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador 
and Peru. Italy has been an OAS observer country since 1972. 
http://www.oas.org/main/main.asp?sLang=E&sLink=http://www.oas.org/OASpage/pr 
ess_releases/home_eng/press.asp 
 
African Student Conference: The Impact of Religion - The Hague, 14 October 
The ASC for African students has been organized annually since 1999 at the 
Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague. These conferences under the 
title Building Peace in Africa adress critical issues of major concern in 
the field of advancing peace, justice and sustainable development. 
The overall topic 2006 will be the Impact of Religion. The conference is 
primarily intended for African students studying in the Netherlands and 
young African Diaspora. But other students or academics with an interest in 
the subject, representatives of NGOs, officials, and other concerned 
persons/ organizations are very welcome. 
Participation will be free of charge. Contact: unoy@...  (Vera da 
Silva) 
Please keep visiting our homepage for updates and online registration! 
www.unoy.org 
 
 
Health  
(top) 
Project HOPE sends second rotation of medical volunteers on a summer-long 
humanitarian aid mission 
June 28, Millwood, Va., USA – Seventeen volunteer physicians, nurses and 
other health care providers from every corner of the US will join Project 
HOPE on a continuing humanitarian aid mission aboard the USNS Mercy to bring 
healthcare to Bangladesh and Indonesia. (…) 
These volunteers relieve a portion of the first Project HOPE medical team 
who joined the mission in May. During the first leg of the humanitarian aid 
mission, Project HOPE’s medical volunteers evaluated and treated more than 
16,000 patients and performed more than 60,500 medical procedures in the 
Philippines. Through this private/public partnership with the US Navy, 
Project HOPE brings together multidisciplinary medical teams to provide 
vital care to those in the Western Pacific and South East Asia. As part of 
the venture, Project HOPE will send 50 physician and nurses, and medicines 
and medical supplies to the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh and East 
Timor. 
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) 
is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems, with the 
mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS 
HOPE, the world's first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now conducts 
land-based medical training and health education programs across five 
continents.  http://www.projecthope.org/news/062806.htm 
 
Red Cross Red Crescent and World Swim for Malaria join forces to combat 
malaria in Africa 
27 June - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent 
Societies announced today a new partnership with the London-based charitable 
Foundation, World Swim for Malaria (WSM). Together they plan to provide 
life-saving long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) to families in 17 
communities in nine East and Southern Africa countries: Zimbabwe, Zambia, 
Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda. (…) 
This new collaboration efficiently combines resources to achieve results at 
substantial savings. World Swim For Malaria is providing mosquito nets; the 
International Federation is supporting shipping costs; and the Red Cross 
societies are integrating the distribution in their established home-based 
care programmes for HIV/AIDS clients and families at no additional cost. To 
ensure that households hang and use nets correctly, Red Cross volunteers 
will continually check on the households to provide encouragement and 
education on the use of the nets. (…) 
World Swim For Malaria, a simple grassroots initiative, took place between 
Dec 2005 and June 2006. A quarter of a million people in more than 150 
countries swam, splashed, had fun and raised funds in what was the world’s 
largest ever participatory swim. (…) A second World Swim For Malaria will 
take place in April 2008 with a target of 1 million people swimming on one 
day. 
This first collaborative distribution aims at distributing 28,000 bednets to 
protect 100,000 children and pregnant women. 
http://www.ifrc.org/docs/news/pr06/5006.asp 
 
Australian Government gives UNICEF $9.1 million to scale up support for 
children affected by AIDS in three African countries 
New York/Nairobi, 23 June - The Government of Australia has committed US$9.1 
million to UNICEF to help the governments of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania 
increase the number of children affected by AIDS who are reached by basic 
services.  
In announcing the funding commitment, the Australian Minister for Foreign 
Affairs, the Hon. Alexander Downer MP, said that the Australian Government’s 
contribution will help give some five million children better access to 
education and health care through the UNICEF Children and AIDS Regional 
Initiative.  The initiative will directly support the ‘Unite for Children, 
Unite against AIDS’ global campaign, led by UNICEF and UNAIDS. 
The funds will be used to help families and communities support and care for 
children affected by AIDS and boost their access to education and health 
care.  Funds will also be used to support legal and policy reform to protect 
these vulnerable children. (…) 
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_34656.html 
 
REACH and breastfeeding: breast is still the best 
EPHA Environment Network, International Babyfood Action Network (IBFAN) and 
Friends of the Earth have joined forces to protect breastfeeding in the 
campaign for safer EU chemical policy, known as REACH 
On Tuesday 27 June 2006, in the European Parliament, Friends of the Earth 
Europe launched “Toxic Inheritance�, a report revealing that traces of 300 
man-made chemicals are found in breast milk. The report examines studies 
that analyse breast milk to measure persistent pollutants in humans, 
revealing the worrying presence of over 300 toxic chemicals in breast milk. 
In this context, the report makes recommendations to strengthen REACH in the 
second reading, in order to tackle chemical contamination. 
In April 2006, the World Health Organisation confirmed breastfeeding as 
optimal for child health when new growth reference standards were agreed 
that refer to breastfeeding as “the biological norm� in international 
benchmarks for children’s growth. This implies that a lack of breastfeeding 
presents a risk to the baby and to the child and to health later in life. 
Besides, the World Health Assembly adopted in May 2006 a resolution on 
infant and young child nutrition calling for the promotion of breastfeeding. 
IBFAN International Babyfood Action Network reasserts as well that despite 
the adverse effects of human exposure to hazardous chemicals at all stages 
in our lives, studies show that breastfeeding has a protective effect. 
Besides, breastmilk is environmentally friendly; it is a unique and 
renewable natural resource, perfectly adapted to each individual baby. 
Breastfeeding generates no waste: there are no problems of disposal of 
plastics and packaging, no transport costs and no traffic pollution. 
http://www.epha.org/a/2299 
 
Rotary helps world move closer to polio-free status 
Copenhagen, 13 June — In 2005, Rotary International contributed US$24.2 
million and countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than 400 million 
children in 49 countries against polio — a crippling and sometimes fatal 
disease that still threatens children in parts of Africa, Asia, and the 
Middle East.  
Rotary and its global partners at the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF, also helped the 
world move several critical milestones closer toward eradicating polio 
globally — Rotary’s top philanthropic goal. These include the successful 
introduction of more efficient and targeted oral polio vaccines, reaching 
children in the hardest endemic areas and ending the epidemic in west and 
central Africa (outside Nigeria). 
Great progress has been made in 2005. Two countries were declared 
polio-free, leaving only four polio-endemic in 2006 (Nigeria, India, 
Pakistan, and Afghanistan). Egypt reported its last poliovirus in January 
2005, and Niger's cases in 2005 were all importations from Nigeria. (…) 
Health experts agree that stopping the spread of polio can be done this 
year, except in Nigeria, where at least an additional 12 months will be 
required to finish the job. (…) 
Rotary International is the world’s first and one of the largest volunteer 
service organizations with 1.2 million members in more than 160 countries. 
In 1985, Rotary created PolioPlus and set one of the most ambitious goals in 
the history of global public health to immunize the children of the world 
against polio. To date, Rotary has contributed nearly US$600 million toward 
polio eradication. More than 1 million Rotary members have volunteered their 
time and personal resources to help immunize more than two billion children 
in 122 countries. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is spearheaded by 
the World Health Organization, Rotary International, U.S. Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention and the United Nations Children's Fund 
(UNICEF).  
http://www.rotary.org/newsroom/presscenter/releases/2006/276.html 
 
EPA to phase out pesticide that poisons farmworkers 
Lawsuit forces EPA to take action to protect workers 
Seattle, WA, USA, June 12 -- The Environmental Protection Agency has 
announced that it will phase out the use of a pesticide that poisons 
farmworkers. EPA took the action as part of a settlement of a lawsuit 
brought by farmworkers challenging EPA's decision to allow continued use of 
this pesticide. (…) The pesticide, azinphos-methyl ("AZM"), is a highly 
toxic organophosphate neurotoxin.  Organophosphate pesticides, derived from 
nerve agents used during World War II, attack the human nervous system. 
Exposure can cause dizziness, vomiting, seizures, paralysis, loss of mental 
function, and death.  Farmworker families and communities are exposed to 
organophosphates through "take-home" exposures on clothing, cars, and skin. 
(…) 
EPA has released a draft decision that would phase out all uses of AZM by 
2010 with some uses phased out by 2007.  The decision would also eliminate 
aerial spraying, require 100 foot buffers around water bodies, reduce 
application rates, require buffers around buildings and occupied dwellings, 
and require medical monitoring of workers entering fields sprayed by AZM. 
(…)   
http://www.earthjustice.org/news/press/2006/epa-to-phase-out-pesticide-that- 
poisons-farmworkers-1.html 
 
 
Energy and safety 
(top) 
Emissions-free fuel-cell buses debuts in Beijing 
Beijing, China, 20 June - Three new Fuel-Cell Buses hit the streets of 
Beijing today, bringing emissions-free fuel-cell based public transportation 
to China for the first time. After over 3,000 kilometers of test runs and 
security checks, today, the buses officially begin running their 18.2 
kilometer route from the North Gate of the Summer Palace to the Wudaokou 
area.  
"Today marks the first public operation of fuel-cell buses in Beijing, it is 
the first ever in China, and one of the first in a developing country. The 
hydrogen refueling station, to be fully operational this summer, will also 
be the first of its kind in China. -Renaud Meyer, UNDP Deputy Resident 
Representative in China.  Fuel-cell vehicles hold the prospect for zero 
tailpipe emissions of major air pollutants such as CO, NOx, HCs. They will 
not only serve to reduce the burden on the environment through the reduction 
of greenhouse gas emissions, but will offer a new solution for dealing with 
the depletion of fossil fuels. (…) 
Despite considerable efforts and significant achievements in China to combat 
air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, China continues to rank second 
among the world’s largest oil consuming countries. Coal combustion and oil 
consumption, the two primary sources of air pollution, constitute at least 
90% of China’s total energy use. The transport sector, which relies almost 
entirely on oil, is projected to account for most of China’s new demand for 
oil over the next 20 years. It is predicted that by 2010, the percentage of 
emissions from big cities will represent 64% of total emissions from all 
cities in China. 
http://www.undp.org.cn/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&catid=1 
4&topic=6&sid=274&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 
 
Office buildings can fight global warming, says World Resources Institute 
guidebook 
Washington, DC, June 21 - Most people associate global warming with 
industrial polluters. But people who work in office buildings can also 
significantly impact climate change by introducing energy-efficiency 
measures to improve building operations. That is the major message in a 
how-to guidebook released today by the World Resources Institute (WRI) 
titled Hot Climate, Cool Commerce: A Service Sector Guide to Greenhouse Gas 
Management. (…) 
Case studies in the report detail how service-sector companies have put 
programs in place to measure and manage their emissions and achieve energy 
savings. Among the companies profiled are Citigroup, General Electric, IKEA 
and Staples. (…) 
All companies contribute to climate change through their electricity 
consumption for office lighting, cooling, computers, building equipment, and 
appliances, as well as fuel use for heating, business travel, and the 
distribution of products and materials. Electricity and heat (46 percent) 
and transportation (31 percent) are the two largest U.S. sources of carbon 
dioxide, which is the most common GHG. (…) 
Reducing energy use and managing greenhouse gas emissions can also help 
build corporate value through competitive positioning, improved shareholder 
relations, and human-resource management advantages such as better 
recruitment and retention of employees. (…) 
For a PDF of the entire guidebook, reprintable graphics, and other 
materials, journalists may visit http://newsroom.wri.org. 
http://newsroom.wri.org/newsrelease_text.cfm?NewsReleaseID=365 
 
A New Energy Efficiency 21 tool for climate change mitigation 
Geneva, 9 June -- The UNECE Steering Committee of the Energy Efficiency 21 
Project (EE21) has approved the new Project Plan for 2006-2009 to promote 
the formation of a market for energy efficiency and foster financing for 
energy efficiency investments in countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus 
and Central Asia (EECCA). 
The next phase of the EE21 Project will: (a) accelerate regional networking 
between national participating institutions and international partners, 
contributing to regional cooperation on sustainable energy development; (b) 
promote municipal level projects to enable local and concrete energy 
efficiency development and meet treaty obligations under the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UNECE; and (c) 
develop and harmonize regional policies and standards to introduce 
regulatory and institutional reforms needed for the energy efficiency 
investments that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
This new phase of EE21 is intended to enhance regional cooperation on energy 
efficiency market formation and investment project development. (…) 
http://www.unece.org/press/pr2006/06sed_p01e.htm 
 
Environment and wildlife 
(top) 
Environment among 2006 FIFA World Cup winners 
Berlin/Nairobi, 3 July  - A pioneering initiative to make the 2006 FIFA 
World Cup not only entertaining but environmentally-friendly is proving a 
winning team, it was announced today.  The ‘Green Goal’ project--the 
inspiration of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup 
and the German Ministry of the Environment—aims to cut greenhouse gas 
emissions from transport and electricity generation during the month long 
tournament.(…) A preliminary snapshot indicates that the ‘Green Goal’,
which 
is supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and private 
business, is meeting if not exceedingly expectations. 
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC), whose President is the German football 
legend Franz Beckenbauer, had hoped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
drastically-- partly by encouraging 50 per cent of the estimated 3.2 million 
fans to take public transport (…) On average, 55 per cent of spectators have 
been using public transport to travel to and from the stadiums. 
Some cities have exceeded expectations. For example Munich had estimated 
that 30 per cent to 40 per cent of fans would take public transport. So far 
an astonishing 60 per cent have used the underground train. A significant 
proportion of fans have also been walking to matches especially in Dortmund, 
Hanover, Kaiserslautern and Leipzig. (…) Overall the preliminary figures 
indicate that 70 per cent of fans are coming to matches by means other than 
private motor cars. The Oeko-Institute cites the introduction of the 
Kombiticket as one reason for the success. The ticket allows spectators to 
travel free on public transport on match days. 
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=483&Articl 
eID=5309&l=en 
 
Finding good news about Latin American and Caribbean forests 
FAO meeting highlights examples of effective forest management 
Santo Domingo/Rome, 26 June  – Latin American and Caribbean countries 
gathered here for a high-level FAO meeting on forests today launched a new 
initiative to collect case studies of successful forest management from 
around the region so that they can be replicated elsewhere. 
(…) "The idea is to use these examples of responsible forest management to 
help chart a course for improved management of forestry resources across the 
entire Latin American and Caribbean region," said Carlos Marx Carneiro, an 
FAO senior forestry officer. 
On the surface, the task seems a daunting one: FAO statistics show that 
Latin America and the Caribbean had the world's highest rate of forest loss 
for the 1990-2005 period, with the region's forest area declining from 51 
percent to 47 percent of the total land area, primarily due to the 
conversion of forest land to agriculture. Yet despite the grim picture 
painted by such figures, both forestry authorities and FAO experts say there 
are numerous examples from around the region of sound forestry management 
programmes in which people are succeeding in effectively managing forests 
and the benefits of forestry are being shared among local communities. (…) 
Through the initiative, government institutions, private sector companies, 
local communities, and individuals are being invited to nominate examples of 
success forestry management programs. These will then be carefully screened 
and analyzed by an inter-regional panel of experts, with some 25-30 
programmes covering a wide range of forestry management topics ultimately 
being selected for in-depth study. (…) 
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000341/index.html 
 
WWF expedition makes discoveries in the Amazon 
Juruena National Park, Brazil, 29 June – A WWF expedition into the newly 
created Juruena National Park deep in the Amazon forest has revealed several 
potentially new species to science. 
Following a preliminary survey, expedition scientists from Brazil's National 
Institute for Amazon Research and the Amazonas Secretariat for the 
Environment and Sustainable Development discovered two new frog, fish and 
bird species, one tree species and one primate. (…) 
In addition to these potentially new scientific discoveries, experts on the 
expedition came across 200 species of birds, ocelots (wild cats), and a pink 
dolphin. (…) The Amazon river dolphin, one of the world's three freshwater 
dolphins, is widely distributed throughout much of the Amazon and Orinoco 
river basins. Its habitat, however, is threatened by river development 
projects, and is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened 
Species. (…) 
Covering 1.9 million hectares, the establishment of the Juruena National 
Park is part of ongoing efforts by the Amazon Region Protected Areas (ARPA) 
Programme, a large-scale conservation programme aimed at creating and 
supporting a system of well-managed protected areas and sustainable natural 
resource management reserves in the Amazon. 
ARPA is a partnership between the Brazilian government, the World Bank, 
Global Environment Facility, German Development Bank, Brazilian Biodiversity 
Fund and WWF. (…) 
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm?uNewsID=74300 
 
First MOU between UNESCAP and Korean water supply company 
Bangkok, 21 June (United Nations Information Services) -- The United Nations 
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) signed a 
Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea Water Resources Corporation 
(K-water). The MOU covers regional water resource management, as well as 
risk management to reduce the impact of disasters such as floods, droughts, 
typhoons in the Asia-Pacific region. “This is the first MOU to be signed 
between UNESCAP and a national enterprise from a member country of UNESCAP,� 
said Executive Secretary of UNESCAP Kim Hak-Su. The MOU was signed by Kim 
Hak-Su and the President of K-water Kwak Kyul-ho at the Headquarters of 
UNESCAP in Bangkok. 
 UNESCAP and K-water agreed to work together to promote regional cooperation 
in water resources, especially in identifying opportunities for direct 
investment, and training within the region.(…) 
http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2006/jun/n28.asp 
 
 
Religion and spirituality 
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“The Tripartite Interfaith Forum: A Backgrounder� – New York, 7 July, 10
am 
– 12 noon 
The First Informal Information Session at the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium, 
UN Headquarters 
The Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace is a new initiative 
to bring together Member States, UN system Agencies and Departments and 
Religious and Spiritual NGOs.  The Committee of Religious NGOs at the UN and 
other interested NGOs are invited to attend this first informal session.  An 
interest in building interfaith cooperation for peace and a UN grounds pass 
are all that is needed to attend this meeting. 
If you can not attend and want additional information, please contact Monica 
Willard, Secretary for the Committee of Religious NGOs at mbwillard@... 
 
Habitat for Humanity and Armenia Apostolic Church join forces to serve 
people in need 
An exciting “Building on Faith� project is underway in Armenia:  The 
Armenian Church and international housing charity Habitat for Humanity are 
preparing for a 37-home build for families in need, September 5-9. During 
the “Catholicos Karekin II Work Project: An Armenian Building on Faith 
Project�, 37 homes will be built with families in need - symbolizing 36 
worldwide Dioceses, plus the Holy See, representing the Catholicos of all 
Armenians - near the Armenian capital city, Yerevan.  Supporters are needed 
-- Armenian churches are encouraged to galvanize teams to fundraise and to 
join the build. 
In Armenia, 45% of the population lives in poverty.  Over the past decade, 
the country has suffered ramifications of a devastating earthquake which 
left 500,000 homeless; a conflict, which hampered rebuilding; the collapse 
of the Soviet regime, and a newfound independence.  All have led to economic 
crisis, and poverty. The partnership seeks to rebuild Armenia.“Through this 
partnership, we are ‘putting our faith into action,’� said Bishop Vicken 
Aykazian.  “Morally and spiritually, we share common values with Habitat for 
Humanity: above all, to help people in need.� 
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian 
organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing.  More than 1 million 
people around the world are living in Habitat homes they helped build, and 
pay for through no-profit mortgages. For information on how to become a 
supporter, or how to get involved in the Armenian Build on Faith event, 
please visit: www.habitateurope.org/catholicos , or write to 
Catholicos@... 
 
Russian professor receives award for contributions to discourse on science 
and spirituality 
Moscow, Russian Federation, 29 June (BWNS) -- Despite what might be expected 
from a scientist, for Dr. Gudrat Seyfi, faith plays a key role in his 
understanding of science. "For me faith implies wisdom that gives answers to 
the question to which science has not found answers yet," he explains. "The 
principle of the interaction of science and religion allows a scientist to 
advance a more complete cognition and understanding of the world as a 
whole."  Dr. Seyfi's creative and innovative approach in understanding the 
sciences from a spiritual perspective and his contribution to the discourse 
of science and religion were formally recognized at a special session of the 
Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences this March. 
The author of several books and numerous articles on faith and science, 
spirituality and comparative religion, Dr. Seyfi, the vice-director of the 
Scientific Centre "Eurasia" of the Russian Academy of the Natural Sciences, 
was awarded a diploma with the highly merited status of "Academician" by the 
Academy. He recognizes, however, that his perspective, once considered 
radical, is becoming more widespread. (…) A member of the Baha'i Community 
of Moscow, Dr. Seyfi describes his own approach to science as being deeply 
connected to his understanding of the spiritual evolution of humanity. (…) 
http://news.bahai.org/story.cfm?storyid=458 
 
Culture and education 
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The Creative Gallery on Sustainability Communications 
UNEP is presenting the first international online database of corporate and 
public advertising campaigns specifically dedicated to sustainability issues 
and classified by sustainability themes. 
The Creative Gallery on Sustainability Communications is the result of a 
thorough selection, which started with the viewing of over 40,000 ads. The 
campaigns highlighted in this Gallery address sustainability issues through 
various themes, tones, types of media and strategies. 
Some reflect companies' public commitment towards social and environmental 
issues. Others feature awareness campaigns from public authorities. Some aim 
to favour the purchase of green products and services, others strive to 
change citizens' or consumers' attitudes. The Gallery also compile case 
studies taken from existing UNEP publications like Communicating 
Sustainability and Talk the Walk. By gathering these campaigns from all 
around the world, UNEP wishes to inspire and foster more and better 
communication on sustainability issues from all stakeholders involved in the 
promotion of sustainable development. However, the selected campaigns do not 
constitute an endorsement by the United Nations Environment Programme for 
any message, brand, company or public advertiser. 
This Creative Gallery is also designed to aid and promote the area of 
research, education and information relating to the marketing, advertising 
and communication business. Therefore, we invite all advertisers - 
companies, governments, local authorities, consumer organisations, NGOs, 
etc. - to submit their campaigns in this database in order to share their 
experience with other communication experts and to ensure that this Gallery 
remains a living tool, constantly fed by external inputs.(…) 
http://www.unep.fr/pc/sustain/advertising/ads.htm 
 
World Vision to provide 10 temporary schools 
by Bartolomeus Marsudiharjo - World Vision Indonesia Communications 
World Vision will provide 10 temporary schools in Bantul and Klaten 
districts so that the children in the area can have a comfortable study 
environment when the new schooling year start in mid-July. 
Hundreds of school buildings collapsed when a powerful quake struck the 
districts on May 27. 
World Vision will set up temporary schools in Kebon Dalem, Baturan, Mlese, 
Banyuripan and Balak villages in Klaten district in Central Java province; 
as well as in Pandowoharjo, Canden, Terong, Mangunan, Karangtalun villages 
in Bantul district, in Yogyakarta province. Ronny Ichwan, World Vision 
Indonesia area coordinator for Klaten district, said each school would be 
provided with seven large tents, 240 tables, 240 chairs, six blackboards, 
2,400 sets of textbooks, a water tank and latrine rooms. “We have ordered 
the equipment, and hope to handover the temporary schools early in July,� 
Ichwan predicted. Six tents will be used for classrooms as primary schools 
in the region consist of six grades. One tent will be used as teachers’ 
room. http://www.wvi.org/ 
 
June 21, 2006: First Global Harmony Day 
On June 21, 2006, co-authors of the International site "A New Culture of 
Peace from Social Harmony and Children’s Priority" (www.peacefromharmony.org

), which unites about 150 authors from 28 countries of the world, celebrated 
the first Global Harmony Day in the history of mankind, established in the 
Harmonious Era Calendar, which is created by the site’s 27 co-authors. 
Global Harmony Day is a key date of this Calendar. Dr Semashko, director of 
the named site and initiator of the Calendar is a founder of this day. He 
defines its as the uniting centre, common denominator and focusing date of a 
new Calendar in view of the special vital meaning of harmony. (…) 
The Global Harmony Day unites all people of the world. It is a happy holiday 
of Harmony for Mankind! The authors have congratulated all people with 
harmony, which mankind begins to master as a positive alternative to 
poverty, injustice, pollution, humiliation and wars! 
Surprising, but a nonrandom coincidence has taken place on June 21, when 
simultaneously, together with the Global Harmony Day, the Global Harmony 
Foundation in Washington DC rang the Global Harmony Bell at Capitol Hill and 
took a Minute of Peace. (…) 
www.peacefromharmony.org 
Next issue: 28 July 2006. 
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