Scriptorium

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.

Continuer la lecture de « The Garifunda Community – Honduras »

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.

Continuer la lecture de « CONAVIGUA »

Together for a Just World – Education Experience Empowerment

JustWorld International, a not-for-profit organization registered in the State of NY and in France, and has no religious or political affiliation.

JWI MISSION: JustWorld International is a non-governmental organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world. Cooperating with local partners, JustWorld International implements sustainable, culturally sensitive projects that benefit underprivileged children.

JustWorld International trains and empowers international and local university student volunteers to create and realize these projects, providing them with hands-on experience in promoting social justice.

RECRUITMENT: JustWorld International recruits volunteers to work at humanitrian project sites including: Cambodia, Honduras,Senegal, and Kenya.

Our interns are chosen from a highly competitive applicant pool from over fifteen different countries. Once selected, student interns receive regular seminar training, in addition to individual coaching, from renowned experts in the following fields:

Continuer la lecture de « Just World International »

Linked with our presentations of Howard Zinn – USA, and another Communication is possible. Also with It’s Not up to the Court‘, and with ‘Put away the flags‘.

The International ATTAC Movement was created at an international meeting in Paris, on December 11-12, 1998. The creation of the « international movement for democratic control of financial markets and their institutions » wants to respond to that dynamic. Referring to the platform, it forms a network, with neither « hierarchical » structures nor a geographical « center ». Pluralist, it is enriched by the variety of its components and makes the common action easier without limiting it in any way, nor dictating their freedom of contribution. It aims to reinforce, to link and to coordinate, at an international level, the contribution of all of its partners who see themselves as fitting within the structure of its platform. In the same way, it wishes to reinforce its cooperation with all the other networks whose objectives converge with its own.

Attac’s aim was to campaign against international financial speculation, specifically through the introduction of the Tobin Tax on moving money around the world. Branches of Attac were set up across Europe and the world, particularly after the Seattle protests of November 1999 … Attac must take the credit for spotting far in advance that the European Constitution represented a way of hard-wiring neo-liberalism into the continent’s political and economic structures. This record is impressive. It is therefore a matter for grave concern that Attac appears to have split. At the organisation’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Rennes a fortnight ago, two slates were put forward for the administrative council.

Continuer la lecture de « attac international »

Linked with our presentation of Aïssata Kane – Mauritania.

Association pour la Protection de l’Environnement en Mauritanie (APEM), les ONG de l’environnement:

Pour la première fois dans l’histoire des associations mauritaniennes, cinquante ONG nationales ont présenté une soumission commune à l’appel d’offres lancé par l’Union Europèenne relatif à la protection de l’environnement. Le bureau du PNUD en Mauritanie s’est constitué partenaire de ce groupe d’ONG et a contribué à la finalisation technique de l’étude. Une contribution hautement appréciée par les ONG nationales.

liste des ONG membres (Mauritanie).

Actuelle proposition des ONGs :

1. L’ONG Volontaires Sans Frontière cherche partenaire technique ou financier pour son projet Biogaz à base de bouse de vache. email .

2. L’ONG SOS – OASIS cherche un partenaire technique ou financier pour son projet de Centre d’études et de Recherche pour le Développement des Oasis en Mauritanie. »Le bayoud » existe dans nos oasis. Ce virus mortel, est pour les palmiers dattiers ce que le sida est pour les êtres humains. Email , Web.

Continuer la lecture de « L'APEM – Mauritanie »

Linked with our presentation of Sir Bill Morris – England.

With over 800,000 members in every type of workplace the T&G is the UK’s biggest general union, and has a long and proud tradition of representing members in the workplace. (Read all about this on the Transport and General Workers’ Union).

TGWU-Press release on July 5, 2006: Disabled people shouldn’t be penalised for employer discrimination, the Transport and General Workers’ Union said today, as the Government published its welfare reform bill. (read all on politics.co.uk).

TGWU-Debate on July 5, 2006: Migrant workers amnesty needs debate – Jack Dromey, T&G Deputy General Secretary, today (Wednesday 5th July) called for a serious debate about irregular working, in rejecting the arguments of right wing think-tank Migrationwatch, who campaign against mass migration. Mr. Dromey called for irregular workers to become regularised, by way of an amnesty. They state: “Our country and economy needs migrant workers. Irregular working is part of our economy and we need a serious debate about how to tackle it ». – And: « Rather than criminalising irregular migrants, many of whom have lived and raised their families in the UK for years, we should establish a way for them to work and contribute legally.

Continuer la lecture de « Transport and General Workers’ Union TGWU – England »

Linked with our presentation of Anica Mikus Kos – Slovenia, and of The Scope and Benefits of Youth Volunteering.

The Medical Network has evolved from its origins in 1991, when a small group met sporadically in conjunction with meetings of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). Since 1993, it has convened annual meetings and has organized projects and training programs for health-care professionals and medical students. Even during periods of extreme violence in the region, the Medical Network has orchestrated broad-based participation and has brought together polarized parties.

The Medical Network has also reached out to physicians from other war-devastated or socially-depressed areas, including neighboring areas in the Balkans, the North Caucasus and the Middle East.

The Medical Network publishes reports and newsletters containing information about Medical Network literature and other resources, needs and capabilities throughout the region, and Medical Network conferences, workshops and meetings.

The Medical Network enjoys cooperative relationships with international medical organizations, including the World Health Organization, the International Society for Health and Human Rights, CARE, UNICEF, and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW).

Continuer la lecture de « The Medical Network for Social Reconstruction in the Former Yugoslavia »

Linked with our presentation of Blanca Campoverde – Ecuador.

The Fundacion Ninez y Vida is a local NGO here in Quito with 30 years of experience working with children. Niñez y Vida offers multiple children’s centers in the poor neighborhoods of western Quito. One strong aspect of the foundation is its use of the Montessori model, encouraging a natural development process in children. With that in mind, the centers have very little formal education structure, but instead offer many different experimental stations where the children are free to learn at their own pace. In impoverished living conditions, children are often forced to grow up much faster than is healthy. The centers offer the children an atmosphere of freedom that allows for them to grow and develop at their own rate. In the centers, children are never pressured or required to participate in any activity or schedule.

Experimental play areas: One of the most important elements of each center is the experimental play areas. Each area is specifically designed and equipped with toys and materials to aid development in certain field. For example, you will find a corner of mathematics games and numbers, an area of building blocks and small construction materials, or a science section filled with animals and materials relating to the environment. All the centers have a ‘daily life’ area where children can imitate their parents by putting on make-up, playing dress-up, or even doing chores.

Continuer la lecture de « Fundacion Ninez y Vida »

Voici un site en françai consacré à la promotion des droits de l’homme et des libertés fondamentales. Ce site, réalisé à partir de Genève, régulièrement mis à jour, favorise l’éducation aux droits de l’homme dans le monde francophone. Il met à la disposition des internautes tous les grands textes et traités, ainsi que des informations sur l’évolution internationale des droits de l’homme.

Merci de faire connaître http://www.aidh.org (ou http://www.droitshumains.org/) et de diffuser cette information. Le site est bourré de links, articles et informations.

L’Association suisse des Amis du Dr Janusz Korczak;

Université d’été des droits de l’homme;

La Chaire lyonnaise des droits de l’homme;

Droits de l’homme ou droits humain?

Dédié à la philosophe suisse Jeanne Hersch*, ce site francophone, très complet, se veut généraliste selon un double point de vue d’information et d’éducation. Il rassemble un grand nombre d’informations sur les droits de l’homme, mais aussi sur l’histoire de ces droits et leur situation présente. Il suit l’actualité, réunit les documents importants, donne toutes les informations nécessaires pour connaître, comprendre et analyser les événements et les situations en rapport avec les droits de la personne, partout dans le monde.

Continuer la lecture de « aidh.org/ – les droits de l'homme en français »

Updated 2010-04-08: NGO Management School NMS, Switzerland.

The NGO Managment School gives courses which can be held wherever needed. The first three courses now are ready:

– Essentials of NGO Management (5 days),
– Project Proposals for Results (3 days), and
– Financial Management for Non-Finance Executives (3 days).

Managing and leading an NGO is becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated. More and more NGOs are coming to realize that a widening range of knowledge, skills and strategies are necessary to achieve results, to enhance their impact and to remain effective in the work they do. The NGO Management School (NMS) provides training for professional and effective NGO management. Together with local partner organisations, we bring management courses nearby to you and make training easily available to NGOs and other civil society organisations. We jointly organise and deliver courses that can be adapted to the needs of the participants and their organisations. NMS is a non-profit institution.

The focus of our training courses is on gaining a thorough understanding of key concepts of NGO management, sharpening practical skills and developing strategies that you can immediately use in your work. We address real-life problems in a participatory and interactive learning environment to help you enhancing your management capacity. Participating in our courses helps you to move forward in your job and career.

Continuer la lecture de « The NGO Management School »

See on our french blog the presentation about a new human rights website, Les Droits de l’Homme en français.

Mission: Japan for Sustainability (JFS) is a non-profit communication platform to disseminate environmental information from Japan to the world, with the aim of helping both move onto a sustainable path.

Japan for Sustainability launched its activities August 2002 to fulfill the mission stated above. We believe that information sharing and exchange will be a key to the shift toward a sustainable world. We hope to deliver our newsletters to as many people around the globe as possible to accelerate this shift.

Continuer la lecture de « Japan for Sustainability »

Linked with our presentation of Aïssata Kane – Mauritania.

Association Mauritanienne pour la Protection de l’Enfant et de la Femme, A.D.D.F.E.

Cette association a été créée le 12 décembre 1995, par un groupe de femmes de bonne volonté en vue de combler les lacunes et les insuffisances enregistrées dans les domaines des droits de la femme et de l’enfant en Mauritanie.

Continuer la lecture de « A.D.D.F.E. – Mauritanie »

Linked with our presentation of Aïssata Kane – Mauritania.

Association Internationale des Femmes Francophones (AIFF). Organisation de tutelle : Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) (France).

MISSION

Continuer la lecture de « AIFF / APEM – Mauritanie »

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

Source : International Relation Centers – IRC – Programas de las Américas, 18 avril 2006.

par Raúl Zibechi – Après avoir obtenu des succès retentissants, les mouvements indigènes sud-américains se trouvent confrontés à de nouveaux défis – sur les plans institutionnel et étatique – auxquels ils n’ont jusqu’à présent pas trouvé de réponse. L’approfondissement des diverses expériences et l’échange entre organisations semblent être quelques-unes des possibles voies à explorer pour avancer.

Continuer la lecture de « Mouvements indigènes : entre néolibéralisme et gouvernements de gauche »