National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (Indian
Council of Medical Research); UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/Word Bank Special
Programme of Research, Development and Research Training
in Human Reproduction; and Indian Society for the Study of
Reproduction and Fertility
CHIEF PATRON
Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of India
PATRONS
Shri Naresh Dayal, I.A.S., Secretary, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, Government of India
Dr Sujit K. Bhattacharya, Additional Director General, Indian
Council of Medical Research
CONVENORS
Dr Chander P. Puri, President, Indian Society for the Study of
Reproduction and Fertility and
Dr Vrinda V. Khole, Officer-in-Charge, National Institute for
Research in Reproductive Health
Dear Colleagues
The National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (Indian
Council of Medical Research), UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special
Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human
Reproduction, World Health Organization and the Indian Society for
the Study of Reproduction and Fertility will be organizing an
International Conference on Gender-based Violence and Sexual and
Reproductive Health. A number of national and international
organizations are collaborating in organizing this Conference.
Gender-based violence (GBV) is both a human rights as well as a
public health concern. The United Nations General Assembly in 1993
defined violence against women as "any act of gender based violence
that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or
psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such
acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether
occurring in public or in private life". GBV is pervasive and is
observed throughout the world, in both developing and developed
country settings. It can be emotional, physical or sexual and is
typically perpetrated by someone who is familiar to or acquainted
with the victim. Victims are overwhelmingly women. The World Health
Report estimates that at least one of every three women around the
world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused. The
experience of violence is associated with serious consequences for
women's physical and mental health.
Violence against women impoverishes individuals, families and
communities, reducing the economic development of each nation.
Reproductive health consequences for abused women are both direct
and indirect. For example, violence during pregnancy has been
associated with maternal mortality, pregnancy loss and pregnant
related complications, sexual violence with heightened risk of
acquiring STIs. At the same time, violence against women is
associated with women's inability to negotiate safe sex practices,
lack of control over contraception leading to unwanted/unintended
pregnancies, abortion, unwanted births, premature birth, low infant
birth-weight, and infant morbidity and death of both infant as well
as women.
This conference aims to expand what is known about the magnitude of
gender-based violence and its impact on the health of the
individual and the society, to fill gaps in our understanding of
factors underlying the experience of violence and consequences of
violence for women's, families' and nations' well-being and
programmatic responses intended to eliminate sexual violence. More
specifically the objectives of organizing this conference are to:
(i) review the magnitude and determinants of GBV; (ii) explore the
sexual and reproductive health (SRH) consequences of GBV; (iii)
share experiences of programmes and interventions for the
prevention of GBV, their impact on SRH and gaps and challenges that
remain; (iv) review relevant policies, programmes and their
implementation; and (v) suggest recommendations on programme
strategies and policies to address GBV and SRH.
Mounting evidence of widespread prevalence of GBV and its
consequences for women's SRH calls for urgent and multi-pronged
public health responses that aim to both prevent perpetration of
gender-based violence and assist the survivors of this social
plague. This conference will offer an international forum for
researchers, programme managers, policy-makers, women's groups,
health activists, health care providers, human rights groups and
others who are concerned about gender-based violence to come
together to share experiences and evidence intended to shed light
on and work towards reducing the prevalence of GBV.
On behalf of the organizers of the meeting, it is our privilege to
invite you to participate in the Conference. We hope you will
honour this timely and important International Conference with your
presence.
Dr Iqbal Shah
Scientist, Team Co-ordinator
UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank
Special Programme of Research,
Development and Research
Training in Human Reproduction
Geneva, Switzerland
Email: shahi@who.int
Dr Balaiah Donta
Deputy Director (Sr. Grade)
National Institute for Research
in Reproductive Health
Jehangir Merwanji Street
Parel, Mumbai, India
E-mail: bdonta2007@yahoo.co.in
The scientific programme will include a keynote address, plenary
lectures and symposia sessions, panel discussions, and poster
presentations. The programme will be broad based and will address
the key areas outlined below. Sessions will be multi-disciplinary,
including findings derived from operational, psycho-social and
behavioural research and programmes related to gender-based
violence and sexual and reproductive health.
Provisional TOPICS
. Various forms and determinants of GBV
. Linkages between GBV and SRH
. Gender power imbalances, violence and SRH
. GBV, sexuality and SRH
. GBV and reproductive health (Unwanted pregnancy, RTI/STI,
HIV, higher fertility, shorter birth spacing, contraception)
. Men as perpetrators and victims of GBV
. Men as partners in prevention of GBV and promoting SRH
care
. SRH implications of GBV in conflict situations
. Vulnerability to GBV (trafficked women, female sex
workers, intravenous drug users, pregnant women, migrants, HIV
positive individuals, ethnic minorities, physically and mentally
challenged)
. Youth and gender based violence
. Women survivors of violence and their SRH needs and
rights
. Socio-psychological dimension of GBV in SRH Care
. Managing SRH consequences of GBV
. Challenges of addressing GBV within SRH programmes
. Best practices in addressing GBV within SRH clinic
settings
. Community based programmes in addressing GBV
. Role of health systems and health workers in addressing
GBV
. Counseling approaches
. Evaluating GBV and SRH programmes
. Law enforcement and GBV
. Laws, policies on GBV in different sectors
. Ethical issues in research and programmes on GBV and SRH
. Estimating economic costs of GBV
. Methodological issues in research on GBV and SRH
Submission of Abstracts
The abstract (about 300 words) typed on plain paper, using
Microsoft Word (12 pt. Times New Roman) should be sent by
e-mail to the organizing secretary (gbv2009@yahoo.co.in,
bdonta2007@yahoo.co.in). The abstracts should include: title of
the paper, author(s), name of the institute, objectives of the
study, methods, results, conclusions and recommendations. The
final date to receive abstracts is 15 October 2008.
Language
The language of the Conference will be English. Simultaneous
translation will not be available.
Inauguration
The Conference will be inaugurated at 7.00 p.m. on 15 February
2009. All registered delegates will be invited to attend the
inaugural function.
Exhibition
An international exhibition of scientific equipment, supplies and
services will be organized at the venue of the meeting.
Weather
Mumbai is usually pleasant in February, with an average temperature
of 270C and humidity 55%. The conference hall and all major hotels
are air-conditioned.
VISA Requirements
All foreign delegates are requested to check with their local
Indian Embassy or Consulate.
Payment Procedure
The registration fee is payable through a Bank Draft to Conference
on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Mumbai. Accommodation charges
are to be paid directly to the hotel.
Venue
The conference will be held at the InterContinental The Grand
Mumbai, Sahar Airport Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400059.
Phone: (+91 22) 66683240; Fax: (+91 22) 6668 3278.
www.intercontinental.com; Contact person: Ms Radhika De
Accommodation
Accommodation can be arranged in various categories of hotels of
international standards and at other places to suit your budget.
In the event you need any assistance for booking accommodation,
please let us know. Special conference rates have been negotiated
with various hotels including "InterContinental The Grand Mumbai".
Slide Presentations
LCD Projectors will be available. If any other special equipment is
required, please specify at the time of submitting the abstract.
Poster Presentations
Poster stands to accommodate a poster of 4' (height) x 3' (width)
will be made available at the venue.
Registration Fee
StatusBefore
01 December 2008After
01 December 2008
Delegates from outside India US $ 350US $ 400
Indian delegatesRs 5,000Rs 6,000
ISSRF members Rs 4,000Rs 5,000
Students (Indian)Rs 3,000Rs 4,000
Students (Outside India)US $ 200US $ 250
One-day registration for Indian delegatesRs 2,500Rs 3,000
INternational Scientific Programme Committee
Chairperson - Iqbal Shah
Members - Halida Akhtar, Dinesh Agarwal, Catherine d'Arcangues,
Michal Avni, Lester Coutinho, Balaiah Donta, Nata Duvuury, Claudia
Garcia Moreno, Shiva Halli, Shireen Jejeebhoy, Ardi Kaptiningsih,
Sunita Kishor, Viswanath Koliwad, Lakshmi Lingam, Susan Newcomer,
Diana Prieto, Mahesh Puri, Faujdar Ram, Yasmeen Sabeeh Qazi,
Chander Shekhar, Jay Silverman, Anita Raj and Ravi Verma
Local Organizing Committee
Chairperson - Smita Mahale, National Institute for Research in
Reproductive Health
Members - Atmaram Bandivdekar, Srikant Betrabet, Sanjay Chauhan,
Shanta Chitlange, Rahul Gajabhiye, Shanti Ganeshan, Anuja Gulathi,
Beena Joshi, Ragini Kulkarni, Anurupa Maitra, Saritha Nair,
Geetanjali Sachdeva, Niranjan Saggurti, Lalita Savardekar and Geeta
Vanage
Further information and correspondence
Dr Balaiah Donta
National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health
E-mail: gbv2009@yahoo.co.in; bdonta2007@yahoo.co.in;
biostatirr@hotmail.com
Monday, June 9, 2008
Petition to Cancel HAITI'S Debt
Urgent Action: Please Sign the Petition to Cancel Haiti's Debt
in Time for Next Week's G8 Summit in Japan
Right now the Haitian people are suffering, struggling to pay for basic foodstuffs during the current global food crisis – as are hundreds of millions of people across Africa. The crisis is massive and has roots in the structural adjustment policies that led Haiti and many other countries to become dependent on imports for their food supply. Recently, the lack of affordable food caused riots in Port au Prince, Haiti's capital, where UN peacekeepers used rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters when demonstrations turned violent. Days later the Prime Minister was removed and has yet to be replaced.
At the same time, the Haitian government must continue to pay more than $1 million a week in debt service to wealthy creditors when it could be financing a return to local food production, subsidizing basic foodstuffs and investing in health care. The vast majority of this debt is odious, accrued during the era of the Duvalier dictatorships. The money was stolen and used to repress the Haitian people – yet the U.S. government and the multilateral development banks continue to compel the current generation of Haitians to repay these loans.
Next week is the G8 summit in Japan. US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and other G8 Finance Ministers will discuss how to address the worldwide crisis and suffering due to increasing food prices. One simple decision would be to immediately cancel the debt owed by Haiti. Many organizations have come together to create a petition to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson urging him to immediately cancel Haiti's debt - please join us in signing it. Jubilee USA representatives will deliver the petition directly to the Treasury department before Secretary Paulson departs for the summit.
Click Here to Sign the Petition to Cancel Haiti's Debt
Haiti has now qualified for debt relief through the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative. However, it still must implement a vast set of conditions, including many of the economic policy reforms that have exacerbated the current food crisis, before it can complete the HIPC process and access urgently needed debt cancellation.
Haiti is just one country facing a double crisis as food prices soar and debt payments take precedence over tackling poverty. The poverty that forces many Haitians to risk their lives to migrate to the United States will only accelerate until the welfare of Haitians comes before the needs of the banks. Debt cancellation has benefitted many African countries' ability to invest in the health and education of Africans. In light of the devastating food crisis, the need for Haiti to hold on to its own resources to meet the needs of its people is more urgent than ever. The American Friends Service Committee supports Jubilee USA's call for immediate debt cancellation for Haiti and for an interim moratorium on debt service for all low-income countries affected by the food crisis. For more information on Haiti, the food crisis and its debt, please click HERE.
Click Here to Sign the Petition to Cancel Haiti's Debt
With gratitude,
The Life Over Debt Team
American Friends Service Committee
Click here for more information on the AFSC Life Over Debt campaign.
After you've signed the petition, please forward it to friends and family!
______________________________
This list provides a weekly web digest with Africa specific information, inspirational quotes, and examples of grassroots African debt related successes. The National Africa Network list will repost materials from expert sources and related organizations and networks. We will also, on a monthly basis, provide subscribers with a digital copy of the AFSC’s Africa Program newsletter, Amandla, and debt focused action items.
For more information about this list, visit www.afsc.org/toward-africa or send e-mail to Africa@afsc.org. This is a moderated list for announcements and updates; it is not a discussion list.
To unsubscribe send a message to:
africa-pbu-leave@list.afsc.org
AFRICA-PBU mailing list
AFRICA-PBU@list.afsc.org
http://list.afsc.org/mailman
Monday, June 2, 2008
OXFAM Volunteer Opportunities in Vancouver & Area
There are a wide range of opportunities to volunteer with Oxfam in the Vancouver area, or as a virtual volunteer, depending on your interests, skills, and availability. In order to become involved, I will strongly suggest that you register yourself as member, you can do this via this link: https://www.oxfam.ca/what-you-can-do/become-a-member/membership-registration; (There is no membership fee). As a member you are enabled to participate in governing bodies, elections for representatives to Oxfam's Board of Directors, and participate in a variety of Oxfam program activities, regional and national consultations and conferences.
If you would like to receive updates on Oxfam campaigns, programme news and local events, volunteer opportunities and activities you can subscribe to Oxfam email lists at: http://www.oxnet.org/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2. Another way of keeping yourself updated on events, news, opportunities and campaigns is to sign up for Oxfam’s e-alerts and e-newsletter http://act.oxfam.ca/act/sub/.
As you know, Oxfam works on a number of education and advocacy campaigns on issues of social, economic and democratic rights that seek to raise awareness and connect popular action in Canada to improving conditions in developing countries. You can find current information on Oxfam Canada's program work, various campaign materials, as well as information about Oxfam partner organizations (in Southern Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Americas) on our website.
Every year, in order to engage youth in Oxfam’s work, and to help provide youth with all the support and tools they need to take action to secure basic human rights for all, Oxfam Canada plans Oxfam Global Youth Symposium.
This two-day symposium provides high school and college-aged youth from all over Greater Vancouver with the opportunity to come together, learn about global issues and get the skills and the inspiration to take action in a fun, non-formal environment. This yearly event takes place both in Victoria and Vancouver. Volunteers can get involved in several aspects of the planning of the symposium. This includes taking on roles as a facilitator, doing media work, outreach, research and during the actual day of the symposium as participants.
For more information, contact Deborah Schaeffer at deborahs@volunteer.oxfam.ca
Current Oxfam campaigns:
‘For All’ Public Services Campaign: Open for all – Public services fight poverty
Over a billion people live without access to clean, safe water and 2.6 billion people have no access to decent sanitation - this leads to the inevitable spread of water-related diseases. Every day around the world 4,000 children are killed by diarrhea, 1,400 women die needlessly in pregnancy or childbirth and 100 million school-age children, most of them girls, will not go to school. Yet, for the first time in history, within a generation, these problems could be solved.
Oxfam Canada and CUPE are working together in a national mobilization campaign to collect signature to lobby the Federal Government to increase our aid budget to 0.7% of GNP. Volunteers can help out during Summer Festivals, in the fall in their school, universities and communities collecting signatures, making presentation and display materials at trade union conventions, and shops, district labour councils, university campuses, schools and other venues to maximize public outreach. Postcards, petitions and e-alerts will target key politicians to make policy changes.
If you want to be part of this campaign contact: miriamp@oxfam.ca
You can read Oxfam International report “In the Public Interest” at: http://www.oxfam.ca/news-and-publications/publications-and-reports/in-the-public-interest-health-education-and-water-and-sanitation-for-all/file.
“We Can” campaign to end violence against women
We Can End All Violence Against Women Campaign is a multi-year, international initiative, which seeks to challenge and change the societal attitudes, beliefs and practices that support and maintain violence against women. ‘We Can’ believes that every individual has the power to change her or his own life as well as the lives of those around them. A key element of this program is to educate and mobilize individuals to take a public stand and public action against violence against women by becoming ‘Change Makers’. A Change Maker is an individual who pledges not to commit or tolerate any violence against women and who works to re-evaluate and re-examine his/her attitudes.
Our campaign involves volunteers delivering workshops in high schools, professional groups and community centres. Through the We Can campaign we organize activities around the 16 Days of activism Against Gender Based Violence which takes place every year from November 25th to December 10th.
To learn more visit the We Can website at www.wecanbc.ca. For volunteer opportunities email Anastasia Gaisenok at anastasiag@oxfam.ca.
Oxfam’s Youth Committee:
With the mail goal of engaging youth as global citizen and to support the international work of Oxfam, a youth committee has been formed. The main goals of this committee are:
- Serving as a link between campus clubs as well as to the office
- Maintain a group of trained facilitators who can facilitate workshops year round
- Work on public engagement of Oxfam’s issues and campaigns
- Maintain a team of dedicated Oxfam youth volunteers
- Serve as a link and follow up to the national CHANGE Initiative
- Provide an opportunity for youth symposium participants to become involved with Oxfam.
If you would like to join this committee contact Joanna Chiu: teenacity@gmail.com
Music 4 Change
Music4Change is a fundraising and educational event designed to blend hedonism with humanitarianism against the backdrop of music.
This event is model after the successful Music4Life events created by Oxfam Great Britain. The main goal of the M4C committee is to promote Oxfam’s work within local youth in B.C, establishing a strong and long-lasting relationship between Oxfam and the local, national and international independent music scene. This committee meets from May to October when the M4C event takes place on Oct 17th on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
To be involved, contact Fleur Cooper M4C project coordinator at: cannonballcoops@hotmail.com
Make Poverty History
At the start of the 21st century, 1.2 billion people live in abject poverty, most of them women. More than 800 million people go to bed hungry and 50,000 people die every day from poverty-related causes. Poverty is a violation of human rights on a massive scale, but it doesn't have to be this way. If we choose - if we have the will to act - we can make poverty history.
The campaign Make Poverty History launched by Oxfam Canada is calling for more and better aid, fair trade rules, the cancellation of 100% of the debt owed by the poorest countries, and an end to child poverty in Canada.
We need your voice to add to our worldwide chorus. Find out how you can support our global campaign at www.makepovertyhistory.ca.
Together, we can make poverty History.
Fair Trade: Make Trade Fair
Oxfam International campaign on Fair Trade, highlights the plight of billions of people being made hungry and poor because of the crisis in world agricultural trade - especially the dumping of cheap commodities by rich countries. There are many actions you can take as an individual in your community to campaign on this issue with Oxfam.
To get involved with this campaign and for a copy of the Make Trade Fair Report, visit our website: http://www.maketradefair.com/en/index.htm
Hungry for Change Campaign
Through this campaign we aim at raising awareness about issues of global food and resource distribution, and raising funds for our partners overseas. The Campaign gives the participants the opportunity to demonstrate their solidarity with vulnerable people. The students go on a fast for a day, usually in conjunction with a sleepover at the school and an evening packed with fun/education filled activities. The students raise pledges from their family, friends, and community. In past years, students in the Lower Mainland raised nearly $20,000 for our work overseas. Oxfam needs help organizing Hungry for Change fasts in schools across the Lower Mainland.
For more information about World Food Day activities in your community and to get involved, contact us at: hungryforchange@oxfam.ca
World Food Day
On October 16 each year, the World Food Day is observed. It marks the anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization founded in 1945. More importantly, it is an internationally recognized day to focus attention on food and hunger issues. Oxfam Canada plays a leading role in the commemoration of this day, facilitating a number of events in schools and communities across the Lower Mainland. Oxfam’s World Food day Kit serves as a great resource from which World Food day events are initiated. Each year, a group of Oxfam volunteers come together to put on a large World Food day event, which you are certainly encouraged to get involved with.
To be part of the WFD committee, contact miriamp@oxfam.ca.
Stamp Program
Help Oxfam stamp out poverty. This is a unique and fun fundraising activity that involves collecting used postal stamps and envelopes, which are then sorted and sold to collectors. Since it began in 1980, the Stamp Program has raised over $150,000 for Oxfam’s projects in developing countries. If you want to get involved, you’re encouraged to save incoming mail and send the used stamps/interesting envelopes to the Oxfam office, or donate your old stamp collections. You can also help by promoting the stamp program at offices, schools and community centers, or you can start your own collection network with friends and co-workers. Oxfam also needs individuals or groups to help us sort the donated stamps.
For more information, contact Bill Woodley – the Stamp Program Leader- at stamps@ott.oxfam.ca or tel: 613.237.1698 ext 240.
Campus Clubs and Local Committees
Currently, Oxfam Clubs are active at the University of British Columbia, at Simon Fraser University, and at the University of Victoria. If you would like to get in touch with one of these groups, call the office and we will provide contact information for you. If you would like to start a club in your school or community, we can provide materials and perhaps some contacts in your area who might like to get involved.
Oxfam’s Student Clubs contacts:
UBC – Duarte Rosario - azaquiel@gmail.com
SFU – Peter Driftmier - Oxfamsfu@gmail.com or pad1@sfu.ca
UVic – Brodie Metcalfe brodie_metcalfe@hotmail.com
Another way to support our work is by donating to Oxfam. We hope you'll consider joining our http://www.oxfam.ca/what-you-can-do/make-a-donation/monthly-giving-1, Share plan, since it is most convenient for you and it also helps reduce our administrative costs.
Or, if you prefer to give a single amount, you can easily made a donation online: http://www.oxfam.ca/what-you-can-do/make-a-donation, at any time on our secure server. Once we’ve received your contribution, we'll send you your tax receipt and a welcome package
I hope this gives you an idea of some of the options available for you to support Oxfam's work. Please let us know if you have any questions. We will also be in touch with you if there are specific volunteer opportunities that arise that you may be interested in and especially suited for. In the meantime, please let us know if you would like us to add your E-mail to our volunteer list.
Look forward to hearing from you again soon!
Sincerely,
Deborah Schaeffer
Oxfam Intern
Oxfam Canada
#210- 49 Dunlevy Ave.
Vancouver, B.C.
V6A 3A3
Tel: 604-7367678
Fax: 604-736-9646
E-mail: deborahs@volunteer.oxfam.ca
If you would like to receive updates on Oxfam campaigns, programme news and local events, volunteer opportunities and activities you can subscribe to Oxfam email lists at: http://www.oxnet.org/lists/?p=subscribe&id=2. Another way of keeping yourself updated on events, news, opportunities and campaigns is to sign up for Oxfam’s e-alerts and e-newsletter http://act.oxfam.ca/act/sub/.
As you know, Oxfam works on a number of education and advocacy campaigns on issues of social, economic and democratic rights that seek to raise awareness and connect popular action in Canada to improving conditions in developing countries. You can find current information on Oxfam Canada's program work, various campaign materials, as well as information about Oxfam partner organizations (in Southern Africa, the Horn of Africa, and the Americas) on our website.
Every year, in order to engage youth in Oxfam’s work, and to help provide youth with all the support and tools they need to take action to secure basic human rights for all, Oxfam Canada plans Oxfam Global Youth Symposium.
This two-day symposium provides high school and college-aged youth from all over Greater Vancouver with the opportunity to come together, learn about global issues and get the skills and the inspiration to take action in a fun, non-formal environment. This yearly event takes place both in Victoria and Vancouver. Volunteers can get involved in several aspects of the planning of the symposium. This includes taking on roles as a facilitator, doing media work, outreach, research and during the actual day of the symposium as participants.
For more information, contact Deborah Schaeffer at deborahs@volunteer.oxfam.ca
Current Oxfam campaigns:
‘For All’ Public Services Campaign: Open for all – Public services fight poverty
Over a billion people live without access to clean, safe water and 2.6 billion people have no access to decent sanitation - this leads to the inevitable spread of water-related diseases. Every day around the world 4,000 children are killed by diarrhea, 1,400 women die needlessly in pregnancy or childbirth and 100 million school-age children, most of them girls, will not go to school. Yet, for the first time in history, within a generation, these problems could be solved.
Oxfam Canada and CUPE are working together in a national mobilization campaign to collect signature to lobby the Federal Government to increase our aid budget to 0.7% of GNP. Volunteers can help out during Summer Festivals, in the fall in their school, universities and communities collecting signatures, making presentation and display materials at trade union conventions, and shops, district labour councils, university campuses, schools and other venues to maximize public outreach. Postcards, petitions and e-alerts will target key politicians to make policy changes.
If you want to be part of this campaign contact: miriamp@oxfam.ca
You can read Oxfam International report “In the Public Interest” at: http://www.oxfam.ca/news-and-publications/publications-and-reports/in-the-public-interest-health-education-and-water-and-sanitation-for-all/file.
“We Can” campaign to end violence against women
We Can End All Violence Against Women Campaign is a multi-year, international initiative, which seeks to challenge and change the societal attitudes, beliefs and practices that support and maintain violence against women. ‘We Can’ believes that every individual has the power to change her or his own life as well as the lives of those around them. A key element of this program is to educate and mobilize individuals to take a public stand and public action against violence against women by becoming ‘Change Makers’. A Change Maker is an individual who pledges not to commit or tolerate any violence against women and who works to re-evaluate and re-examine his/her attitudes.
Our campaign involves volunteers delivering workshops in high schools, professional groups and community centres. Through the We Can campaign we organize activities around the 16 Days of activism Against Gender Based Violence which takes place every year from November 25th to December 10th.
To learn more visit the We Can website at www.wecanbc.ca. For volunteer opportunities email Anastasia Gaisenok at anastasiag@oxfam.ca.
Oxfam’s Youth Committee:
With the mail goal of engaging youth as global citizen and to support the international work of Oxfam, a youth committee has been formed. The main goals of this committee are:
- Serving as a link between campus clubs as well as to the office
- Maintain a group of trained facilitators who can facilitate workshops year round
- Work on public engagement of Oxfam’s issues and campaigns
- Maintain a team of dedicated Oxfam youth volunteers
- Serve as a link and follow up to the national CHANGE Initiative
- Provide an opportunity for youth symposium participants to become involved with Oxfam.
If you would like to join this committee contact Joanna Chiu: teenacity@gmail.com
Music 4 Change
Music4Change is a fundraising and educational event designed to blend hedonism with humanitarianism against the backdrop of music.
This event is model after the successful Music4Life events created by Oxfam Great Britain. The main goal of the M4C committee is to promote Oxfam’s work within local youth in B.C, establishing a strong and long-lasting relationship between Oxfam and the local, national and international independent music scene. This committee meets from May to October when the M4C event takes place on Oct 17th on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
To be involved, contact Fleur Cooper M4C project coordinator at: cannonballcoops@hotmail.com
Make Poverty History
At the start of the 21st century, 1.2 billion people live in abject poverty, most of them women. More than 800 million people go to bed hungry and 50,000 people die every day from poverty-related causes. Poverty is a violation of human rights on a massive scale, but it doesn't have to be this way. If we choose - if we have the will to act - we can make poverty history.
The campaign Make Poverty History launched by Oxfam Canada is calling for more and better aid, fair trade rules, the cancellation of 100% of the debt owed by the poorest countries, and an end to child poverty in Canada.
We need your voice to add to our worldwide chorus. Find out how you can support our global campaign at www.makepovertyhistory.ca.
Together, we can make poverty History.
Fair Trade: Make Trade Fair
Oxfam International campaign on Fair Trade, highlights the plight of billions of people being made hungry and poor because of the crisis in world agricultural trade - especially the dumping of cheap commodities by rich countries. There are many actions you can take as an individual in your community to campaign on this issue with Oxfam.
To get involved with this campaign and for a copy of the Make Trade Fair Report, visit our website: http://www.maketradefair.com/en/index.htm
Hungry for Change Campaign
Through this campaign we aim at raising awareness about issues of global food and resource distribution, and raising funds for our partners overseas. The Campaign gives the participants the opportunity to demonstrate their solidarity with vulnerable people. The students go on a fast for a day, usually in conjunction with a sleepover at the school and an evening packed with fun/education filled activities. The students raise pledges from their family, friends, and community. In past years, students in the Lower Mainland raised nearly $20,000 for our work overseas. Oxfam needs help organizing Hungry for Change fasts in schools across the Lower Mainland.
For more information about World Food Day activities in your community and to get involved, contact us at: hungryforchange@oxfam.ca
World Food Day
On October 16 each year, the World Food Day is observed. It marks the anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization founded in 1945. More importantly, it is an internationally recognized day to focus attention on food and hunger issues. Oxfam Canada plays a leading role in the commemoration of this day, facilitating a number of events in schools and communities across the Lower Mainland. Oxfam’s World Food day Kit serves as a great resource from which World Food day events are initiated. Each year, a group of Oxfam volunteers come together to put on a large World Food day event, which you are certainly encouraged to get involved with.
To be part of the WFD committee, contact miriamp@oxfam.ca.
Stamp Program
Help Oxfam stamp out poverty. This is a unique and fun fundraising activity that involves collecting used postal stamps and envelopes, which are then sorted and sold to collectors. Since it began in 1980, the Stamp Program has raised over $150,000 for Oxfam’s projects in developing countries. If you want to get involved, you’re encouraged to save incoming mail and send the used stamps/interesting envelopes to the Oxfam office, or donate your old stamp collections. You can also help by promoting the stamp program at offices, schools and community centers, or you can start your own collection network with friends and co-workers. Oxfam also needs individuals or groups to help us sort the donated stamps.
For more information, contact Bill Woodley – the Stamp Program Leader- at stamps@ott.oxfam.ca or tel: 613.237.1698 ext 240.
Campus Clubs and Local Committees
Currently, Oxfam Clubs are active at the University of British Columbia, at Simon Fraser University, and at the University of Victoria. If you would like to get in touch with one of these groups, call the office and we will provide contact information for you. If you would like to start a club in your school or community, we can provide materials and perhaps some contacts in your area who might like to get involved.
Oxfam’s Student Clubs contacts:
UBC – Duarte Rosario - azaquiel@gmail.com
SFU – Peter Driftmier - Oxfamsfu@gmail.com or pad1@sfu.ca
UVic – Brodie Metcalfe brodie_metcalfe@hotmail.com
Another way to support our work is by donating to Oxfam. We hope you'll consider joining our http://www.oxfam.ca/what-you-can-do/make-a-donation/monthly-giving-1, Share plan, since it is most convenient for you and it also helps reduce our administrative costs.
Or, if you prefer to give a single amount, you can easily made a donation online: http://www.oxfam.ca/what-you-can-do/make-a-donation, at any time on our secure server. Once we’ve received your contribution, we'll send you your tax receipt and a welcome package
I hope this gives you an idea of some of the options available for you to support Oxfam's work. Please let us know if you have any questions. We will also be in touch with you if there are specific volunteer opportunities that arise that you may be interested in and especially suited for. In the meantime, please let us know if you would like us to add your E-mail to our volunteer list.
Look forward to hearing from you again soon!
Sincerely,
Deborah Schaeffer
Oxfam Intern
Oxfam Canada
#210- 49 Dunlevy Ave.
Vancouver, B.C.
V6A 3A3
Tel: 604-7367678
Fax: 604-736-9646
E-mail: deborahs@volunteer.oxfam.ca
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Yet Another Global Health Program . . . They're EVERYWHERE!
Well, new as of April 2005, according to the news release . . .
New UBC Program Essential for Global Health WorkersBy Brenda Austin
Karen Lund prepared to change careers and teach in the nursing program in Dhaka, Bangladesh by taking the UBC course in international health and development.
This course is one of five in the new Certificate in International Development (CID), offered by Continuing Studies at the Centre for Intercultural Communication.
“This is a flexible, mainly web-based certificate that can be taken part-time while working, as long as it is completed within three years,” says CID Program Manager Leah Macfadyen.
Although Lund has been a researcher in academic health sciences, many who take the course do not have a healthcare background. They might be members of non-governmental organizations, engineers, bankers or educators -- people who want to lend their skills in ways that enhance the broader vision of health.
This vision extends further than freedom from illness and disease to include sustainable development, access to clean water, human rights, security and safety.
The variety of backgrounds of the students is a positive factor, says Dr. Michael Seear, professor of clinical medicine and pediatric respirologist at BC’s Children’s Hospital. He is the instructor for the international health and development course and presently in Sri Lanka where he is providing assistance after the Tsunami disaster in December 2004.
“Every discipline and every profession or job in some way impacts on someone’s health somewhere in the world,” he says. “And for every activity we undertake there is a medical price to pay, whether it is due to agricultural policies or goods manufactured in sweatshops.”
For his own participation in Sri Lanka, Seear and others, funded by the Asian Medical Doctors’ Association, set up a functional children’s ward from a rough hospital in the village of Srila Kalmunai, one of the poorest areas on the east coast of Sri Lanka. This includes a school and counselling services for children with depression.
Seear’s course raises awareness of international health and aid issues as well as cultural, social, economic and political environments aid workers might encounter which could hinder effective use of relief monies.
“We sometimes suspend belief, thinking if we give money or goods to aid agencies, we are helping. But this is not always the case,” Seear says. “We have to be aware of fakes and crooks, of money not reaching those for whom it is intended.”
Seear stresses that no student should leave university without understanding the impact and importance of health issues around the world. Many students are idealistic, they are nice people and want to “do good,” but it is more complicated than that.
“To tie in with the global vision UBC has, we need a university degree in International Health,” Seear believes. “We would be first in the field and it would meet the needs for competent, aware people who could include this with studies in their own discipline.”
Lund took the international health and development course after planning for two years to move from health sciences research into something that focused more on people and would allow her to see another part of the world. The project she chose focuses on improving the standard and status of nursing in Bangladesh.
“What Dr. Seear’s course did more than anything was to teach me not to impose my own assumptions on other cultures,” Lund said. “It was an eye-opener for me to discover how much well-intentioned aid funding is wasted because those who hope to help don’t communicate well with the people receiving aid. Without the health course, I could have been one of that group.
“The Web-based framework was fabulous because it saved me so much time commuting to classes. You miss out on the personal interaction with the instructors, but the online communication is excellent,” she said.
The CID program is also useful to people in Canada who work with multicultural communities, Macfadyen says. Marie-Claude Lavoie is one such person, currently working in Iqaluit, Nunavut as an occupational therapist.
“I have been very pleased with the CID program,” Lavoie emailed from Nunavut. “There are unique challenges here of over-crowded housing, malnutrition and the presence of TB. There is much financial need, but the Inuit are very rich in culture and traditions.”
For more information visit: www.cic.cstudies.ubc.ca/cid
Canada & Cluster Bomb Munitions
In my daily random perusings on the net, I found this on the Physicians for Global Survival Website. Cheers!
Oslo talks bring cluster-bomb ban within reach: Canada agrees to wording of text that will form treaty
Peter O'Neil
Canwest News Service
Thursday, May 29, 2008
PARIS - Crippled civilian victims of cluster bombs helped convince Canada and more than 100 other nations to move a step closer yesterday to a treaty that would ban the production and use of the weapon, according to a lobbyist participating in the negotiations.
The participating countries agreed to the wording of a text yesterday and all will be asked to endorse the wording during the final day of negotiations in Dublin tomorrow, according to officials involved in the talks.
However, countries won't be locked into the treaty until they attend a signing ceremony in Oslo in December.
Cluster bombs explode in mid-air, spreading smaller "bomblets" across an area as large as several football fields. Some might not explode until picked up months or years later by curious civilians.
While lobby groups declared victory, the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper wouldn't say whether Canada was firmly committed to the ban.
"Canada is supportive of all efforts to prohibit those cluster munitions that are known to be inaccurate, unreliable and that cause unacceptable harm to civilians," spokesman Andrew Lemay said in a cautiously worded statement sent by e-mail. "We are participating in the Oslo Process," the statement said.
Earlier this week, Afghan cluster-bomb victim Soraj Ghulam Habib, 16, presented the Canadian Embassy in Dublin with a letter saying that a bomblet blew off his legs and killed his relatives.
"When the delegates looked the survivors in the eye, it was very hard for them to say, 'I need this weapon,' when you're talking to someone who has lost two, or all four, limbs or who is blinded," said Paul Hannon, Executive Director of Mines Action Canada and one of the many non-government lobby groups at the Dublin negotiations.
"It's very powerful for them. They understand it's not just a statistic. These are all innocent civilians."
Mr. Hannon said he'd be shocked if Canada didn't endorse the treaty since this country obtained the wording it was seeking that would ensure the agreement wouldn't prevent Canadian soldiers from working with the American military.
The U.S. government, which has refused to take part in the negotiations, has been accused of pushing allies such as Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Australia to oppose or try to water down the treaty.
China, India, Russia, Israel and Pakistan, which produce and stockpile the weapons, have, like the U.S., refused to participate in the talks.
Pope Benedict XVI and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have supported the ban.
"I'm a little bit breathless," Mr. Hannon said. "This exceeds expectations."
Cluster bombs haven't been used since they were fired by the Israeli army in Lebanon in 2006, he said. They haven't been used in Afghanistan since 2001 or in Iraq since 2003.
Mr. Hannon said the ban, if it goes ahead, will ultimately make the weapons politically prohibitive for non-signatories.
"This treaty will now stigmatize the weapon," he said. "Any country that wants to use this knows it's politically very difficult. The world knows it's inaccurate, it's unreliable, and we (will) have a legal treaty saying it's unacceptable."
Mr. Hannon said Canada, which played a lead part in the Nobel Prize-winning initiative to strike a land-mine-ban treaty in 1997, has played an effective diplomatic role in the Dublin talks.
(c) The Ottawa Citizen 2008
Oslo talks bring cluster-bomb ban within reach: Canada agrees to wording of text that will form treaty
Peter O'Neil
Canwest News Service
Thursday, May 29, 2008
PARIS - Crippled civilian victims of cluster bombs helped convince Canada and more than 100 other nations to move a step closer yesterday to a treaty that would ban the production and use of the weapon, according to a lobbyist participating in the negotiations.
The participating countries agreed to the wording of a text yesterday and all will be asked to endorse the wording during the final day of negotiations in Dublin tomorrow, according to officials involved in the talks.
However, countries won't be locked into the treaty until they attend a signing ceremony in Oslo in December.
Cluster bombs explode in mid-air, spreading smaller "bomblets" across an area as large as several football fields. Some might not explode until picked up months or years later by curious civilians.
While lobby groups declared victory, the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper wouldn't say whether Canada was firmly committed to the ban.
"Canada is supportive of all efforts to prohibit those cluster munitions that are known to be inaccurate, unreliable and that cause unacceptable harm to civilians," spokesman Andrew Lemay said in a cautiously worded statement sent by e-mail. "We are participating in the Oslo Process," the statement said.
Earlier this week, Afghan cluster-bomb victim Soraj Ghulam Habib, 16, presented the Canadian Embassy in Dublin with a letter saying that a bomblet blew off his legs and killed his relatives.
"When the delegates looked the survivors in the eye, it was very hard for them to say, 'I need this weapon,' when you're talking to someone who has lost two, or all four, limbs or who is blinded," said Paul Hannon, Executive Director of Mines Action Canada and one of the many non-government lobby groups at the Dublin negotiations.
"It's very powerful for them. They understand it's not just a statistic. These are all innocent civilians."
Mr. Hannon said he'd be shocked if Canada didn't endorse the treaty since this country obtained the wording it was seeking that would ensure the agreement wouldn't prevent Canadian soldiers from working with the American military.
The U.S. government, which has refused to take part in the negotiations, has been accused of pushing allies such as Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Australia to oppose or try to water down the treaty.
China, India, Russia, Israel and Pakistan, which produce and stockpile the weapons, have, like the U.S., refused to participate in the talks.
Pope Benedict XVI and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have supported the ban.
"I'm a little bit breathless," Mr. Hannon said. "This exceeds expectations."
Cluster bombs haven't been used since they were fired by the Israeli army in Lebanon in 2006, he said. They haven't been used in Afghanistan since 2001 or in Iraq since 2003.
Mr. Hannon said the ban, if it goes ahead, will ultimately make the weapons politically prohibitive for non-signatories.
"This treaty will now stigmatize the weapon," he said. "Any country that wants to use this knows it's politically very difficult. The world knows it's inaccurate, it's unreliable, and we (will) have a legal treaty saying it's unacceptable."
Mr. Hannon said Canada, which played a lead part in the Nobel Prize-winning initiative to strike a land-mine-ban treaty in 1997, has played an effective diplomatic role in the Dublin talks.
(c) The Ottawa Citizen 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Potential WHO fundraising opportunity for our Western and National Conferences
I wanted to let you guys know of a potential fundraising opportunity
for our Western and National Conference. It was brought to my
attention while I was in Geneva. The WHO has a project named "Blue
Trunk Library" where they distribute basic health and medical
information to district health teams in developing countries. This
'ready-to-use' mini-library are used to disseminate health information
in places where there are little or no medical and public health
information and internet access. They are delivered in these blue
metal trunks to ensure easy transportation and storage. Info can be
found at http://www.who.int/ghl/mobile_libraries/bluetrunk/en/index.html
Content of the materials in the trunks include:
* General medicine and nursing
* Community health
* Primary health care
* Health management and epidemiology
* Maternal health and family planning
* Child health
* Diarrhoeal diseases
* Nutrition and nutritional disorders
* Essential drugs
* Communicable diseases and vaccination
* Parasitic diseases and vector control
* Sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS
* Surgery, anaesthesia and hospitals
* Medical and laboratory technology
Each library costs $2000 US and I was told that other student
organizations in the past have fundraised for a library to be
delivered to their country of choice. They also have the trunks in
French, Portuguese, and Arabic. Just an idea for us to consider since
we can perhaps incorporate this to a fundraiser night in both the
National and Western conferences.
Contact info to the WHO is: bluetrunk@who.int
What do you guys think?
Eugene
for our Western and National Conference. It was brought to my
attention while I was in Geneva. The WHO has a project named "Blue
Trunk Library" where they distribute basic health and medical
information to district health teams in developing countries. This
'ready-to-use' mini-library are used to disseminate health information
in places where there are little or no medical and public health
information and internet access. They are delivered in these blue
metal trunks to ensure easy transportation and storage. Info can be
found at http://www.who.int/ghl/mobile
Content of the materials in the trunks include:
* General medicine and nursing
* Community health
* Primary health care
* Health management and epidemiology
* Maternal health and family planning
* Child health
* Diarrhoeal diseases
* Nutrition and nutritional disorders
* Essential drugs
* Communicable diseases and vaccination
* Parasitic diseases and vector control
* Sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS
* Surgery, anaesthesia and hospitals
* Medical and laboratory technology
Each library costs $2000 US and I was told that other student
organizations in the past have fundraised for a library to be
delivered to their country of choice. They also have the trunks in
French, Portuguese, and Arabic. Just an idea for us to consider since
we can perhaps incorporate this to a fundraiser night in both the
National and Western conferences.
Contact info to the WHO is: bluetrunk@who.int
What do you guys think?
Eugene
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Western Regional Conference for International Health
I attended this conference 3 days ago, as Jazmin did. Typing this, I realize I really should have done this blog sooner. My memory's already faded a bit. Not only that, but I've never done a blog before, so I'm just going to treat this an informal email/story telling. I'm not even too sure how this works, but I assume the publish post button will be helpful when I'm finished. I don't live in this century. I just found out today how podcasts work.
So anyways, the conference...As you've read from Jazmin's post, it was held at SFU. I agree completely with Jazmin's comments about the first day one of the key speakers, Dr. Julio Montaner. I always seem to have certain expectation with these events: they need to inspire me, make me think more about global health, and confirm all of the efforts I put forth for the cause that is global health. Myself, not being from a medical background, was certainly looking for a bit more than the data from his research in HAART. While I was definitely impressed, for me, it was a bit too one sided. It made me think about SUNSIH's own Western Regional Conference I'm helping plan. For me, one of my main goals for this conference is to avoid the emphasis of medicine. Global health is so much more than that. I found myself asking questions after his presentation: what was the impact on family dynamics? What were the economic implications of HAART? And, as Jazmin mentioned, what about access!? One thing that did strike me as a particularly good observation: Dr. Montaner acknowledged the success of HIV/AIDS, and the necessity to bring other diseases, like TB and Malaria up to the standards of HIV/AIDS. By that, he means that the world has given so much attention to the AIDS pandemic, that all of these other less "sexy" diseases get ignored by the world.
I wasn't able to see all of Dr. Samantha Nutt's key note address. The details are not particularly important, but I had to save my luggage from being locked in at the gym. I was incredibly disappointed to leave this plenary address, as even within the the first few minutes, I was engaged. She left me thinking about our role in Global Health: how we tend to think of it as "how we will help them" ( I mean to italicize the work "them", but the function isn't working for some reason). Dr. Nutt calls us to think about our role as practitioners in global health and to be aware of those dynamics. I think back to some of my anthropology courses, where we discussed the importance of recognizing the implication of assigning those you are offering aid, as "them." It creates a distance between those who are giving aid and those who are receiving it. The distance removes grounds for equality, mutual respect, and inclusiveness. This distance becomes exacerbated considering the history of colonialism. Dr. Nutt touched on this noted that sometimes, we provide the role of "band-aid." Which, according to Nutt, is "the incomplete apology for failures to behave more responsibly."
For the opening plenary on the second day, of particular interest to me was Dr. Michael Seear's lecture on the Historical Roots of the MDGs. Dr. Michael Seear is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UBC and a Pediatric Respirologist at the Vancouver Children's Hospital. To sum up the basis of his discussion, he said "To work in the aid industry, you need to understand the history." What can we learn from our past mistakes? Dr. Seear's lecture addressed the MDGs as the developed world's third attempt to solve everything. As many of you know, the modern aid industry emerged from the social and scientific advances during WWII. Dr. Seear spoke about the developing world's first attempt: The Marshall Plan in 1947. I haven't even thought about this since grade 11. I couldn't even remember what it entailed. But get this- this was a good deal: the US was only a DONOR. There was NO tied aid. And, there was DEBT FORGIVENESS! This plan was implemented to the European countries, which as we know, got a pretty quick recovery. But what about the developing countries??? This makes me wonder how we can make such optimistic goals, such as "Health for All" by 2000 and the MDGs, if the world cannot make the commitment that's required. It's worked before...if only we could make it to that ODA projection of 0.7% of our GNI....
Anyways, more to come later...it's getting late and I fear I'm making less sense...
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