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International Day for the Eradication of Poverty On October 17, 1992, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, former Secretary General of the UN, on behalf of a group of international dignitaries gathered in the Committee for the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty, calls for recognition of 17 October. On December 22, 1992, October 17 was declared "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty" by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Since then, initiatives to celebrate this day have continued to multiply. In many places, gatherings are also held on the 17th of each month. ASCOP endorsed the initiatives taking place October 17, 2009 for the World Day for Overcoming Extreme Poverty.
Honorary Doctorate Degree to Jagdish Gandhi, Russian University Awards Ufa (Russia) October 5: On the occasion of World Teacher’s Day 5th October 2009, Bashkir State Pedagogical University (BSPU), Ufa, Russia awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Education to Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, Founder of City Montessori School (CMS), Lucknow , India. BSPU is the largest Pedagogical State University of Russian Bashkortostan State with 14,000 students and 600 professors. BSPU considered awarding this honour to Mr. Jagdish Gandhi for his relentless work for the cause of education, world unity and world peace for over 50 years since 1959 when he started his school with just five children. Today CMS is the world’s largest school in single city of Lucknow, India with over 37,000 pupils and is also the first and only school to receive the coveted UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. Prof R. M. Asadullin, Rector of the BSPU presented the Honorary Doctorate Degree to Mr Gandhi in a glittering function held in presence of 600 professors of the University. The Citation presented to Mr Gandhi by the University says ‘the Board Members of Bashkir State Pedagogical University (BSPU), Ufa, Russia have unanimously decided to honour you with the Honorary Doctorate Degree considering the fact that you have devoted 50 long years to the service of society and humanity at large in the field of education and building a world fit for children and generations yet-to-be-born.’ Mr Gandhi was here on the invitation of BSPU and will be in Russia till 8th October 2009. He will be in Moscow on 7th and 8th October. On 7th October, the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Philosophical Society has invited Mr Gandhi to address a press conference on the topic ‘Social Responsibility of a Modern Institute’. On 8th October he will address teachers and students of Slavic Anglo American School in Moscow before departing for India. Contact: Mrs Raisa Mingazitdinova Iksanova
First annual congress meeting of WATUN ==> Quick report The World Alliance for Transforming the United Nations (WATUN) would liketo invite you to participate in our first annual Congress and Model UN Charter Review Conference, at the downtown Holiday Inn in Mexico City on Saturday, September 12th, 2009. It will be conducted in English and Spanish. This event will follow the Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference, held at a nearby venue September 9 – 11th, focusing on Peace, Disarmament, and Development. During the DPI/NGO Conference, WATUN is conducting a Midday Dialogue Session on “Achieving Peace and Disarmament through Transforming the United Nations,” along with a Preparatory Meeting for our Congress on Wednesday evening, September 9th. The World Alliance calls for the United Nations to hold a UN Charter Review Conference under Article 109 of the UN Charter. It works to educate the world community about the need to create a more effective and democratic means of global governance and puts forward specific proposals for transforming the United Nations. Since forming WATUN two years ago, we have held several organizational meetings, a Midday Dialogue Session at last year’s UN DPI/NGO Conference in Paris, and a Model UN Charter Review Conference at Universidad de Guadalajara. During the Model UN Charter Review Conference, attendees will engage in interactive dialogue to explore why the UN needs to hold such a Conference and how to conduct it. We will examine specific proposals for Transforming the United Nations, focusing on achieving peace and disarmament, programs sufficient for solving our primary global problems, and how to create a binding and enforceable international rule of law. Exciting videos and action panels will inform, inspire, and enrollparticipants. Please register in advance to attend the Congress and Model UN Review Conference. The registration fee is $25 – 70 per person, based on income and ability to pay, which will help cover the costs of putting on the event. To register, please contact Planetafilia by calling or writing to the numbers and email addresses given below. To attend the Annual DPI/NGO Conference, you’ll need
to register for it as well, before August 21, 2009. You can
visit the Conference Website for more information at:
http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/conference/
or email: registration62dpi The World Alliance for Transforming the UN is working to
develop a Syllabus and Course Curriculum on
“Transforming the United Nations” for high school
and college students. We are also circulating a letter to UN
General Assembly President D’Escoto, who was scheduled
to meet with a group of us, before being called away to help
resolve the crisis in Honduras. You can read the letter at:
http://reddemocratica.blogspot.com
and sign onto it by writing to: red_democratica For more information, to register for the Congress and
Model Review Conference, or to become a member of WATUN,
please contact Daniel Morales, Francisco Plancarte, and/or
Veronica Baron at Planetafilia: demgdl Secretariat: Planetafilia, Córdoba 2606; Colonia Providencia CP 44630; Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Our websites are www.planetafilia.org and http://www.transformun.org.
Quick report on WATUN’s events Here is a quick report on WATUN’s events and activities in Mexico City, which will be followed by a more complete report fairly soon. Our first International Congress and all of our other events and activities were a huge success and managed to actually match or exceed our wildest hopes and expectations, for which we are extremely grateful. However, we recognize that this was probably just the result that came from all of the hard work, good planning, personal contributions, and a job well done by so many, particularly Francisco’s team from Guadalajara, along with the general interest and rather apparent and seemingly widespread belief among NGOs at the Annual Conference that the UN does need to be significantly strengthened and democratized or transformed. Many organizations expressed an interest in joining WATUN and ten or twelve selected a representative that was elected to serve on our new Governing Council, along with those from our existing organizations, so that we now have a new council with 18 representative members. The meeting rooms where we met were packed and everyone paid total attention to what was said. Planetafilia made arrangements for both events to be videotaped; and it seemed like the video crew were doing an excellent job. The presentations by myself, Lucy Webster, Quisia Gonzalez from the Earth Rights Institute, Rikio Kaneko, Shahriar Sharei, Benton Musslewhite, Andreas Bummel from the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly, and Francisco Plancarte were excellent, along with the job that Veronica Baron from Planetafilia and Cesar Gayoso did in chairing the panel discussions; and it should make for very good video indeed, as well as being highly informative. And the questions and comments from the audience were wonderful as well. You can also see photos of the Congress meeting that Cesar Gayoso took by going to: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2016174&id=1606696665&ref=mf. And Shahriar Sharei did an excellent job of chairing the actual Congress Meeting, during which our new Statutes, Bylaws, and Mission Statement were approved almost unanimously following extensive discussion and a few good amendments to the Mission Statement. We are extremely grateful for all of the work done by the crew from Planetafilia, along with the materials, banners, logo, folders, excellent simultaneous translation, etc. that they provided. It was obvious however that a considerable amount of money was spent in order to create such great events and for them to be so successful. Indeed it probably cost somewhere between eight and ten thousand dollars to put it all together and carry it out. Thus if anyone would care to make a donation to help us defray the outstanding costs it would be greatly appreciated. You can do so by contacting Planetafilia and/or Francisco Plancarte at: pacoplancarte@planetafilia.org or call: (52 33) 3817 3475 or 3817 3478. Córdoba 2606; Colonia Providencia CP 44630; Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Many of us spoke about WATUN and the need for an Article 109 Charter Review Conference during the question and answer period at various sessions during the Annual DPI/NGO Conference as well, so most of the 1300 or so people that attended the Congress now know quite a bit about WATUN and what we are trying to accomplish. In any case, WATUN is now well launched, is firmly underway, and headed onward toward our next port of destiny – New York City at the end of October where we will have our first Council Meeting, along with a great social event at David and Marian’s, etc. Thanks again for your interest everyone; and also a BIG THANK YOU to Francisco Plancarte and all of his team, along with the Conference Organizing Committee, that did so much to make our activities such a great success. Rob Wheeler lobal 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign Tomorrow something historic will take place and I would like to make sure you can participate via our website at www.worldforum.org <http://www.worldforum.org/> or at www.brasil2020.com.br <http://www.brasil2020.com.br/> . Beginning Tuesday evening, we are convening in Belo Horizonte, Brazil a State of the World Forum to launch the global 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign, a central part of which will be the launch of the Brazil 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign and the Brazil 2020 Youth Campaign. This Forum marks the first time that people will be coming together from around the world to strategize and start enacting a global plan of action to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2020 and re-align our relationship to ourselves, each other and the earth. Over 200 scientists, political leaders, business executives, academics, civil society activists and artists from 20 nations and across Brazil are in attendance. What is making this event historic is that Globo TV, which controls 80% of the Brazilian media market and is the fourth largest media company in the world, will premiere at our Forum a prime-time nationwide ad campaign about global warming to support our 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign. They are developing these ads completely at their own expense and are committed to continuing the campaign over the next several years with an intent to make the global warming issue a national priority, stop the clear cutting of the Amazon, and educate and mobilize the Brazilian public to develop sustainable lifestyles. As you will appreciate, this is unprecedented. It marks the first time anywhere in the world when a major media company has decided to begin educating an entire nation about global warming and to exercise what we are calling "climate leadership." This Forum in Brazil will launch a ten year mobilization worldwide to promote climate leadership and implement a Plan of Action to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2020. Our next convening will be in Washington, D.C. February 28 – March 3, 2010. Six months later, we will return to Brazil to Rio de Janeiro August 30 – September 3, 2010. With each Forum, we will be broadening the global coalition, refining our Action Plan, and bringing climate leaders from around the world to share information and build a future in alignment with the natural systems of our earth. Please join us. To find out more: www.worldforum.org <http://www.worldforum.org/> The Live Broadcasts Will be Available: 6:00 – 8:00 PM EST on Tuesday August 4 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST on Wednesday August 5 In participating in this State of the World Forum, you are helping to make history. Warm Regards, Jim Garrison
Publish What You Pay calls for the immediate release of transparency activist Golden Misabiko* Golden Misabiko, Chair of the African Association for the Protection of Human Rights (ASADHO) in Katanga, was arrested on 24 July and remains in custody in Lubumbashi. Timothée Mbuya, Vice-Chair of ASADHO/Katanga, was also arrested on 24 July but subsequently released on the same day. ASADHO is a member of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Democratic Republic of Congo. Both men were interrogated in Lubumbashi by members of the Congolese intelligence agency (Agence nationale de renseignements, ANR). Misabiko has been charged with "undermining State security" and "making defamatory statements" and is awaiting trial. Misabiko, a human rights and transparency advocate, together with local civil society groups, campaigns for increased transparency and accountability in the management of mineral wealth in the province of Katanga, a copper and cobalt rich region. He has been arrested and intimidated several times in the past for his human rights activities. ASADHO/Katanga released a report on 12 July 2009 about the Shinkolobwe uranium mine denouncing state authorities for supporting illegal and dangerous mining and for signing a contract with the French nuclear group AREVA under opaque circumstances. The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the 21 resource rich African countries implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)**, a global initiative for increased transparency in the oil, gas and mining sectors. The participation of independent civil society is a fundamental component of the multi-stakeholder nature of the EITI and Congolese civil society organisations are playing an active role to ensure that their country becomes fully compliant with the initiative. PWYP calls for the immediate release of Golden Misabiko and asks for all charges against him to be dropped. PWYP urges the Congolese government to ensure the free participation of civil society in debates on the management of Congo's mineral resources and to safeguard the security of transparency advocates. *Notes:* 30/07/2009
Jean Predine, former President of International Registry of World Citizens Announces the death of Jean Predine, occurred at the age of 87, after a long illness. Jean Predine was a citizen of the world of the "first time", always active in the middle of the mundialists under different services (SERMONDE, International Registry of World Citizens, Center French). He participated in numerous study commissions, including the Hunger and Development. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the World Solidarity Fund against Hunger. " In 1990, he assumed the estate of Roger Wellhoff, director of the International Registry of World Citizens, until 1998 when he retired for health reasons. Jean Predine, a great servant of peace, world citizenship, humanity. 20/07/2009
Peoples Congress and Esperanto Dear friends
I will be happy if you will learn to speak with all world citizens! . Ursula 29/06/2009
 Russell
Tribunal on Palestine 03/03/2009 The recent war waged by the Israeli government and the Israeli army on the Gaza strip, already under a blockade, underlines the particular responsibility of the United States and of the European Union in the perpetuation of the injustice done to the Palestinian people, deprived of its fundamental rights. It is important to mobilize the international public opinion so that the United Nations and Member States adopt the necessary measures to end the impunity of the Israeli State, and to reach a just and durable solution to this conflict. Following an appeal from Ken Coates, Nurit Peled, and Leila Shahid, and with the support of over a hundred well-known international personalities, it has been decided to organise a Russell Tribunal on Palestine. Based on the Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued on the 9th of July 2004 and on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Organisation, this Russell Tribunal on Palestine is a civic initiative promoting international law as the core element of the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Further than Israel’s responsibility, it aims to demonstrate the complicity of Third States and International Organisations which, through their passivity or active support, allow Israel to violate the rights of the Palestinian People, and let this situation be continued and aggravated. The next step will then be to establish how this complicity results in international responsibilities. Through a decentralised functioning, the organisation of public sessions and other public events, the organisation of a Russell Tribunal on Palestine is designed as a large communication event, with widespread media coverage over the tribunal and its outcomes. Indeed, the Russell Tribunal on Palestine having no official mandate, its impact rests on its ability to mobilise public opinion, so that the latter puts pressure on governments to obtain that they change their policies in the ways that are necessary to reach a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.net/ ________________
March 31st to april 2nd 2009 : the World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development organisers - UNESCO and the German Ministry of Education and Research, in cooperation with the German Commission for UNESCO - have selected Small is beautiful to be exhibited at the conference, taking place in Bonn, Germany.
Dr APJ Abdul Kalam visited City Montessori School (mundialized school) You will be pleased to know that very recently, on 14th February, H.E. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India visited City Montessori School, Lucknow, India to interact with our students. He shared the stage with Mr Jagdish Gandhi, Founder-Manager of City Montessori School and said that "the United Nations is not living upto its expectations in curbing conflicts among nations and we need a new charter" and "no country should possess veto power". During his interaction with students of CMS he also made some more interesting comments which you may read the story on the following links: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200902142241.htm and http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow/Dreams_and_diligence_key_to_success_says_Kalam/articleshow/4130863.cms We recorded his speech and the entire conversation and will be uploading the video on this interesting interaction at www.youtube.com/worldunityandpeace and videos are in 3 parts
Since Dr APJ Abdul Kalam suggests that "we need a new world order", we thought that many of you might share a similar opinion like Mr Jagdish Gandhi who believes that "a international political and economic order of the world based on enforceable international law is an urgent need of the hour" We are collecting opinion of all the people across the globe who are deeply concerned with present world problems and see global democracy based on enforceable international law as an effective solution to them. Please refer to the attached format which will take a few minutes of your to be filled. We will collect all the suggestions and will take your suggestions to H.E. APJ Abdul Dr Kalam. It would be nice if you can send us your comments through the attached format before 25 February 2009. Shishir Srivastava E-mail: shishir@wmgd.net
Make Together - World Citizens on Facebook Communication network "Make Together" through Facebook Search for the group to " Make Together - World Citizens "
What sort of world citizen are you? I am now planning to put a brief video on my world citizen website "What sort of world citizen are you?" but things go slowly for me now, apart from writing. However, to get an idea of what I do, take a look at www.jrmundialist.org
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), EBBF has created a comprehensive knowledge centre aptly titled "The Role of Business in Promoting Human Rights" offering the case for business involvement and a comprehensive listing of key documents, key players people and organizations who are dedicating their lives to assisting business to better understand and perform in this essential field for world development. More stories and meaningful job offers, including some hints and thoughts about economic downsizing, at the EBBF Communications Centre Read EBBF latest electronic Newsletter Inspire ! :
http://ebbf.org/inspire21.html
A blog named "The Universal Nation ~ La Nación Universal". Last September 2008 I started a blog named "The Universal Nation ~ La Nación Universal". It is conceived as a bilingual site (English - Spanish) The central theme presented is entitled after the blog itself. The first paragraph of this presentation reads textually as follows: " The abolition of the system of nations as independent sovereign states is the present’s paradigm, and the greatest global need, and the solution to many of the major problems of modern humankind, all at once. " I cordially invite You to read this theme in depth and get to know the blog on the following link http://www.universal.hosteando.org/ The presentation includes the following topics.
I sincerely believe that the message and content of this presentation shall well vibrate in tune with your souls, besides from being itself in tune with the spirit motivating your organization. The presentation includes an elaboration on the significance of World Citizenship. I appreciate your attention, and expect that You enjoy and enrich yourselves with the theme presented. With my Best Wishes of Peace and Prosperity for all your efforts, 10/01/2009 Omar Nahúm.
2009 : The International
Year of Reconciliation
by René Wadlow, World Citizens Repr. Geneva The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed in Resolution A/61/L22, the year 2009 as the International Year of Reconciliation “recognizing that reconciliation processes are particularly necessary and urgent in countries and regions of the world which have suffered or are suffering situations of conflict that have affected and divided societies in their various internal, national, and international facets.” The Resolution was introduced by Nicaragua’s representative who stated that “reconciliation between those estranged by conflicts was the only way to confront today’s challenges and heal wherever fraternity and justice were absent from human relations.” Yet we need to ask how can genuine reconciliation take place between people and groups with bitterly held beliefs and a violent history? How can the needs for national healing be reconciled with the demands for justice by the victims of terrible violence? The General Assembly resolution gives a partial answer by stressing that “dialogue among opponents from positions of respect and tolerance is an essential element of peace and reconciliation.” For there to be a respectful dialogue among opponents, certain barriers that prevent negotiations must be dismantled as a sign of a willingness to enter into a process of negotiations. Some barriers are physical, some psychological, others ideological. These barriers must be overcome if we are to progress on the long road to reconciliation. Let us, with the New Year, start now both as individuals and as members of movements in the spirit of the historian Howard Zinn’s “People are Practical” They want change but feel powerless, alone, Caen Memorial Day Study on Human Rights The Caen Memorial has invited historians, jurists and Human Rights activists in order to exchange knowledge and experiences.Daniel Durand represented the World Citizens Registry and the ASCOP. In line with the discussion that took place earlier this year,it is by the notion of the duty of brotherhood that he addressed the issue.This brotherhood,recognized as a universal value,implies not only a particular individual rights,but also requires of the states and the entire human family to prepare the conditions for a ''social and international order'' based on the legitimacy of democracy and capable of guaranteeing the rights and freedoms enunciated in the Universal Declaration. The conference put an end to the signature campaign of the ''Joint Declaration of ASCOP.'' The latter will be the subject of several interventions in the year 2009, and will be presented at the 2009 session of the Peoples Congress(Brasilia) |
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un.org.