VOICES RISING
YEAR IV - NΊ176
March 31, 2006
content
1.-
'THE FIRST STEP HAS BEEN MADE'
2.- REGISTER EARLY FOR THE NGO FORUM ON 6-7 APRIL 2006
3.- CONVENTION AGAINST RACISM ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AND INTOLERANCE
CIVIL SOCIETY CONSULTATION
4.- CAPACITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE NETWORKING ON GENDER, MACROECONOMICS AND
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
5.- ARGENTINIAN LAWYER, ACTIVIST ROMINA PICOLOTTI WINS NORWAY'S
SOPHIE ENVIRONMENT PRIZE
6.- UN-NGLS SURVEY REMINDER--DEADLINE 8 APRIL 2006
1.-
WSF KARACHI ENDS :
'THE FIRST STEP HAS BEEN
MADE'
http://www.ipsterraviva.net/tv/karachi/viewstory.asp?idnews=609
Zofeen T Ebrahim
KARACHI - Call it a jamboree, or a carnival of people, call
it an NGO bazaar or a mela (fair) if you will. After five days of debate,
dialogue and discourse, amidst fun and music, just when the momentum was
built, the forum comes to a grinding halt. Yet, for times to come, it leaves
a lasting taste of how civil society in Pakistan, together, took its first
step into the world of social movements.
Climbing
up the steps leading to the amphitheatre at the KMC Sports Complex where the
closing was being held, the sudden emptiness of the wall where life-size
photographs of street children (an uncomfortable reminder of the grim life
that exists for our future generation outside the venue) had been mounted
for the past five days glares back at participants.
Once inside, you could feel the energy that seemed to exude and engulfed you
completely. You almost felt the other world was possible. With people waving
TerraViva, for a minute I thought they were beckoning me, but soon realised
it was coming in useful as a hand fan. Twelve noon was not the best of times
to be holding the closing WSF ceremony.
Amidst the din of song and dance and laughter and congratulatory notes read
out by delegates including young participants from Iraq, Palestine,
Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Afghanistan, a last few shots were being taken
of friendships that have happened, email addresses being scribbled on scraps
of paper. Thankfully the closing plenary was not just clichιs, rhetoric and
tall claims. Instead of WSF bigwigs, the closing was more or less dominated
by young people from around the world who spoke their mind.
Tonight, Karamat Ali, the man behind this forum, and the huge force of
workers he was able to gather, will sleep fitfully. "The first step has
already been taken. I can foresee an immediate impact. People who had been
struggling and were so disconnected feel energized anew. This is not a mean
achievement," he told TerraViva while waiting for his turn to say a few
words at the closing.
While Palestinian peace activist Jamal Juma agreed that the platform
provided a good opportunity to interact and glean more support for the
Palestinian cause, he was also fearful that if all the "the lessons learnt
are not quickly translated into actions, this wouldve been an exercise in
futility."
While lots of papers were ready, what he found missing was strategies,
workplans and solutions."
To that, Ali explained: "Before actions take place, people have to
understand the issues. They also have to be convinced. And for that kind of
struggle, along with hope numbers are important and that comes from people.
This experience and the contacts and networking will stay with them
forever."
Naveed Baseer, a trade unionist for one, says the event was a huge success.
"We had for far too long been busy with slogan-mongering. We got some
direction on how to re- strategise. We have to work on the micro level, but
at the same time increase our intellectual level too. We have interacted
with other workers and shared lessons. If change has to happen our
intervention must target state policies. We have to demand transparency and
accountability."
"Viva Karachi, viva Pakistan, viva Nairobi!" Wahu Kaar, a member of WSFs
International Organising Committee, said, refusing to believe that there are
any difference in this world other than between the rich and the poor.
"The daily drudgery and struggle, encompassing poverty, exclusion of the
majority from decision-making and the spirit to survive is the same, whether
were in Karachi or Nairobi. The struggle has to continue, and the process
of finding solutions will now find a new venue Nairobi," she said. Nairobi
will be the venue for the next WSF in January 2007.
Explaining the common ground between the resistance in Palestine and Iraq,
young Iraqi Caoiwhe Butterly, who works with trade unions, said: "I am
completely overwhelmed by the experience. I know how moved and inspired our
Iraqi comrades wouldve been if they could have been here and seen how the
Pakistani people are vehemently supporting our causes."
"We never talk about the majority, that I see here," one of the guests at
the closing, J P Dardaud, president of the Freres des Hommes, from France,
said, he came to Pakistan with the usual perception fed by the media of a
country that dealt in "arms selling" had a "military regime", "a hub of Al
Qaeda, etc".
He is going with away with a different snapshot of Pakistan altogether. "The
pressure that civil society is confronted with here, with state suppression
and control and violence perpetrated by both the state and the uncivil
groups, is mammoth. To even survive under the circumstances is difficult and
here I see so much vibrancy. I get the impression that its very robust.
Compared to you, ours is quite dull. Ours is a very naive perception."
.
2.- REGISTER EARLY FOR THE NGO FORUM ON 6-7 APRIL 2006
Joscelyn Jones
jones5@un.org
ECOSOC NGO Forum
Presents
Part I NGO Forum?
ECOSOC Chamber 6-7 April 2006
Part II VI Info-poverty World Conference?
Conference Room 5
20-21 April 2006
Themes for the 2006 High level Segment and Coordination Segment
We have
sent out the themes to the NGO and are expecting your contributions on how
you have planned to adopt the themes in your activities. We encourage and
welcome your contributions not only to maintain dynamic contributions of
NGOs at the NGO FORUM(6-7 April 2006) but also through your statem Fw
Register early for the NGO .ems ents to ECOSOC. An agenda for the event will
follow shortly.
The written statement has to be submitted in English or French by 1 April
2006. A written statement submitted by an organization will be circulated in
full if it does not exceed 2,000 words for organizations in general
consultative status, and 500 words for organizations in special or the
Roster consultative status. Where a statement is in excess of the stipulated
word limit, the organizations shall submit a summary which will be
circulated or shall supply sufficient copies of the full text in the working
languages for distribution. A statement will also be circulated in full,
however, upon a specific request of the Council or its Committee on
Non-Governmental Organizations;
Please submit your statements, comments, remarks and information on your
success stories to: mezoui@un.org. If your organization wishes to share
information with the UN-NGO-IRENE community kindly add us to your mailing
list.
..
3.- CONVENTION AGAINST RACISM ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AND INTOLERANCE
CIVIL SOCIETY CONSULTATION: The Organization of American States (OAS) new
Web page is ready to receive the opinions, queries, and comments of civil
society through
May 30, 2006.
The Organization of American States (OAS) has
opened a Web page (www.oas.org/racismo)
for suggestions and comments on the drafting of a future Inter-American
Convention against Racism and All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance.
It is intended to encourage nongovernmental organizations, research
institutes, universities, and other sectors of civil society to participate
in preparing the new Convention.
During the June 2005 regular session of the OAS General Assembly, held in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Assembly adopted a resolution that created a
working group to prepare the draft convention.
On November 28 and 29, at OAS headquarters, the Working Group held a special
meeting attended by specialists from the United Nations, the academic world,
NGOs, and representatives of various countries. The meeting emphasized the
importance of active civil society participation in deliberations on a
future inter-American convention against racism and intolerance.
The new Web page is ready to receive the opinions, queries, and comments of
civil society through May 30, 2006.
The final text of the Inter-American Convention against Racism and All Forms
of Discrimination and Intolerance will be adopted by representatives of the
34 OAS member states at a session of the General Assembly.
4.- CAPACITY BUILDING AND KNOWLEDGE NETWORKING ON GENDER, MACROECONOMICS AND
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
A. Rius
arius@idrc.org.uy
Dear Friends and Colleagues
I am writing to announce the fourth cycle of our program, Capacity Building
and Knowledge Networking on Gender, Macroeconomics and International
Economics. A central component of the program is a two-week intensive
course and a conference on Engendering Macroeconomics and International
Economics. The course will take place in Salt Lake City, University of Utah
in the United States on June 18- June 30. The conference will take place on
July 2-3, 2006 in the same venue. I am writing to solicit your support in
disseminating information to potential
applicants for the whole program and those who may only be interested in
participating in the conference.
As some of you know, the program is being organized by the International
Working Group on
Gender, Macroeconomics and International Economics (GEM- IWG), an
international network of economists which was formed in 1994. The program
has two objectives: first, to engage with fellow economists in order to
enhance capacity building for research, teaching, policy making and advocacy
on gender equitable approaches to macroeconomics, international economics
and globalization; and second, to increase knowledge networking on these
themes by strengthening the intellectual links among practitioners in
networks working on similar issues.
The program is intended for economists, including advanced graduate students
in economics, as well as more senior academics, researchers and those in
government. Up to 30 fellows will be admitted to the program. The fellows
of the program will be required, at a minimum, to
have completed two years of study in an economics Ph.D. program and have
passed their qualifying exams, or have its equivalent such as a master s
degree in economics. These requirements may be waived only under exceptional
circumstances. Funding is available for up to 20 fellows. Priority will be
given to applicants from the global South and transition economies.
As the application deadline for the course is April 21, 2006,
If applicable, we also ask that you kindly post this announcement in your
organization s website or newsletter.
You can find further information on our program at our website
http://www.genderandmacro.org.
including information on the first three cycles which were implemented
during 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively. If you have any questions, please
contact us at
genderandmacro@lists.csbs.utah.edu or
cagatay@economics.utah.edu
Thank you very much for your help with this initiative.
Sincerely,
Nilufer Cagatay
University of Utah and GEM-IWG
..
5.- ARGENTINIAN LAWYER, ACTIVIST ROMINA PICOLOTTI WINS NORWAY'S SOPHIE
ENVIRONMENT PRIZE
Written by AP
Wednesday, 29 March 2006
OSLO, Norway (AP) _ Argentinian lawyer and activist Romina Picolotti won the
Sophie environment prize Wednesday for her efforts to show that
environmental destruction violates basic human rights.
``She shows how human rights operate not in isolation from, but intimately
connected with, the environment,'' said Sophie board chairman Gunhild
Oerstavik in announcing the US$100,000 (euro 83,000) prize.
The prize was created in 1997 by Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder and his
wife, Siri Dannevig. It is named after Gaarder's book ``Sophie's World,'' a
surprise international best-selling novel based on philosophy for young
people, and is intended to promote efforts to improve the environment.
In 1999, Picolotti founded the Center for Human Rights and Environment, the
world's first organization solely dedicated to promoting and protecting
human rights violated by environmental destruction, a statement said.
She also founded a human rights and environment legal clinic, giving free
legal assistance to poor groups and local communities.
The jury said it selected Picolotti for her efforts for human rights, the
environment, and democracy; showing how exploiting nature can exploit
people; helping the poor claim their rights; and challenging multinational
corporations over their policies.
Last year's award went to Canadian Inuit leader Sheila Watt-Cloutier for
drawing attention to the impact of climate change on her own and other
indigenous people of the Arctic.
This year's prize will be presented at a June 15 ceremony in Oslo.
6.- UN-NGLS SURVEY REMINDER--DEADLINE 8 APRIL
2006
Beth.Peoch@unctad.org
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
This is a reminder concerning the UN-NGLS readership survey undertaken to
help UN-NGLS assess the extent to which its publications and website are
responding to UN-NGLS audiences' current information needs, and to help UN-NGLS
update and improve its information tools and services.
The survey will only take 5 minutes of your time to fill in if you haven't
already done so. If you have, we thank you for taking the time to help us
better serve your needs. Please remember to paste the URL (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=887951758145)
into your web browser. There are 14 questions to respond to online. The
deadline for responding to the survey is
8 April 2006.
The results of the survey will be made public on the NGLS website and in our
quarterly newsletter, the Go Between, and will be used as a basis to develop
a long-term NGLS communications strategy, including the development of new
communications tools to better address our constituencies' evolving
information needs.
Best wishes,
Tony Hill
Coordinator
United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS)