[alternet-l] Alternet News# 64

Thu Oct 25 18:21:27 BST 2001

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 64

This issue:

HOT SITES/
VOICES OF PEACE/
ARTISTS IN EXILE/
REFUGEE CRISIS/
COASTAL WILDLIFE THREAT/
NEW RENAISSANCE/
OZONE UNFRIENDLY/
INFORMATION UNDERCLASS/
GLOBAL SPIRIT/
SUSPECTS MAY BE TORTURED/
JOBS/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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HOT SITES

The Global Workplace is a new project from War on Want that aims to link
workers across the world in an alliance for justice:

--> http://www.globalworkplace.org

idealist.org is a gateway to over 23,000 organizations, jobs and
volunteering opportunities all over the world:

--> http://www.idealist.org

National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns carries extensive
information on the issue:

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

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VOICES OF PEACE

GreenNet has created an open space to help build a community of UK groups
struggling to raise voices of peace. We welcome the posting of
organisational or individual statements and background material that helps
inform our knowledge of events:

-->

http://www.gn.apc.org/action/notpowerless.html

Wired reports on how peace campaigners are using the Web to spread the
message:

-->http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,47669,00.html?tw=wn20011022

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ARTISTS IN EXILE

Artists in Exile is a collective of transnational artists living in London.
Most of the artists are refugees and together represent a multitude of
cultures.

Artists will present their work in a series of gatherings in Studio Four or
Six at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. Meetings start at 7.30pm.

November 13th -Martha Elsesser from Colombia

November 27th - George Berberian from Armenia 

E-mail:
artistsinexile at hotmail.com

---> http://www.artistsinexile.org/

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REFUGEE CRISIS

Human Rights Watch are highlighting the impact of the September 11 attacks
on asylum seekers and migrants. Border closures, new immigration laws and
anti-terrorism measures, together with increasing xenophobia, have made
life even harder for refugees.

Meanwhile, time is running out for those inside Afghanistan.

Rachael Reilly, refugee policy director for Human Rights Watch, said:

" Winter is fast approaching and thousands of people, especially women and
children, are facing starvation.  At the same time refugees are blocked
from fleeing because neighboring countries continue to close their borders.
 The international community and neighboring countries must act now to
avert a humanitarian disaster."

-->  

http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/september11/

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COASTAL WILDLIFE THREAT

The Lytham St. Annes Dunes SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) is
under threat from planned housing development. About 250 species of
flowering plant, grasses, sedges, rushes and ferns have been recorded on
the reserve.

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

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NEW RENAISSANCE

The New Renaissance Group is a think-tank concerned with the future of
humanity in harmony with nature. Its multi-disciplinary workshop, 'Beyond
Sustainable Development' brought together participants with experience in
the fields of environment, ecology, economics, philosophy, theology and
law. They have now published a Statement and a report of the Workshop.

See the NRG Statement on the Conservation Foundation web site:
--> http://www.conservationfoundation.co.uk/

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OZONE UNFRIENDLY

Four chemicals believed to be harmless to the environment may be causing
serious damage. The ozone hole above Antarctica is not healing as expected
which suggests artificial chemicals are still at work. A key suspect is
N-propyl bromide, which is approved as a substitute for ozone-depleting
CFCs. An international panel is now discussing whether to ban the four
'green' chemicals.

More: 
--> http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991438

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INFORMATION UNDERCLASS

Who are the winners and losers in the ICT revolution? What are the likely
consequences of the slow development of ICT infrastructure in many
developing countries? As globalisation deepens, what have we learnt about
the economic growth and poverty reduction potential of new information
technologies?

A new report commissioned by DFID reviews the evidence on the global
information revolution and reveals more about the information-excluded
underclass.

--> http://www.id21.org/society/S4aas2g1.html

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GLOBAL SPIRIT

Michael Lerner established 'The Foundation for Ethics and Meaning' to
present a positive, achievable vision of a world based on a community of
spirit, grassroots renewal and ecological, ethical and holistic values.

Lerner will be giving a lecture on 'The Globalisation of Capital vs. the
Globalisation of Spirit - a new strategy for radical social transformation'
@ 7pm on Monday October 29th, at Friends House, Euston Road, London NW1.
Entry charge: donations (suggested amount £4 or more).

If you would like to attend, or find out more about the Politics of
Meaning, please contact: 
politicsofmeaning at yahoo.co.uk

Politics of Meaning:
--> http://www.meaning.org/frame_what.html

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SUSPECTS MAY BE TORTURED

Since September 11 the US have detained more than 800 people and at
least150 remain in custody.

Hundreds have been rounded up for minor immigration violations, for having
crossed paths with suspected terrorists, or simply for being Middle-Eastern
or Muslim.

But to date none of those arrested have been publicly charged, and the
Washington Post claims that frustrated agents are considering torture or
'truth serum' to extract information. Authorities are also considering the
possibility of extraditing suspects to allied countries where security
forces use torture to obtain confessions or threaten their family members.

Richard Thornburgh, attorney general in the Reagan administration,
commented: "We put emphasis on due process and sometimes it strangles
us...legally admissible evidence may not be the be-all and end-all."

Full story:
--> http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/oct2001/det-o24.shtml

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JOBS

ESDO INTERNSHIP

The Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), a national
research and networking organization in Bangladesh, are looking for an intern.

The ESDO intern will gain a wide range of experience in the implementation
of environment related projects and research work.

For background about EDSO, please visit our web site and then forward your
CV to us by e-mail.

Director:
E-mail: esdo at bdmail.net

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

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QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth and
love have always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a
time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of
it...always."

Mahatma Gandhi

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DIARY DATES:

OCTOBER:

27 th: 
CAAT National Forum 
Open to all involved or wishing to be involved against the Arms Trade
10.30am-5.00pm, at: St. Vincents, Carlisle Place, Victoria, London SW1
Nearest tube: Victoria
For details enquiries at caat.demon.co.uk

28 th @ 5pm:
Seminar on Israel/Palestine conflict, 'A Just Peace What is Required?'
Speakers from both sides, YAKAR, 2 Egerton Gardens, NW4, near Hendon
Central. Cost:£5/£3. 
Email: JustPeaceUK at yahoogroups.com

30 th:
(Contingency Operations and Procurement Exhibition)
Protest against COPEX arms fair held at Sandown Racecourse -previously
exposed as a market for instruments of torture.
Meet 10.00 am at Esher train station, for protest, blockading and
non-violent action.

NOVEMBER:

3 rd:
Trade Justice Carnival
Organiser: Trade Justice Movement which includes: ActionAid, Christian Aid,
CAFOD, Fairtrade, Friends of the Earth, Oxfam, Planet & People etc.
Assemble 12.30 in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, Imperial War Museum,
Lambeth Road, London SE1  (Nearest tube: Lambeth North)

10 th Saturday (10am - 7pm) and Sunday 11 (11am-6pm)
Peace, Justice and Human Rights Festival called by National Civil Rights
Movement
University of London Union, Malet St, WC1
info 020 8574 0818

10 th @ 6.30pm:
Book Launch of Zapatista Stories by S Marcos. Ethicial Society Library,
Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1

17 th:
Stop the War Coalition Demonstration
Tel: 07951 235915; Email: office at stopwar.org.uk

29 th: Friends of the Earth Scotland presents The Green Office Exhibition &
Seminar.
10am - 4pm at the Trades Hall, 85 Glassford Street, Glasgow

Enquiries to Joanna Heron,           
E-mail: jheron at foe-scotland.org.uk

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:

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

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