Child Labour - Breaking the Cycle of Poverty.....Today more than 200 million children are in child labour and 115 million girls and boys can be found in its worst forms. Although child labour is declining, the pace has slowed down. Breaking the cycle of poverty and child labour is essential! For further information visit http://www.ilo.org/ipec/ lang--en/index.htm
In November 2011, a team from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) visited Zambia to produce a video on vaccination efforts -– their value, their implementation and the challenges they face. In the current global environment of austerity and ever-decreasing budgets, immunizations represent one of the pillars of global health that is a cost effective, proven intervention.
Beyond protecting millions of children every year from infectious diseases, vaccines often provide the backbone of the health care system. When a mother brings her child in for routine immunizations, it can be an entry point to provide her with other health services –- HIV counseling and testing, family planning information and services, and bed nets to protect her children from malaria. In this way, routine immunizations can also help the mother and the rest of the family to access health care.
However, not every mother and child is able to access these basic services. According to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), globally “1.7 million children die from vaccine-preventable diseases every year.” In a country like Zambia, where distances are vast, basic road infrastructure is lacking and transportation is weak, reaching every child with immunizations can be very challenging. We talked to mothers who had walked for hours in very hot temperatures, often carrying a child on their backs with older children in tow, just to reach a health care facility for immunizations. Not every mother is able to travel these distances, or to make multiple journeys when more than one dose of the vaccine is required.
Myriad challenges also exist in delivering the vaccines. Among them, health care facilities often do not have sufficient numbers of trained staff to provide basic services. Despite this, there is a strong commitment to immunization programs in Zambia. The CSIS team visited the country during Child Health Week, a campaign that Zambia holds twice a year to reach more children with basic immunizations. Word of Child Health Week is spread via radio, television, community outreach workers, church leaders and schools. Recognizing that not every mother can access these services, health care workers often travel hours to reach children in remote parts of the country. In the districts we visited in Central Province, high rates of immunization coverage have been reached for measles and polio, which is due in part to the dedication of mothers and health care workers.
The CSIS video above aims to portray the complexities of immunization in Zambia and to make broader points about global immunization efforts.
-Video created by Janet Fleischman, Seth Gannon, Emma Curran and Julia Nagel
The Fight Against Oil and Mining Secrecy: The 2010 U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act and the Extractive Industries Transparency Provision
Two years ago, HumanONE members helped push Congress to pass the Cardin-Lugar Amendment, which requires oil, gas and mining companies to reveal their payments to foreign governments. Right now, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is finalizing these rules, but some of the world's biggest oil companies are fighting to keep these deals hidden.
By knowing what a government is paid for its natural resources, citizens can help make sure their leaders don't stash the cash. Let's tell big oil we won't be bullied.
What’s the problem?
How does this law help?
How did this law come about?
What does the law require and achieve?
The law was passed in 2010 – why haven’t we seen any information disclosed?
What can I do to help?
What companies are covered?
What are companies required to report?
How will information be communicated to the public?
Will the US be alone or is this law starting a transparency revolution?
Who are notable supporters of this type of disclosure?
Is this a new trend?
This fact sheet was provided by Publish What You Pay.
In honor of Thrive, our new food security campaign, I decided to dig up some photos of farmers and farm workers in Africa. It may surprise you that many of these workers are hardworking women who — in addition to raising their children and caring for their families — till the fields, sow the seeds and basically, do all the backbreaking labor it requires to bring food from farm to table. As you look at these photos, please reflect on the importance of sustainable agriculture in Africa, then support them by signing our petition here.
It really is backbreaking work — farmers from the Okyereko Rice Cooperative in Ghana.
A farmer and his son going home from the fields in the late afternoon.
Wrapping up and packaging flowers at the Golden Rose Agrofarms in Ethiopia. Photo credit: Morgana Wingard/ONE
Sometimes all you need is a really good watering can. A farmer at the Uwamwima Growers Association in Zanzibar. Photo credit: Morgana Wingard/ONE
A happy farmer basking in the afternoon sunlight. Photo credit: Morgana Wingard/ONE
Selling their produce at the market in the early morning wholesale market in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Photo credit: Morgana Wingard/ONE
In addition to farming, this woman also makes baskets to make a living. Photo credit: Morgana Wingard/ONE
Two lovely young ladies working on the farm in Sentebale.
A fistful of wheat
Farmers, females…and FRIENDS.
Striking colors.
Please remember to take action for these farmers and tell G8 leaders to make a bold plan to end global hunger by investing in sustainable agriculture programs. Sign our petition here.
The Global Intelligence Files
On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
Bhopal update - 06/01/11
Email-ID 394197 Date 2011-06-01 19:43:06 From asigsby@allisinfo.com To sbwheeler@dow.com, tomm_sprick@yahoo.com, mediarelations@unioncarbide.com, CMKnochel@dow.com Scot, Tomm,The BMA website has been updated with the three most recent Dow-related
media items:- The Express Buzz commentary from 5/30 on the Anderson extradition
issue- The PTI article reporting on the CIC's recommendation the Ministry
of External Affairs release RTI-requested documents about Anderson- The Economic Times article reporting the Ag Ministry sent notices
to DAS India asking why it should not delist DAS product registrations.Colin Toogood posted on Twitter and Facebook links to the Express Buzz
commentary with the note "A tale of two legal battles."Print media today Asian Age, Indian Express (New Delhi editions) and Daily
News & Analysis (Mumbai edition) included reports on the CIC
recommendation to release the GoI communications regarding Anderson. All
were below the fold on interior pages.TwoCircles.net published an enhanced version of the CIC story, saying the
recommendation was to "make public all letters that [the MEA] has issued
or received concerning Bhopal gas leak of December 1984."This story reported the RTI application by Afroz Alam "Sahil" "includes
all correspondence between the ministry and Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) from April 1984 to July 1995; photocopies of all
letters written by the ministry to any department; letters received by the
ministry from the Central Government and the Madhya Pradesh Government
concerning Bhopal gas leak; and details of all expenditure incurred by the
ministry."The CI Commissioner cited the documents should be released as they are "of
significance to the general public, especially the families of the victims
who have been awaiting justice since over last two decades."http://twocircles.net/2011jun01/cic_orders_foreign_ministry_reveal_bhopal_let...
Economic Times published an error-riddled report that "a special court"
for India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) "framed" charges against
two government officials who allegedly received payments to register
pesticide products for De-Nocil. This article by Rajender Nagaroki said
the payments were made by DAS India Ltd. Mumbai, "a subsidiary of Dow
Chemicals," rather than by DE-Nocil.It also refered to "the Dow scam" as being "unearthed by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission" in 2007, which "fined Dow Chemicals
$325,000 for bribing the officials in India."The piece ended with a reference to Dow's 2001 merger with UCC, "which was
lying closed after the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy."http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/environment/pollution/cbi-files-chargeshe...
Indian media reported the Delhi Police removed a ban it had imposed on
protests at "key" areas in the city such as Jantar Mantar and India Gate.
The action was the result of a lawsuit filed by Bhopal gas victim Bano Bi
from the 2010 ICJB protest at Jantar Mantar when the activists were not
allowed to camp at the protest site, but had to repair to another location
each evening. Future applications for protest permits to use the sites
will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.The Hindu, Hindustan Times and Indian Express each published in-house
reports.Hindu http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/01/stories/2011060161570400.htm
HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/After-HC-order-prepare-for-rallies-at-India-Gat...HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Be-ready-for-major-traffic-jams-at-India-Gate/A...IE
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ban-on-protests-at-jantar-mantar-india-gate...Ann Sigsby
Senior Analyst
Allis Information Management
989-835-5811
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Allis Information Management, Inc. This information is intended solely for
use by the individual entity named as the recipient, be aware that any
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WFP is scaling up to reach some 2.7 million people across South Sudan with food aid this year as the country reels from poor harvests, high food prices and violent conflicts. Copyright: AFP/Bosire Bogonko
Hunger is on the rise across South Sudan as poor harvests, soaring prices and conflict push millions to the edge of survival. In response, WFP plans on feeding more than 2.7 million people there this year. WFP Country Director Chris Nikoi says that approaching rains, poor infrastructure and high levels of malnutrition make the emergency operation a race against time.
How many people in South Sudan are at risk of going hungry this year?
4.7 million South Sudanese will struggle to meet their food needs in 2012, which is about half the population of the entire country. One million of them are already severely food insecure and will need assistance to meet their food needs.
Operationally, what are some of the biggest challenges that you face in getting food assistance to the people who need it?
South Sudan is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Once the rains begin, 60 percent of the country will become inaccessible because there aren’t enough roads. We are always racing against time to get food assistance to the right locations before the rains.
In addition, the border-closure between Sudan and South Sudan has meant that we’ve had to find new ways to bring food into the country. To get around the bottlenecks that form along shipping routes from Kenya, we’ve now opened a separate corridor to bring food in from Djibouti. We’re also sourcing food from countries like Tanzania.
What are the main factors behind the current hunger crisis in South Sudan?
The first factor is the failed harvest, caused by the late rains in October and November. The second is conflict, which forced 350,000 people from their homes this year. Conflict leads to displacement and displacement interferes with farming. Then, there is the border closure between Sudan and South Sudan. This has made the situation worse. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese are now returning home from Sudan [increasing the numbers of people needing food – ed].
What are the main reasons people have fled their homes this year?
The first is violence between neighbouring communities. At the end of 2011, there was a major conflict broke out that affected over 140,000 people. The second is the violence in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile region which has driven 100,000 Sudanese refugees across the border into South Sudan.
We know that WFP is now working to provide emergency food assistance in South Sudan. What are we doing to build longer term food security in the country?
The weather shocks will come, but the important thing is to build resilience. We’re working with communities to help them grow more food, improve storage facilities and improve their access to markets. In fact, we’re helping to build a whole network of feeder roads that will make it easier for farmers to get their produce to markets. Another important measure is providing children with proper nutrition to ensure their proper cognitive and physical development, because the future of South Sudan rests on them.
What is the key to insuring food security in South Sudan in the long term?
Only 4 percent of the arable land in South Sudan is currently cultivated. There is huge potential for agriculture. In order to reach that potential, however, communities need peace and stability so they can focus on their livelihoods. Providing food assistance to communities that need it is an important way of supporting that kind of stability.
This picture was taken in South Sudan where nearly half of the population is at risk of going hungry. Getting food to them is tough. It's a country the size of France with less than 60 miles of paved roads. So how are we doing it?
Here's the man in charge of our operation to explain: http://bit.ly/AzGelV
This is a Beautiful Arabic Song for Jesus.
An arabic Christian song by Taranim, the most amazing Middle Eastern voice from Lebanon.The name of the song is called: "Kiri Ya Layson" Also a special thanks for Dr. Ashraf Fekry for all of his wonderful pictures.
