Catégorie : Civil Society

Linked with Arvind Kejriwal – India, and with PARIVARTAN, Fighting Corruption – India.

The Right to Information movement has grown and matured at a phenomenal pace with 9 states granting their citizens the right to access information from their respective state governments. With the passage of the Central Right to Information Act which is a very progressive Act India is working towards a more transparent, accountable and participatory system of governance. The Right to Information in India has been popularised by several significant initiatives of various citizen groups, individuals, grassroots movements and non-government organisation working in their own areas towards strengthening the Right to Information to change the face of Indian governance. These experiences are critical to influence and bring about a change in the relationship between the governed and those who govern, however, in order to influence change it is important that every citizen must participate in the process that facilitates and brings about the change. Kabir is a non-government organisation committed to the promotion and advancement of the Right to Information movement in India. Kabir intends to advocate the use of Right to Information by drawing on experiences from all over the country. By acting as a catalyst Kabir intends to promote the Right to Information through the medium of print, audio-visual media and personal communication.

Continuer la lecture de « KABIR.org – India »

Linked with Annie Lacroix-Riz – France, and with Giulietto Chiesa – Italy, and with … Radio France Culture de Février 2004, and with Le Sciocchezze di Sofri e Rampoldi, and with Vichy, Argent et zyklon B en 1940-44. Also with Axis for Peace of February 1, 2006.

Dans une contribution magistrale, présentée à la conférence Axis for Peace 2005, le professeur James Petras analyse les contradictions du système impérialiste états-unien. Il souligne la manipulation de l’ONU et du droit international par les grandes puissances. Il décrit la fuite en avant des militaristes civils, néoconservateurs et sionistes. Loin de sombrer dans le pessimisme, le célèbre intellectuel états-unien trace les perspectives d’une résistance populaire internationale.

For World-Peace, by Voltairenet.org / Colloque pour la paix dans le monde par Réseau Voltaire -Listen to different Google-Videos, in their original language, no traduction, by the links hereafter / Ecoutez les différents intervenants de la session par Google-Vidéo dans leur langue originale (pas de traductions):

November 17, 2005, opening of the conference; and roundtables.

November 18, 2005, Plenary Session; and closure of the conference.

link: see all Debaters (also Annie Lacroix-Riz, France, and Giulietto Chiesa, Italy).

Linked with our presentations of Chief Arvol Looking Horse – Sioux Nation USA, and of Message from Chief Arvol Looking Horse, and of Peacemessage from Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Sioux Nation.

The Wolakota Foundation is a grassroots non-profit organization emerging from the needs of traditional Lakota (Dakota/Nakota) people to maintain their cultural and spiritual lifeways for the sake of future generations. Since it’s inception, the organization has sought to promote and protect as well as educate others about the traditional values and wisdom of Indigenous People. The term Wo-lakota means: peaceful, responsible and caring, a compassionate and generous people. Wolakota encourages people to step forward in recognizing the value of their own cultural roots and in so doing, reconnecting with the strengths and wisdom that all traditional cultures hold in common.
our connection to each other and to the Earth.

Through our core projects, we seek to:

– Protect Sacred Sites throughout the World, Promote dialogue among indigenous people, Encourage traditional values and skills along earth-friendly, technologies, Seek sustainable solutions to environmental abuse, Educate the succeeding generation to become responsible, well-balanced human beings.

– We welcome you to explore our possiblities and ask that you join us as we face the wind – tatohiyatakiya – together.

Continuer la lecture de « The Wolakota Foundation, Facing the Winds of Change »

Linked with our presentations of James K. Galbraith – USA, and of The University of Texas’ Inequality Project UTIP, and of The Plutocrats go wild.
They write about themselves:

We are an organization of economists, other social scientists, and citizens concerned about issues of peace, conflict, war, and the world economy, in an international network of affiliates. (See on EPS).

EPS undertakes projects of research, education and outreach within our three program areas:

US Military and Security Policy

Because the United States’ military expenditure exceeds that of the rest of the world combined, one area of focus is the security and economic policies of the world’s only (current) superpower. Within this program area we look at such issues as: the true cost of war; what can realistically be achieved by military means? defining a new framework to reduce the cost and increase the effectiveness of U.S. security; looking for ways to reduce the threat of irresponsible nuclear policy; and, strategies for achieving peace and homeland security.

International Peacebuilding

Cooperation is a common sense tool to get things done. It’s real people, in government and out, working together on issues that matter to our daily lives. Many issues we face are bigger than any one nation – even the US: finding terrorists anywhere they hide; stopping killer germs before they reach our shores; making the global economy work for everyone. Working with other countries and international institutions like the UN multiplies our strength, expands our options, and distributes our costs and risks.

Teaching the Economics of War and Peace

At present, even within defense and security institutions, virtually no training opportunities exist in this field, no possibilities for students, security personnel, the NGO community, or other interested parties to receive an informed overview of the economic causes and consequences of defense expenditure, how economic theory helps illuminate, formulate, and evaluate policy options.

Here, we integrate the study of economic dimensions into the study of war and peace (for example, in international relations), and the study of war into the study of economic systems (for example, the arms trade in international trade & finance; defense spending in macroeconomic management). Our goal is not to dictate how economists teach these topics, but to encourage creative work in these areas.

We decide to undertake a new project if:

It employs the tools of economic analysis;
It strengthens understanding of our issues of concern among more than one audience;
It proposes rational and peaceful alternatives to current mores, policies, or practices.

Linked with our presentation of Dawan Chantarahassadee – Thailand, and of The Assembly of the Poor AOP – Thailand.

Development must not be a process that creates refugees. The ADB creates refugees through physical displacement of peoples as well as alienating them from their communities, livelihoods and culture … (Read the whole long article on nadir.org).

Excerpt: … In the name of development, its projects and programs have destroyed the livelihoods of people, brought about the disintegration of local and indigenous communities, violated ancestral domains, undermined sovereign self-determination, promoted a sharp rise in inequality, deepened poverty, and destabilized the environment.

Continuer la lecture de « Klong Dan Local Conservation Group – Thailand »