Asunto: | [RedLuz] Good News Agency | Fecha: | Viernes, 7 de Julio, 2006 11:52:46 (-0500) | Autor: | Ricardo Ocampo <redluz @...............mx>
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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
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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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