Managré Nooma – Burkina Faso

Linked with our presentations of Katrin Rohde – Burkina Faso & Germany, and of Dialog der Kulturen.

In 1995 I moved from Germany to Burkina Faso, West Africa, in order to found a home for street boys. I called this very first house « A.M.P.O. » (Assocation Managré Nooma Pour la Protection des Orphélins). « Managré Nooma » means Kindness is never forgotten in the country’s native language. I strongly believe in this saying until this day. From these small beginnings an organisation has developed, which is also called « Kingdom of the poor » within the population. All institutions have grown out of local necessities and have not been planned at the round table. We are exclusively financed by private contributions. We are small and efficient, and this is exactly how we want to stay! In this poor country it is still possible to help a lot with a little. Now about 150 girls and boys belong to our projects. Their age ranges from 6 to 18 years and they are orphans, half-orphans, abandoned children, and boys from the street – all live and learn together. What started as a small home, grew into a long term institution. I did not expect this to happen in 1995, though it is obvious: Kindness is never forgotten. » (Read this and more on AMPO Sahel eV).

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Population Council's International

Linked with our presentation of Ayorinde, or Ayo Ajayi – Ghana.

The Population Council, an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, seeks to improve the well-being and reproductive health of current and future generations around the world and to help achieve a humane, equitable, and sustainable balance between people and resources. The NGO conducts biomedical, social science, and public health research.

See this Text: Globalization is transforming the adolescence in the developing world.

See here about research areas.

Population Council’s Press Release.

BIOMEDICINE: The Population Council conducts fundamental research on reproductive and immunological processes, which serves as the basis for the development of new contraceptive methods, hormone therapies, and AIDS-prevention products.

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Women in Black – worldwide

Linked to our presentation of Stanislavka Zajovic – Serbia and (now independent) Montenegro, and of March across the Nullarbor, and of WLUML – A Different Kind Of Power Is Possible.

First see about regional activities on some WOMEN IN BLACK-links: women in black Homepage UK and internationally; women in black Net; women in black for justice with country links; women in black Baltimore; women in black Northwest; Coalition of (Israelo-Palestinian) women for Peace/women in black and their Homepage; women in black Arizona; women in black Belgrade; women in black Bay Aera … etc. Just put ‘women in black’ into Google and find more.

Women in Black movement nominated for Nobel Peace Prize, June 2, 2001 – We have the pleasure to announce that eight Danish and Norwegian parliamentarians (four women and four men) have nominated the movement « Women in Black » represented by the Israeli and the Serbian group to the Nobel Peace Prize 2001.

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WLUML – A Different Kind Of Power Is Possible

Linked with our presentations of Stanislavka Zajovic – Serbia and (now independent) Montenegro, and of March across the Nullarbor, and of Women in Black – worldwide.

Women living under Muslim Laws WLUML had 0n February 24, 2004, an International conference, organized by Women in Black, Belgrade and the Women’s Center, Leskovac.

As part of the emancipating, internationalist, anti-fascist women’s peace movement, we maintain the tradition of marking the 8th of March – International Women’s Day: for women’s labor rights, for women’s solidarity and for women’s human rights. During the war period (1991-1999), Women in Black organized anti-war and anti-regime demonstrations as well as many other activities. On the occasion of March 8th, 2003, Women in Black, together with Women’s Studies and Filonus, the Students’ Association of the Philosophy department of Belgrade University, organized an international conference in Belgrade (on March 7th, 8th and 9th), entitled “Let us globalize solidarity and social justice”, as well as many other activities, involving more than 100 women from Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. At this conference, we agreed to organize activities marking the 8th of March every year. In accordance with our policy of decentralized activities, mutual support and solidarity, it was agreed that Women in Black, Belgrade and the Women’s Center, Leskovac will organize all activities for the occasion of March 8th 2004, with Leskovac being the center of activities, with the full support and cooperation of the women’s peace network. (Read all the rest on this page of WLUML).

Australian Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies

Linked with our presentation of Stella Cornelius – Australia.

The University of Queensland has a centre of research and practice excellence in the areas of conflict analysis, prevention and management, alternative dispute resolution, peace-building and development and post-conflict reconstruction.

See Student Research Projects;

Seminars & Events;

The ADR Program;

… and much more.

Conflict Resolution Network

Linked with our presentation of Stella Cornelius – Australia.

They write: Our vision is to create conflict-resolving community in a culture of peace and social justice. Conflict Resolution builds stronger and more cohesive organisations and more rewarding relationships. So we make Conflict Resolution skills, strategies and attitudes more readily and universally accessible. Most CRN material can be freely reproduced provided our copyright notice appears on each page.

You may download free material to learn/study Conflict Resolutions down of the page of this link.

links:

History of the CRN;

Ministry for Peace;

ZoomInfo;

The Sydney Peace Foundation

Linked with our presentation of Stella Cornelius – Australia.

The Sydney Peace Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which was created eight years ago within the University of Sydney. The Foundation aims to raise the agenda of peace with justice in the Australian community. Peace with justice is a way of thinking and acting which promotes non-violent solutions to every day problems and provides the foundation of a civil society.

The Sydney Peace Foundation:

selects and awards the Sydney Peace Prize;
develops corporate sector and community understanding of the value of peace with justice in diverse contexts and countries;
sponsors peace initiatives, particularly the work of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney;
teaches peace and conflict studies and creates jobs for young people in areas of peace research, conflict resolution and the promotion of human rights;
awards scholarships and internships in peace, human rights and conflict resolution.

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AMEI-WAECE

The World Association of Early Childhood Educators (AMEI-WAECE) will focus on « Education For Peace From Infancy » at their

First World Congress in Albacete, Spain, April 20-22, 2007.

Dr. Koichiro Matsuura, UNESCO General Director, affirmed that it is important that young minds are guided « to the virtues of tolerance, mutual understanding and peace, not only in action, but also in thought and expression・ …

The main objectives of the WORLD CONFERENCE: EARLY CHILDHOOD PEACE EDUCATION are:

• Establish Early, Initial or Preschool Education as the base and first link for all the educational systems. Only with early childhood education can we achieve a peaceful world.

• Highlight the stage of initial and preschool education as the best time to model a harmonious personality in children as well as to provide them with education in values as this is the time when they are shaped in children.

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PPSEAWA International

Linked with our presentations of Paddy Walker – Cook Islands, and of Comments by Paddy Walker.

PPSAEWA Pan-Pacific and South-East Asian Women’s Association
:

Its Bulletin of April 2006.

Event: 23rd Annual Conference, New Zealand, March 21 to 27, 2007. Location: Telstraclear Pacific Arena in South Auckland. (Manukau City).

In 1928, in Honolulu, a group of women with international concerns, hoping to promote peace through understanding and friendship, convened to establish the Pan Pacific Woman’s Association. Later, the name was changed to more accurately reflect the Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women’s Association’s area of interest.

At the first International Conference, the primary activity was the exchange of national experience with the problems of women and children in and around the Pacific. Since 1930, international Conferences have been held approximately every three years, bringing women together for meetings, lectures, workshops, and cultural programmes concerned with women and families. Recent Conferences have been in the U.S.A. in 1981, Japan in 1984, and Australia in 1988. The XVII International Conference was held in Thailand in 1990 and was attended by 350 delegates from 22 countries in the Asia/Pacific region. By gracious invitation of Her Majesty Queen Mata’aho of Tonga, PPSEAWA held the XIX International Conference in August 1994 in Kuku’ Alofa, Tonga. The theme was: Women of Wisdom Are Pillars of Nations. There were 350 delegates from 21 countries of Asia and the Pacific. The XX conference was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 25-September 2, 1997.

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SEEN – Sustainble Energy & Economic Network

Linked with our presentations of Oronto Douglas – Nigeria, and of Nigeria’s Oil and the population, also of Environemental Rights Action ERA – Nigeria. Also with The World Bank’s Recipe for Climate Disaster.

The Sustainable Energy and Economy Network is a project of the Institute for Policy Studies (Washington, DC) and the Transnational Institute (Amsterdam). It works in partnership with citizens groups nationally and globally on environment, human rights and development issues with a particular focus on energy, climate change, environmental justice, gender equity, and economic issues, particularly as these play out in North/South relations.  Continuer la lecture de « SEEN – Sustainble Energy & Economic Network »

Environemental Rights Action ERA – Nigeria

Linked with our presentations of Oronto Douglas – Nigeria, and of Nigeria’s Oil and the population, (a text and a video of Democracy Now!), and
SEEN – Sustainble Energy & Economic Network. Also with The World Bank’s Recipe for Climate Disaster.

ERA is bound together and guided by a philosophy which avoids moral ambiguity when approaching problems of human ecology. This philosophy is not a rigid dogma, but a guide based upon the seven beliefs described below.

ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 24 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights states that:

« All people shall have the right to (a) generally satisfactory environment favourable to their development. »
ERA believes that a respect for all forms of life is an essential foundation to human happiness. In other words, a genuine concern for humankind and our habitat depends upon a respect for other animals and their habitats, and upon recognition of the importance of diversity.
Humankind cannot achieve happiness in a degraded environment; living in harmony with other forms of life (as in some traditional relationships between people and their environment) is in itself a human right. Furthermore, every individual and responsible human being has an equal right to happiness, regardless of his or her wealth.

ALL ECOSYSTEMS ARE NOW HUMAN ECOSYSTEMS
This concept is central to the ERA philosophy.

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RAFET – Senegal

Linked with our presentation of Amsatou Sow Sidibé – Senegal, and Fondation pour l’inovation politique, and also Finding the Law: Islamic Law.

RAFET, Réseau Africain Pour La Promotion de la Femme Travailleuse (au Sénégal) / African Network for Promotion of African Women Workers (in Senegal):

DAKAR – FANN, Senegal – Established in 1997, RAFET works to promote women’s meaningful participation in decision making at all levels. The organization seeks to promote and ensure respect of international norms for women in the workplace, and provide education, literacy, information, and training to working women to help improve themselves. RAFET also promotes civic and human rights education and organizes support initiatives for underprivileged women. (See Oxfam America).

Learning to be Providers, the Women of Senegal – Many women in Senegal must go beyond the caregiver role to act as sole provider for their families. To succeed, they must learn business skills and expand their markets and opportunities. (Read more on this page of Oxfam America).

Excerpt: … I was in Senegal to research the many non-governmental organizations there that deal with women’s issues … (Read all on sais-jhu.edu).

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Les attentes des travailleuses africaines: Le Réseau Africain pour la Promotion de la Femme Travailleuse (Rafet), fidèle à sa mission de promotion du statut de la femme africaine aux plans juridique, économique, social et culturel, avait fondé beaucoup d’espoir dans le Nepad pour ses objectifs de développement durable de l’Afrique. C’est une grande déception et une frustration que ressentent finalement les travailleuses africaines du fait de l’absence dans ce document d’une prise en compte de la dimension sociale et de celle du genre.

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Fondation pour l'innovation politique

Linked with our presentation of Amsatou Sow Sidibé – Senegal, and RAFET – Senegal, and also Finding the Law: Islamic Law.

What is “Political Innovation”? – Political innovation, based upon an assessment of the present situation and future prospects, consists of:

suggesting new behaviors, new strategies, and new structures;

mobilizing public opinion around these new ideas in order to make them a reality.

What the Foundation does? – In France, innovation comes only rarely from the field. Our country and the rest of Europe are committed to the globalization process and therefore need, more than ever, enthusiastic support of those individuals—whether elected officials or simply citizens – who want to be political innovators.

The Foundation offers them resources to help them nurture their ideas, mainly by informing them about the politics, institutions and behaviors experienced in other countries.

It examines the latest global and social trends which are making it indispensable today for us to use our collective imagination.

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The Garifunda Community – Honduras

Linked with our presentations of Jessica García – Honduras, and with Garífuna Community Leader in Honduras Threatened with Death.

The Garifuna are descendents of Africans and native Carib and Arawak Indians, and they represent a sizeable percentage of Central America’s coastal inhabitants. For over 200 years, the Garifuna have managed to maintain a strong collective identity, including a distinct language, traditions and a communal way of life. The Garifuna have preserved their rich cultural heritage despite facing discrimination, including lack of adequate education or health services and entrenched poverty.

For generations, the Afro-Honduran Garifuna community has resided along the northern coast of Honduras and in La Mosquitia in the east. Many of the core Garifuna religious and cultural practices are inextricably linked to the land, including their collective claim to certain territories. But because the Garifuna live on a prime section of coastal territory, the growth of the tourism industry threatens to undermine their way of life and encroaches on what they regard as their ancestral lands.

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CONAVIGUA

Linked with Rosalina Tuyuc Velásquez – Guatemala, and with Linking Gender, Food Security and the Environment.

Sites about the Coordinadora Nacional de Viudas de Guatemala:

1) More than 60 per cent of the Guatemalan population is Mayan while the other main ethnic group is constituted by the Ladine population (of Spanish and mixed blood). The barriers of Guatemalan society still work against the Indians, with women suffering from a double discrimination, being both Indian and women. However, Indian women play an essential role in the commnunity. She is the pillar of the family, as wife, mother, and educator of her children, and she also plays an important economic role. All the women develop craft activities based on their own culture: weaving, pottery, etc.

Guatemala is the last country in Latin America to have put an end to its civil war, which has lasted thirty six years. With the signature of the « Firm and Sustainable Peace » agreement on 29 December 1996 between the URNG (Guatemalan Revolutionary Unit)and the government, democracy has been widened to encompass indigenous organizations.However, this recent peace cannot hide the memory of years of bloody repression which, using the pretext of destroying centers of guerilla resistance, was unleashed on the country during the eighties with extreme violence against the civil rural population. The term ‘death squad’ was coined in Guatemala. These squads led to the mass exile of whole communities to Mexico, the displacement of populations towards the cities or deportation to ‘model towns’ under the control of the army. A consequence of this process is the fragmentation of traditional community structures and the destruction of the Indians’ social and cultural fabric. Women are at the top of the list of the victims.

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