June 1999
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Issue 68 June 1999 |
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June 1999 Issue Number 68
I. Some Reflections on the Multilateral Trading System On the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the multilateral trading system Rubens Ricupero, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reminded us that "it is the sacred duty of the UN System, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Bretton Woods Institutions" (the World Bank and the International monetary Fund) "to create reasons to believe in the future and to give people back sound reason to hope." Ricupero defines "one of UNCTAD's major challenges" as being "to ensure the full integration of civil society's involvement in the organisation's intergovernmental machinery", pointing out that UNCTAD "was created with a moral commitment to a daunting task: to help narrow the gap between poor and rich societies". Ricupero's reappointment to serve a second four year term to run from September 1999 is sure to be widely welcomed by reason of the commitment with which he has applied himself to his exceptionally demanding role. The discrepancy between the above-mentioned goal and the overall human condition today is a responsibility that we the people all must share. The unacceptable disgrace of the ever growing gap between rich and poor – still continuing to widen from a ratio of nine to one at the beginning of the century to sixty to one today – is among the factors which have obliged the United Nations Organisation and individual governments to confess growing helplessness and failure without the urgent and immediate involvement and participation of the world's citizenry in working together for the reform of our existing institutions and for a better world. It was the Report of the Commission on Global Governance (1995) that issued a clarion call that we shall ignore at our peril. Page 229 of this historic report expressed outright condemnation of the debilitating and disempowering "us and them" approach to authority. The message and the appeal is unmistakable: "WE THE PEOPLES, through our governments and through our own new empowerments, must be the principal agent of change of the United Nations and of international institutions generally." The previous UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali further emphasised this call for public responsibility in his statement: "We, all of us, ARE the United Nations", which led to his successor Kofi Annan's emphasis on the need for a new partnership between the UN and NGOs that supports democratic participation for decision-making. UNCTAD after Lyon A notable outcome of Kofi Annan's appeal for partnership occurred in the area of multilateral trade. UNCTAD's Partnership for Development conference took place last November in Lyon (France). This conference successfully brought together some 2700 representatives of the private sector from 172 countries. Among the participants were over 50 government ministers from all regions of the world; and what was described as this "new concept of development" resulted in the finalisation between the UNCTAD Secretariat and private and public organisations of 18 partnership agreements relating to international transport, investment promotion of small and medium-sizes enterprises and of entrepreneurship, the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable development and agricultural commodities. The 1998 UNCTAD Partnership for Development conference paved the way for the adoption in February 1999 of a substantive agenda for its tenth quadrennial conference, UNCTAD X, to be held: in Bangkok 12-20 February 2000. The theme of this conference will be "Developmental Strategies in an Increasingly Interdependent World: applying the lessons of the past to make globalisation an effective instrument for the development of all countries and all people." It will confront the persistence of economic disparities among nations and the risk of further marginalisation for a number of developing countries, and challenge member states to consider the strategies and policies most likely to ensure the successful integration of all countries into the world economy on an equitable basis. Also planned is an internet forum to facilitate open dialogue, encouraging inputs from NGOS, research institutions and the private sector on topics relevant to UNCTAD X. The United Nations in 2001 The UN Third Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Conference is scheduled for the first half of 2001, by which time the need for maintaining a comprehensive, integrated and prominent feature at future conferences; for although these non-official participants may lack the political power wielded by states, their advantage lies in the influence they can exercise on the public at large. This was clearly demonstrated by the world wide upsurge and impact generated in opposition to the ill conceived and ill-fated Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) drafted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation (OECD), an agreement that favoured investors above the interests of any other sector of the world community – including governments. APEC and the WTO Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation and the World Trade Organisation will be holding consecutive ministerials in the coming months, APEC in New Zealand next September followed by the World Trade Organisation in the USA in December. Both meetings will be of crucial importance for the social and economic development of the world community. Regrettably both organisations -are fraught with serious internal tensions that will be far from easy to resolve. Furthermore the controversial free-market model, which underpins both APEC and the WTO (as also the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund) does not sit well with the requirements of the UN Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable – Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices, unanimously adopted at the General Assembly meeting of 5 December 1980 by Resolution 35/63, with its fourth five-yearly review and updating to take place in September 2000. If we persist in drawing attention to the UN Set it is because this set of principles and rules is seemingly being overlooked or ignored by major multilateral trading organisations other than UNCTAD, which drafted it specifically to ensure special and differential treatment for developing countries. As with their response to the blatantly unbalanced and unjust-provisions of the MAI, the world’s peoples must be on the alert to do everything possible to ensure that future multilateral trade agreements provide for real social and economic justice for all. A.B. (Acknowledgement: NGLS's "Go Between", Feb/Mar 1999) II. TOWARDS A NEW INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ARCHITECTURE At high-level meetings of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held in April with the Bretton institutions, the President of the World Bank, James D Wolfensohn said that the international financial crisis was real and should be tackled with a sense of urgency. The President of ECOSOC, Francesco Paoli Fulci, underscored the need for a comprehensive reform of the international financial system and of the problems of development. He noted the "very disturbing" growth of the gap between the rich and poor and that overall official development assistance (ODA) had reached its lowest level in 50 years. This was dangerous and must be reversed. The Managing Director of the International monetary Fund (IMF) Michel Camdessus said it was time to prevent and not manage crises. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette stated that a genuine commitment by the UN and the Bretton Woods institutions to work together and to overcome the mistrust of the past had to be seen and translated into daily behaviour. Priorities should include reversing the decline in the rate of growth of the world economy; completing work on the establishment of a new global financial architecture; and on helping developing countries build the capacity to engage in the global economy on a sustainable basis. There was agreement that emphasis should be placed on "faster, deeper, broader" debt relief for all poor, reforming countries. During the discussion statements were made and questions posed by the representatives of Guyana, Germany, U.S.A., Russian Federation, Turkey, Cuba, South Africa, Pakistan, Canada, Colombia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Iran, Ethiopia, Ireland, Sudan, St Kitts and Nevis, Austria, Japan and Bangladesh. The UN is to issue future position papers on such subjects as debt relief and finance for development which, like the report on financial architecture, would represent the consolidated viewpoint of the Secretariat, UNCTAD and the five regional commissions. (Press release ECOSOC, 29 April, 1999) III. THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM Speaking at a meeting of international policy makers gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in late January, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan remarked that there was enormous pressure from various interest groups to load trade regime and investment agreements with restrictions aimed at setting standards in the area of rights, labour and the environment and that backlashes against globalisation were mounting. "But restrictions on trade and investment are not the right means to use", he said. The best way was for business to put into practice ideals clearly endorsed in human rights agreements and at UN global conferences. "What we have to do", Kofi Annan suggested "is to find a way for embedding the global market in a network of shared values. Unless those values are clearly seen to be taking hold, I fear we may find it increasingly difficult to make a persuasive case for the open global market." Specifically, Kofi Annan asked corporations to support the work of the UN High Commission of Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation and the UN Environment Programme, to incorporate social values in their mission statements, and to use their own operations and their influence with business partners and governments to put these values into practice. IV. THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN 1999 The 1999 Report On The State of the World's Children, published by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), concentrates this year on education. The foreword to this report, written by the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, begins with the words: "Education is a human right with immense power to transform.” And it ends: "When the right to education is assured, the whole world gains... On the eve Of the 21st century, there is no higher priority, no mission more important, than that of Education For All." Even so, according to the Report, almost a billion people will enter the new century as illiterates, and their numbers are growing. Over 130 million children in the developing countries (of these about 13 million will be girls), are growing up without access to basic education. The Report reminds its readers of the fact that more than 50 years ago the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sought to establish a foundation for promoting social, economic and cultural rights "in tandem with civil and political rights." In the 1990 Convention on the rights of the Child (now ratified by all nations, except the USA and Somalia) this aspiration as far as the world's children are concerned, became a binding agreement. The Convention's vision of education includes the cognitive, physical, social, emotional, moral as well as the spiritual development of the child. Article 28 recognises the right of children to education, requiring State parties, among other things, to provide free, compulsory, basic schooling, and to protect the child’s dignity in all disciplinary matters, and to promote international cooperation in educational matters. The Report stresses that it is not enough simply to ensure that children attend school. The quality of education is vital: "How knowledge, skills and values are transmitted is as important as what is learned.” It is important that children are “allowed to develop from their school experience a level of self-esteem, self-discipline and sheer enjoyment of learning that will stand them in good stead throughout their lives." It was in March 1990, at the Conference on Education For All, (a UNICEF initiative, sponsored by UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA and the World Bank), taking place in Jomtien, Thailand, that a significant shift took place in the world's collective approach to education, broadening the notion of quality “basic education” along with an understanding of its delivery. This conference marked an international consensus that education is "the single most vital element in combating poverty, empowering women, promoting human rights and democracy and controlling population growth." The Jomtien Conference established six key goals: 1. expansion of early childhood care and development, especially for the poor; 2. universal access to and completion of primary education by the year 2000; 3. improvement in learning achievement based on an agreed-upon percentage of an age group (e.g., 80 per cent of 14-year olds) attaining a defined level; 4. reduction of the adult illiteracy rate to half its 1990 level by the year 2000, with special emphasis on female literacy; 5. expansion of basic education and training for youth and adults; 6. improved dissemination of the knowledge, skills and values required for better living and sustainable development. However, in a "mid-decade review" June 1996, it was acknowledged that the progress towards "Education for All" had been much slower than hoped for. Although in some regions (such as in East Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Middle East) remarkable gains had been made on education, in other countries (among them Central and Eastern Europe and also the independent countries of the former Soviet Union) the new market economics have had a detrimental effect upon the educational system. The Report warns that despite the progress of the last decade, the education revolution is in danger of being cut short by a dearth of resources and growing indebtedness in the developing world. The UNICEF Report emphasises the importance of the State – while maintaining a key role in education – working in partnership with multiple sectors of the community in achieving a comprehensive educational system which embraces a person's life from birth to death. "The idea of Education for All was intended to be a rallying cry to galvanise the international community into action, from the level of governments and global institutions, right through private companies and media outlets, to individual schools and villages." Only in this way can an all-embracing high quality educational system be developed and maintained. However, without a major change in the approach to delivering schooling and ensuring learning, it will be impossible for most poor countries to deliver Education for All. Although the Report gives several pioneering examples (Brazil, the Philippines and others) of government/community cooperation towards Education for All, and in spite of cost-effective successful models of education now available, the needed resources and political will, nationally as well as internationally, are still lacking. The value of investing in basic education – and especially in the education of girls – is now almost universally accepted. "Why then", asks UNICEF, “has the international community not rushed to embrace this most essential project, which comes closer than anything else to being the long-sought magic bullet that will deliver 'human development worldwide?” However, after almost two decades in which human development has taken a back seat to globalisation and structural adjustment, we may be entering an era of investment in 'human and social capital' that will make the task of spreading the education revolution worldwide much easier, says The State of the World’s Children. "A model is emerging among leading economists, including those at IMF and the World Bank, that privatisation alone cannot assure long-term economic growth; equally essential are human capital (a nation’s health, education and nutrition) and social capital (shared values, culture and a strong civil society)." UNICEF strongly believes that this new economic thinking "will add weight to the 20/20 Initiative advocated by UNICEF and other partners, which enjoins governments of donor and developing countries to allot 20 per cent of their official development assistance (ODA) and national budgets to basic social services. This alone would, if implemented, certainly liberate sufficient resources to achieve Education For All within a decade, the cost of which UNICEF estimates to be an additional $7 billion a year, on average – less than is spent on cosmetics in the United States or on ice cream in Europe annually.” The UNICEF Report quotes the late Mahbub ul Haq, one of the most influential and eloquent advocates for human-centred development, as stating that "education is the true essence of human development, without education, development can be neither broad-based nor sustained", viewing this statement as encapsulating the very meaning of "Education For All". The State of the World’s Children 1999 Report concludes with the following words: It may have taken almost 50 years for the education rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be fully accepted. But those rights are no longer negotiable. It is the world's responsibility to fulfil them without further delay. We can move swiftly ahead knowing that Education For All – making the education revolution a global reality – is the soundest investment in a peaceful and prosperous future that we can make for our children. A copy of The State of the World's Children 1999 can be obtained from UNICEF Headquarters, 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA, or any regional/national UNICEF office. V. Alison's Report on The Hague International Model United Nations My name is Alison Cole, born in New Zealand, and I am at the moment working as a tutor at Cheam Hawtreys school, England. Earlier this year I went to The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) conference in the Netherlands with fellow students from Wanganui Collegiate School (NZ). It was the experience of a life time and has added fuel to my aspiration to work in international affairs. At present I am in the process of raising funds to complement an unconditional offer to read law at Cambridge. I would be very interested to hear your views and advice for my future or on any UN related topic. Date: Sunday, January 24th, 1999. Location: The Hague International Model United Nations The inaugural contingent had arrived from New Zealand and were now ready to show the world what our country was made of! Admittedly, as eight representatives from Wanganui Collegiate School "Down-under", we were slightly dazed at first. The conference took place at the Netherlands Congress Centre, a huge complex of debating chambers and lobbies – a true official United Nations building. However, we were well prepared. The week prior to THIMUN was spent intensively completing our research on the country we were representing, Ghana. This involved meeting with the Ghanaian diplomats -. in London, and translating the policies discussed into draft resolutions. We had all been allocated separate commissions, such as mine: the Human Rights Sub-commission II on indigenous peoples, and were required to prepare a draft resolution prior to arrival. This resolution consisted of a preamble and a set of proposals that were consistent with the policies of the country being represented. The ultimate aim over the course of the week was to modify these resolutions by lobbying delegates of other UN member states and merging (as took place on Monday and Tuesday), so to produce a final resolution that was then approved for debate (Wednesday and Thursday). And that is where the fun began. About two and a half thousand young delegates had come from all around the world to take part in THIMUN. This fact became blindingly obvious when standing behind a lectern to debate months of hard work. But the New Zealand team were ready for more than the prize for the "Farthest Travelled Delegation"! On the Human Rights Commission (HRC), I directed the merger on indigenous peoples, then as it was one of the earlier approved resolutions, was first up in the debate chamber. It was a totally awesome experience, and after the resolution was voted in favour, we were all walking on air. Meanwhile there were the optional Action Papers to compile. Each Commission was allocated a different document to review, the HRC's was the Vienna Declaration. These were in operation the whole week parallel to debating, and one of the benefits of passing a resolution early on, was that more time could be spent organising the Action Papers. They were very comprehensive as they were destined for review by Kofi Annan. The following is a summarised form of my Final Resolution as approved by The Human Rights Sub-Commission II on Indigenous Peoples: Bearing in mind the preamble of the United Nations confirmation to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples; Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where it states in the Preamble: Member States pledge to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms; Congratulating the UN initiative to create the Working Group on Indigenous Populations (1982), the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (1995), the International Decade of the world's Indigenous People (1994-2004), and the Draft Declaration of the world's Indigenous Peoples; Reminding nations of the importance in preserving the unique cultures and societies of the world and the need to decisively support positive action for the benefit of indigenous communities; 1. Encourages nations to actively partake in raising international appreciation of the status of indigenous peoples; 2. Proposes the establishment of a High Commission of Indigenous Peoples (HCIP) to ensure the rights and principles outlined in the Draft Declaration of Indigenous Rights are met, aiming to effectively offer the opportunity of education in order to achieve self-sufficient indigenous communities; 3. Suggests HCIP consist of: a) a UN operated subdivision responsible for registering grievances of indigenous communities, b) a second subdivision which acts upon such reports by allocating researches (utilising volunteer and NGO task forces) to investigate the situation and report back to the UN Ambassador of the country concerned with proposed resolutions, c) follow-up support in terms of monitoring by Human Rights rapporteurs. 4. Endorses a flexible cyclic review program of two years, so that progress can be assessed promptly and modifications made; 5. Recommends that full records, especially financial statements are available for inspection on validated request to the HCIP; 6. Solemnly affirms that nothing in this resolution may be interpreted as granting a state, group or person with any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act that is not in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of our experience was that we all gained a new sense of reality. While in New Zealand, the majority of our THIMUN based activity was referring to an outside world that was in some way detached from what we as kiwis experience. Now I can say with true comprehension, that we are all global citizens. Today's technological advancements are ensuring distance is a rapidly declining relevance in human relations. Our humanity binds us to an obligation of respect for our neighbours, be that neighbour physically next door or tens of thousands of miles away. Another important aspect, complementing this new-found sense of reality, was the spirit of hope. One week with thousands of energised, idealistic and enthusiastic people leaves a very strong impression. We were all aware of the responsibilities we hold as the next generation. The abundance of good will expressed at THIMUN gave me immense confidence for a positive collective future. Alison Cole, c/o Cheam Hawtreys School, Newbury Road, Headley, Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 8 LD, U.K. VI. Conference on CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE: Our Individual, Family and Collective Responsibilities. 13 – 15 October, 1999, Quebec, Canada The Organisation for the Protection of Children Rights of Canada (O.P.C.R.) is organising and hosting the Fourth International Conference on the Child to be held at the Sheraton Laval, Quebec, Canada. The fourth International Conference on the Child will provide a world scale forum on Children's Rights. The O.P.C.R. is concerned with the escalating problem of Children and Violence. The objective of this conference is to develop preventive solutions for the problem of increasing participation of youth violence, and to elaborate recommendations for the development of programs and policies for the prevention of community violence. The conference will also provide the opportunity to find problem-solving strategies for families dealing with this issue. The O.P.C.R. hopes that by hosting such an event it will provide academics and professionals the opportunity to generate a positive debate. The Honourable Lise Thibault, the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec will open the Conference and among the conference speakers are Dr. Albert Jacquard, Geneticist, Philosopher, (France), Father Emmett Johns, President and founder, Le Bon Dieu dans la Rue, Montreal and Dr. Rashmi Mayur, Director, International Institute for Sustainable Future (India). Among the conference sub-themes are: -Children and Violence: The Role of Media -Issues Related to Global Conditions: Economy, Poverty and violence -Prevention of Violence: Programs and Initiatives -Moving Towards solutions: School, Family, Community and society, Police, Law For more information contact: Organisation for the Protection of Children's Rights, 5167, Jean-Talonest, Suite 370, Montreal, Qc. Canada H1S 1K8, Fax:(514)593-4659. VII. INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON GLOBALISATION The International Forum on Globalisation (IFG) is an alliance of sixty leading activists, scholars, economists, researchers and writers, representing some forty Organisation in twenty countries. This alliance was formed to stimulate new thinking, joint activity and public education in response to the emerging economic and political arrangements called the global economy. IFG advocates equitable, democratic and ecologically sustainable economics. It is established in response to the present world-wide drive toward a globalised economic system dominated by supranational corporate trade and banking institutions that are not accountable to democratic processes or national governments. The Forum believes that the creation of a more equitable economic order will require new international agreements that place the needs of people, local economics and the natural world ahead of the interest of corporations. It further maintains that "it is possible, necessary, and in the long run, far more viable to seek such paths than a globalised economic system doomed to fail." IFG publishes a yearly newsletter and offers packets of information gathered from a variety of resources which may be helpful for activist organisations, reporters, students and study groups. These packets of information include issues such as Agriculture and Food Safety, Corporations, Forests, Global Finance, Labour, and Immigration. Contact: International Forum on Globalisation, 1555 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, California, USA 94109. Fax: 415-771-1121, e-mail: ifg@igc.org VIII. MILLENNIUM FORUM – The UN for the 21st Century Since the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Anan, in his UN Reform Report July 1997, suggested that the General Assembly in the Year 2000 be called the Millennium Assembly and be accompanied by a companion People's Millennium Assembly, there has been much activity, especially among UN affiliated NGOs, to explore how best to approach the daunting task of preparing for such an event. The immediate enthusiasm with which this proposal was welcomed by those who had for so long worked for a closer partnership between the United Nations and the peoples of the UN, was soon tempered by the realisation of the magnitude of this undertaking. Among the concerns expressed were that this peoples assembly might become a gigantic "talk-fest" of little substance; that some countries or groups would be "over-represented"; and that it might prove difficult to stir interest among people not already involved in this project, thus failing to make it a truly representative peoples assembly. The original Millennium People's Assembly proposal has been undergoing various changes. Now called the "Peoples Millennium Forum" it is no longer to be seen as a “companion” to the Millennium General Assembly but is scheduled to take place prior to that Assembly in the first week in June 2000 in the city of New York. For the past year or so the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations in Consultative Relationship with the UN (CONGO), together with other NGOs, has been developing an organisational structure through which civil society – national/local NGOs, community-based organisations and groups, local authorities, parliamentarians and others – can participate in the preparation for the Millennium Forum through a "democratic, transparent and representational process." A primary body of the Millennium Forum has been established, called the Planning Consultative Council. This Council (apart from CONGO and NGO/DPI Executive committee representatives) includes thematic conveners; conveners for "cross-cutting Issues" and "Logistic Planning"; regional and major group network and coalition representatives and conveners of other Millennium civil society forums. Each convener of thematic groups will seek to encourage the formation of networks and consultations to identify priorities for the world's peoples for the 21 century. They will also facilitate an examination of the plans of action agreed upon at past World Conferences so that the commitments made by governments on those occasions, still needing implementation, can be identified and governments be reminded of their commitments at the Peoples Millennium Forum. Plans are under way for establishing an efficient system for gathering and distributing information on all meetings and forums associated with the Millennium Forum. It is the Planning Consultative Councils sincere hope that the Peoples Millennium Forum will define the issues in a concise, clear and compelling document that can be presented to the Millennium General Assembly. The Council has written a letter, entitled "How To Get Involved", which they encourage everyone to re-distribute. The following is the text of this letter: "The Millennium Forums are planned to be multi-issue oriented and organised at the local, national and continental as well as global levels. Forum activities are being organised through both regional and thematic issue areas. We are encouraging primary networks, organisations, and the organisers of principal events to cooperatively develop planning processes for either their region of the world or their specific thematic issue area. If you would like to help with this please contact the Millennium Forum Secretariat; and then as you proceed provide information as to which primary groups have been contacted and which agree to participate. As a first step we ask you to work with others to develop a process for organising within your region or thematic area. We ask that this plan also be forwarded to the M NGO F Secretariat. As a part of this exercise, please develop a means for inviting all peoples and organisations within your thematic or regional area to participate in the activities and planning processes. As the organisational process moves forward, leadership can be identified and means of selecting people to serve in the planning processes developed. This may mirror existing NGO structures, networks and coalitions gained through the series of UN-sponsored world conferences, or new volunteers and leaders, who have more time or ability to participate in organisational activities, could be selected. We would like to suggest that primary events that are already scheduled within thematic areas be used and developed as Millennium Form events. We would request that the organisers contact the Millennium Forum Interim Steering Committee for further consultation. Representatives of thematic areas will be included on the Consultative Planning Council. This can include representatives and organisers of such participating events. A first task can be to determine the primary issues and programs that would be needed to address fundamental global problems and make a significant difference in solving them, leading to the well-being for all peoples. A broad framework for the Millennium Forum reports is being developed. Your input is welcome; and means of implementation can also be discussed as a part of the Millennium Forum process. In addition, an effort can be made to reach consensus as to the key programs and actions steps that are recommended for inclusion. Finally, we would want to stage and develop our activities and events such as to gain maximum media attention and public interest. It will be to our benefit to develop media teams and establish contacts with the mainstream media as soon as possible. Following up on this it will be equally important to develop lobbying campaigns; to draft our platform and recommendations in such a way that they will receive maximum public and political support; and to begin processes of consultations with governments and representatives to work for their passage. Please forward this letter to the primary networks and organisations within your region or thematic area; have it translated into various regional languages; forward it to local chapters and groups; ask that it be published in member newsletters and magazines; and distribute it through e-mail and other postings." MILLENNIUM FORUM "The UN for the 21st Century", 866 United Nations Plaza, suite 120, New York, New York 10017-1822, USA. Tel. 212-803-2522, Fax. 212-803-2561, www.millenniumforum.org IX. THE SEOUL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF NGOs The Role of NGOs in the 21st Century: INSPIRE, EMPOWER, ACT! Olympic Park, Seoul, Korea, 10-16 October, 1999 This Conference will be hosted by Kyung Hee University and co-convened by the Conference of NGOs in Consultative relationship with the UN (CONGO), the Executive Committee of NGOs associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations NGO/DPI ExeCom, and the Global Cooperation Society (GCS) International. GCS was established in 1978 with the purpose of helping to create a better human society "through the harmonisation of material prosperity with spiritual maturity and integration of individual interests and communal ethics." GCS has national chapters in 35 countries with its Headquarter in Seoul. The Conference goals are: -To assess commitments made by governments at recent UN world conferences and to advocate fulfilment of these commitments; -To engage in policy dialogue with the United Nations and government agencies, and to enhance communication and collaboration among national, regional and international NGOs; -To build networks for more effective implementation of NGO activities in support of the world conference recommendations; -To provide an opportunity for NGOs to exchange experiences and seek common and concrete measures for self-empowerment and alliance-building. The beautiful conference brochure states: "It is said that the 21st Century will be an NGO era, marked by widespread civic involvement in all phases of work on behalf of the human family and United Nations endeavours – human rights, sustainable development, the well-being of children, gender equality, peace and security, among them. In particular, NGOs will be vital partners of the United Nations and its member governments in implementing the commitments made at global world conferences of the 1990s" KOREA ORGANISING COMMITTEE, #305 Wonseo Bldg., 171, Wonseo-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-280, Korea. Fax:82-2-762-9833. Website: www.ngo99korea.org E-mail: kocngo@ngo99korea.org A text introduced by Iran and adopted by the UN General Assembly has designated the Year 2001 the United Nations Year of Dialogue Among civilisations. Said the Iranian President, Seyed Mohadded Khatami, in his first address to the assembly: "Let us hope that in the coming century the essence of political power will be compassion and justice, externally manifested in dialogue between civilisations." X. SARVODAYA SUPPORT GROUP UK in support of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, Sri Lanka The Sarvodaya Support Group UK (SSGUK) provides support for, and information about, the inspiring community development movement in Sri Lanka, Sarvodaya Shramadana: – Sarvodaya Shramadana is reported to be the largest people's development movement in the world. Active in 12,000 villages in rural Sri Lanka, it offers a unique approach to development from the bottom up. Universal spiritual values are central to this approach. Sarvodaya Shramadana means the awakening of all through the voluntary sharing of time, resources, thoughts, energy and labour. – Sarvodaya envisions balanced development: not only the alleviation of poverty, but the total 'awakening' of society which includes the social, cultural, spiritual, and political potentials of the people. Based on Mahatma Gandhi’s values of truth, non-violence, and self-denial, Sarvodaya fosters the ideals Of Participatory democracy, promoting basic human rights and environmental sustainability. – The movement was founded 40 years ago by Dr A. T. Ariyaratne. Acknowledging the significance of the Sarvodaya path to development Dr Ariyaratne has received numerous international awards, including the Indian Government's prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize (1997). – SSGUK has been formed to raise funds for the movement in the UK, to foster awareness of the movement and its unique perspective on development, to support the application of Sarvodaya principles to community life in the UK, to support initiatives reflecting the spirit of Sarvodaya, and to support the work and vision of an international peace centre in Sri Lanka, founded by Dr Ariyaratne, Vishva Niketan. If you have thoughts to share, or if you want to find out more about the movement, or if you want to help in fund-raising or spreading awareness, we look forward to hearing from you. The address is: PO Box 1746, Salisbury SP3 6TS, UK. Website: www.sarvodaya.org/ssg.html XI. Blowing in the wind? The 53rd United Nations General Assembly (September-December 1998) is reported to have discussed 168 agenda items throughout this period and adopted 250 resolutions before the closing of its main session. We are told that these resolutions include topics such as the International Criminal Court, Human Rights issues, "Bethlehem 2000", Small Arms Traffic, Culture of Peace, Environment and Sustainable Development, Habitat II, "New Agenda for a Nuclear-Weapon Free World", Debt, Children in Armed Conflict, "Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa", and many more. XII. BIOSAFETY PROTOCOL – A HUMAN RIGHT? The next opportunity to negotiate an agreement on the trade in Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) will be at a meeting on the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in May of the year 2000, of officials of the UN Environment Programme say in the wake of a February 1999 breakdown in talks. The international community has been pursuing a "biosafety protocol" that will mitigate the risks of importing LMOs, such as "designer" food-crop seeds and micro-organisms engineered for pharmaceutical use. LMOs have the potential to significantly improve the human condition and are the basis of multi-billion dollar businesses, but pose risks for human health and global biodiversity that currently are difficult to assess. The attempt to add a biosafety protocol to the biodiversity convention at talks in Cartagene, Colombia, in February foundered because the Miami Group – six countries, led by the United States, that are major LMO exporters – opposed restrictions they deemed inordinate and contrary to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules against trade protectionism. Negotiators may try again when parties to the UN Convention meet in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2000. But divisive issues may be complicated by WRI talks on agriculture taking place in the interim. The above text is taken from United Nations Development Update, No 27, March-April 1999. For further information contact Development and Human Rights Section, United Nations Department of Public Information, S-1040, New York, NY 10017, USA. Fax: (212)963-1186. Email: devup@un.org XIII. Statement on Life and Evolution This statement was drafted during the 1997 State of the World Forum (San Francisco) by Fritjof Capra, Brian Goodwin, Ervin Laszlo and Mae-Wan Ho, as a consequence of their participation in a Round Table discussion on "New Visions in Biological Sciences". It calls for a moratorium – a temporary halt; a pause for public discussion and for thoughtfulness – before further releases of genetically engineered products on the market. It also queries the patenting of genes. "Life is an intimate web of relations that evolves in its own right, interfacing and integrating its myriad diverse elements. The complexity and interdependence of all forms of life have the consequence that the process of evolution cannot, be controlled, though it can be influenced. It involves an unpredictable creative unfolding that calls for sensitive participation from all the players, particularly from the youngest, most recent arrivals, human beings. "Life must not be treated as a commodity that can be owned, in whole or in part, by anyone, including those who wish to manipulate it in order to design new life forms for human convenience and profit. There should be no patents on organisms or their parts. We must also recognise the potential dangers of genetic engineering to health and biodiversity, and the ethical problems it poses for our responsibilities to life. We propose a moratorium on commercial releases of genetically engineered products and a comprehensive public enquiry into the legitimate and safe uses of genetic engineering. This enquiry should take account of the precautionary principle as a criterion of sensitive participation in living processes. Species should be respected for their intrinsic natures and valued for their unique qualities, on which the whole intricate network of life depends. "We recognise the validity of different ways of knowing that have been developed in different cultures, and the equivalent value of the knowledge gained within these traditions. These add substantially to the set of alternative technologies that can be used for the sustainable use of natural resources that will allow us to preserve the diversity of species and to pass the precious gift of life in all its beauty and creativity to our children and their children, to the next century and beyond." The Statement on Life and Evolution appeared in Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR), Spring 1999, and formed part of their 1998 Conference on "Biotechnology and the Social Responsibility of Science". It is hoped that signatures of endorsement can be collected and presented to: the next State Of The World Forum; the UN Convention on Biological Diversity; our Government(s) and the WHO. Any support or comments can be sent to: Dr Mae-Wan Ho Biology Department, Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK, or e-mail m.w.ho@open.ac.nuk XIV. Universal Ethics Project This Project, coordinated by UNESOC'S Division on Philosophy and Ethics, was started in response to surveys and investigations made by several institutions (including World Commission on Culture and Development and the Club of Rome) which showed a growing search for meaning in life and work. Their research also revealed an increasing desire for a set of common ethical values and aspirations to be developed which could be generally agreed upon and universally applied. Through a series of conferences and meetings the Project is hoping to be able to formulate such a set of common values which would allow humanity to survive and prosper in the next millennium. Many of today's ideals, beliefs and values are being questioned during this period of uncertainty, crisis and change. We are looking for ways to take responsibility and share governance as members of an emerging global community. Dr. Yersu Kim, director of the project, recently made presentations at an NGO/DPI briefing and a meeting of the NGO Values Caucus at UN Headquarters in New York. Dr. Kim said we must discover the underlying values that answer questions in four main areas: 1) human relationship with nature, 2) happiness and the meaning of life, 3) individual and community, and 4) justice. How do we formalise a process that must instil collective learning and communicate the feelings and invisible mystery associated with our universal values? We must find a common way of envisioning and working that is inclusive, that unites us while honouring diversity. Members of the NGO Values Caucus are exploring ways to contribute to the project – Dr Chung Ok Lee of Won Buddhism International is also coordinating the Universal Ethics Millennium Conference, through which NGOs can have input. There are many other NGO activities related to this project. Your organisation may want to develop a values and ethics statement that helps align your purpose, strategy and values with those of the Project. NGos who would like to be involved with the Universal Ethics Project can contact Dr. Chung Ok Lee Fax: +1(212)750-2774 or e-mail: chunglee@won.wonbuddhism.or.kr.
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Many to Many a quarterly publication issued by Operation Peace through Unity Anthony Brooke and Gita Brooke, co-founders Te Rangi, 4 Allison Street, Wanganui 5001, New Zealand phone/fax: +64-6-345-5714 ~ e-mail: larrym@clear.net.nz OPTU is an accredited NGO in association with the UN Dept of Public Information |
Many to Many under the aegis of Operation Peace Through Unity is a communicating link between 'we, the peoples' of all nations, races, creeds and ideologies offering in the spirit of the preamble of the United Nations Charter an instrument for the furthering of better relationships based on deepening mutual understanding and the aspiration to promote unity and cooperation beyond all differences. |
