[alternet-l] Alternet News # 65

[Adrian Harris]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 65
The GreenNet e-zine

This issue:

HOT SITES/
CLICK TO GIVE/
ROBIN HOOD TAX/
WOMEN MAY PREVENT GLOBAL CRISIS/
PEACE VIGIL/
BRAZIL PIPELINE DELAYED/
AFGHAN ALTERNATIVE/
CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESS/
ON-LINE WTO ACTION/
JOBS/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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DIARY CORRECTION:

The Stop the War Coalition Demonstration is on SUNDAY 18th November (not
Saturday 17 November, as listed in AN#64). Starts at 12 pm at Hyde Park
(nr. Speakers' Corner) and ends in Trafalgar Square.
E-mail: office at stopwar.org.uk

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HOT SITES

War On Want's exciting new project on Trade Unions and development
education is now on-line:
--> http://www.globalworkplace.org

The Trade Justice Movement is a group of organisations concerned with the
negative impact of international trade rules on the poorest people in the
world, on the environment, and on democracy. They are calling for fundamental
change to the rules and institutions governing trade:
--> http://www.tradejusticemovement.org.uk

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CLICK TO GIVE

If 2 million people click on the www.givewater.org site, Thames Water will
donate £150,000 to provide safe drinking water for 10,000 people in Africa &
Asia.  The site is in association with Water Aid:
---> http://www.givewater.org/

Similar projects use advertising to finance donations. The hunger site has
donated more than 198 million cups of staple food:
--->http://www.thehungersite.com/

The Breast Cancer site provides funding for free mammograms:
--->http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

The Rainforest site works with The Rainforest Conservation Fund, The World
Parks Endowment and The Friends of Calakmul and has preserved over 5,650 acres
of land:
---> http://www.therainforestsite.com/

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ROBIN HOOD TAX

A new report claims that a 'painless' tax on the money markets could pay for
international peace and development. The 'Robin Hood' tax on currency trading 
is practical and possible says the report by War on Want and the 
New Economics Foundation.

A currency transaction tax, or Tobin tax, could help solve two of the world’s
greatest problems: the instability in the global economy and the yawning gap
between rich and poor countries.

More:
--> http://www.waronwant.org/frob-hood.htm

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WOMEN MAY PREVENT GLOBAL CRISIS

A new United Nations report presents the grim reality of environmental
destruction, tempered with a positive message: The growing power of women
could
save the planet from destruction.

Alex Marshall, editor of the U.N. Population Fund's annual report for 2001,
said:

"We are looking over a cliff here. It is a crisis of global proportions that
needs to be addressed with some urgency."


But women are gaining control over their fertility and are becoming more
influential on governments and big business.

"One of the major changes is the increasing power of women's groups. Women are
getting together as never before and are making changes," said Marshall.

More:
---> http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,48208,00.html?tw=wn20011107

The report - Footprints and Milestones: Population and Environmental Change:
---> http://www.unfpa.org/swp/2001/english/index.html

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PEACE VIGIL

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is calling on those who want to see an
end to the bombing of Afghanistan to gather opposite the Prime Minister's
official
residence on 10 November at 2.30pm. 

CND Chair Carol Naughton said: 

"Our vigil will be in remembrance of those who died in the US on 11 September
and those who are dying now as a result of the bombing of Afghanistan...we are
asking people to wear black, not to bring placards or banners, nor to chant."

Peace and justice for all  - Saturday 10 November Whitehall, 2.30-4pm 

More:
---> http://www.cnduk.org

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BRAZIL PIPELINE DELAYED

Brazil’s government-owned oil company, Petrobras, wanted quick approval for a
520 kilometer pipeline through the most isolated and best-preserved
section of the Amazon. The pipeline would open the region to large-scale
logging and ranching and devastate a completely isolated, uncontacted
indigenous group.

But environmental campaigners have stopped the fast track consultation. The
Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources
(IBAMA) has agreed to cancel the consultation process on the Urucu-Porto
Velho gas pipeline.

Roberto Smeraldi, director of Friends of the Earth - Brazilian Amazonia, said:

“Civil society, including judicial institutions, showed IBAMA 
and Petrobras that Brazil is no longer under a dictatorship. Today, farces 
disguised as public consultation will not be accepted....We thank the
thousands of people who, in the last few days, made their voice heard with
a powerful affirmation of citizenship”.

Friends of the Earth: 
--> http://www.amazonia.org.br/english/

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AFGHAN ALTERNATIVE

Afghanistan had a thriving culture with a rich collection art from prehistory
to the modern day. Archeological sites abounded: Greek temples, rare coins, 
Buddhist statues and pottery depicting deities from Islam, Judaism and
Christianity have been discovered.

That was 25 years ago.

"At that time, it was a beautiful country filled with lush flowers," said
Solaimon Olumee, an Afghan-American painter. "Women weren't covered."

But the Afghan National Museum and the National Contemporary Art Gallery in
Kabul have been looted, and remaining artwork has been demolished.

Thankfully many are working to keep Afghan culture alive. Artists in the
refugee camps are still painting, and Afghans outside the country are busy
promoting the riches that remain. The Afghan Magazine website celebrates

Afghanistan's cultural history and provides a refreshingly new insight to the
country:

---> http://www.afghanmagazine.com/

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CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRESS

Despite resistance from Russia, Australia, Canada and Japan, there is progress
at the international climate negotiations in Marrakech. The four obstructive
nations have been awarded the dubious accolade "Fossil of the Day" by the
Climate Action Network, a coalition of more than 200 environmental
non-government organisations.

Kate Hampton, of Friends of the Earth International, said:

"Finally we have seen some movement in the climate talks, with last night's
deal on compliance showing that when governments stick to the Bonn accord,
they can make significant progress. Ministers must now resist further
backtracking
by Japan and Russia."

Greenpeace report:
--> http://www.greenpeace.org/~climate/climatecountdown/

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ON-LINE WTO ACTION

To mark the WTO's Ministerial conference in Qatar, the electrohippie 
collective are organising an on-line lobbying action of the EU and US trade 
delegations, as well as the WTO itself. The action runs from the 9 th to
the 14 November.

The electrohippies collective said:

"We're asking ordinary people on the 'Net to send their comments on what they
think of more globalisation, in particular the proposals for the GATS
agreements."

The WTO action is just a warm up for a larger one against the war starting on 
November 15th. The anti-war action will be a protest against the 
US and UK governments.

The electrohippies are asking people to mark November 16th as a day to spend
time on-line in a mass virtual protest.

The electrohippies collective:
--> http://www.fraw.org.uk/ehippies/

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JOBS

As part of ambitious plans to develop the Fairtrade market in the UK, the
Fairtrade Foundation has created two new posts:

Commercial Executive (£22,500 - £26,600) to develop relationships with 
commercial partners, research new product opportunities, and contribute to 

a range of marketing and promotional initiatives.

Fundraiser (£20,000 - £22,000) to develop income from existing sources and 
identify new opportunities for broadening the Foundation's fundraising 
base.

Candidates for both posts should have excellent communication, presentation
and inter-personal skills, and the ability to initiate workplans and manage
priorities. Relevant experience would be an advantage.
Application packs can be downloaded from http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

or by e-mail: jobs at fairtrade.org.uk

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 26th November 2001.

The Fairtrade Foundation is striving to be an equal opportunities employer 
and welcomes applications from currently under-represented groups, 
especially from members of ethnic minority communities and people with
disabilities.

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QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible."

Anonymous			

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DIARY DATES: 

NOVEMBER:

10 th:
"Resistance" Day School - No to War, No to Privatisation" day-school at
Northumbria University, organised by Tyneside Socialist Alliance. Sessions on
solidarity with Asylum Seekers, global resistance, cannabis, environmental
action, fighting racism and the Scottish Socialist Party. 12.30 - 5pm, Ellison
Building, Ellison Place.

10 th:
Whistle-stop tour against the World Trade Organization (who are meeting this
weekend in Qatar). Meet at 4:30pm at Haymarket, Newcastle (after the anti-war
rally) with your whistles, banners, costumes.

10 th and 11 th:
How to be an Obstacle. Direct Action, Politics, Antiglobalisation
London ICA.
--> http://www.ica.org.uk/talk/how-to-be-an-obstacle/

13 th
London Sustainability Exchange
This launch event from Forum for the Future will be your opportunity to hear
about the role the London Sustainability Exchange hopes to play in the
daunting but exciting project of making London the world's most sustainable
city.
Venue:Guildhall. London
E-mail: c.bower at forumforthefuture.org.uk

14 th 
Green Drinks. 6 'til late @ The Cittie of York (Basement Room), 22 High
Holborn, WC1 
Tube: Holborn or Chancery Lane.
--> http://www.greendrinks.org

18 th:
The Stop the War Coalition Demonstration. Starts at 12 pm at Hyde Park (nr.
Speakers' Corner) and ends in Trafalgar Square.
E-mail: office at stopwar.org.uk

21 st November - 2 nd December
National Tree Week 2001 - Imagine a World without Trees
Venue: Nationwide
Contact: The Tree Council, 51 Catherine Place, London SW1E 6DY
E-mail: AnnEdwards at treecouncil.org.uk

22 nd:
Stop the War - Peace and Justice for the Kurds
Public meeting @ 7.30pm in The Palms Room, University of London Union,
Malet St

DECEMBER

7 th and 8 th:
Worldfair, organised by Oxfam, War on Want and World Development Movement, is
'London's liveliest and best loved fair trade fair'. 
Friday 7th December 4pm to 8pm) & Saturday 8th December (11am to 6pm) at
Conway
Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1, nearest tube: Holborn

---> http://www.worldfair.org.uk/

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:

---> http://webboard.gn.apc.org:8086/default

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The AlterNet News is edited by Adrian Harris for GreenNet:
---> http://www.gn.apc.org/

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