**GLOBAL DEMOCRACY NEWSLETTER**

International e-Newsletter promoting peace building, unity, human rights and global democracy activities
for creating a new world civilization
Global Democracy Newsletter carries news relating to the non governmental organizations and institutions engaged in global democracy activities around the world. It is distributed free of charge through Internet to the editorial offices of more than 1,500 media in 30 countries and to over 20,000 NGOs in 125 countries

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Issue 003 Global Democracy Newsletter
New Features added!
The Global Democracy Newsletter has introduced following new features from this issue:
1) Other Newsletter Links – in this section you will get links to other newsletters
2) e-Discussion Forums – this section provides you links to mailing lists and discussion forum.
If you would like to submit us an article, a news about any conference, book release, link to any other newsletter, discussion group or mailing list related to global democracy or peace building activities, please email us a brief description with an appropriate title to article@wmgd.net

Thank you and enjoy reading!

Shishir Srivastava, Editor
World Citizen living in India
 

Contents
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-- Quotes
-- Conferences and Events
-- Articles of the Fortnight
-- Book Release
-- Civil Society World News
-- Courses and Workshops
-- Links to other newsletters
-- e-Discussion Forum
-- How to submit an article in this Newsletter
-- How to subscribe and unsubscribe from this newsletter
********************************** 

1) Quotes

1.1) "Little strokes fell great oaks." -- Benjamin Franklin

1.2) "As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." --Nelson Mandela

1.3) “History is now choosing the founders of the World Federation. Any person who can be among that number and fails to do so has lost the noblest opportunity of a lifetime.” --Carl Van Doren

2) CONFERENCES/EVENTS

2.1) World Peace Film and Music Festival (US$ 1000 award for best entries)
2.2) World Social Forum meeting in Africa
2.3) The Value of Knowledge 1st Global Conference
2.4) 11th Asian Studies Conference Japan
 

2.1) World Peace Film and Music Festival (US$ 1000 award for best entries)
08-11 December 2006, Lucknow, India

City Montessori School (CMS) is organizing the World Peace Film and Music Festival at the 7th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World and Global Symposium: Towards a New World Civilization being held from 8 to 11 December 2006 at Lucknow, India. The best entries will receive a total cash award of USD 1000. Video and Music CDs/DVDs are invited by post (air mail or courier) for the above award along with the duly filled entry form. The video films will be shown at the World Peace Film and Music Festival and the music CDs /DVDs containing film or songs for children on World Unity and World Peace will be shown at the Spiritual Music Concert at the GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM For more details: http://www.wmgd.net/peacefilm/index.html

2.2) World Social Forum meeting in Africa
20-25 January 2007, Nairobi, Kenya

The World Social Forum International Council, in its meeting held in Parma, Italy, from 10-12 October, 2006, has advanced in the preparation for the next edition of World Social Forum, to be held in Nairobi, 20-25 January 2007. The World Social Forum is an innovative process, which continues to expand and deepen itself through world, regional, national, local and thematic events as well as struggles, campaigns and actions that reaffirm commitment for another world that is possible, necessary and urgent. For more information, see http://oneworldafrica.org/sasf/eventsdetails.php?event_id=00000012


2.3) The Value of Knowledge 1st Global Conference
12-14 February 2007, Sydney, Australia

This conference will address the explicit and implicit understandings of the place of knowledge in contemporary society. Once upon a time the value of knowledge for its own sake was taken for granted; indeed, it represented the highest ideal of the progressive notion of education as a process that not only taught for and about something, but, most importantly, was deeply engaging as it enlightened and ennobled. Arguably, in recent decades there has been a move away from that position, most particularly so with respect to higher education. If true, what are the values that currently underwrite the structures and practices of education, especially in the tertiary sector? More broadly, what are the social and cultural factors that underlie these values? For more information, see www.inter-disciplinary.net/ati/education/tvk/tvk1/cfp.htm 

2.4) 11th Asian Studies Conference Japan
24-25 June 2007, Japan , Tokyo

The ASCJ emphasizes interdisciplinary scholarly exchange on Asia in English-language format to broaden communication among researchers of diverse disciplines and backgrounds that are based in Japan . The conference also welcomes scholars from other countries. Panels are proposed by individual scholars around a common subject, and are composed of three or four paper presenters and one or more discussants. Also, roundtables offer an opportunity for participants to discuss a specific theme, issue or significant recent publication. For more information, see www.meijigakuin.ac.jp/~ascj

3) Articles of the Fortnight

4) Book Release

4.1) Aiding Peace? The Role of NGOs in Armed Conflict
By Jonathan Goodhand
INTRAC/ITDG Publishing
ISBN: 978-185339-632-8

Drawing on research and contemporary writing on conflict, NGOs, and peacebuilding, this book explores the topical issue of how NGOs interact with conflict and peace dynamics, and outlines the implications for improving policy and practice. Essential reading for NGOs and all those who study or fund them. For more details and to order your copy, follow the link: http://www.intrac.org/publications.php?id=9


4.2) 108 Simple Ways to Make a More Peaceful World
The Peace Book was first published in June 2001. Since that time, the world has experienced the tragedy of September 11, the war in Afghanistan, the threats of North Korea, and the invasion of Iraq. Now, the world is a scarier place. Buckminster Fuller says, “You never change things by fighting against the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.” If it takes a village to raise a child, surely it takes a whole community of committed peacebuilders to build that new model of a peace culture. For more information, see www.thepeacecompany.com/store/prod_books_the_peace_book.php 

5) Civil Society WORLD News

5.1)  Annan stresses development role at first ever meeting of the Internet Governance Forum
5.2) Climate change hurts poor people the most, warns conference
5.3) New UN Coherence Report: NGO Consultation on Environment and Sustainable Development
5.4) Worldwide Humanitarian Crises Severely Under-Funded

5.1)  Annan stresses development role at first ever meeting of the Internet Governance Forum
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed the importance of using the worldwide net to promote global development as he opened the first ever Internet Governance Forum by encouraging participants to use the four-day gathering to foster dialogue and cooperation. According to UN Information Center (UNIC) in Tehran, more than 1,200 participants comprising government, private sector and civil society representatives, including academic and technical communities, discussed in Athens issues related to Internet governance, including freedom of expression, access, multilingualism and others. For more information, see www.irna.com/en/news/view/line-16/0610317258182329.htm

5.2) Climate change hurts poor people the most, warns conference
The effects of global warming threaten to reverse recent gains in the fight against extreme poverty in developing countries, Kenya 's environment minister recently warned. Speaking at the opening of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Nairobi , held from 6-17 November, Kivutha Kibwana said: "Climate change is rapidly emerging as one of the most serious threats that humanity may ever face." More than 6,000 delegates attending the conference are expected to discuss ways of limiting the effects of climate change, as well as helping countries, especially in the developing world, contain the harmful effects of global warming. For more information, see www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=56262&SelectRegion=Global&SelectCountry=GLOBAL

5.3) New UN Coherence Report: NGO Consultation on Environment and Sustainable Development
This report puts forward a series of recommendations to overcome the fragmentation of the United Nations so that the system can deliver as one, in true partnership with and serving the needs of all countries in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals. For more information, see www.un.org/events/panel/resources/pdfs/HLP-SWC-FinalReport.pdf

5.4) Worldwide Humanitarian Crises Severely Under-Funded
The success of the 60-nation Oslo donor conference for Sudan underscored an alarming disparity among international humanitarian response efforts. While the Sudan and the tsunami-affected countries are receiving strong financial support, the response to most humanitarian crises around the world remains severely under-funded and neglected. Far exceeding the initial aid request of $3.6 billion for emergency relief and recovery efforts, donors have now pledged an impressive $4.5 billion to Sudan for 2005 to 2007. More remarkable has been the response of the international community and donor governments to the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. The international community has pledged $6.7 billion in aid to the tsunami-affected countries. For more information, see http://us.oneworld.net/external/?url=http%3A%2F%2F                                                                                                                

6) COURSES/WORKSHOPS 

6.1) Master of Arts Programme in Democracy Studies at Georgetown University
Application Deadline: 15 February 2007
The Center for Democracy and Civil Society has established a two-year Master of Arts Program in Democracy Studies through the Department of Government. Intended to meet the diverse needs of all those who seek a deeper understanding of democracy and processes of democratisation, the ground-breaking programme will be of special interest for those seeking to develop careers working on behalf of democratic change in a wide range of professional and academic settings in the public, private and non-profit sectors. For application procedures, visit http://grad.georgetown.edu/pages/app_procedures.cfm. For more information on the programme, see http://cdacs.georgetown.edu/democracystudies

7) OTHER e-NEWSLETTERS LINKS

7.1) World Federation Reform Forum
http://wfunauna.civiblog.org
The WFUNA Secretariat has initiated a Reform Forum, a venue to showcase the work of UNAs, as well as an opportunity to tap into the valuable resources and insights of WFUNA members. Every three months a new topic will be selected from the UN reform agenda, and UNA members will be encouraged to contribute a short opinion piece, essay or article on the topic of their interest. The forum will provide an opportunity for UNAs to discuss how these issues affect them locally, nationally and regionally.

7.2) UN News Center
www.un.org/news
A news service based out of the United Nations website offers email notifications of breaking news about the UN as well as daily briefing services.

7.3) UNA-USA
www.unausa.org
United States office of the United Nations associations publishes a twice-monthly news letter and offers current UN and international events.

7.4) E-Civicus
www.civicus.org
Civicus, a world alliance for citizen participation publishes a weekly newsletter promoting civic existence, expression and engagement.

7.5) FCNL-Nuclear Calendar
www.fcnl.org/NuclearCalendar
The Friends Committee on National Legislations publishes a Nuclear Calendar every Monday US Congress is in session dealing with relevant nuclear issues.

7.6) The Globalist
www.theglobalist.com
The Globalist is a website that is concerned primarily with globalization and has daily newsletters and e-briefing services.

7.7) Good News Agency
www.goodnewsagency.org
Published every three weeks, the Good News Agency carries positive and constructive news from all over the world relating to voluntary work, the work of the United Nations, non governmental organizations, and institutions engaged in improving the quality of life - news that doesn't "burn out" in the space of a day.

7.8) Open Democracy
www.opendemocracy.net
Open Democracy is a group that looks to promote human rights and democracy through analysis, dialogue and debate.

7.9) ReformtheUN.org
www.reformtheun.org
Reform the UN has a mission to track developments while ensuring transparency and accountability. The site has an email update service as well as resources on the UN, government, and civil society.

8) e-discussion forumS

8.1) Global Democracy Discussion Group
http://www.wmgd.net/forum to subscribe for discussions related to the Global Democracy activities world wide

8.2) Reform the UN
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reformtheun/
There is a Yahoo.com E-Group in conjunction with the Reform the UN group that has over 800 members who post regularly on the group webpage

8.2) World Direct Democracy Movement Mailing List and Discussion Group
www.world-wide-democracy.net

8.3) 'The Community of World Citizens '
Click at World Citizen Mailing List

8.4) World Federation E-Newsletter and UNA Group
wfuna-una-subscribe@yahoogroups.com - send an email to this address to subscribe
Daily updates on what is going on at the UN and within the World Federation.

How to submit an article in this Newsletter

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