[alternet-l] Alternet News # 81

[Adrian Harris]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 81

This issue:

HOT SITES/
CLIMATE CHANGE JUSTICE/
STOP THE WAR MARCH/
PEDAL FOR PEACE/
DIGITAL FUTURES/
ICT AFRICA/
FREE TRAINING/
DEEP ECOLOGY WORKSHOP/
ONLINE MAGAZINE/
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY/
BIODIVERSITY 'CARTEL'/
EARTH EMERGENCY - CALL TO ACTION/
JOB/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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HOT SITES

ActionAid's new subsidies campaign aims to help small and poor farmers
protect their livelihoods. Annual subsidies to farmers in industrialised
countries are worth at least $327 billion - 6 times the amount of aid given
to developing countries.
ActionAid claim that farm subsidies encourage over-production and undermine
the livelihoods of poor and small farmers.

--> www.shiftyfifty.com

The Bonda Report is a unique environmental news portal to help keep you
informed about up-to-the-minute environmental news. Updated material is
added each weekday from a wide variety of national and international
sources including mainstream media, private newsletters, government
publications and journals.

--> www.bondareport.com/

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CLIMATE CHANGE JUSTICE

An international coalition of groups have released a set of principles
aimed at "putting a human face" on climate change. The Bali Principles of
Climate Justice redefine climate change from a human rights and
environmental justice perspective. The group includes CorpWatch, Third
World Network, Oil Watch, the Indigenous Environmental Network.

For many, the issue of climate is a matter of life and death. The biggest
injustice of climate change is that the hardest hit are the least
responsible for contributing to the problem.

More: www.corpwatch.org/campaigns/PCD.jsp?articleid=3748

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STOP THE WAR MARCH

The success of the recent demonstration has given a real boost to the anti
war movement here and internationally. The next big day is the 31st
October, Halloween. There will be activities from Lancaster to Canterbury,

and Stop the War expect hundreds of groups of activists to do something
on the day.

There will be a CND  vigil and a non-violent sit down protest in the road
between 6pm and 7pm opposite Downing Street organised by London Region CND
and ARROW

Bring home to Tony that his support for a US-led war on Iraq is "Not in our 
name."

Demonstrations and protests all over the UK will start at 6 pm.

Stop the War Coalition:
--> www.stopwar.org.uk/

London Region CND:
E-mail: lrcndnvrn at supanet.com
--> www.londoncnd.fsnet.co.uk

ARROW (Active Resistance to the Roots of War)
--> www.justicenotvengeance.org

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PEDAL FOR PEACE

The Don't Attack Iraq Day of Protest events include a mass bike ride around
London visiting some of the sites which keep the war machine going.

The ride starts at 2pm, outside the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, SE1,
and will end at Parliament Square at 6pm.

E-mail: info at cm-london.cjb.net

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DIGITAL FUTURES

Do digital technologies have the potential to transform the economy and
society? Since the early nineties, we have been riding a roller coaster,
plummeting from early visions of technological revolution to the doom and
gloom of the dot com bust. Forum for the Future seek to move beyond the
backlash.

"The time is right to reinvigorate public debate about the real
contribution that digital technologies could make to a dynamic, innovative
economy and inclusive society."

Where: RIBA, Portland Place, London
When: Nov 7 2002 8.30am - 5.30pm
Contact: c.bower at forumforthefuture.org.uk
More:
--> www.forumforthefuture.org.uk/events/

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ICT AFRICA

The 4th Africa Computing & Telecommunications Summit has identified 11 key
areas of opportunity to be pursued by governments, the private sector and
the civil society to enhance development in the continent.

While telecommunications infrastructure has grown in Africa in the past
decade, nearly 80% of the population, particularly in Sub Saharan Africa,
still have no access to ICTs.
--> www.ictdevagenda.org/frame.php?dir=07sd=10sid=2id=253

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FREE TRAINING

The latest breakthrough from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a
project applying the open source principle to education. It is making
certain courses available online for no cost, and eventually hopes to
include 'virtually all' its current courses in the scheme, which launched
on September 30th.

Charles M. Vest, President, MIT, said, "We hope the idea of openly sharing

course materials will propagate throughout many institutions and create a
global web of knowledge that will enhance the quality of learning and,
therefore, the quality of life worldwide."

--> http://ocw.mit.edu/index.html

Following the same theme is a free, Nonprofit Organization and Management
Development Program. This complete, 'nuts and bolts' program might be used
by nonprofit entrepreneurs, leaders, managers, consultants and volunteers. 

--> www.managementhelp.org/np_progs/org_dev.htm

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DEEP ECOLOGY WORKSHOP

'Coming Back to Life' is a facilitated workshop based on the work of Joanna
Macy which will run from 10.00am - 5.00pm on Saturday 9th November in London.

"This introductory workshop will allow us to experience our connections to
the Earth, to one another and to our deepest selves. Moving through our
pain, grief, anger or numbness frees us up to find deeper levels of
community and commitment."

"Using structured exercises in a safe setting, we will address our hopes
and fears, facing what we feel about what is happening to our world, so
that we can discover the energy we need to go forward - both in our work
and in our personal lives."

The workshop will be facilitated by Alex Wildwood and Vivienne Cato.

Alex Wildwood trained as a body-based psychotherapist and in 'the Work that
Reconnects' with Joanna Macy, and has been facilitating groups for over 15
years. He is a Quaker .

Vivienne Cato is a teacher, facilitator and writer. She is Co-ordinator of
The Noah Project and provides educational experiences in Judaism and Ecology.

Cost  £25 / £15 concessions
To book: please send full payment (cheques payable to V. Cato) to ‘Coming
Back to Life’, 11 Prebend Gardens, London W4 1TN.

Closing date for bookings 1 November.
For further details e-mail: alex at wildwood.org.uk

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ONLINE MAGAZINE

Skyscraper is a current affairs magazine aimed at those who consider
themselves non-political. Skyscraper covers the issues that most affect our
daily lives, from the global environment to individual human rights, from
the macro-economy to intellectual property, from corporate power to the
Internet.

Skyscraper serves at once as a general introduction to these vital issues
and as a free-spirited counter-balance to the narrow, doctrinal mind-set of
the corporate media.

In conjunction with the Pocketbook Guide Links Database, Skyscraper hopes
to introduce new audiences to the comprehensive analysis and overview
provided by sites such as Alternet, Indymedia, Z-Net, Corporate Watch and
many others.

Skyscraper was launched in October 2000 by a London based group of artists,
writers, film makers and activists, concerned about the increasingly
negative impact big business is having on our world.


Skyscraper is run by Pocketbook.org
Skyscraper: http://www.pocketbook.org/skyscraper.htm
Pocketbook's Guide: http://www.pocketbook.org/guide.htm
Pocketbook.org: http://www.pocketbook.org/

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CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

30 organisations, unions and over 250 cross party MPs have signed up in
support of binding UK laws ensuring greater corporate accountability and
transparency.  With your help we can now take the next step to make this
law. The CORE Bill requires large companies to report on their economic,
environmental and social impacts here and abroad, consult with stakeholders
and hold directors responsible for such impacts.

The Government’s new Companies Bill is due to be announced in this years
Queen’s Speech, leaving us little time to exert our influence. CORE needs
your voice to show the Prime Minister this is an important issue affecting
us all - action needs to be taken now!

For more information about CORE and how to join the CORE Coalition visit


www.corporate-responsibility.org or e-mail brians at foe.co.uk.

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BIODIVERSITY 'CARTEL'

If Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has his way, some developing 
nations will create an OPEC-like cartel to protect plants and animals 
from exploitation by the industrialized world.

Speaking at the close of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 
Chavez said, "If these [developed] countries carry off a medical 
formula from some jungle ... they should be authorized by the 
respective country and by the local community."

The countries in question - Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador,
India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, and Venezuela - have
formed what they call a "like-minded group of mega-diverse 
states."  As a group, the nations are home to 70 percent of the world's
species. By joining forces, the countries hope to be able to set both
standard practices and higher prices for pharmaceutical companies and other
industries hoping to exploit the biodiversity.

--> http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/803807.asp?cp1=1

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EARTH EMERGENCY - CALL TO ACTION

The Earth Emergency - Call to Action has been drawn up by the Schumacher
Society, Positive News, Sustainable Society, Right Livelihood and the Gaia
Foundation with input from a range of individuals including Vandana Shiva.

The aim is to unite the non-governmental organisations, activists and
networks around an agreed agenda and to urge governments to act to secure a
sustainable future for present and coming generations.

The Earth Emergency is brought into focus by the recent WWF Living
Planet Report which states that in the past 30 years we have destroyed
over one third of Earth's natural resources. It concludes that if we
continue business as usual we will need two extra planets by 2050.

American theologian, Thomas Berry, believes "We are at a
defining moment in history, a time in which the Earth itself calls out
to us to embark upon a re-sacralization of nature, a new ecological
beginning."

We are all invited to play our part in what he calls "The
Great Work of the 21st Century."

E-mail: earthemergency at freeuk.com
--> www.earthemergency.com

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JOB

Farmers Link, a small NGO in Norfolk, is looking for a Coordinator. 
The position is full-time, 4-5 days a week, based in the Wymondham area. 

The co-ordinator is responsible for fund raising, developing and monitoring
projects and overseeing project budgets. He or she will represent the
organisation at events and conferences, as well as producing the newsletter
and giving presentations of Farmers Link's work. He or she will establish
and develop contacts with partner organisations overseas, and organise
exchange visits. 

The candidate should have excellent writing and presentation skills,
computer literacy and knowledge of Spanish. Further languages would be an
advantage. Also a good understanding of agricultural and trade development
issues.
Salary is £18,000 - £19,500 pro rata, depending on experience, and ability
to raise funds.

A job description is available from Farmers Link: flink at gn.apc.org

Closing date is 25th November, for interviews in mid-December.

Farmers Link works to promote sustainable farming in East Anglia and
overseas. We are a small organisation, with  2-3 members of staff, and are
currently in the process of  moving from Watton, Norfolk, to the
Wymondham/Attleborough area.  There are good road and rail links to both
these small towns, which are within close proximity to Norwich.


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QUOTE/UNQUOTE
'Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, 
but by the moments that take our breath away.'
Anon

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DIARY DATES

ONGOING EVENTS:

Every Thursday:
Cafe Ramallah at The Lido, London Fields, Hackney.
Benefit for the International Solidarity Movement to send internationals to
Palestine in solidarity with the palestinian struggle. Contact
<emjpal at yahoo.com>. Food 8pm-ish

Free yoga classes - Thursdays from 5:30-7:00 at 62 Fieldgate St. E-mail:
radicalyoga at clara.co.uk

Radical Dairy Social Centre, 47 Kynaston Road, Stoke Newington, London N16.
Tel: 020 7249 6996
Events 16/06 - 22/06
Sunday: 2.00pm DJ's + Food [BBQ]+ Drink 
Monday: 3.30pm - 5.00pm Yoga, 7.00pm Cafe, 8.00pm Political Discussion Group
Tuesday: 7.30pm Meeting of the Social Centres Network
Wednesday: 4.00pm Aromatherapy Massages, 8.00pm Women's Caff and cabaret

Thursday: 8.00pm Radical Dairy meeting
Friday: 8.00pm Cafe + Acoustic Music [Bring instruments]
Saturday: Social   

Walk in Peace for Peace
Every first Sunday of the month. Meet at Speakers’ Corner (by Park Café),
Hyde Park 10.45am for 11am. The walk will take about an hour.
If you arrive a bit late don’t worry, you’ll see the Walk on ‘Broad Walk’
going south from Speakers’ Corner.

Enquiries: Clare Brunt 020 8755 0353

The Campaign for Co-operative Socialism meets at The Global Cafe in
London's Golden Square every Wednesday from 11-1:
--> www.cooperative-socialism.org/

OCTOBER

19th:
Algerian Women organise a Night for Palestine
Music with Wled Huma, Houriah and Keith, Sahira, DJ Aicha
>From 7pm at Finsbury Leisure Centre, Norman Street, EC1
Tickets £10, £7 concs.
For further info. contact: swaswa_alg at hotmail.com

21st:
Frances Webber will lead a discussion on how September 11 has eroded
refugee protection. (Frances Webber is a leading immigration barrister).
At the Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street (off King¹s Cross
Road), WC1X
Please contact in advance if you wish to attend:
Tel: 020 7837 0041 / 020 7833 2010
Email: info at irr.org.uk
--> www.irr.org.uk

23rd:
Global Development Forum - learning to manage a small planet
Making globalisation work for the poor
Venue: St James¹s Church, Piccadilly
Admission: tickets £5
E-mail: enquiries at global-development-forum.org
--> www.global-development-forum.org

26th and 27th
Socialism 2002: Ideas to change the world conference
Debate, discussion, stalls and speakers
Registration from 9am on Saturday and 9.30am on Sunday
Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow
Fringe meeting  - to be confirmed
For further info. please contact; stephen_fs59 at hotmail.com

27th:
Protest action: No to deportation, no to assault on refugees
The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees - Britain
50 Saint Anne¹s Gate, London, SW1
2 pm - 4 pm

30th:
Picket of Colombian Embassy
4 pm - 6pm at 3 Hans Street, SW1 (back of Harrods, Knightsbridge Tube)

30th:
An evening of music with Tara Al-Jaaf
Kufa Gallery, London, W2 5RH


Tel: 020 7229 1928

30th:
Global Development Forum - learning to manage a small planet
Not in my backyard: linking refugees and development
Venue: St James¹s Church, Piccadilly. Admission: tickets £5
For further information please contact: enquiries at global-development-forum.org
--> www.global-development-forum.org

31st:
John Constable's 'The Halloween of Cross Bones' -
A ritual drama to honour The Goose - the spirit of a mediaeval whore,
licensed by the church yet buried in unconsecrated ground, and all the
prostitutes and paupers whose bones were recently unearthed
at the site of the Cross Bones burial ground, Southwark.
7.30pm, at Green Angels, 12 Trundle Street, SE1
(off Lant Street) Borough tube
£5 donation
--> www.gooseandcrow.co.uk

31st:
Stop the War Coalition - nationwide 'Day of Action¹
--> www.stopwar.org.uk

28th-29th:
Managing Sustainable Products
London
Details: Centre for Sustainable Design
--> www.cfsd.org.uk


NOVEMBER

1st:
Gran Baile de Calaveras - Day of the Dead Party
Mexican Musicians, food, bar & fancy dress competition - 8pm - 1am
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign & Mexico Support Group
Red Rose Club, 129 Seven Sisters Road, N7 (nearest tube: Finsbury Park)
£8.00 / £4.50 concs. (disabled access)
For further info. please contact: 020 7272 9619 or www.nicaraguasc.org.uk

7th
The End of Auto Life as We Know It? Eco-Creativity Workshop
Royal College of Art, London
Details: Centre for Sustainable Design
--> www.cfsd.org.uk

7th to 10th
European Social Forum meeting in Florence
For information: www.mobilise.org.uk

www.esf-fse.org

14th
Vanunu Benefit
Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1. 7-9.30pm
with Mark Thomas, Arthur Smith,
Odyssey, Bruce Kent etc.

25th and 26th:
Cordoba Conference on Peace and Human Rights in Europe and West Asia
For information: Anthony Simpson
ELFEURO at compuserve.com

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:

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

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---> www.gn.apc.org

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