The forthcoming gathering in Vienna will be the third since the March 2013 conference in Oslo convened by the Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide who said the Conference had “provided an arena for a fact-baseddiscussion of the humanitarian and developmental consequences of a nuclear weapons detonation”.(…) The second conference in Nayarit, Mexico, on February 13-14, 2014, discussed “global and long-term consequences of any nuclear detonation (…) Delegations representing 146 States, the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and civil society organizations, participated in the Nayarit international gathering.

The Austrian offer to host the Third Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons evoked “great support from participants as a follow-up to Oslo and Nayarit, to deepen the momentum, anchor these conclusions and take them forward”, the Nayarit conference chair said (…)

http://www.pressenza.com/2014/08/austrian-parliament-backs-government-efforts-nuclear-disarmament/?utm

UNHCR welcomes Council of Europe convention on combatting violence against women

August 1st – The UN refugee agency has warmly welcomed the entry into force of a Council of Europe convention aimed at preventing and countering violence against women and domestic violence. The Istanbul Convention, which came into force on Friday, requires state parties to ensure that gender-basedviolence against women may be recognized as a form of persecution and to ensure that the grounds for asylum listed in the 1951 Refugee Convention are interpreted in a gender-sensitive manner. http://www.unhcr.org/53da56749.html

Oman joins Mine Ban Treaty

Oman has become the 162nd State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty, which will enter into force for Oman on 1 February 2015 in accordance with the waiting period mandated. Three of the six members of the Gulf Coordination Council (GCC) – Oman, Kuwait and Qatar – have now acceded to the Convention. The ICBL has been engaging the Sultanate of Oman on the Mine Ban Treaty for several years. CBL is glad to see the efforts have paid off and Oman acceded the treaty. http://www.icbl.org/en-gb/news-and-events/news/2014/oman-joins-mine-ban-treaty.aspx

Human rights

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World Conference on Indigenous Peoples – 22-23 September, New York

UN General Assembly to renew commitment to the realization of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at First World Conference on Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, with many of them struggling to remain on their lands and retain the right to their natural resources, while others have long since been removed from their lands, denied their languages and traditional ways.

In order to share perspectives and best practices on the realization of the rights of indigenous peoples, the General Assembly decided to organize a high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly, to be known as the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The World Conference will result in a concise,action-oriented outcome document prepared on the basis of inclusive and open informal consultations with Member States and indigenous peoples. http://www.un.org/en/ga/69/meetings/indigenous/pdf/Media_advisory_21August.pdf

Economy and development

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SAMOA: Small island conference leaves ‘legacy with impact’ – UN

September 4– With $1.9 billion pledged in sustainable development partnerships, the United Nations on Thursday wrapped up its small island developing state conference and kicked off a drum roll of action on climate change. The Secretary-General of the Third International Conference on Small Island and Developing States, Wu Hongbo, characterized the summit, the largest of its kind in the Pacific, as “extraordinary.”

Briefing journalists in Apia, Samoa, Mr. Wu said 297 partnerships between governments, businesses, civil society and UN entities had been announced during the four days. He added that the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) which he heads will take on the responsibility of reporting on the commitments’ progress to hold the participants to account.

The partnerships are in the areas of sustainable economic development, climate change and disaster risk management, social development, sustainable energy, ocean health, and water and sanitation, food security and waste management. They are in line with the conference’s outcome document, nicknamed the Samoa Pathway, which was unanimously endorsed at the last plenary session today. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsId=48636#.VAgTjfl_uSo

U.S.A. makes new contribution to WFP’s life-saving Work Fighting Hunger in Yemen

September 2, Sana’a – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a generous US$40 million contribution from the US government to provide food assistance for 2.8 million of the poorest Yemenis over the next few months.

The contribution comprises US$15 million in cash for the innovative e-voucher project, which WFP provides when food is available in the market but is out of reach for the poor. The vouchers also help to stimulate the local economy. The remaining US$25 million will be used to purchase up to 27,000 metric tons of food, mainly wheat, yellow split peas and vegetable oil for general food distribution.

In July, WFP launched a new operation, which will target six million food insecure people in Yemen over the next two years. The project will support a gradual shift from relief towards livelihood support and building resilience through productive safety net activities, creating jobs, enhancing agriculture, promoting education and combating Yemen’s malnutrition crisis. http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/usa-makes-new-contribution-wfp%E2%80%99s-life-saving-work-fighting-hunger-yemen

Twelve industry companies develop novel methodology for product social impact assessment

Amsterdam, September 1st – A group of companies united in the Roundtable for Product Social Metrics announces the publication of the Handbook for Product Social Impact Assessment, a practical tool for sustainability professionals. The handbook describes an innovative methodology for assessing a product’s social impacts throughout its life cycle, and is the result of a unique collaborative effort of a group ofmulti-industry market leaders.

Stakeholders increasingly demand transparency about the social impacts of products,” says João Fontes of PRé Sustainability, spokesperson for the Roundtable. As supply chains and product life cycles span the world, businesses need a practical, reliable way to systematically analyse risks and identify improvement opportunities. “Research on consumer preferences, like The Nielsen Global Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility, shows that half of the world’s consumers are prepared to pay a premium if products have an ecological or social benefit,” says Jacobine Das Gupta, Corporate Sustainability Manager for DSM. http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/37305-Twelve-Industry-Companies-Develop-Novel-Methodology-for-Product-Social-Impact-Assessment

Text Messages: a new way to fight hunger in Senegal

By Paulele Fall

August 26 -In the Ziguinchor region, the World Food Programme (WFP) has implemented a new system that uses text messages, or SMS, to transfer money to people affected by food insecurity during the lean season. So far, this new method has benefited 55,000 people. (…) By implementing such a programme, WFP also aims to develop small businesses and retailers, and ensures the loyalty of customers to local businesses for at least four months while they receive WFP assistance. (…)

The lean season occurs between June and September, when families run out of the previous year’s food supplies. The poor often cannot wait for the next planting season. The government has implemented a programme to provide assistance to about 675,000 people, including 350,000 who receive assistance from WFP.

http://www.wfp.org/stories/text-messages-new-way-fight-hunger-senegal

World Social Tourism Congress 2014 – São Paulo, Brazil, 7-10 October

It is in São Paulo, Brazil that the next World Social Tourism Conference will take place from 7th to 10th October 2014. For the first time in its history, ISTO is organizing this conference in South America thanks to the invitation of the Serviço Social do Comércio – São Paulo (SESC SP); its oldest member in the Americas. The main theme of the Congress “Tourism based on development- Unity in Diversity” will focus on four lines of reflection which are tourism and inclusion; tourism and education, tourism and solidarity, and tourism and sustainability.

Through plenary sessions, panels and workshops, the conference will present a rich and diversified panorama of “development tourism” in different continents with debates on the right to travel and tourism as a means of meeting people and the convergence of cultures.

Theoretical considerations will also be linked to best practice in tourism development while providing moments to deepen discussions on social tourism, responsible tourism, community based tourism and sustainable tourism.

http://www.oits-isto.org/en/test.php?menu=16&submenu=540&eventid=190

Ninth African Development Forum

Innovative Financing for Africa’s Transformation

The Ninth African Development Forum will be held in Marrakech, Morocco, from 12 to 16 October 2014 on the theme “Innovative financing for Africa’s transformation”. The Forum will offer a platform for prominent African stakeholders to share key information and participate in more focused and in-depth discussions on issues relating to innovative financing mechanisms in the following four thematic areas:

Domestic resource mobilization

Illicit financial flows

Private equity

New forms of partnership

The Forum seeks to enhance Africa’s capacity to explore innovative financing mechanisms as real alternatives for financing transformative development in Africa. It will aim to forge linkages between, on the one hand, the importance of mainstreaming resource mobilization and the reduction of trade barriers into economic, institutional and policy frameworks, and on the other, advancing the post-2015development goals.

http://www.uneca.org/adfix/pages/about-adf-ix

World Food Day – 16 October

The 2014 World Food Day theme – Family Farming: “Feeding the world, caring for the earth” – has been chosen to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farmers. It focuses world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment, and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.

The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.” This is a strong signal that the international community recognizes the important contribution of family farmers to world food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations marks World Food Day each year on 16 October, the day on which the Organization was founded in 1945. http://krilloil.com/blog/world-food-day/

Solidarity

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WFP and IRB team up to tackle hunger at Rugby World Cup 2015

September 5, London – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Rugby Board (IRB) have launched an ambitious push to raise funds and awareness as part of their Tackle Hunger partnership at Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.

The focus of the drive in the build up to the world’s third-largest sporting event, which kicks off on September 18, 2015 will be a Million Meal Challenge, to raise funds for WFP to provide meals to school children in developing countries. The Rugby World Cup Tackle Hunger partnership has been hugely successful in raising awareness and support of WFP’s work feeding the world’s hungry. And with England

2015 set to be the biggest Rugby World Cup to date, fans are digging deep to support the Million Meal Challenge. http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/wfp-and-irb-team-tackle-hunger-rugby-world-cup-2015

Saudi Arabia helps FAO respond to the dire state of food security in Iraq. FAO receives a $14.7 million grant to support rural households

September 4, Bagdad/Rome – FAO is scaling-up critical food and agriculture assistance to highly vulnerable rural households in Iraq thanks to a generous $14.7 million grant from Saudi Arabia. The donation is part of a $500 million grant that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has provided to support Iraqis affected by the recent crisis. The funds will mainly be used to respond to the needs of thousands of rural households whose livelihoods depend on cereal crops and livestock and who are currently struggling to survive.

The reduced harvest may trigger a drop in food supply levels, an increase in import requirements and a rise in food prices. FAO is working to support farming families and provide them with the means to sustain their livelihoods and cope with the crisis.

http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/242511/icode/

Finland donates €29 million over four years to provide life-saving food in crises

September 4, Helsinki/Rome – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a generous contribution of €29 million from the Government of Finland. This contribution will support

WFP’s life-saving humanitarian work in countries gripped by crises, as well as those struggling with hunger beyond the media spotlight.

Finland’s support is vital to WFP’s current emergency operations in conflict-affected South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Syria and Gaza, as well as in countries affected by Ebola in West Africa. WFP adapts the delivery of food assistance according to the situation on the ground, for instance by usinge-cards or vouchers when markets are functioning instead of in-kind food distributions. This type of flexible response, provided with Finnish support, is welcomed by recipients such as Syrian refugees in Lebanon or Jordan because it offers them a choice of fresh foods and a sense of normality. At the same time, the economies of host communities benefit through increased trade.

http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/finland-donates-%E2%82%AC29-million-over-four-years-provide-life-saving-food-crises

Italian contribution to WFP will assist over 20,000 vulnerable people in Sudan

September 4, Kassala/Khartoum – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution of US$950,000 from the Italian government that will be used to boost WFP’s assistance to more than 20,000 vulnerable people in Sudan, especially young children in the eastern states of Kassala and Red Sea.

Since 2010, Italy has contributed US$8.1 million in support of the agency’s activities in the region. This particular contribution will be used to provide nutritious hot meals to some 1,970 schoolchildren in

Kassala state and another 7,347 in the state of Red Sea under WFP’s school feeding programme. In addition, 1, 765 schoolgirls from Kassala and the Red Sea states will also receive take-home food rations. http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/italian-contribution-wfp-will-assist-over-20000-vulnerable- people-sudan

Flood-affected Serbian farmers receive EU and FAO aid

September 3, Trstenik, Serbia – European Union assistance to flood-affected Serbian farm households got under way with a first delivery of animal feed here today. Financed by the EU and delivered in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the assistance forms part of the EU’s overall flood recovery package to Serbia valued at €30m.

FAO’s current recovery effort under the EU grant targets about 2,100 small-scale, family-operated farms in Obrenovac, Cacak, Lazarevac and Trstenik that suffered significant losses as a result of unprecedented spring flooding and landslides. Animal feed is procured within Serbia, following issuance of public tenders. The activities are closely coordinated and implemented in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Government of Serbia Office for Reconstruction and Flood Relief and local governments

http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/242630/icode/

Caritas providing help for Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Lebanon

September 3– Caritas Lebanon is boosting its activities to continue supporting Syrian refugees. It will also help vulnerable Lebanese families and Iraqi Christians who have fled persecution.

Lebanon is hosting 40 percent of the refugees who have fled Syria to neighbouring countries. However international funds to support refugee programmes have dwindled. The substantial increase in population and the decrease in funding to host refugees has had an impact on public services and the more vulnerable Lebanese people who rely on them.

Caritas is appealing to donors for €2,3 million (US$ 3 million) for programmes which will mainly be focused on Syrians, but also Lebanese and Iraqis for the next twelve months.

With the money it will provide support for accommodation, water, health, hygiene and sanitation, education, counselling and legal assistance.

Education will be a key component for Caritas as there is limited public schooling in Lebanon. http://www.caritas.org/2014/09/caritas-providing-help-syrian-iraqi-refugees-lebanon/

Australian philanthropists encourage others to go public with gifts

September 3 – Philanthropists speaking at the Philanthropy Australia 2014 National Conference this week have encouraged their peers to go public with their giving as a way to spur generosity, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

When businessman Graham Tuckwell and his wife decided to make a $50-million donation to the Australian National University, he could find few precedents, he said. Giving in the country is historically small and often private. But there are signs that the philanthropic culture in Australia is changing. Earlier this year, resort magnate James Packer said he and his family would give nearly $200-million to establish a new foundation to support the arts, and billionaire Alex Waislitz of Melbourne announced a $50-millioncharitable donation.

http://philanthropy.com/blogs/philanthropytoday/australian-philanthropists-encourage-others-to-go-public-with-gifts/90189

Discarded food finds its way to new shop

September 2 – Every year the food industry and grocery stores in Denmark throw away more than 303.000 tons of food simply because the ‘best before’ date passed, the products stamped wrongly or the packaging is broken. As a counter action, DanChurchAid is opening a store with surplus food in cooperation with the Danish fødevareBanken (the food bank) and Dansk Supermarked (Danish Supermarket).

The store, named ReFood, will open in the Copenhagen neighbourhood Nørrebro in the beginning of 2015. The store will be for those, who wants to shop low budget as well as for those, who is against food waste. The profit from the store will go to DanChurchAid’s work for fighting hunger in some of the world’s poorest countries. The products is sold up to 50-70 per cent cheaper than in a regular supermarket and the selection will range from bread, fruit and vegetables to milk, cheese and flour. Meat and cold cuts is not sold in the store for now.

Fødevarebanken who will be distributing the food to the store, is a non-profit organization, who already are collecting and distributing surplus food to organisations for socially vulnerable in Denmark. https://www.danchurchaid.org/news/news/discarded-food-finds-its-way-to-new-shop

CHF funding enables dca to reach extremely remote conflict affected areas in South Sudan

August 29 – The Common Humanitarian Fund’s (CHF) new donation of USD 109,131 will enable

DanChurchAid (DCA) to reach extremely remote conflict-affected areas. The project will provide lifesaving risk education to people stranded in these affected areas, cut off from all assistance since the conflict erupted in South Sudan in December 2013. The small DCA Rapid Response team will travel by helicopter on various missions with inter-agency rapid needs assessment and distribution teams.

The project commenced 1st August 2014 will continue until 31 January 2015. https://www.danchurchaid.org/news/news/chf-funding-enables-dca-to-reach-extremely-remote-conflict-affected-areas-in-south-sudan

Gaza emergency aid includes dignity kits

August 25 – A mother’s first thought when forced to flee her home is for the safety of her children. The last person she thinks about is herself. “We left when everybody else left the city in Khan Younis,” says Awatef Abu Daqa. “We escaped with fear and nothing else.” Most of the women say they end up with nothing but the clothes they were wearing when they fled.

Once in temporary shelters, many women realize they need personal hygiene items but are too shy or embarrassed to ask. The dignity kits are a welcome response to the personal needs of displaced women. The emergency aid kits contain toothbrush, toothpaste, towels, sanitary pads, spray, shampoo, two prayer dresses, underwear and soap.

At the entrance of one of ANERA’s local partner organizations in Gaza City, a group of women waited for a ride after they received their dignity kits. Despite their pale, sad faces and signs of exhaustion accumulated during more than six weeks of bombings, they all shared a sense of relief and appreciation for the aid packages that respond to their personal needs. http://www.anera.org/stories/gaza-emergency-aid-includes-dignity-kits-women/

In Jamaica, 11-year-old Jordan Allwood reads his classmates a story about a lonely puppy who finds a new family.

By Arnold R. Grahl – Rotary News

August 15 – The puppy grows into a big dog, enjoys walks along the beach, and survives a frightening autumn day when he is caught in a trap before being rescued by his family. Jordan’s story is one of hundreds that were written by children ages 7-11 for a writing contest organized by the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean 7020 and supported by clubs in 10 Caribbean nations.

The best stories, including Jordan’s, were published in “The Butterfly StoryBook,” produced by the club and sold through Amazon.com. Rotary members and others are encouraged to donate copies to school libraries. Proceeds are used to support other literacy efforts.

In July, Rotary International and the International Reading Association (IRA) selected the Butterfly StoryBook project and a summer mobile library project run by the Rotary Club of Ellensburg Morning, Washington, USA, to receive two $2,500 awards from the Pearson Foundation. The awards recognize projects in which Rotary clubs and local IRA-affiliated reading councils collaborate to strengthen literacy in local and international communities. Rotary and the IRA have been project partners since 2002. (…)

This year, the e-club provided a free copy of the e-book to the Jamaica Reading Association, an IRA- affiliated council, which used it in its annual Reading Week in April. The association signed an agreement with the club to further promote the contest throughout the Caribbean. Rotary clubs in the U.S. Virgin Islands purchased 500 copies for the Summer Reading Challenge held there. Clubs have also purchased copies to donate to schools in Canada, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, and the United Kingdom. (…) https://www.rotary.org/en/young-writers-get-published-help-rotary

Peace and security

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11 Days Tele-Summit for the Summer of Peace

September 11-21 culminating on Sept. 21st, the U.N. International Day of Peace

Join Desmond Tutu, Amy Goodman, Daniel Ellsberg, Deepak Chopra, Bill McKibben, Hazel Henderson, Riane Eisler, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Eckhart Tolle, Jonathan Granoff. More than 20 Visionary Global Leaders. In 2014, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of 11 Days of Global Unity, We, The World is collaborating with theShift Network to produce a remarkable free 11 Days Tele-Summit Sept. 11-21 as the extraordinary culmination of their Summer of Peace (that goes from June 13 – September 21). People can participate by phone or internet for free worldwide.

11 Days of Global Unity highlights 11 dimensions of change which call forth the values, spirit and service needed to move us towards a culture of peace and a world that works for all.

Registration is FREE (and required): https://shiftnetworkhttp://summit.summerofpeace.net/feature/Rick-Ulfik

Mines Action Canada commends Government of Canada for completing destruction of cluster munition stockpiles

September 3 – CMC member Mines Action Canada commends the Government of Canada for destroying all stockpiled cluster munitions in advance of ratifying the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Today, Canadian representatives at the Fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions announced that the destruction of Canada’s cluster munition stockpile was completed in June 2014. http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/en-gb/media/news/2014/mines-action-canada-commends-government-of-canada-for-completing-destruction-of-cluster-munition-stockpiles.aspx

Syria: UN relief operation delivers food assistance to record number of people

September 2 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) dispatched food to a record-breaking 4.1 million people inside war-ravaged Syria in August, owing to improved access with increased cross-lineoperations within the country and more cross-border convoys. Over the last six weeks, WFP and partners crossed lines to reach more than 580,000 people, more than four times the 137,000 people reached in the preceding six weeks. Since July 25, a total of five cross-border convoys, via the Bab Al Salam crossing from Turkey and Al Ramtha from Jordan, carried food rations including rice, lentils, oil, pasta, bulgur, canned food, wheat flour, beans, salt and sugar for 69,500 people in the hard-to-reach areas. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48618#.VAm2p_l_sXE

The International Day of Peace – 21 September 2014

A Day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace

International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September.

Established in 1981 by resolution 36/37, the United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. Furthering the Day’s mission, the General Assembly voted unanimously in 2001 to adopt resolution 55/282 establishing 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and cease- fire.

Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, sitting in silent meditation, or doing a good deed for someone you don’t know. Or it can involve getting your co- workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event. You can also share thoughts, messages and pictures to commemorate Peace Day on social media. Use this site to find organized events in your area and for inspiration on celebrating Peace Day in your own way. http://internationaldayofpeace.org

Peace Day Party : September 20, San Jose CA; Sept. 21, New York, LA; and around the World!

PeaceDayParty.org, a nonprofit 501 C 3 invites YOU to help strengthen the message of the International Peace Day September 20 & 21, 2014. All the countries of the UN unanimously agreed to a Day of Peace. Where : 3rd annual day of awareness & peace rally in plaza de cesar chavez, san jose, california, september 20 at 10am. www.amandanetwork.com;

13th annual vigil for international peace and ecology in central park, band shell/ 72nd street mall, new york, new york, september 21 at 10am. www.vigil4internationalpeace.org/

We will video tape the event and distribute it to the world for free. We will roll into the program over 60 organizations, celebrities and believers that we can have world peace totally. no more war. Then party for peace !

International peace day and peace day party stand for the rights of people to live in peace. Join us at our events, join us now to get the word out, join us with any donations and participate wherever you are with practical acts of peace. go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/peace-day-party/ and watch our sizzle reel. http://peacedayparty.org

Health

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Ebola: African Union holds emergency talks as study points to potential vaccine

By Democracy Now! Posted 9 September

The African Union is holding an emergency meeting on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. More than 2,000 people have been killed, and the United Nations has warned the toll could hit 20,000 before the virus is contained. Hopes were slightly raised over the weekend as a new study found an experimental vaccine gave full protection to monkeys for at least five weeks to up to 10 months. It is the first time a vaccine program has led to sustained Ebola immunity. U.S. researchers have now begun human trials. On Friday, WHO Assistant Director General Marie-Paule Kieny said two experimental vaccines could be available for health workers by November. Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny: “We will have results of safety by November 2014, and after that, these vaccines will start to be rolled out in the affected countries, starting with healthcare workers and other front-line staff in the affected countries. So this is real. This is going into the field. This is not staying it in laboratories.” http://www.pressenza.com/2014/09/ebola-african-union-holds-emergency-talks-study-points-potential-vaccine/?utm_source

Ban issues ‘international rescue call’ to halt Ebola epidemic

5 September – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today vowed to mobilize the United Nations in every possible way to respond to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and issued an “international rescue call” for a massive surge in assistance, warning that “the world can no longer afford to short-change global public health.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that experts taking part in a two-day discussion on potential Ebola therapies and vaccines identified several therapeutic and vaccine interventions that should be the focus of priority clinical evaluation at this time, including two “promising” Ebola vaccines.

At UN Headquarters, the Secretary-General warned that “the world can no longer afford to short-changeglobal public health.” He urged the international community to contribute to the WHO Roadmap and to provide the $600 million needed for supplies in West Africa in order to stop Ebola transmission in affected countries within six to nine months, and to prevent the international spread of the virus. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48651#.VA8lwfl_uSo

Innovative campaigns in Nigeria help Africa edge closer to polio eradication

September 1st – The final frontiers to polio eradication in Nigeria are being addressed through an increased focus on immunization in border settlements.

This August, Nigerian polio teams have been employing an innovative five-step approach to reach hard to access children in border settlements, where 67 per cent of polio cases are found in border areas worldwide. Poor services, inaccessibility and insecurity often combine to make these zones into reservoirs of the virus, leaving children at greater risk of this debilitating disease. Improving immunization rates for communities who live near borders is a priority in order to achieve eradication.

In Kaduna State alone, this new approach has enabled health workers to reach 26,749 children in August with oral polio vaccine (OPV).

Through work with traditional and religious leaders as well as health workers, critical logistics have been put in place to ensure a synchronized response. This united effort by stakeholders marks a dramatic step forward in the coordination of immunization efforts in these areas. With this renewed commitment and political will, Nigerian border settlements will continue to receive intensive supervision to ensure that all areas falling within the definition of a border are adequately served and all eligible children immunized. http://www.polioeradication.org/mediaroom/newsstories/Innovative-campaigns-in-Nigeria-help-Africa-edge-closer-to-polio-eradication/tabid/526/news/950/Default.aspx

Ethiopia: Tens of thousands of South Sudanese refugees receive cholera vaccine

Paris, 25 August – A vaccine against cholera is being used on a large scale for the first time in Ethiopia by teams from the international medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The mass immunisation campaign will protect South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia’s Gambella region, as well as the host community, against the risk of cholera spreading across the border from neighbouring South Sudan, where an epidemic had been declared in June

Cholera is endemic in the Gambella region, while overcrowding and poor sanitation in the area’s refugee camps could provide a perfect breeding ground for the Vibrio cholerae bacillus. More than 185,000 South Sudanese refugees have been registered in the Gambella region by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The vaccine, which must be stored between 2° and 8°C, needs to be transported in refrigerated trucks from the capital, Addis Ababa, to the vaccination sites, and then kept in portable coolers. More than 300 MSF staff have been deployed in the refugee camps and surrounding villages, with medical teams administering the vaccine and community health workers raising awareness about the campaign amongst refugees and locals. http://www.msf.org/article/ethiopia-tens-thousands-south-sudanese-refugees-receive-cholera-vaccine

ACDI/VOCA responds to Ebola outbreak in West Africa

Staff is safe and projects continue operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone

August 22 – ACDI/VOCA continues to operate our development programs in Liberia and Sierra Leone. We are in daily communication with colleagues and friends in the region. Our teams are safe and are adapting project tasks to help the countries’ social and physical infrastructures respond to the crisis. Our immediate concern is the ability of those on the ground to provide care and prevention services in the affected communities. We are eager to see an end to this tragic crisis and look forward to getting back to ourlonger-term objective of building productive agricultural economies that have the resilience to respond to future challenges.

For updates on the Ebola outbreak, please visit the USAID page at www.usaid.gov/ebola.http://www.acdivoca.org/site/ID/news-acdi-voca-responds-to-ebola-outbreak-in-west-africa

Energy and safety

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US Energy Department awards $4.5 million for innovative wind power R&D projects

September 5 – The Energy Department today announced $4.5 million for four projects to help increase deployment of innovative wind power technologies by optimizing the operation, boosting efficiency, and improving the environmental performance of wind energy systems. The research and development (R&D) projects, located in Maine, North Carolina, Nebraska, and Texas, contribute to the Energy Department’s effort to advance innovative technologies that reduce carbon emissions and support the President’s goal to double renewable energy again by 2020. These projects will pursue R&D not significantly represented in our current portfolio as a way to support and explore innovative new approaches for integration into our future program plans. http://energy.gov/eere/articles/energy-department-awards-45-million-innovative-wind-power-rd-projects

USA – New reports highlight major potential in offshore wind energy

29 August – The Energy Department today announced a new report showing steady progress for the U.S. offshore wind energy industry over the past year. The report highlights 14 projects in advanced stages of development, together representing nearly 4,900 megawatts (MW) of potential offshore wind energy capacity for the United States. Further, this year’s report highlights global trends toward building offshore turbines in deeper waters using larger, more efficient turbines that increase the amount of electricity delivered to consumers. http://energy.gov/eere/articles/new-reports-highlight-major-potential-offshore-wind-energy

USA – Energy department announces $18 million for projects to advance geothermal energy

The Energy Department on August 6 announced up to $18 million for 32 projects that will advance geothermal energy development in the United States. The selected projects target research and development in three technology areas: advancing subsurface analysis and engineering techniques for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)—engineered reservoirs, created beneath the surface of the Earth, where there is hot rock but limited pathways through which fluid can flow; applying a mapping approach called “play fairway analysis” to discover new geothermal resources; and accelerating extraction technologies to unlock domestic supplies of high-value materials like lithium from low- to moderate- temperature geothermal resources.

Together, these projects will lower the cost and risk of geothermal development, thereby accelerating technological advancement and economical deployment of geothermal energy. http://energy.gov/eere/articles/energy-department-announces-18-million-innovative-projects-advance-geothermal-energy

Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories

The IAEA is unique in the UN family in having specialized laboratories that support its activities in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. In Seibersdorf, Austria, the IAEA Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications (NA) manages eight laboratories dedicated to helping Member States achieve their development goals in food and agriculture, human health, the terrestrial environment, and nuclear science. The NA laboratories in Seibersdorf support Member States by providing training, conducting research to develop and improve nuclear technologies and techniques, and offering analytical services to help and strengthen Member State laboratories.

http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2014/renual.html

Environment and wildlife

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UN Climate Summit 2014 – 23 September, UN headquarters, New York

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited world leaders, from government, finance, business, and civil society to Climate Summit 2014 this 23 September to galvanize and catalyze climate action. He has asked these leaders to bring bold announcements and actions to the Summit that will reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and mobilize political will for a meaningful legal agreement in 2015. Climate Summit 2014 provides a unique opportunity for leaders to champion an ambitious vision, anchored in action that will enable a meaningful global agreement in 2015.

The Climate Summit will be about action and solutions that are focused on accelerating progress in areas that can significantly contribute to reducing emissions and strengthening resilience – such as agriculture, cities, energy, financing, forests, pollutants, resilience and transportation.

The benefits of taking action to address climate change have become ever more compelling. Many countries and businesses have recognized the opportunities related to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening resilience. Now is the time for leaders everywhere to join the race for transformative action that can drive economic competitiveness and sustainable prosperity for all. http://www.un.org/climatechange/summit

Arctic expedition pioneers technique for polar bear research

September 2 – A team of French scientists working in partnership with conservation organization WWF has for the first time isolated polar bear DNA from a track left in the snow. The scientists from DNA specialist firm SPYGEN looked at two samples from polar bear tracks collected earlier this year during theWWF-Canon and Norwegian Polar Institute expedition to Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic.

“The results are really exciting,” says Eva Bellemain, project leader for SPYGEN. “This is the first time we have been able to extract DNA from a track left by a polar bear ».

In a rapidly changing environment like the Arctic, it’s a challenge to maintain current information on polar bear populations. From here, the team hopes to further refine its analysis of the bear DNA, so it can tell more about the animal. It also intends to see if the method can be applied to other rare or difficult to access wildlife. http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?228210/Arctic-expedition-pioneers-technique–for-polar-bear-research

Brazil to monitor improvement of water quality in Latin America

By Fabiola Ortiz

Rio de Janeiro, August 27 (IPS) – Problems in access to quality drinking water, supply shortages and inadequate sanitation are challenges facing development and the fight against poverty in Latin America. A new regional centre based in Brazil will monitor water to improve its management.

One example of water management problems in the region is the biggest city in Latin America and the fourth biggest in the world: the southern Brazilian megalopolis of São Paulo, which is experiencing its worst water crisis in history due to a prolonged drought that has left it without its usual water supplies – a phenomenon that experts link to climate change.

To prevent such problems, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Brazil’s national water agency (ANA) signed a memorandum of understanding, making the institution the hub for water quality monitoring in Latin America and the Caribbean. ANA will also promote regional cooperation to strengthen monitoring and oversight. (…)

The regional hub will also play a strong role in the establishment of national centres in each country. ANA will also be the nexus with UNEP to disseminate information on the quality of water resources, according to the parameters set by the U.N. Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) Water Programme.(…) http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/08/brazil-to-monitor-improvement-of-water-quality-in-latin-america

Grow-Trees.com and Vodafone India to plant 300,000 trees in Kanha-Pench to develop India’s first private wildlife corridor

Bhopal, 27 August – Vodafone India, one of India’s leading telecom services providers, and Grow- Trees.com, the exclusive Indian Planting Partner for United Nation’s Environment Program’s Billion Tree Campaign, today announced the formal launch of their join initiative to create India’s first private wildlife corridor. This corridor is being developed between Kanha-Pench wildlife reserves by planting 3,00,000 trees over a 3-year period. The trees will be planted over 100 hectares of forest land between the two reserves. This project will create about 25,000 workdays of direct jobs mainly for women and tribals inhabiting the area in addition to supporting several allied livelihood generating activities such as farming, fruit and honey gathering etc. on a sustained basis.http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/37304-Grow-Trees-com-and-Vodafone-India-to-Plant-300-000-trees-in-Kanha-Pench-to-develop-India-s-First-Private-Wildlife-Corridor

Climate change adaptation can help promote sub-Saharan African livelihoods – UN report

August 13 – Investing in ways to adapt to climate change will promote the livelihood of 65 per cent of Africans, the United Nations environmental agency reported, warning also that failing to address the phenomenon could reverse decades of development progress on the continent.

In a new graphical report, Keeping Track of Adaptation Actions in Africa (KTAA) – Targeted Fiscal Stimulus Actions Making a Difference, UNEP details the implications of climate change, and provides examples of adaptation projects that range from forest ecosystem management to aquatics and agriculture. The report describes sustainable examples of how countries in sub-Saharan Africa enhanced environmental and ecosystem resilience through the use of native plants and natural infrastructure, land plans and rainwater harvesting, among other examples.The projects are integrated into national development policies which can strengthen and enhance the resilience communities against the impacts of climate change, while also contributing to the realization of the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to the report authors. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48475#.VAreMvl_u_E

Oceana celebrates the creation of three protected fishing areas in the Balearic Islands

August 11 – Seven years since Oceana first began its campaign to protect marine habitats around the Balaeric Islands, we are proud to announce the creation of three new marine protected areas. The Spanish General Secretariat of Fisheries will preserve coralligenous and maërl seabeds of two seamounts in the Mallorca Channel, known as Emilie Baudot and Ausias March, as well as the Fort d’en Moreu, a coralligenous reef in the east of Cabrera Archipelago National Park.

The coralligenous and rhodolith seabeds are essential and very characteristic Mediterranean habitats, and these three-dimensional structures formed by calcareous red algae are true “paradises” for many commercial and protected species in the Mediterranean. http://oceana.org/en/eu/media-reports/press-releases/oceana-celebrates-the-creation-of-three-protected-fishing-areas-in-the-balearic-islands

Religion and spirituality

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Berlin’s ‘House of One’ to bring three religions together under one roof

A new house of worship aiming to promote interfaith understanding is to be built in Berlin

August 10 – In Berlin, plans for a new kind of religious space are under way. Called The House of One, the project was started by a small group of Muslims, Jews and Christians to create a new space for interfaith prayer and learning. Following a design competition in 2012, the group picked a plan proposed by architects at Kuehn Malvezzi, a Berlin-based studio. The design features three separate rooms, all the same size, with one for each of the three religions. There will also be a central common room where people of all beliefs can pray and learn.

Prayer and religious-specific ceremonies will take place in the three individual rooms, while the shared space will be used for learning and discussion, including talks, festivals, exhibitions, readings, concerts and workshops.However the project is yet to be complete and needs donor support to raise the €43.5m (£35m) needed to finish construction. Those involved hope to open the House of One’s doors by 2018. http://positivenews.org.uk/?s=church+in+Berlin‘

Culture and education

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United Nations High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace

The one-day High Level Forum will take place on 9 September 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. It will comprise of an opening segment and two multi-stakeholder interactive panels and a brief closing segment.

The two panels will focus on: (1) the role and contributions of women and the young to the Culture of Peace; and (2) global citizenship as a pathway to the Culture of Peace.

Recognizing the need for continuous support to the strengthening of the global movement to promote the Culture of Peace, as envisaged by the United Nations, particularly in the current global context, the day- long General Assembly High-level Forum will be an important opportunity for Member States, UN entities, civil society, including NGO’s, media, and the private sector, and all other relevant stakeholders to have an exchange of ideas and proposals on ways to build and promote the Culture of Peace, as well as to highlight emerging trends and policies that can significantly impact the implementation of this Culture.

The Forum will be opened by John W. Ashe, President of the General Assembly and Ban Ki-moon,Secretary-General of the United Nations. Among the speakers: Leymah Gbowee, 2011 Nobel Peace laureate; Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations; Lakhsmi Puri, Assistant-Secretary-General, UN Women; Ahmad Alhendawi, United Nations Envoy on Youth;Federico Mayor, Former Director-General of UNESCO; Vibeke Jensen, Director, UNESCO office in New York.

http://cpnn-world.org/cgi-bin/read/articlepage.cgi?ViewArticle=1832

Moving beyond conflict to ‘culture of peace’by Linda Bloom

During Liberia’s civil war, Christian and Muslim women learned how to work together to build a “culture of peace” that helped end the war in 2003. Leymah Gbowee, awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for leading that nonviolent movement, believes this effort must be replicated elsewhere.

In a Sept. 9 keynote speech during the United Nations High Level Forum on The Culture of Peace, she briefly chronicled what it took to form a peace-seeking consortium that included women of different religious and ethnic groups and varying income levels.

Organized in cooperation with The Global Movement for The Culture of Peace, the forum marked the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace by the U.N. General Assembly. The declaration calls upon all governments and all peoples to strive for a more peaceful world through “a positive, dynamic participatory process where dialogue is encouraged and conflicts are solved in a spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation.”

In Liberia, the consortium “spent many days negotiating with each other to resolve our own conflicts,” said Gbowee, a Lutheran and author of the memoir, “Mighty Be Our Powers.” But then, she added, they engaged in strategic planning for hours every day. That struggle, she said, “inadvertently” followed Article 1 of the Culture of Peace declaration: “Through education, dialogue and cooperation, we fostered an environment conducive to peace.”

Peace cannot be negotiated by men with guns, she argued. “Nothing guarantees that a man’s gun and the size of his arsenal gives him high intellect to sit at the peace table,” Gbowee declared. Women, on the other hand, “have proven time and time again that we can do it right when everyone else misses the mark.” (…) Full article on site:

http://www.umc.org/news-and-media/moving-beyond-conflict-to-culture-of-peace

UN Foundation update – Momentum on the Millennium Development Goals

August 18, 2014 marked 500 days until the target date to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight goals established by world leaders gathered at the United Nations in 2000 to alleviate poverty and improve lives.

Throughout the day, advocates, experts, and people from more than 70 countries highlighted the progress we have made and what we can do to keep the momentum going. Already, extreme poverty has been cut in half, child mortality has been reduced by nearly 50 percent, and access to primary education has increased.

“Global progress doesn’t happen by accident; it happens because of action,” said UN Foundation President and CEO Kathy Calvin. “The Millennium Development Goals have inspired the world to act and because of what countries and sectors have done together, fewer people live in poverty and millions more people live with the opportunity to build a better life for their children.”http://www.unfoundation.org/news-and-media/press-releases/2014/united-nations-foundation-mobilizes-critical-support-millennium-development-goals.html

New guidelines for industry on protecting children online

Geneva, 5 September – The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNICEF and partners of the Child Online Protection Initiative, released updated guidelines to strengthen online protection for children today.

The Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection provide advice on how the ICT industry can help promote safety for children using the Internet or any technologies or devices that can connect to it, as well as guidance on how to enable responsible digital citizenship, learning and civic participation. The updated version provides guidance specifically aimed at companies that develop, provide or make use of information and communication technologies.

http://www.unicef.org/media/media_75637.html

Women’s participation program study tours encourage innovation through learning experiences

September 2 – Learning from the experiences of others can be an extremely helpful tool when working on implementing a program. Counterpart International’s Women’s Participation Program in Azerbaijan believes that idea is key for its programs and recently took two groups of women leaders on study tours to Poland and Turkey.

Women social workers from the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs traveled to Ankara, Turkey from June 16-23. The tour allowed the seven participants to interact and learn from their Turkish colleagues, seeing how they work with women victims of domestic violence.

A group of six representatives from Azerbaijani NGOs that focus on women’s issues took part in a “Gender, Media and Advocacy” study tour to Warsaw, Poland from August 10-15. The representatives experienced firsthand how their Polish counterparts incorporate women’s issues into the social-political agenda and ask them questions and learn from their experiences and struggles in implementing gender equality. http://www.counterpart.org/blog/womens-participation-program-study-tours-encourage-innovation

Syrian refugees get chance at education in Jordan

September 1st – The latest back-to-school campaign aims at sending 300.000 Syrian refugee children into the classroom this autumn, helping them work toward a positive future.

Jordan’s Ministry of Education, with support from UNICEF, has launched the second annual end-of-summer campaign to get displaced children back into school. It is being implemented by Save the Children Jordan and will provide learning support with the supply of more than 150,000 school bags and stationary.

The campaign also promotes the importance of education across the country, including in Syrian refugee camps. To ensure that the children enrolled in school do not drop out, UNICEF and Save the Children Jordan have implemented monitoring mechanisms in coordination with the Education Ministry to follow up on their attendance.

http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/3190

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UN NGO Three-Day Conference in New York City

Concludes With Adoption of Ambitious “Action Agenda” for NGO Community

by Lesley Vann

Good News Agency’s Publisher Alternate Representative to the UNDPI

The 65th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference, titled 2015 and Beyond: Our Action Agenda was held at United Nations Headquarters from Wednesday, 27 August to Friday, 29 August 2014. Speakers at the Conference included Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (via video message); John Ashe, President of the UN General Assembly; UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson; Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund; and Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the US to the UN.

In line with previous Conferences, this 65th Conference adopted an outcome declaration that offered global civil society an “Action Agenda” for the post-2015 sustainable development goals (SDGs). The 65th DPI/NGO Conference takes place less than a month prior to the 23 September 2014 Climate Summit to be convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the launch of intergovernmental negotiations at the upcoming 69th Session of the UN General Assembly. All of this is taking place amidst the construction and refurbishment of the UN buildings as the UN approaches its 70th year.

This year, Representatives of civil society convened from around the world to discuss key issues on thepost-2015 development agenda, including climate change. Their discussions aimed to support the crafting of a transformational post-2015 development agenda, and positive outcomes of climate change negotiations in Lima and Paris in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Co-hosted by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) and the (NGO) Non-GovernmentalOrganization NGO/DPI Executive Committee, the Conference provided a unique opportunity for NGOs to come together to engage diplomats, UN officials, policy experts, scientists, educators, businesses, trade unions, parliamentarians, local authorities and others from around the world on the role of civil society in the new Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

The remarks by Ambassador Samantha Power at the Opening Session of the Conference set a keynote of inspiration and calls to action by describing the breadth of global crises amidst the backdrop of economic, humanitarian, habitat, health, and human need across cultures. Ambassador Powers said, “A critical part of succeeding with this new agenda is prioritizing goals that can drive transformative change. We need to make concrete progress toward ensuring access to sustainable, modern energy services for the more than 1.2 billion people around the world who are still literally left in the dark. We also need to tackle issues like climate change, which wasn’t even part of the Millennium Development Goals. Today, thankfully, we understand that if we don’t aggressively rein in climate change, its negative consequences could wipe out all of the progress we stand to make on other fronts. Climate change also teaches us that we can’t meet global development goals if we only set targets for one part of the world. Our new goals must be relevant to all countries, just as they must be defined by all countries. This time around, our agenda must truly be a universal one…”

These goals were echoed by the Non-Governmental organizations participating. A draft Conference declaration was posted for comment on the eve of the Conference, and input from civil society was accepted both online and through consultations at the Conference. The final Conference Declaration was read at the closing session. The Conference interspersed Workshops and Roundtable events. Workshops have been an integral part of the DPI/NGO Conference since its early days. Organized for NGOs by NGOs, they continue to be among the most sought-after events during the three-day Conference. This year, as in the past, Workshops served as vehicles for peer-to-peer discussions, to exchange ideas and experiences and share approaches to common problems. Participants garnered information and knowledge for their civil society activities. The subjects of the Workshops emphasized Conference themes and represented thematic as well as regional balance. They were interactive and promoted dialogue among NGOs and the additional expert speakers. Some workshops also offered opportunities to hear presentations by speakers from Conference plenary sessions, in a more intimate setting and with more chances to ask questions.

Workshops addressed poverty alleviation, education, youth advocacy, civic engagement and citizenship, sustainability, maternal and child health, global public health, and many other urgent topics. Some Workshops explored how multi-stakeholder collaboration is needed to advance women’s entrepreneurship and achieve a sustainable and inclusive future for all; recurring conflicts in poverty stricken regions from refugee camp to rural to urban areas; how collaborative (private and NGO sector) resources can create access to justice that supports poverty alleviation among those most deeply affected; the importance of incorporating discussion of natural disasters into the Action Agenda; insights and perspectives directly from humanitarian agencies and workers in the field in the international emergency relief community; global experts in skills development from both the developed and the developing countries, including multilateral organizations discussing skills shortage challenges and proposed practical solutions — addressing the effects of insufficient skills for employability on youth unemployment; and proven child protection strategies to prevent violence against children which can be replicated for action.

The Emergency Coalition for Global Education Action was launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon, UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, and other global leaders 10 April 2014. The Coalition calls for Four Zeros: Zero Exclusion, Zero Discrimination against Girls, Zero Child Labor and Zero Child Marriage. This workshop, looking at four cases studies from four continents demonstrated how the Four Zeros will contribute to ensuring education for the 57 million children still not in school and are key to accomplishing the post-2015Development Agenda; basic conditions and empowerment for families to address their basic needs and reach their full potential, improve their wellbeing and contribute to sustainable development and eradication of poverty through sustainable lifestyles. It showcases grass- roots projects to empower families for sustainable development and poverty eradication; the issue of unsustainability and models of sustainable living embedded in virtues like frugality, reverence for life, minimization of our needs, simplicity, nonviolence, non-possessiveness,protection of bio-diversity and reduction of greenhouse gases emissions, and what works to get commitments from youth and adults to be more responsible in today’s world. Examples shared included partnerships and collaborations with the

UN, such as the International Secondary School Student Leadership Conference on Development to involve youth to help end extreme poverty in the world by 2030.

In addition to the Workshop topics summarized above (this list is just a smattering), Conference 2014 Events included A Call for Contributions to the Conference, Digital Research Training, Developing a Post- 2015 Youth Advocacy Strategy, Youth Caucus 1: Youth Involvement in the Post-2015 Agenda, Conference Reception, Youth Breakfast with Ambassador Cousens at the United States Mission to the United Nations; Youth Caucus 2: Interactive Workshop, and the NGO DPI Executive Committee Meeting.

Amidst the above Workshops occurred ongoing Thematic Roundtables. Some of these included the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development: Participation, Governance and Accountability, focusing on poverty eradication. This Roundtable submitted that, an inclusive and universal agenda is not enough to guarantee full participation in decision-making. It is also critical to ensure full participation in governance and accountability frameworks, addressing prerequisites for building an enabling environment that guarantees civil society participation. Also discussed was the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in strengthening the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, and participation modalities that ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders in governance and accountability frameworks.

The next Roundtable addressed, “Fighting Inequalities – Economic, Social, Political and Environmental.” With rising inequalities related to socio-economic status, gender, access to resources and services, erosion of social protection, environmental justice and the increasing marginalization of those living in poverty, even in places where economic growth is robust — this Roundtable considered how these inequalities can be arrested and reversed through effective advocacy and just public policies. In addition it examined the need for participatory and robust accountability frameworks, including disaggregated targets, in all global partnerships.

The next Roundtable highlighted “Resource Nexus: Food, Water and Sanitation, Energy,” at the core of sustainable development and the overarching goal of poverty eradication. The resource nexus is intimately linked with sustainable consumption and production patterns. This relationship, when mismanaged, aggravates resource scarcity and can lead to conflict. This session explored how to achieve equitable access to food, water and sanitation, and sustainable energy, and address the growing rural- urban divide.

The next Roundtable focalized “Urgent! Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Ecosystems” by examining the post-2015 agenda and its exposure of global resource constraints with the corresponding necessity to achieve a more equitable distribution of resources for current and future generations. This Roundtable discussed ways to support economic development while protecting and restoring natural resources. It explored the balance between sustainable production and consumption with economic development, and the role of the public and private sectors in managing natural resources.

A Human Rights-related Roundtable was, “(REALLY) Leaving No One Behind,” affirming that the post- 2015 development agenda must be inclusive and universal. How can women, children, youth, older people, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and other marginalized communities exercise their right to participate in the design and implementation of the SDGs?

The next Roundtable focused on “Eradicating Poverty: A Human Rights Imperative.” Since the Millennium Summit in 2000, the United Nations, governments, civil society and other stakeholders have been engaged in an historic enterprise to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and are now defining a new sustainable development agenda for 2015-2030. The post-2015 sustainable development agenda should have a more ambitious and universal commitment to end all forms of poverty, everywhere, by 2030. This Roundtable discussion explored how to aim for the complete eradication of poverty, including the key elements necessary to irreversibly end poverty, particularly for the most marginalized and vulnerable. Key in achieving this goal will be the involvement of those living in extreme poverty. Poverty is a multi-dimensional human rights issue that encompasses access to and management of resources, capabilities, choices, security and power. This conversation focused on how the end of poverty can be achieved by promoting human rights and respecting planetary boundaries.

A climate change-related Roundtable, “Post-2015 and the UNFCCC Processes: Can They Be Friends?” set forth that, in 2015, the UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris and the launch of the post-2015 Agenda will culminate within months of each other. This Roundtable addressed the inter-linkages between both processes and the benefits and drawbacks of having two separate tracks in the medium and long terms. Low-carbon development, adaptation, disaster risk reduction and finance also were considered.

Another Roundtable on “Climate Justice in Practice” emphasized that climate justice acknowledges poor and marginalized are disproportionately burdened by the impacts of climate change. It is also about changing policies that cause climate change and contribute to continued inequalities. Viewed through this lens, climate change threatens the entire post-2015 agenda. This Roundtable discussed how to ensure climate change does not reverse development gains of households and communities, or hinder their efforts to escape poverty. The session focused on building resilience and disaster risk reduction with these communities through human and institutional capacity building, access and rights to information, decision-making processes and productive resources, and technology as linked to the post-2015 agenda.

With this wealth of events, resources and global talent, Conference attendees were all invited to take advantage of Workshop and Roundtable opportunities to promote grassroots efforts to design the emerging civil society action agenda for the achievement of post-2015 development goals. These universal targets harness the goodwill and global will-to-achieve what lies ahead in both vision and collective civil society action.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power reinforced this civil society vision with her closing remarks, “We want people to feel empowered by this effort – indeed, it’s the only way the shared aspirations we set will be the right ones. And it’s the only way that the shared aspirations that we set will become reality – only if people recognize that they can be the drivers behind this global effort and the ones holding governments and government partners to their commitments. Only then will we succeed. You all – civil society in this room and well beyond – can bring citizens, families, and communities more fully into this effort. You have a unique ability to do that. You can help ensure that what is negotiated at the United Nations — at our United Nations — speaks your language and gives you a voice; that it meets your most urgent needs; and it gives you the openings on the backend to change lives. That is our most important goal – changing lives, changing the world. And I’m confident that together we can do it.”

For more information about the 65th Annual UN DPI NGO Conference, please contact:

United Nations Department of Public Information

Jeffrey Brez, Co-Chair, Conference Planning Committee, and Chief NGO Relations and Advocacy: brez@un.org

Ihor Dlaboha, DPI NGO Conference Focal Point: dlaboha@un.org

Civil Society

Jeffery Huffines, Chair, 65th Annual DPI NGO Conference; and UN Representative, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation: jeffery.huffines@civicus.org

Anne-Marie Carlson, Chair, NGO/DPI Executive Committee: DFCAMC@aol.com Elizabeth Carll, Co-Chair, Conference Media Sub-Committee: ecarll@optonline.net

For more information, see also:

http://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/Conference-2014 The Opening and Closing Sessions and Roundtables were webcast live on http://webtv.un.org/ and Opening and Closing sessions had closed captioning in English for the hearing impaired (CART), as well as simultaneous interpretation into French and Spanish.

http://www.gmcop.org/http://www.peacethroughunity.info/COPbriefingUN2012_Gita.htmlhttp://www.peacethroughunity.info/culture_ofpeace.html www.un.org

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Next issue: 10 October 2014.

Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000. Managing Editor: Sergio Tripi (sergio.tripi@goodnewsagency.org). Editorial research by Fabio Gatti (fabio.gatti@goodnewsagency.org), Isabella Strippoli, Chiara Bartoletti, Elisa Minelli. Webmaster, media and NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)

Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to 10,000 media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations in 54 countries, to 3,000 NGOs, 1,500 high schools, colleges and universities, as well as over 24,000 Rotarians in the world.

It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale, a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Via Antagora 10, 00124 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations.

The U.S. based Nuclear Age Peace Foundation is a consultant to the Marshall Islands on the lawsuits. David Krieger, President of the Foundation, stated, “It is extremely reaffirming that the U.S. Conference of Mayors is supporting the Marshall Islands in its legal cases against the ninenuclear-armed nations. Their resolution reflects an understanding that every city in the world is a potential target for the devastation that would be wrought by the use of nuclear weapons.”

www.wagingpeace.org/u-s-conference-of-mayors-adopts-bold-resolution-on-nuclear-disarmament

Europe: progress for transgender rights

June 24 – The Netherlands, Denmark, and Ireland have moved to improve the rights of transgender people. However, each country retains some requirements that undermine the right of transgender people to have their identity reflected in law. On July 1, 2014, a new Dutch law on transgender rights will come into force allowing transgender people to change the gender designation on their official identity papers.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/06/24/europe-progress-transgender-rights

Human rights

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The United Nations joins the world in paying tribute to Nelson Mandela

Every year on 18 July — the day Nelson Mandela was born — the UN joins a call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of time to helping others, as a way to mark Nelson Mandela International Day. For 67 years Nelson Mandela devoted his life to the service of humanity — as a human rights lawyer, a prisoner of conscience, an international peacemaker and the first democratically elected president of a free South Africa.

In November 2009, the UN General Assembly declared 18 July “Nelson Mandela International Day” in recognition of the former South African President’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom. General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/13 recognizes Nelson Mandela’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity, in the fields of conflict resolution, race relations, the promotion and protection of human rights, reconciliation, gender equality and the rights of children and other vulnerable groups, as well as the upliftment of poor and underdeveloped communities. It acknowledges his contribution to the struggle for democracy internationally and the promotion of a culture of peace throughout the world. http://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay

Ethiopia: helping South Sudanese refugees to survive

4 July – The Ethiopia Red Cross Society, assisted by the ICRC, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Swiss Red Cross Society, is responding to the urgent needs of thousands of South Sudanese refugees who have fled the fighting in South Sudan. As more refugees cross from South Sudan into Ethiopia to escape the fighting, ICRC, Ethiopia Red Cross and other Red Cross Movement staff and volunteers are working hard to provide proper hygiene, water, sanitation, household items and emergency health care.

http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/feature/2014/07-04-ethiopia-south-sudan-conflict-refugees.htm

Economy and development

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International Cooperative Day – July 5

Co-operative enterprises achieve sustainable development for all. The cooperative movement encompassing financial organisations, farmers, producers and consumers is playing an incredible role in pioneering new ethics and values in business and economics.

This Day, which is observed on the first Saturday of July, marks the formation in 1895 of the International Cooperative Alliance. Today the Alliance includes 268 member organizations (many of which include thousands of cooperatives) from 93 countries, representing one billion individuals worldwide. We forget how widespread cooperative enterprises are: in Kenya 63% of the population derive their livelihood from cooperatives; in the US 30,000 cooperatives provide over 2 million jobs; in 2007 consumer cooperatives in Denmark held 36.4% of the consumer retail market; 91% of all Japanese farmers are members of cooperatives.

http://undesadspd.org/Cooperatives.aspx

UN conference to convene Civil Society to support post-2015 development agenda

Will conclude with adoption of ambitious “Action Agenda” for NGO community

New York, July 1 – The 65th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference, titled “2015 and Beyond: Our Action Agenda,” will be held at United Nations headquarters from Wednesday, 27 August to Friday, 29 August 2014. In line with previous conferences, this 65th conference will adopt an outcome declaration that aspires to be ambitious and inspiring and to offer a civil society “Action Agenda” for the post-2015 development goals. The 65th DPI/NGO Conference will take place less than a month prior to the 23 September 2014 Climate Summit convened by UNSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the launch of intergovernmental negotiations at the 69th Session of the General Assembly.

Representatives of civil society will convene from around the world to discuss key issues on thepost-2015 development agenda, including climate change. The conference provides a unique opportunity for NGOs to come together to engage diplomats, UN officials, policy experts, scientists, educators, businesses, trade unions, parliamentarians, local authorities and others from around the world on the role of civil society in the post-2015 development agenda.

A “zero draft” of the document that will serve as the basis for the conference outcome declaration is posted on the conference website for inputs, in addition to information about the programme:

http://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/conference-2014

Four new Africa Solidarity Trust Fund projects will benefit 24 countries

June 25, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea – The FAO-managed Africa Solidarity Trust Fund today gave a green light to four new, continent-spanning projects. The projects, worth $16 million, will span 24 different countries in West, Central, East, and Southern Africa, focusing on youth employment and malnutrition, transboundary animal diseases and food safety and urban food security.

The Africa Solidarity Trust Fund was launched in 2013 as a unique Africa-led initiative to improve agriculture and food security across the continent. Since its inception, the Fund has already provided financing for projects in six countries – Mali, the Niger, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Malawi– including building resilience for conflict affected rural communities, reducing rural poverty through youth employment opportunities and building best practices to increase crop and livestock production.

Next allocation planned will cover a continental intervention to support African rural youth future through the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and a facility for South-SouthCooperation from Africa to Africa, to allow a better sharing of knowledge and development solutions within the continent.

http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/237145/icode/

Fishing families in Pakistan benefit from Saudi Fund and IFAD fortified partnership

June 24, Jeddah – The Saudi Fund for Development and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) strengthened their partnership today to support a US$35.3 million project aimed at providing income-generating opportunities for women and men in coastal communities in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The MOU specifically highlights the Saudi Fund’s contribution of $3.3 million for the on-going,IFAD-supported Gwadar-Lasbela Livelihoods Support Project, which is connecting small fishers to regional markets. The two target districts of Gwadar and Lasbela share three quarters of

Pakistan’s coastline, where more than 60% of the population lives in poverty. Because of their distance from the capital and limited connections with the rest of the country, these districts remain underdeveloped despite large fishing grounds and ample growth potential.

To address these challenges, the project is improving infrastructure and marketing facilities, enhancing communities’ access to capital, and strengthening community and village organizations.

http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2014/40.htm

Summary of the First UN Environment Assembly of the UN Environment Programme

23-27 June – The first United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was held at Unep headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, from 23-27June 2014. More than 1,200 participants, including environment ministers, heads of international organizations, government representatives, civil society representatives and business leaders, attended the assembly. The overarching theme of the session was “Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including sustainable consumption and production.”

Delegates adopted one decision and 17 resolutions on, inter alia: strengthening UNEP’s role in promoting air quality; the science-policy interface (SPI); ecosystem-based adaptation (EBA); implementation of Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development; illegal trade in wildlife; chemicals and waste; and marine debris and microplastics. During the closing plenary on Friday, the Ministerial Outcome Document of the UNEA of unep was adopted, although several member states noted their reservations with the document.

Many described the first session of the UNEA as a historic event but called for continued efforts to strengthen UNEP to support implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

http://www.ethicalmarkets.com/2014/07/04/summary-of-the-first-un-environment-assembly-of-the-un-environment-programme/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=ema

Solidarity

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Canada donates 6.7 million dollars towards WFP Programmes in Pakistan

July 3, Islamabad – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a contribution of US$6.7 million from the Government of Canada for nutrition, school feeding and relief activities in Pakistan. The contribution will enable WFP to run its school feeding programme without a break in food supplies until December 2014, supporting more than 200,000 students in nearly 1,200 schools in six agencies of FATA. Part of the donation will also be used for nutrition activities. In addition, the funds will support the milling and fortification with micronutrients of 2,905 metric tons of wheat donated by the Government of Pakistan to WFP for its relief operation.

WFP’s school feeding programme focuses on the conflict-affected areas of FATA which are highly food insecure and characterized by low literacy rates, especially among women. WFP is targeting approximately 60 percent of the schools in six agencies with the aim of stabilising enrolment and encouraging boys and girls to get an education. http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/canada-donates-67-million-dollars-towards-wfp-programmes-pakistan

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation joins Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation and Activia to provide school meals to children through the World Food Programme

July 2, Los Angeles, CA, USA – Due to the overwhelming success of the campaign launched by Shakira and Activia, Howard G. Buffett, a United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Ambassador Against Hunger since 2007, today announced a commitment by the Howard G.

Buffett Foundation to provide additional funding to support WFP’s school meals program. The foundation will provide funding for 600,000 school meals and will match additional public donations made at www.wfp.org/shakira for another 600,000 meals. With each meal costing just US$0.25, WFP can provide a child with a month’s worth of school meals for $5.

As part of the campaign supporting WFP, Activia and Shakira’s foundation, Pies Descalzos, donated a total of 3 million meals for children in need. http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/howard-g-buffett-foundation-joins-shakiras-pies-descalzos-foundation-and-activia-p

Caritas aids families caught in Iraq conflictby Caritas Internationalis

1st July – Caritas Iraq is providing food, bedding and hygiene kits to 2000 Iraqi families who have fled their homes after fighting broke out in the north of the country.

Heavy clashes between armed groups intensified in June, causing a massive movement of 400,000 people out of Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul, and other towns towards Kurdistan. Iraqi Christians have been one of the groups affected.

Christians have also fled Mosul in large numbers.(…) People are living in camps, churches, mosques and with local people. Caritas Iraqi staff and volunteers in the north will distribute aid to a further 1000 families more than the 2000 already reached.

Caritas helps people regardless of their religion. Pope Francis has called for peace and political dialogue, and reaffirmed that more violence will never bring hope and peace. Caritas France (Secours Catholique) has launched a petition in English and French calling on the EU to ratify the Arms Trade Treaty as a way to stem the flow of arms into the region. http://www.caritas.org/2014/07/caritas-aids-families-caught-in-iraq-conflict/

Canada supports WFP’s fight against hunger and malnutrition in Sudan

1st July, Khartoum- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed today a generous contribution of US$4.5 million from the Government of Canada towards WFP emergency operations in Sudan. The new contribution will be used to support nutrition activities which are a key component of WFP’s emergency response in Sudan where more than 2 million children suffer from moderate acute malnutrition every year.

Canada has also contributed half a million Canadian dollars towards the United Nations Humanitarian Air Services (UNHAS) in Sudan which is managed by WFP and provides safe and efficient passenger and small cargo services to the humanitarian community across Sudan. Canada is one of WFP’s top donors in the fight against hunger. Sudan remains one of WFP’s largest and most complex operations. In 2014, WFP plans to reach 4.1 million people across Sudan, of whom 3.2 million are in the conflict-affected region of Darfur.  http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/canada-supports-wfp%E2%80%99s-fight-against-hunger-and-malnutrition-sudan

USA – Corporate, philanthropic leaders pledge $1.5-billion in impact investments

June 25 – More than 20 private-sector investors have committed to $1.5-billion in new investments designed to deliver positive social and environmental impact, in addition to profit, according to the White House. The pledges came out of a roundtable on impact investing hosted today by the White House. They include a commitment from Prudential Financial to create a $1- billion impact-investing portfolio by 2020 to promote financial and social mobility, and promises from the McKnight Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to dedicate 10 percent of their endowment assets to impact investments.

In addition, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation pledged investments meant to expand energy efficiency, and the Ford Foundation said it will invest in economic mobility.

Among the other participants are The Wallace Global Fund, the Omidyar Network, and the Nathan Cummings Foundation. http://philanthropy.com/blogs/philanthropytoday/corporate-philanthropic-leaders-pledge-1-5-billion-in-impact-investments/87301

US wheat grain contribution helps food insecure Palestinians

June 22, Jerusalem – After a journey of 21 days, a ship carrying wheat grain from USA delivered its cargo for WFP’s food assistance operations in Gaza and the West Bank.

The grain will be offloaded and transported to the West Bank and Gaza, where it will be milled in local Palestinian milling factories, supporting the local economy. After the milling process, the flour will be bagged and distributed to food insecure Palestinians as part of WFP’s in-kind food distributions. The wheat will feed 85,000 people in Gaza for three months, while 73,000 people in the West Bank will receive wheat flour for more than five months.

The wheat grain donation, worth more than USD 7.4 million, is part of a larger overall contribution by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to WFP’s operations in the West Bank and Gaza. Over the past three years, USAID has donated more than USD 55 million for WFP’s operations in Palestine.

http://www.wfp.org/stories/generous-us-wheat-grain-contribution-food-insecure-palestinians

Save the Children to provide child-friendly spaces for children affected by US border crisis

Fairfield, Conn., USA, June 21 – Save the Children is working to address the immediate needs of children at the US border who have fled violence and insecurity in Central America. Thousands of minors are now overwhelming our border control institutions ill-prepared to meet the basic needs of such large numbers of unaccompanied children. Those numbers are only expected to grow in the coming weeks and months: according to government estimates, more than 47,000 unaccompanied children have crossed the border, with more than 60,000 expected this year.

“Parents have made the desperate decision to send children alone across thousands of miles. These children have already faced a long and dangerous journey to reach the United States, and are extremely vulnerable to further harm,” said Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children. “We are working quickly to identify their needs and help provide them a safe space where they receive the age-appropriate care and support they need.”

Save the Children opened a child-friendly space in McAllen, Tex. on Saturday to provide psychosocial support and care programs that will serve an estimated 150 mothers and children each day. Child-friendly spaces are one of Save the Children’s signature programs to provide care and services to children in crisis, both in the US and globally. http://www.savethechildren.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=8rKLIXMGIpI4E&b=8943305 &ct=13999347¬oc=1

Bulgarian Red Cross responds as thousands are affected by floods

By Andreea Anca, IFRC

21 June – The Bulgarian Red Cross staff and volunteers responded immediately to the humanitarian needs following the flash floods that suddenly hit the north-eastern part of the country late on Thursday, 19 June. Disaster emergency response teams are in place and volunteers distribute blankets, pillows, bed linen, food, drinking water to the affected population in and around the cities of Varna and Dobrich. Teams of psychologists provide psychosocial support in order to help people cope with the impact of the disaster.

Thunderstorms and torrential rains triggered floods that claimed 13 lives so far in Varna and two in the town of Dobrich, and caused dozens of evacuations and considerable damage to houses, private businesses, roads and other public infrastructure. (…) Authorities declared a state of emergency on Friday, June 20 in the two worst affected municipalities of Varna and Gabrovo and declared a day of mourning on Monday, 23 June. The Bulgarian Red Cross response teams continue their work and assessment of needs in cooperation with the structure and teams of the Ministry of Interior. No IFRC assistence is requested so far. http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/europe-central-asia/bulgaria/bulgarian-red-cross-responds-as-thousands-are-affected-by-floods-66191/

Iraq: ICRC steps up aid operation as conflict intensifies

20 June – Armed conflict continues in Iraq. Fighting has spread from Mosul into parts of central Iraq, and has been taking place in Anbar since December. Thousands are dead and over 800,000 displaced. The ICRC has been helping displaced people since the beginning of the year. So far, we have provided food and other aid to over 150,000 people who have fled the fighting. The ICRC has carried out distributions in Anbar, Baghdad, Diyala, Karbala, Najaf, Babel, Al Qadissiya, Salah al- Din, Kirkuk, and Nineveh.

After negotiating with all parties to the conflict and coordinating its activities with the Ministry of Health, the ICRC directly delivered wound-dressing materials for 500 patients to Fallujah’s main hospital. We provided three other hospitals with enough dressing materials for 550 patients. The ICRC also completed the repair of a primary health-care centre and a water pumping station in Ramadi city, which had been damaged in clashes. http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/update/2014/06-20-iraq-aid.htm

THE ONE 2014 assigned to Barbara Hoffman for her cause in Mozambique, Africa

On a heartwarming and uplifting night in the lively city of Hong Kong, filled with touching stories, entertainment and charity, THE ONE 2014 – Barbara Hofmann, was announced on June 12th at the award’s third Gala Dinner held at Holiday Golden Mile. 400 of Hong Kong’s socialites, celebrities, decision makers and entrepreneurs came to honour the four finalists. Donations continued throughout the evening with several generous individuals making personal donations to each of the finalists and to THE ONE Foundation.

THE ONE Committee’s recent formation of a US$100,000 Emergency fund will, on a case by case basis, be used to help any one of the selected finalists over the years. This emergency fund was developed as a result of our experiences in which our finalists have written to us for assistance after they have used up their funds. These additional funds will be used to help them in the case of emergencies to ensure that they can continue helping individuals in need.

We are proud to dedicate THE ONE 2014 award of $100,000 USD to Barbara Hofmann, known to many thousands of children in Mozambique as “Mama,” who devoted her life to the children ofwar-torn Mozambique by founding the ASEM – Association Pour Les Enfants de Mozambique – in 1991. Her mission involves working directly to help the marginalized children and youth of Mozambique and investing in ways to improve and empower these children towards a better tomorrow.

Over the first three years, THE ONE has awarded and supported 13 unsung heroes who have used the award money to build schools and hospitals, to provide medicine and medical care to the needy and to educate and protect the powerless children of the world. These heroes have affected and improved the lives of millions in India, Nigeria, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, East Timor, Thailand, India, Mongolia, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma) and Cambodia. http://www.theonerotary3450.org/?page_id=394

Kyrgyzstan: protecting children from violenceby Almaz Jumaliev

12 June – A number of street and working children are increasing rapidly in Kyrgyzstan due to difficult economic and social situations in the country. It creates family relation problems, alcoholism and violence against children. DanChurchAid and the Centre for the Protection of Children aims to address the issues and problems facing the children by providing education, temporary shelter, food, and psychological support.

Recently, DanChurchAid financed a new project titled “Stop Silence about Violence against Children” implementing by CPC together with other local civil society organizations.

The “Stop Silence about Violence against Children!” is funded by the European Union and implementing by the Center for Protection of Children, in partnership with the Association of NGOs to promote the rights and interests of children, Legal Clinic ‘Adilet’, ‘Y-Peer’ and Danish international organization DCA Central Asia.

The total budget of the project amounts to EUR 875,000. The European Union provided EUR 710,000 and DanChurchAid contributed EUR 165,000. http://www.danchurchaid.org/news/news/kyrgyzstan-protecting-children-from-violence

Peace and security

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Integrating mine and explosive risk education into the primary schools of DRC

June, 25 – In 2013 UNMAS-DRC provided, through its programme, risk education to more than 218,000 Congolese. One of the most important groups that UNMAS targets is young people. This is an enormous task. To address it, UNMAS-DRC, in partnership with the national Ministry of Education, took the initiative to develop teachers’ capacities in delivering risk education in primary schools with the aim of raising awareness about mines and explosive remnants of war. Due to the size of the country and number of schools, the UNMAS-DRC programme is building a pool of national experts who can train teachers around the country. An important group of trainers, National Education Inspectors, participated in a three-day Training of Trainers on Risk Education session recently in Kinshasa. http://www.mineaction.org/news/integrating-mine-and-explosive-risk-education-primary-schools-drc

Syrian Kurdish armed non-State actor commits to ban anti-personnel mines, sexual violence and child recruitment

16 June – On 5 June 2014, in Ramalan, in the Kurdish region of Syria, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), and the « Democratic Self-Administration in Rojava » signed Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment banning AP mines and the Deed of Commitment prohibiting sexual violence in armed conflict and against gender discrimination.

Geneva Call’s delegation also raised the issue of child recruitment and use in hostilities. “Despite earlier measures to prohibit the recruitment of children under 18, we admit that the problem persists, we are aware of international concern about this issue, and we are making every effort to find a permanent solution, in collaboration with all stakeholders, and particularly with Geneva Call,” YPG Deputy General Commander Redur Xelil said.

Geneva Call will visit the police training academy for a closer review of the curriculum, and assess the requirement to integrate other norms into it, such as the treatment of detained minors. http://www.genevacall.org/syrian-kurdish-armed-non-state-actor-commits-ban-anti-personnel-mines-sexual-violence-child-recruitment/

Palestine announces intention to join cluster bomb ban

6 June – Attending a 27 May workshop on the Convention for Arabic speaking countries hosted by Norway and facilitated by Lebanon, Geneva-based representative of Palestine Ibrahim Musa stated Palestine’s intention to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the next group of treaties that Palestine signs.

Palestine’s announcement of its intention to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions was warmly welcomed by attendees at the workshop including the Cluster Munition Coalition, International Committee of the Red Cross, and other states in attendance.Palestine also indicated its intention to join the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/en-gb/media/news/2014/palestine-announces-intention-to-join-cluster-bomb-ban.aspx

Health

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South Africa – More MSF patients with DR-TB gain access to dramatically cheaper version oflife-saving drug

Johannesburg, June 30 — After a three-year long struggle, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has received approval from the South African Medicines Control Council (MCC) to import a dramatically more affordable version of an antibiotic, linezolid, in order to expand access to the medicine and provide better treatment options to patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR- TB) in Khayelitsha, Western Cape.

With the MCC approval, MSF can now import the first quality assured generic version—that has been approved by the UK regulatory authorities—at a purchase price of US$8 per tablet (~R85). This is an 88% price reduction on the brand name private sector price. While this generic linezolid is not yet registered in South Africa, MSF is now allowed to import the product after applying for permission from the MCC under section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act 101 of 1965. (…)

http://www.msf.org/article/more-msf-patients-dr-tb-gain-access-dramatically-cheaper-version-life-saving-drug

Volunteers mount vaccine drive after polio crops up in Syria

June 24 – Thousands of volunteers recruited and deployed by nonprofit groups have inoculated some 1.4 million children in rebel-held parts of Syria this year, braving shelling and air strikes to combat the disease after an outbreak in October, reports The Washington Post.

A handful of groups active in Syria, united as the ad hoc Polio Control Task Force, won cooperation from opposition fighters to orchestrate the vaccine campaign in the northern part of the country, to which UNICEF and other global aid agencies have had limited access. The effort is supported by a patchwork of local charities, international aid groups, and foreign governments.

Polio had not been seen in Syria for 15 years before last fall’s outbreak.

http://philanthropy.com/blogs/philanthropytoday/volunteers-mount-vaccine-drive-after-polio-crops-up-in-syria/87205

Mali: Health professionals trained in war surgery

Bamako/Geneva, 24 June – A workshop on the treatment of patients injured by firearms or explosive devices, organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is opening today in Bamako. Over three days, some 30 surgeons, anaesthetists and specialized nurses from northern Mali and neighbouring Niger will share their experience with one another and discuss topics such as ballistics, the surgical treatment of abdominal injuries and of chest or brain trauma caused by weapons or mines, mass casualty management, the prevention of infection, and the physical rehabilitation of war-wounded patients.

The ICRC is providing support for several health-care facilities in northern Mali.

http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/news-release/2014/06-24-mali-war-surgery.htm

Hilton Foundation launches Marilyn Hilton Award for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis

Los Angeles, CA, USA, June 17 – The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is issuing an open invitation to submit proposals for the Marilyn Hilton Award for Innovation in Multiple Sclerosis Research. The goal of the award is to stimulate innovative and potentially paradigm-shifting research on Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which may otherwise go unfunded in times of fiscal restraint.

The Foundation expects to commit up to $6 million in grant funding to be distributed over a four- year period, with the intention of supporting multiple awards. For this funding cycle, the Marilyn Hilton Award will support grants of up to four years, totaling no more than $900,000 per organization over the grant period. A Scientific Advisory Committee will select the winners. http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/hilton-foundation-launches-marilyn-hilton-award

Energy and safety

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USA – Renewables provide 14 percent of electrical generation during first third of 2014

Kenneth Bossong, SUN DAY Campaign

Washington D.C., 26 June — Two new back-to-back reports from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) provide a snapshot of U.S. energy trends for the first months of 2014. (…)

From EIA’s “Electric Power Monthly” report, five developments of particular note include: First, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind) provided over 14 percent of the nation’s electricity for the first four months of 2014 (i.e., 14.05 percent) — a level that the EIA has been saying might not be reached until 2040. Second, wind has now passed the 5 percent threshold (i.e., it accounted for 5.15 percent of the electricity generated in the U.S. during the first third of 2014). Third, electrical generation from solar for the first four months of 2014 is more than double that for the same period in 2013 (increasingly 108.9 percent). Fourth,non-hydro renewables (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, wind) have produced more electricity in the U.S. than conventional hydropower for each of the first four months of 2014 as well as for the cumulative four-month period (52.7 percent vs. 47.3 percent). Fifth, electrical generation from nuclear power rose 0.7 percent in the first four months of 2014 compared to the first third of 2013; however, as a share of total U.S. electrical generation, nuclear declined from 19.71 percent in the first third of 2013 to 19.15 percent in first third of 2014. (…) http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/06/renewables-provide-14-percent-of-electrical-generation-during-first-third-of-2014

Israel, Finland, U.S. – best places for cleantech start-up creation

27 June – Israel, Finland and the U.S. provide the best conditions today for clean technologystart-up creation according to the second edition of the Global Cleantech Innovation Index, released today by Cleantech Group and WWF. While China and Brazil currently fall outside of the top bracket of start-up generators they are strong commercializers of cleantech , and even the laggards, such as Russia and Saudi Arabia have shown a significant move towards clean technology over the last few years. The Index explores the question of where sustainable innovation companies are being created across the globe, as well as how well their products are being commercialized. It looks at why entrepreneurial companies, developing sustainable innovations, seem to spring up in certain geographies, and which economic, social and environmental conditions cultivate hotbeds for such innovation. http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/press_releases/?224394/Israel-Finland-US–best-places-for-cleantech-start-up-creation

Lighting rural communities and reducing greenhouse gas emission in Africa and Asia

Panasonic joins the Business Call to Action

New York and Tokyo, June 25 – Panasonic Corporation joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) today with a commitment to improve the quality of life for the people in Africa and Asia by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing greater access to energy. The company plans to provide 1 million solar lanterns as a clean and safe light source for people living in regions without electricity by the end of 2018 fiscal year. Launched in Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand in early 2014, these lanterns will soon be available in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya and Malaysia. Panasonic’s commitment to the BCtA is focused on providing low-income communities with greater access to affordable light.

By replacing kerosene lamps with its solar lanterns, Panasonic is helping to reduce low-incomehouseholds’ spending on kerosene, which can cost up to US$100 per year. The solar lanterns will also contribute to eliminating pulmonary sickness caused by kerosene lamps. http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/37222-Lighting-Rural-Communities-and-Reducing-Greenhouse-Gas-Emission-in-Africa-and-Asia

French State Bank sets aside 5 billion Euros for green projects

Tara Patel, Bloomberg

Paris, 23 June — Caisse des Depots et Consignations, a French state bank, is setting aside 5 billion euros ($6.8 billion) for green projects after the government proposed a law to spur use of renewable electricity and boost efficiency.“We want to promote the emergence of green debt,” Pierre Ducret, head of the lender’s environmental unit CDC Climat, told a conference on energy and finance today in Paris. Half of the money will go toward making buildings more energy efficient, 2 billion euros for clean transport and 500 million euros for renewable-energyproduction, Ducret said. The funding is among initiatives pledged by banks including Credit Foncier de France and Societe Generale SA today for loans related to the proposed energy law. Legislation unveiled June 18 seeks to promote growth of renewable power like solar and wind, and reduce energy waste from buildings and transportation.

Financing will be mostly from private industry, with loans “at the heart” of achieving the law’s goals, Finance Minister Michel Sapin told the conference. (…) http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/06/french-state-bank-sets-aside-5-billion-euros-for-green-projects

WFP supports the rehabilitation of a water reservoir in North Kordofan

June 22, Shabboha, North Kordofan – At the site of a haffir, or water reservoir, in Shabboha, a small village near El Obeid, North Kordofan’s capital, residents of eight villages are participating in a Food-For-Work project implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP). The project, supported by the government of Japan, is run in partnership with Al-Sugya, a local NGO helping communities that have low access to potable water. When fully rehabilitated, the haffir will provide water to a population of 3,280 people.

Through its food-for-work programme, WFP provides food to local communities as seasonal support in order to participate in the rehabilitation work.

Shabboha haffir was originally constructed in 1994 with a capacity of 30,000 cubic meters. Now with this rehabilitation the new capacity will be 35,000 cubic meters which is sufficient to provide water to the nearby communities for 6 months following the rainy season. http://www.wfp.org/stories/wfps-food-work-programme-helps-bring-food-and-water-village-north-kordofan

Asia-Pacific: UN launches Sustainable Energy for All Decade, regional hub

18 June – With an estimated 628 million people in Asia- and the Pacific lacking access to electricity and more than 1.8 billion using natural fuels, the United Nation office in the region launched today the UN Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), underscoring the importance of clean forms of electricity in the post-2015 developing agenda.

The UN Decade was launched regionally today in Manila, Philippines. The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) also launched a Regional Hub to tackle energy issues at the country level.

Accessing forms of clean energy resources is seen as key factor in improving the environment and in making a positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of citizens. New ‘eco-friendly’activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air pollution could drastically improve the living conditions of existing and future generations. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsId=48080#.U6Jw-vl_uSo

Environment and wildlife

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July 3: International Bag Free Day

Every minute of every day 1 million non-biodegradeable single use plastic bags are in use around the world. Each bag is used on average for only 25 minutes and, depending on the type of plastic, it takes between 100 to 500 years for it to disintegrate.

On Bag Free Day citizens groups around the world campaign for single use plastic bags to be banned.

www.plasticbagfreeday.org/

As World convenes for first United Nations Environment Assembly, UN and world’s insurers unite to tackle natural disaster risk

London, 27 June – A ground-breaking alliance between the United Nations and insurance companies from across the globe today launched a drive to tackle natural disaster risk by identifying the most effective measures to combat disasters and helping communities implement them. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) FI Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) Initiative brings together insurers from around the world to help communities manage risk. The PSI Initiative’s Global Resilience Project represents a phased approach to protecting communities from natural disasters.

The PSI Global Resilience Project, which is led by Insurance Australia Group, has just completed its first phase. This assessed the effectiveness of a range of disaster risk reduction measures across the three most devastating types of natural hazard-cyclone, earthquake and flood. The findings are outlined in a new report, Building disaster-resilient communities and economies. http://www.ethicalmarkets.com/2014/06/30/press-release-as-world-convenes-for-first-united-nations-environment-assembly-un-and-worlds-insurers-unite-to-tackle-natural-disaster

Effects of Laos dam project to be revealed

27 June – WWF welcomes the Lao Government’s decision to have the Don Sahong hydropower project undergo a formal consultation process, a decision likely to delay construction of the project. The consultation process requires Laos to hold inter-governmental consultations before proceeding with the dam, and conduct and share studies on the project’s environmental and the social impacts. The process will take at least six months to complete.

In September last year, Laos announced its decision to proceed with the Don Sahong dam, bypassing the Mekong River Commision’s (MRC) consultation process. The much-criticised project was discussed at the June 26-27 meeting of the MRC – an inter-governmental agency made up of representatives from the four Lower Mekong nations — Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Don Sahong dam threatens the Mekong’s critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphins and will block the only channel available for dry-season fish migration, putting the world’s largest inland fishery at risk. Close to 200,000 people have signed WWF’s petition calling on the dam builder, Mega First, to pull out of the project.

http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?224398/Effects-of-Laos-dam-project-to-be-revealed

Paper path to sustainability and social responsibility unveiled

Gland, Switzerland, 17 June – Starting today, more than 100 civil society groups including WWF will be promoting a Global Paper Vision that addresses climate change, human rights and new expectations for corporate transparency. The vision is the product of more than a year’s consultations under the umbrella of the Environmental Paper Network.

Major elements of the Vision include reducing global paper consumption and promoting fair access to paper, maximising the content of recycled fibres, responsible sourcing of fibre, clean production and reduced greenhouse gas emissions along with a suite of measures to enhance the transparency and social responsibility of paper production and consumption.

WWF supports this vision and offers practical solutions for companies and individuals who are looking for responsible ways of sourcing paper. Also, WWF works together with the paper industry towards greener business practices though initiatives such as The Global Forest &Trade Network, and the New Generations Plantations platform and the partnership with Mondi. http://wwf.panda.org/?223671/Paper-path-to-sustainability-and-social-responsibility-unveiled

Norway and FAO to launch state-of-the-art research vessel

June 9, Rome – Norway is to build one of the most advanced research vessels in the world as part of an ongoing project with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support developing countries improve the management of their fisheries.

The new $80 million research vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen will replace an older craft of the same name that has been navigating the coast of Africa since 1993, carrying out in-depth research into the state of the continent’s marine ecosystems for the EAF-Nansen Project, the latest phase of a unique 40-year programme. The project works with 32 coastal countries in Africa to help them obtain detailed information on their marine resources so that they can develop fisheries management plans, with a focus on maintaining ecosystem health and productivity.

As a direct result of the project and with technical guidance from FAO, 16 countries in Africa have developed management plans for their fisheries. http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/233930/icode/

Religion and spirituality

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Hindu prayer opens Virginia’s Portsmouth City Council 1st time in 262 years

Portsmouth City Council in Virginia (USA), established in 1752, had its first historic Hindu invocation on June 24 evening, containing verses from world’s oldest existing scripture.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed delivered the opening prayer from ancient Sanskrit scriptures before the City Council. After Sanskrit delivery, he then read the English translation of the prayer. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-Europeanlanguages. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, recited from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads and Bhagavad- Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures. He started and ended the prayer with “Om”, the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

http://rajanzed.com/rajan/index.php/2014/06/26/hindu-prayer-opens-virginias-portsmouth-city-council-1st-time-in-262-years

Jewish broadcasting wins top prizes at European TV Festival of Religious Programmes

Hilversum, June 15 – The winner of the Prize for best programme at the European TV Festival of Religious Programmes 2014, organized by SIGNIS and WACC in Hilversum (Netherlands) was Jewish Broadcasting (Joodse Omroep) for Spot the Differences (Zoek de verschillen). This programme also won the Audience Prize.

Spot the Differences follows young theatre director Esther Porcelijn from Tilburg as she visits the U.S. Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Here she is the guest of Rabbi Dalfin and his family in Brooklyn who wants to teach her about the life, customs and practices of the world of Orthodox Judaism in the largest Jewish community in the Diaspora. Spot the differences is a coproduction of Jewish Broadcasting and production company Beeld.

Second Prize went to the RTE production Lifers, exploring the lives of three Irish missionaries who have spent a lifetime working in some of the most challenging places on earth. Third Prize was awarded to Feifei, a production by the Dutch broadcaster IKON, which told the story of a young undocumented immigrant in the Nethertlands and which is the first in a series of programmes based around the UN Convention on Children’s Rights. http://www.signis.net/article.php3?id_article=6370

Frederick in Maryland becomes 12th US city to declare Oct 25 as “Rajan Zed Day”

City of Frederick in Maryland has become the 12th city in USA to declare October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day” after religious statesman Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism.

Cities of Hartford (Connecticut), Taylorsville (Utah), Madera (California), Sparks (Nevada), Chowchilla (California), Sanger (California), Exeter (California), Tulare (California), Santee (California), Dos Palos (California) and Reedley (California) have already declared October 25 as “Rajan Zed Day”. City of Reno (Nevada) has also proclaimed a day in Zed’s recognition twice in the past.

Signed by Frederick Mayor Randy McClement and carrying the city seal, Proclamation of the City of Frederick mentions: “Rajan Zed’s initiative is to bring the various religious communities together throughout the world so that they can live in peace and mutual trust and enrich themselves through dialogue”.

Zed opened the Board of Aldermen of Frederick, second-largest city of Maryland founded in 1745 and incorporated in 1817, with its first historic Hindu prayer on June 19; reciting from Rig-Veda,the oldest scripture of the world still in common use, besides lines from Upanishads andBhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord), both ancient Hindu scriptures.http://rajanzed.com/rajan/index.php/2014/07/09/frederick-in-maryland-becomes-12th-us-city-to-declare-oct-25-as-rajan-zed-day

Culture and education

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United Nations and Norway to support girls’ education in Malawi

July 2, Dedza/Malawi – A new initiative to ensure better education for girls in Malawi is today being launched by Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in Dedza. Improving Access and Quality of Education for Girls in Malawi is a three-year, MK 7.2 billion programme that provides a range of interventions to address key threats to girls’ education: poor food and nutrition, inadequate protection, poor-quality schooling and violations of girls’ sexual and reproductive rights.

Funded by Norway, the initiative is supported by the United Nations through the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Getting girls to stay in school remains a major challenge in Malawi. According to Government of Malawi figures, only 27% of girls complete primary education. The programme builds on the National Girls Education Strategy which was launched by the Government of Malawi in May to address the root causes of low educational achievement among girls. http://www.wfp.org/news/news-release/united-nations-and-norway-support-girls-education-malawi

Microsoft and Rotary bring technology skills to 150 schools in Delhi NCR

July 1st, New Delhi, India – Microsoft India and Rotary International District 3010 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide the Microsoft IT Academy Program in 150 Delhi NCR schools covering over 150,000 students and 7,500 educators.

The program’s resources include online learning content, official Microsoft course materials, curricula, learning management system and instructor tools. Further, each school gets access to student and faculty certifications to train educators to use world-class curriculum in their classrooms. The curricula spans computer basics to high-level programming including Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio and other application development tools.

Microsoft IT Academy is a subscription-based program designed for accredited academic institutions worldwide. Rotary International District 3010 has undertaken to sponsor over 150 schools in this joint initiative with Microsoft. http://www.ciol.com/ciol/news/216927/microsoft-rotary-brings-technology-skills-150-schools-delhi-ncrb

Mali – Rebuilding Timbuktu: UN agency working with Mali to ‘keep culture significant’

27 June – Two of the World Heritage mausoleums destroyed in Timbuktu have now been rebuilt through a partnership with local communities, the United Nations cultural agency said, adding that it will need an additional $8 million to finish the rehabilitation of the site and of libraries that could again store hundreds of thousands of Malian manuscripts.

“We are looking for $11 million,” UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Representative to Mali, Lazare Eloudou Assomo, said in New York. The UN agency has been able to gather around $3 million through bilateral cooperation and other funding, he said, but “if we don’t have the $8 million, it would be difficult for us to implement our activities.”

Timbuktu was an economic, intellectual and spiritual capital and a centre for the propagation of

Islam throughout Africa during the city’s golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries. According to

UNESCO, the three mosques and the 16 mausoleums comprising the property are part of the fabled city that was once home to 100,000 inhabitants. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48158&&Cr=mali&&Cr1=#.U7fXyZQguNM

Donors make record-setting pledges of $28.5 billion to fund education

26 June – Expectations were blown out of the water today in Brussels as historic financial commitments were made toward funding education in the world’s poorest countries that will help provide a quality education for millions of children.

At what could have been viewed as a melting pot of the education policy world, politics, civil society, and international organisations came together in the heart of Belgium June 25th and 26th for the second Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Replenishment Conference in hopes of hitting what now seems like a very modest US $3.5 billion post-2015 funding goal.

A vast majority of the record-high dollar amount came from 27 developing countries’ promise to increase spending on education by $26 billion over the next three years, a 25 percent jump from current levels. Another $2.1 billion came from the likes of European Union, Sweden, Norway,

Denmark and the United Kingdom. (…) http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/news_details/3112

Mali: WFP helps get children back to school after conflict

June 21, Bamako – In Northern Mali, a lot more children are finishing the school year than started it. This is in part thanks to WFP School Meals, with funding from the European

Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department (ECHO). In 2013, as security began to improve in Mali, the government started working towards post-war recovery with an ambitious back-to-school campaign. The “Peace is back, school is back” campaign aimed to help 500,000 children, whose education had been disrupted, get back to school and back on track.

Since December of 2013, in the 617 schools assisted by WFP in northern Mali, there has been an increase in student enrolment of almost 20%. While this increase can’t be attributed solely to school feeding, partners and educators alike said that they believe it makes a significant difference.

Thanks to humanitarian funding from the European Union (ECHO), the WFP emergency school feeding programme currently covers 130,000 children in 617 schools in Gao and Timbuktu.http://www.wfp.org/stories/mali-%E2%80%93-feeding-children-removing-barriers-education-0

USA – Nonprofit boosts kids’ math and reading skills over the summer

By Caroline Bermudez

June 16 – For one charity, summer isn’t a time to relax but to charge ahead.

Building Educated Leaders for Life, or BELL, provides after-school and summer programs for low- income children in urban areas, to help reverse the seasonal erosion of math and reading skills. The average American student loses one month of math and reading skills per summer, according to a 2011 study by the RAND Corporation. Low-income children’s literacy skills are set back two months, the study found. By contrast, the average BELL participant gains the equivalent of 1.4 months in reading skills and 1.7 months in math.

Operating in 11 cities, BELL’s summer programs serve 10,000 children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools and school districts ask the charity to help students who are the most in need. For up to six weeks—as much as eight hours a day, five days a week—children receive breakfast and lunch and get instruction in reading and math. They also enjoy recess and arts, music, and science activities. The programs try to strike a balance between work and play (…)

Half of BELL’s $22-million annual budget comes from government grants. The other half comes from private support: Target is BELL’s lead corporate sponsor, and the group has received grants from the Wallace and Edna McConnell Clark foundations and the John M. Belk Endowment. (…)http://philanthropy.com/article/Nonprofit-Boosts-Kids-Math/147117/

SIGNIS Board of Directors decides to “promote stories of hope through connectivity”

Brussels, June 7 – The Board of Directors of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communication, meeting in Brussels from 1 to 6 June 2014, has chosen the theme “Media for a Culture of Peace: Promoting Stories of Hope through Connectivity”, to guide the work of the association for the next three years.

Under the leadership of new SIGNIS President Gustavo Andújar, and Vice-Presidents Frank Frost and LJ Sinniah, the meeting focused on the achievements and the perspectives offered by the SIGNIS World Congress 2014 in Rome. The Board assessed the findings of the SIGNIS Future Search conference and various international projects, to come up with a new global strategy for SIGNIS and a new theme for 2014-2017: “Media for a Culture of Peace: Promoting Stories of Hope through Connectivity”.

The new theme means that SIGNIS wants to build a global culture of peace by conveying hope in the context of the new digital culture. It also hints at a revised communication strategy based on the achievements of SIGNIS members and a better use of the social media and networks.http://www.signis.net/article.php3?id_article=6412

Mindful Media: transforming children’s relationship with media in the UK

A new programme has been launch by the Transformational Media Initiative (TMI) to help improve children’s relationship with media. The programme currently being run in schools in London teaches children mindfulness techniques to help them have a more aware and responsible relationship as both consumers and producers of media. The programme hopes to combat issues such as cyber-bullying, copycat violence and sexting and inspire children to use the power of media for good. The TMI, which is partnered with the UN Foundation, is a global network of changemakers and media professionals interested in creating media that serves humanity and the planet .http://www.transformationalmediainitiative.org/projects/mindful-media/

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Next issue after the August interval: 12 September 2014.

Good News Agency is published monthly (except August) in English, Italian and Portuguese. Past issues are available at www.goodnewsagency.org . Rome Law-court registration no. 265 dated 20 June 2000.Managing Editor: Sergio Tripi (sergio.tripi@goodnewsagency.org). Editorial research by Fabio Gatti (fabio.gatti@goodnewsagency.org), Chiara Bartoletti, Elisa Minelli, Isabella Strippoli. Webmaster, media/NGO coverage: Simone Frassanito (simone.frassanito@goodnewsagency.org)

Good News Agency is distributed free of charge through Internet to 10,000 media and editorial journalists of the daily newspapers and periodical magazines and of the radio and television stations in 54 countries, to 3,000 NGOs, 1,500 high schools, colleges and universities, as well as over 24,000 Rotarians in the world.

It is an all-volunteer service of Associazione Culturale dei Triangoli e della Buona Volontà Mondiale,a registered, not-for-profit educational charity chartered in Italy in 1979 The Association operates for the development of consciousness and promotes a culture of peace in the ‘global village’ perspective based on unity in diversity and on sharing. It is based in Via Antagora 10, 00124 Rome, Italy. The Association is a member of the World Association of Non Governmental Organizations (WANGO) and of the Union of International Associations (UIA).