Peace Journalism

Linked with our presentation of Kamala Sarup – Nepal.

Peace Journalism is an independent monthly e-magazine, registered in New Jersey. Chief Editor: Kamala Sarup. They write: Peace Media believes in a free press and is an independent e-magazine. Peace Media will be happy to accept any criticism, suggestions, help or contributions from freelancers. Peace Media advocates for Peace, Human security, and true Democracy. No one can impose on us or force us to publish any article or interview that is essentially propaganda against human security or national security.

Peace Media e-magazine is founded on the belief that educating people on conflict resolution is an important step in reducing world turmoil. We believe that the role of the media is to raise a voice against injustice and fight violence. We support peace, democracy and development in societies undergoing crisis and change. We also believe that the media play a strong role during the peace negotiation and social reconstruction processes. Peace Media strengthens journalism in all areas of conflict. Its activities include training and dialogue with members and readers and providing information to media professionals.

To implement these objectives, we perform research on peace and conflict resolution, conduct a regular media watch to analyze mainstream and alternative media, and network with allied organizations around the world. We develop and disseminate information on the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts through meetings, written articles and research. Peace Media publication requires your help.

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Shan Nationalities League for Democracy – Burma

Linkedwith our presentation of Khun Htun Oo – Burma.

The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy is a political party in Myanmar (Burma), representing the interests of the Shan minority. At the last parliamentary elections (held 27 May 1990), the party won a clear representation, became the second party in parliament, but parliament was not allowed to convene. The SNLD is closley allied to Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). This article about an Asian political party is (on wikipedia) a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. (See wikipedia).

May 17, 2006 (DVB) – The U.N. undersecretary-general for political affairs, Ibrahim Gambari who is arriving Burma on Thursday to press the country’s ruling military junta to restore democracy and respect human rights, is meeting with the National League for Democracy (NLD) leaders on Friday. The meeting is only to be between Mr. Gambari and the NLD central executive committee (CEC) members who are currently not under detention, and it is not clear whether Gambari would be allowed to see Aung San Suu Kyi, a NLD leader told DVB. The meeting will be held at the hotel where Mr. Gambari is planning to stay, on Friday evening and they will be discussing the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and U.N. resolutions on Burma. The NLD leader added that as it is a meeting with the first U.N. envoy to visit Burma in more than two years, he was unable to tell more of the details on the meeting and their hope in advance. (Read the rest of this article on Democratic Voice of Burma).

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Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma

Linked with our presentation of Khun Htun Oo – Burma.

Excerpts: … The AAPP has been assisting political prisoners and their families since we set up our association in March 2000. The AAPP has also been campaigning with international Burma groups for the release of all political prisoners. The AAPP is also systematically documenting the military regime’s oppression of democracy activists. According to our record, it is clear that the current military regime has been prejudicially cracking down on political organizations and activists in Burma … 80 ethnic political prisoners, more or less, who have been in prison since around 1983, during the time of the Burma Socialist Program Party led by General Ne Win, still remain in prison. Additionally, several political prisoners, who were arrested in 1988 or 1989, are still in prison … Such kinds of imprisonment are intended to set an example and indirectly threaten others in ceasefire groups not to speak out against the SPDC and the current NC. Now, when the MI warns activists not to criticize the current NC, they say to look at Khun Htun Oo and others as an example … (Read the rest of this 8 page pdf text).

African Women Committee on Peace and Development AWCDP

Linked with our presentation of Specioza Kazibwe – Uganda.

AWCPD was established in 1998 to increase the effective participation of women in peace and development processes on the continent. The committee seeks to support the networking of women’s peace-building mechanisms in Africa and to identify, articulate and seek ways and means of addressing women-specific expressions of conflict. Adress: c/o Organization of African Unity, P.O Box 3243, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia (See unoy.org and scoll down).

See more on this 112 pages pdf-text about African Peace Building Toolkit.

Excerpt: … African women’s long search for peace culminated in April 1998, upon the establishement of the African Women Committee on Peace and Development which was announced by the Secretary General of the OAU after consultations with the Executive Secretary of the ECA during the opening ceremony of the International Conference celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the ECA.

The Committee is made up of sixteen members and its originality is that it combines members nominated by government with members appointed in their personal capacity and members selected from African women NGOs.

Appointment of members is through submission of candidacy and selection takes into consideration among other things , the proper representation of the five OAU regions. Members serve for a period of three years.

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Youthcare International

Linked with our presentation of Frederick Akhelumele – Nigeria.

Linked also with our presentation of Some reports on Africa and Education.

Youthcare International is a non-profit, charitable organization that has been established to promote education and vocational training among young Africans. In August 2002 Mr. Akhelumele purchased 5.4 Acres of land in Ebhebe Quarters – village located in Nigeria’s Edo State. There he began the construction of the first Youthcare International Education Centre. So far three buildings are under construction and have now reached an advanced stage of development. This will serve as a model for subsequent projects which Youthcare International will establish throughout the African continent. (Read more on this page).

And: We are in need of volunteers who would like to help at the Ebhebe Education Centre. If You have some training in the following areas please contact us. Child Education; Computer Training; Music Education; Health Care; Farming; Carpentry; Sewing and Fashion Designing. (See here).

« With the support of private persons, such as Landeshauptmann Waltraud Klasnic, Lions Club Graz, junior high school Hausmannstätten, Caritas Graz, for example, was it possible to finish the elementary school in Ebhebe Uromi and we are able to open the school in September. Unfortunately, we are still need of your assistance to enable us purchase school chairs and tables for our students and teachers. To buy desks and tables and to open the school we need an amount of € 2.400,–. Please visit our Gallery to see what we have done », Youthcare International writes on its web.

Mail-address.

Women's Leadership Center, Brazil

Linked with our presentation of Rosiska Darcy de Oliveira – Brazil.

Linked also with our presentation For a fair sharing of time – Brazil households.

The Inter-American Development Bank soustains the Women’s Leadership Center, Brazil (Nov 1996). The objective of this technical cooperation is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of women’s leadership and the ability of women to act as agents of change in all spheres of public and civil life in Brazil. The program will support the creation of a women’s leadership center that will train women in leadership skills and build a national network of women leaders.

The program will include components to: (a) establish the center; (b) design and execute a classroom and distance training program for participants from all parts of Brazil, representing a broad sample of women from different levels of society; (c) develop and implement an interactive electronic network with resource people and information regarding women’s issues; and (d) systematize and disseminate the program model within and outside Brazil.

The program will finance the purchase of program, dissemination materials, course supplies, equipment for the center, computer equipment (45 PCs), hardware and software, and library supplies (books and videos). (Read the rest on iadb).

Network of African Women Ministers and Parliamentarians REFAMP

Linked with our presentation of Grace Antonia D’Almeida – Benin.

Linked also with our presentation of UNFPA.

REFAMP was created with a view to promoting greater access by African women to decision-making posts. Through this network, women ministers and parliamentarians decided to unite and form a pressure group to defend the interests of women and ensure the promotion and protection of their rights, improve their living conditions, and work towards sustainable peace and development.

REFAMP’s sub-regional conference on women’s role in the prevention and management of conflicts in West Africa was held in Conakry from the 24th to the 26th of January, 2000. The purpose of the conference was to give the women of the sub-region the opportunity to express their concerns, sharee their experiences and exchange ideas so as to devise strategies and co-ordinate their activities towards the prevention and management of conflicts. FAS and the AWCPD participated in the conference.

The outcome of the conference was the Conakry Declaration and Plan of Action. The Declaration recognised the need for the protection of civilian populations, re-establishment of public order and disarmament, social reintegration, repatriation, and re-adaptation of refugees and respect for human rights and democracy.

At the end of the meeting, they launched a sub-regional network known as UREFAMP/ECOWAS.

ECOWAS = Economic Community of West African States.

L’argent des migrants : exploitation ou pouvoir potentiel ?

Trouvé sur RISAL – Réseau d’information et de solidarité avec l’Amérique latine.

Source : Ecoportal.net, décembre 2005.

Par Gustavo Castro S. – Les ouragans, les tempêtes et les catastrophes naturelles qui s’abattent sur le monde ont accéléré la pauvreté non seulement dans les pays du Sud mais aussi dans ceux du Nord eux-mêmes. La Chine, l’Inde, le Salvador, le Mexique, le Guatemala, les Etats-Unis, parmi beaucoup d’autres, subissent des « phénomènes naturels » jamais vus. Mais ces catastrophes naturelles sont aussi le résultat de catastrophes politiques et économiques. Plus de trente années d’un modèle de production et de consommation néolibérales qui nous a conduit à une consommation excessive de papier, d’eau, d’énergie électrique, de produits chimiques, etc., qui a provoqué la déforestation que l’on sait, l’interruption et l’altération du cycle de l’eau. Le protocole de Kyoto est arrivé trop tard et la disparition de la couche d’ozone et le changement climatique provoquent déjà de grands ravages qui accélèrent la l’émigration de pays pauvres vers les plus riches.

Le plus ironique est que les migrants, fruit de l’expulsion que génère le modèle économique de production et d’exploitation capitaliste, se concentrent dans les pays responsables de la politique qui les a obligés à quitter leurs propres foyers pour être doublement exploités. Ils perdent maisons, terres, famille, culture et, comme si cela ne suffisait pas, une grande partie de leurs maigres revenus, en les envoyant à leurs familles dans leur pays d’origine.

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