World Alliance for Citizen Participation

A Free Weekly Newsletter Promoting Civic Existence, Expression & Engagement Please send contributions, comments and questions to editor@civicus.org

22 May 2009 ISSUE No. 439 PUBLISHER CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Devendra Tak Ingrid Srinath EDITORS Nastasya Tay Daniel Gray OCCASIONAL CONTRIBUTORS Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane Carol Baloyi Ciara O'Sullivan Judith Seda Henri Valot Mandeep S. Tiwana Tania Gobena Vicente García-Delgado ABOUT e-CIVICUS  The CIVICUS weekly electronic publication is keeping tens of thousands of people informed of the developments taking place in civil society, the factors that are affecting them and the impact they are having on creating an informed and knowledgeable civil society.  e-CIVICUS WELCOMES CONTRIBUTIONS  e-CIVICUS offers a useful channel through which you and your organisation can share your news, publicise your events and articulate the issues you face. Please send us your contributions by Monday for publication in the coming week to editor@civicus.org. All contributions must focus on civil society issues or have a civil society angle. To read the contribution guidelines, click here.  REPRODUCTION OF e-CIVICUS The content of this newsletter can be translated into another language and reproduced in other publications, as long as due acknowledgment is made to CIVICUS.  e-CIVICUS DISCLAIMER Although CIVICUS makes all reasonable efforts to obtain prima-facie reliable content for  e-CIVICUS, CIVICUS cannot guarantee the accuracy of the reports, views or opinions of third-party content providers, nor does CIVICUS necessarily endorse the views reflected therein.  CONTACT US P.O. Box 933 Southdale, 2135  South Africa  Tel: +27 11 833 5959 Fax:+27 11 833 7997 1112 16th Street NW, Suite 540  Washington D.C.  20036 USA Tel: +202 331-8518 Fax: +202 331-8774 Websites: www.civicus.org www.civicusassembly.org To watch videos and CIVICUS initiatives on Zimbabwe, click here.  To subscribe or unsubscribe: email subscriptions@civicus.org TELL A FRIEND Would you like to share this newsletter with a friend? Please forward their e-mail address to subscriptions@civicus.org Support CIVICUS To make an on-line donation click here. Join CIVICUS Join or renew your CIVICUS Membership on-line now click here.  Civil Society Watch Monthly Bulletin The CIVICUS e-newsletter Civil Society Watch Monthly Bulletin  is an action-oriented newsletter distributed to over 7,400 people, featuring insightful interviews, updates on threats to civil society, and analyses of current situations. Read more at www.civicus.org. CIVICUS channel on YouTube: ‘Time 2 Act’ Go to YouTube, click here. CIVICUS launches its 1 for 1 membership campaign Are you one of the missing 85? One CIVICUS member for every UN member state, that’s the goal of CIVICUS’ 1 for 1 Membership campaign, click here.

FROM THE DESK OF CIVICUS' SECRETARY GENERAL Dear friends and colleagues, Guided missiles and misguided men: reflections on the sources and uses of power A highlight of my recent visit to Atlanta, USA, for the Council on Foundations conference (www.cof.org) was a tour of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. heritage site. As an Indian living in South Africa, the continuum from Gandhi through Dr. King to Nelson Mandela was starkly obvious during this visit. I was also made aware of the power of words, symbols, icons and community. On my return to Johannesburg, alongside the news of peaceful transfers of power in South Africa and India and brute military power quashing the Tamil insurgency in Sri Lanka, I found myself engaged in multiple discussions on the subject of power. The power - conferred or denied - by virtue of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, nationality, physical and intellectual ability, caste or class. Read more... With gratitude, faith and solidarity, Ingrid Srinath CIVICUS is turning 16 years old next week! Therefore, we would like to hear from all our members, partners and interested stakeholders about your experiences of CIVICUS over the past 16 years. We invite you to share with us your personal/organisational experiences with CIVICUS, and/or provide suggestions for us to better serve you in the next 16 years, and beyond. And don’t forget: Your opinions and input might be published in an upcoming issue of e-CIVICUS, or on our website (www.civicus.org). Please write to membership@civicus.org with your reflections, memories, contributions, suggestions or opinions. We look forward to hearing from you! CIVICUS Poll Question This week’s question: Which of CIVICUS’ information and communication technology (ICT) products do you find the most useful? a. e-CIVICUS b. www.civicus.org c. CSI blog d. Facebook profiles e. You Tube channel f. Programme newsletters/bulletins g. All of the above To answer the question, click here. Previous question: As CIVICUS turns 16 this May, do you feel that CIVICUS has achieved more than its years? a. Yes, of course, it has made its presence felt strongly b. Kind of – it indeed has a few achievements c. It has the potential to do much more Results: a. - 61.5%, b. - 38.5%, c. - 0% Become a CIVICUS Facebook fan and get updates on our activities right in your news feed! Join the CIVICUS Facebook group and engage with other CIVICUS supporters! Watch our videos on http://www.youtube.com/user/civicusworldalliance JOIN e-CIVICUS - BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR e-CIVICUS keeps tens of thousands of people and organisations informed of the many developments taking place in civil society around the world. This e-publication seeks to encourage and amplify the voices of those struggling for a more just world. Why don’t you suggest to your friends to register for a free subscription? They can send an email to subscriptions@civicus.org or fill out the subscription form here. Alternatively, please forward their email addresses to us and we’ll contact them on your behalf. Please send your contributions by Monday every week to editor@civicus.org. All contributions must be focused on civil society issues or have a civil society angle. CIVIL SOCIETY NEWS Tribute to CIVICUS member: Robin Rowland Founder and Chair, Global Links Initiative By Kumi Naidoo, Honorary President, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation The rhetoric of civil society centres around the collective. We stand united to amplify the voices of the marginalised and to create a better world. Though we are ultimately fighting for the rights of the individual, we know that our power is more forceful when we work together. But because of this knowledge, our collective conscience often forgets the individual strength and sacrifice that forms and fuels our various struggles. It is integral that we remind ourselves that there are moments where we must acknowledge the individuals - not as heroes or villains - but as conscious people who have devoted their lives to a cause in solidarity with others. For details, click here. Civil Society Index (CSI) partners with the Union of International Associations (UIA) Source: CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation UIA is a non-profit, apolitical, independent, and non-governmental organisation that focuses on the research, monitoring and provision of information on international organisations, international associations and their global challenges. The Civil Society Index methodology uses the UIA’s Yearbook of International Organisations as a source for its Level of Organisation dimension, and the Association has graciously offered to provide the CSI programme and partners the data required to measure some indicators within this dimension free of charge. CSI would like to thank UIA for this role in supporting the breadth and accuracy of the CSI research. Such partnerships strengthen civil society relations and encourage the impacts both our organisations strive to achieve. Please visit the link above for more information or to contact the UIA directly. For details, click here. The economy's search for a "New Normal" Source: Global Research.ca, Centre for Research on Globalisation When the reality of the economic crisis first made itself known, many who realised what was happening dubbed it “the greatest crisis since the Great Depression.” This description was more than bombast; it was a sober analysis of the immensity of the economic problems in the country — problems that had been building up for years. The mainstream media is now — for political reasons — in a constant clamor for the economy’s elusive “rock bottom.” This is so people will be more hopeful, less agitated, and more willing to let those who destroyed the economy continue running the country un-challenged. Every time a new economic indicator comes out that wasn’t “as bad as expected,” Wall Street cheers and politicians give their “we’ve turned the corner” speeches. Reality is thus turned on its head. For details, click here. Unrelenting violence and impunity in Guatemala Source: International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) The ITUC has strongly condemned and denounced the ever-worsening climate of impunity in Guatemala, highlighted once again by the assassination on 10 May of lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg, who had left a video accusing President Colom in the event of his murder. The national, regional and international trade union movements have joined with the Guatemalan labour, indigenous and campesino movement (MSICG) in condemning the violence and impunity affecting the day-to-day lives of the Guatemalan people, along with the total impunity surrounding the murders of women, the assassinations of transport workers, human rights activists and trade unionists. For details, click here. European strategy on tackling the crisis in poor countries offers no new money Source: European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development (CONCORD) The European Commission released their "Spring Package" on supporting developing countries to tackle the impact of the financial crisis, but CONCORD expressed deep concerns about the genuine levels of commitment being shown by European governments to keep their promises to the poor. For details, click here. European NGOs condemn Irish Aid budget cut Source: European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development (CONCORD) The Irish Government announced the fourth cut to its development aid budget since June 2008, with devastating implications for the countries that rely on Irish Official Development Assistance. The Irish overseas aid budget was cut by €45 million in July 2008, a further €15 million in October, and by €95 million in February of this year. April's announcement takes another €100 million off the budget. For details, click here. GET INVOLVED! The CIVICUS Civil Society Index Blog is online! Keep abreast of recent activities within the CSI team and program. Visit http://civilsocietyindex.wordpress.com and share the link with your colleagues, networks and stakeholders. This new blog will provide CSI partners as well as interested parties all over the world a more informal and interactive way of giving and getting updates during this implementation phase, and will serve as a hub of information for you to disseminate, access and interact with throughout the project. For details, click here. United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Study CIVICUS wants to know more about the work you are doing! CIVICUS partner, United Nations Volunteers (UNV), in conjunction with Education for Change is undertaking research on gender and volunteerism for development. Please support UNV’s efforts to map the issues in this important field by completing the online survey by 29 May. The survey is available online in English, French, Arabic and Spanish. Please complete the survey in only one language. For details, click here. Read more... GLOBAL INSTITUTIONS UPDATE Outcome of United Nations conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development Source: UN Conference on World Financial and Economic Crisis Following informal consultations with various Member States, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, has issued a revised Draft Outcome Document for the UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and its Impact on Development. This version supersedes the draft that he issued on 8 May 2009. A formal announcement of the text is expected to take place on 19 May and formal consultations among Member States should begin shortly thereafter. For details, click here.  Calls for IMF governance reform Source: New Rules for Global Finance There have been many calls recently for IMF governance reform - whether from the G20 or the draft outcome document of the UN Conference on the Outcomes of the Financial Crisis. Now, you - and all members of global Civil Society — are invited to contribute to the discussion, a discussion that will feed directly in to the IMF itself. The IMF Managing Director, Dominique Strauss Khan, called for a “Fourth Pillar” on IMF Governance Reform. For details, click here.  Read more... PROFILES DONOR: Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) Children Investment Fund Foundation is an independent, non-profit, philanthropic organisation formally linked to an investment fund, which contributes a portion of its management fees and profits to the Foundation. CIFF aims to deliver large-scale, long-term transformational advances for children as evidenced by clear indicators for children to survive, thrive and mature successfully into adulthood. For details, click here. Read more profiles... BOOKS, REPORTS & RESOURCES Poverty in Focus Source: International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) The International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG) publishes regularly issues of Poverty in Focus magazine as well as other publications such as One Pagers, Policy Research Briefs, Working Papers and Country Studies to encourage policy debate and dissemination of knowledge on key poverty topics. Download this month's issue of Poverty in Focus magazine. For details, click here.  CONFERENCES & EVENTS The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) 2009 4 - 5 November 2009, Athens, Greece The Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) 2009 will be held in Athens, Greece on 4 and 5 November 2009. This inter-governmental meeting, hosted by the Government of Greece, will be preceded by two Civil Society Days in Athens on 2 and 3 November 2009. Participants in the Civil Society Days will draw on their experiences in the field of migration and development to formulate proposals that will be presented to government representatives during the GFMD. Applications are now open for representatives of Civil Society actively working on Migration and Development to apply to participate in the Civil Society Days. This is a unique opportunity for civil society organisations, including diaspora groups and migrants associations, to input into the inter-governmental dialogue on making migration work for development. For details, click here.  Global Partners in Action NGO forum 2–4 September 2009, Berlin, Germany The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of Germany is organising the "Global Partners in Action: NGO Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development Invest in Health, Rights and the Future." This forum will held from 2-4 September 2009 in Berlin, Germany. The aim of the forum is to strengthen NGOs so that they can advance the agenda of sexual and reproductive health and rights for sustainable development. The forum is especially looking forward to have participants from developing countries and hence, they will be fully funded for their presence at the forum. There will be more than 200 participants from the South out of the total 400 participants expected. For details, click here.  CALL FOR PAPERS, SUBMISSIONS, SURVEYS & NOMINATIONS Campaign Identity Contest Source: Dignity Internation Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (India), the Four Slum Regional Network (Thailand), the Nairobi People’s Settlement Network (NPSN), Ekta Parishad (India), Union National dos Moradias Popular (Brazil), the European Anti Poverty Network, the International Alliance of Inhabitants, and Dignity International are preparing to launch a campaign on Dignity for all in October 2009. The campaign will focus on pushing governments to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of people in urban and rural areas whose realities are currently being ignored by the state. These are people, families and communities that are either not taken into account by public policy or deliberately under attack by state or non state actors with the support of the state. For details, click here.  UBUNTU International Youth Voluntary Service Award Deadline: 1 June 2009 UBUNTU is an exciting new initiative which champions international volunteering by young people from Africa and Europe. The UBUNTU Award is the first award of its kind giving recognition to sending and hosting organisations across Africa and Europe highlighting good practice in the field of international voluntary service. Applicants will be judged by a jury of ten young people on the basis of different criteria including co-operation, coherence, sustainability, and youth empowerment. For details, click here.  Read more... APPOINTMENTS This week, new civil society job openings have been added to the CIVICUS website. Please click here. Should you wish to publish a New Vacancy, please click on Add job. Please add an expiry date for applications. JOBS OF THE WEEK Participatory Governance Programme Manager Application Deadline: 29 May 2009 CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation Location: Johannesburg, South Africa For details, click here. Manager of Global Advocacy Programs Application Deadline: Until position filled Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Location: Geneva, Switzerland For details, click here. CONTACT e-CIVICUS e-CIVICUS is a free weekly online publication keeping tens of thousands of people, organisations and programmes informed of the many developments and factors that affect civil society and their impact on creating a more just world. We value your comments and suggestions. Please send these to the Editorial Team at editor@civicus.org. 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