30 May 2008 Newsletter
We hope you all had a happy Youth Week. We did!
We are very excited about The Outlook for Someday documentary which is screening on Māori Television 8.30pm, Wednesday 4 June. We are sure you’ve all watched last year’s films on this website , well now you can watch five of the winning film-makers as they lay out some of the challenges and solutions to several high profile New Zealanders, from Helen Clark to Keisha Castle-Hughes. Check out The Outlook for Someday website for more info.
RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
After nearly two weeks of intense talks in Dublin, late at night on 27 May 2008, negotiating states informally agreed to ban cluster munitions . Governments will formally adopt the Cluster Munition Convention today, which will then be signed on December 2008 in Norway. While some of the world’s main producers and stockpilers - including the US, Russia and China - oppose the move, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called it a “big step forward to make the world a safer place”. Mary Wareham of Oxfam New Zealand said the New Zealand government and public played a crucial role in securing this agreement and should be proud. Check out the Aotearoa New Zealand Cluster Munition Coalition site for the latest news.
UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon said although he is disappointed that the government of Myanmar has extended the detention and house arrest of opposition and pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, he is “much encouraged” by his discussions with Myanmar’s authorities in recent days, citing increased access for international aid workers to the Ayeyarwady delta area and an agreement to open up land, sea and air routes for relief supplies. For more on this story visit Scoop.
Nepal’s monarchy has been abolished after 239 years of royal rule and the country declared a republic. The decision came on 27 May 2008 at a meeting of the Constituent Assembly, a body elected in April as part of a two-year peace process that ended decades of civil war. Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepal’s Prime Minister, said “We have come a long way, crossing lots of obstacles and hurdles to enter a new era… I think the nation’s dream has come true.” The Kings face has already been erased from Nepal’s currency. Read more on Aljazeera.
South Africa, with a population of 50 million, is home to an estimated 5 million immigrants. Foreigners from poorer countries have been lured by work in mines, farms and homes and by one of the world’s most liberal immigration and refugee policies. Violence has recently broken out across the country against some immigrants, mostly Zimbabweans and Mozambicans, who are accused by the poor of taking jobs and fuelling the high rate of violent crime. Check out the NZ Herald for the full article and video clip.
LINKS TO OTHER INTERESTING STUFF
Johann Hari is an award-winning journalist who writes for the Independent, one of Britain’s leading newspapers, and a wide range of other international newspapers and magazines. In 2007 he was named Newspaper Journalist of the Year by Amnesty International for his reporting on the war in Congo and he has been nominated for many other awards. He has reported from Iraq, the Gaza Strip, the Congo, Bangladesh, India, Venezuela, Rwanda, Peru, Mexico, the Central African Republic, Syria and the United States.
Pretty impressive stuff – seeing as he’s not even 30 yet!!
Read some of his recent pieces:
the end of Bananas as we know them,
how a grizzly bear nearly began a nuclear war,
and are there too many people in the world?
UPCOMING EVENTS/ACTIONS FOR YOU TO BE PART OF
SPEAKING TOUR: SEPTER MANUFANDU, WEST PAPUA
Christchurch 28 May, Wellington 29 and 30 May, Auckland 3 June, Whangarei June 4
Septer Manufandu, leader of FOKER: the NGO Cooperation Forum in West Papua, brings a first hand perspective on the devastation and suffering caused when tropical forests are logged for their valuable kwila wood. He’ll be speaking at public meetings, illustrating his talks with a documentary compilation ‘Save the People and Forests of Papua’ made by local NGOs. For more info visit the Peace Movement Aotearoa site.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Thursday June 5
2008’s theme is Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy. The UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) recognises that climate change is a defining issue of our era and they’re asking countries, companies and communities to focus on greenhouse gas emissions and how to reduce them. This year the main international celebrations will be held in Aotearoa New Zealand! More info at the Ministry of Environment and UNEP websites. Trade Aid also has ideas for activities, including a competition for art made from recycled materials.
INTERNATIONAL ESSAY COMPETITION
Closing date June 30, 2008
Write up to 800 words on the theme “My project to create positive change in my environment. How can I foster sustainable development in my community” For more info on how to enter, visit the Goi Peace Foundation website and read the competition flyer.
NEW STUFF ON THIS SITE
William Zhang will be making his Just Focus debut next week with a two part exploration of PRODUCT(RED), a global initiative aimed at raising awareness and money for The Global Fund.
IN THE JUST FOCUS FORUM
… Religion continues to be hotly debated
… Izzy’s ‘Cruelty and Toxin-Free’ List Of Everything is getting lots of hits
… poetry is being shared
… and biofuels get the forum treatment…
WANNA GET MORE INVOLVED?
Want to add stuff to the next newsletter or the Events Page, or to write an article/review, or take a photo/create an image for the Just Focus website? Reply to us at info@justfocus.org.nz, it’s always great to hear from you.
