The number of people forced to flee their homes has risen by almost five million over the past two years, even as the budget of the main international agency dealing with the problem declines, according to a new report by a major US advocacy group.

Agricultural policy-makers at times seem more like powerless referees in a multi-sided tug-of-war - wrestling with the divergent thrusts of maximising food harvests, strengthening livestock numbers and boosting income from cash crop exports. So, asks the latest issue of Spore, would input from farmers and other stakeholders make things any easier?

There has been extensive use of child soldiers, including some as young as 10 years of age, by both government and opposition armed forces in the Sudanese civil war, which has led to the direct or indirect loss of some two million lives, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers reported on Tuesday.

In a surprising turnaround, the Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, has agreed to accept a visit by a group of Commonwealth mimisters - including the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw - to mediate between his country and Britain over Zimbabwe's land reform policy.

THE cost of curbing the worldwide HIV/Aids epidemic in lower-income countries will soar almost fivefold by 2005, reaching an estimated $9,2-billion, compared to current expenditure on the disease of about $1,8-billion. This compares with the estimated $20-billion a year that the United States alone spends on Aids domestically.

This article explores the ambiguous finding that in OECD countries inequality has risen, whilst redistribution has similarly increased. Why is this? The theory used in this paper suggests that this is something to do with the redistributive effect of education spending.

What are the implications of the IT revolution for democracy and its core values? Will it, as some fear, heighten existing divisions of power and access within and between countries or will it serve as a powerful tool for reducing those inequalities? And what are the opportunities, values and threats of rapid information flow and access for democratic governance? Read on for more information about the International IDEA Democracy Forum in Stockholm later this week. It hopes to answer these questions during the meeting of the 27-29 June, under the title of 'Democracy and the Information Revolution: Opportunities, Values and Threats'.

We call your attention to President Bush's new "Global Gag Rule" that will disqualify non-governmental organizations from receiving family planning funding if they provide counselling on abortion, provide safe legal abortion services, except in very narrow circumstances, or participate in political debates surrounding abortion. The result of the "Gag Rule" will be more unintended pregnancies, more unsafe abortions, and more women's deaths.

An independent tribunal on Monday began probing allegations of corruption and abuse of office against three senior Zambian ministers who are close aides to President Frederick Chiluba.

A bi-monthly 16 page journal of news, views & researched articles, for farmers, food processors, policy makers - from cultural to gender to finacial and environmental issues. Editions in English, French and Portuguese.

A Muslim leader yesterday opposed the Equality Bill, saying it contradicted religious teachings. The deputy director-general of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, Mr Adan Wachu, claimed that gender equality was "not an issue" among Muslims. He insisted that even if the Bill is passed by Parliament, it should not be allowed to apply to Muslim women as "the Quran has it own way of dealing with marriage, succession, adoption, divorce and abortion."

Corné van Walbeek, principal investigator of the Economics of Tobacco Control project in South Africa, highlights some of the policy debates concerning tobacco control in South Africa, and indicates their relevance to other developing countries.

A French anti-racism group filed suit June 15 against 13 Internet service providers that have refused to block access to a U.S.-based portal site which acts as an online host to more than 400 hate groups (Action Internationale pour la Justice v. Societe GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS INC (GCI) and 14 others,T.G.I. Paris, docket number unavailable, 6/14/01).

Since 1934, the International Bureau of Education has organized the International Conference on Education (ICE), which provides a forum for dialogue between ministers of education

The School for International Training (SIT) located in Brattleboro, Vermont, Northeast region of the United States, is offering the Bradley/Gamble Fellow Program in Population Studies scholarship specifically to individuals from countries in transition working in the field of population and family planning. This is a competitive scholarship and individuals should have solid professional experience and an excellent academic record.

A Turkish doctor who was told 'bad things' would happen to him unless he stopped his campaign against torture says a new BMA book on human rights will help prevent the practice.

Africa evokes varied and often strong responses. The first is frustration and despair with the gigantic problems and difficulties the continent faces. This is the response of "Afro-pessimism", which is closely tied to the so-called "donor fatigue" with Africa. Among some donor agencies, there has always been a second response -- that of focusing all attention on creating "success stories" or "betting on the winning horses", as they say. This response comes down to funding projects, big and small, in specific countries or parts of specific countries in the hope that "success" can be replicated elsewhere. We might call this the syndrome of "projectitis", whose hallmark is short-term local-level assistance with little hope of self-sustaining positive societal transformation. In less than a decade, many of the "success stories" have receded into "bad stories." Witness the cases of Cote d'Ivoire and Kenya, for example.

But there is a third, more inspiring response: a tenacious will to seek continental ways to overcome the problems and difficulties that hold Africa down and back. In the dark years of the Cold War, African leaders and social movements that tried to put the continent first and tenaciously acted to promote its interests were few in numbers and weak in strength. They also often fell victim to Cold War distractions. However, these pioneers did give some practical meaning to Pan-African dreams and managed to establish continental mechanisms (treaties, protocols and institutions) to address a wide range of issues and challenges (economic integration, human rights and refugee protection, conflict resolution and prevention, racism and apartheid, etc).

Although these mechanisms have not always worked effectively and efficiently, they have survived and are largely African-controlled. This is an important point. And increasingly, it has become clear that these official mechanisms and the many cross-continental civil society organizations (CSOs) that have emerged over the last decade hold the key to Africa's search for solutions to many intractable problems. The challenge is to strengthen them.

In at least two areas, continental mechanisms and CSOs can play a pivotal role in moving Africa forward. First, through the effective enforcement of continental treaties and protocols, both the diversity and commonalities of African identities can be fully acknowledged, legitimated and democratically managed as a basis for peace and conflict prevention. Second, continental mechanisms are imperative for fostering free movement of people, ideas, information and goods, which is a key requirement for addressing many of Africa's pressing difficulties.

The relevant questions then are: How can these continental mechanisms and CSOs become more effective? How can the great divide between official continental bodies and CSOs be bridged? How can they build global alliances for Africa? How can continental initiatives be genuinely African-led and sustained? How can donor agencies best help foster African-led initiatives? How can a veritable continental social movement be forged to transform the continent?

These are some of the questions that will be explored and addressed by a bold and pioneering grantmaking program initiated by the Ford Foundation. Tentatively titled the Special Africa Initiative, this will be a ten-year program aimed at (1) strengthening the capacities of continental-level mechanisms and civil societies organizations for peace and conflict resolution, democratic constructions of identities and citizenship, and regional integration, (2) fostering partnerships and networking across Africa in the three thematic areas of peace, citizenship and integration, and (3) developing a funding mechanism (such as an endowed fund) to secure this work into the future.

The program will be implemented in two phases, aimed at achieving specific outcomes. An initial phase of three years will focus on two sets of activities. The first would be consultations and meetings with a wide range of African institutions, activists, leaders, scholars and thinkers about the goals and strategies of the program. This will be combined with funding for projects that address the recommendations of the consultations and meetings. The second phase of seven years will cover continued grantmaking and consultations, as well the building of a permanent and independent Africa-based Foundation or Fund, which provides effective stewardship of resources generated by a lasting endowment.

Two fundamental assumptions and realities underlie this new program. The first is that Africa can solve its problems primarily through the institutions that Africans themselves have established. The challenge, then, is to strengthen and sustain those institutions, most of which are today fragile and dormant. Second, Africa's capacity to solve its problems and rise to the many challenges posed by global developments is closely related to its ability to match its ideas and plans with resources that it controls and manages. It is perhaps self-evident to say that any people who depend on external actors to finance their dreams would soon discover that they have no dreams at all. African plans and institutions can and should be financed largely from resources that Africans control and manage.

In conclusion, this is a pioneering grantmaking program aimed at supporting African-led initiatives to address a set of closely related continental challenges. It is unique in at least three ways. First, it is the first donor program that is designed to terminate in total African control of substantial resources. Second, it focuses on continental-level or Pan-African initiatives, whereas most programs tend to be country-focused. Third, it focuses on institutions, organizations and processes that Africans themselves have established rather than initiating new ones, as many external donor agencies are wont to do. The program will undoubtedly face many developmental challenges, with the most critical perhaps being how to effectively secure African ownership of it. The deliberate and thorough consultative process built into the program will greatly help to meet these unavoidable challenges. Ultimately success will be evidenced by the extent to which this truly becomes an African initiative, not just another an initiative for Africa.

ZANU (PF) MP for Makoni North Noel Didymus Mutasa was accused in the High Court yesterday of brandishing a firearm and following around MDC supporters on Sunday. Pishai Muchauraya, MDC constituency coordinator in Makoni East and a witness in his constituency’s election challenge made the allegation. Eric Matinenga, the MDC advocate, argued that the incident was relevant to the case because it is “indicative of the respondent’s party. The respondent and his party will not stop at anything to have their way in this constituency.”

A misguided trap is being set by right wing conservatives. It threatens our national security interests and endangers our military personnel.A cleverly mislabeled "Servicemembers Protection Act," was recently passed by the House and is now pending in the Senate where it was appended as an amendment linked to the Foreign Relations Act authorizing payment of arrears to the United Nations. In the guise of protecting our military, the amendment is clearly designed to abort the creation of an International Criminal Court (ICC) now being formed at the United Nations.

The world congress in health informatics -
medinfo2001 - tutorials, papers, posters, panels and workshops detail is now up on the web. Over 400 separate contributions in 12 streams from topics as diverse as genome research to patient-centred computing, evaluation of inpatient cost efficiency, compliance with evidence-based clinical guidelines, approaches to decision support, multi-professional treatment processes, open teleheath and communicating effectively with patients.

The UN system in Sudan on Thursday rejected accusations that, by evacuating humanitarian personnel from Wau, capital of Bahr al-Ghazal, in the face of an ongoing military offensive on the government-held town, it had failed to assist the town's war-affected population.

As reported in the April issue of the Korogocho Times, the Project launched a women's project on 21st May, 2001. A total of 8 women are now with the project and as result a new line of products have been introduced to best utilize the women's skills. These include beaded chains, bracelets, earrings with wildlife carvings from bones and wood, necklaces, tie and dye, and beaded belts.

In Paris last week, an international conference on BSE urged all countries to assess the risk and take precautionary measures against developing BSE in cattle and the human disease vCJD. The conference was jointly organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO), FAO and the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE).

The World Diamond Council, representing all segments of the global diamond industry, has joined 100 international human rights groups, in calling for swift passage of legislation to bar US imports of diamonds from conflict areas.

Millions of shillings raised in harambees in the country every month are never monitored nor audited by government officials because of laxity and apathy, a study reveals.

Amnesty International's annual country report for 2001 on The Gambia has accused the security forces of torture and ill treatment of students during the April 2000 student demonstrations. The report states that at least 14 people were killed and dozens injured when the security forces used "excessive and indiscriminate force to break up demonstrations" organized by the Gambia Students Union to protest the alleged torture to death of a schoolboy and the rape of a school girl allegedly by members of the security forces.

The human rights organisation Amnesty International has called on governments sending monitors to the Ugandan parliamentary elections, scheduled for 26 June, to ensure that human rights concerns are fully addressed.

Rwanda's speaker of parliament, Vincent Biruta, on Thursday urged the government to place gender-related issues at the "forefront" of all the country's developmental decisions, the Rwanda News Agency (RNA) said. Biruta who was addressing a conference of women parliamentarians from Tanzania, Burundi and South Africa, spelt out the need to have equal participation in development and decision-making in particular.

The Transitional National Government (TNG) said it had nationalised the Mogadishu Islamic courts. The TNG director of information, Abdirahman Dinari, told IRIN told that President Abdiqassim Salad Hassan had announced on Tuesday that the courts would henceforth operate under the justice ministry, and would no longer be an independent entity.

The approach of World Refugee Day has prompted the Catholic Church in Zambia, which hosts the biggest refugee populations in the region, to issue a strong warning against xenophobia. "We are dismayed that politicians and civil servants sometimes produce statements which tend to foster rejecting our fellow Africans. General criminalisation of a social group is an expression of racism and xenophobia completely contrary to the law of God and the tradition of hospitality that the people of Zambia have always honoured," a pastoral letter released by the Catholic Bishops of Zambia said.

The moon’s shadow raced across southern Africa today delighting residents, tourists, and scientists. At 9:09 a.m. the moon totally blocked the sun over Lusaka for three minutes and 14 seconds, providing a spectacular show of light that drew cheers from Zambians and visitors gathered on rooftops and fields across the city.

I found the newsletter interesting and informative. Generally, I get some of the information packaged from other sources. But the major reason for asking that I am dropped from the list is that my e-mail is at home and I use my phone. The amount of information sent is such that it takes a long time for the material to be downloaded. For some of us receiving information of the size of the Bulletin is not as simple as you get it out there. Although it may be useful, you need also to now consider the conditions under which some people receive infromation. Perhaps, you may need to give some people the option of requesting for hard copies.

We Reply: We are reviewing what we can do about the length of the newsletter. The balance we need to strike is between the needs of a wide range of readers for information that they cannot otherwise access, and the a slim, effective but comprehensive newsletter.

This year, the 21st International Fundraising Congress will be bringing together speakers and delegates from all over the world to discuss the future of fundraising and learn and share new skills. The Congress will be held 16th - 19th October in Noorwijkerhout, near Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We have hand picked 50 of the most talented speakers in the world of fundraising who will lead over 100 sessions. Each one will be packed full of thought-provoking and innovative ideas to challenge your thinking and to refresh your creativity.

A well resourced website, with information and advice to non profits on a wide range of fundraising and organisational issues, from a wide range of sources.

Forced labour in the 21st Century. £2.50 plus postage.
Human Rights & Trafficking in Persons: A Handbook. £8.00 plus postage.
Do You Know about the New ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention. Free.
The Changing Face of Slavery (updated & redesigned) Video and teaching pack.
£15.00 plus postage.

Report on the fourth biennial conference of Standing Conference of African National and University Librarians - Eastern, Central and Southern (SCANUL-ECS). The theme of the meeting, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia in April 2000, was Sustainable Funding of African National and University Libraries.

Applications are invited from experienced trainers, preferably from one of the SADC countries, to produce course materials for strengthening the campaigning capabilities of human rights and other activist organisations as part of the Adilisha project. The purpose of the course is to enable human rights activists to define, develop and run effective mass-based / popular campaigns for the protection and promotion of human rights and the promotion of respect for human dignity. Those interested in applying should familiarise themselves with the project summary at: and with the full details of this announcement. Applications, including CVs, should be sent to [email protected], and should include a 3-5 page proposed course outline listing topics to be covered and associated learning objectives, together with a bibliography of relevant literature not exceeding one page.

HUSITA6 will highlight a wide range of topics that emphasize the ethical and effective uses of information technology within human services education and practice including innovative applications, software and hardware developments, pilot or research projects, technology and social justice, anti-oppression, and equity issues.

Black on black racism and xenophobia in South Africa.

CAF is a charity with a unique purpose: to do all in its power to ensure that charitable giving to all charities is as robust and effective as it can possibly be.

Endless queues at the few Zimbabwean petrol stations with supplies are the most visible signs of an economic crisis that worsens by the day. With no reserves of foreign exchange to buy imports, Zimbabwe has suffered fuel shortages since December 1999. Superficially, this only affects the small minority of people wealthy enough to own a car. Yet the economic slump is so
severe that an entire society is being impoverished.

Africa's first major treatment and training centre for HIV/AIDS is scheduled to open in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, early next year, according to a press statement on Monday from the Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa.

The Kenyan parliament on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill which looks set to reduce the cost of essential AIDS treatment significantly. The Industrial Property Bill will allow the government to import or manufacture cheaper copies of brand-name drugs, including the anti-retrovirals (ARVs) used in the drug cocktail used to fight AIDS, according to campaigners for the affordable availability of drugs.

As policy makers around the world grapple with the economic and political issues raised by climate change, Dr. Robert Watson, the World Bank's Chief Scientist and the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), called on the international community to "keep the scientific warnings of the potential effects of climate change uppermost, as we work together to limit the magnitude of climate change in a cost-effective way, and make ourselves less vulnerable to the climatic changes that lie ahead."

Angola's long and brutal civil war has robbed millions of children of their youth and their futures. Statistics indicate that long after Angola extricates itself from its internecine conflict, its youth will continue to pay dearly.

Large numbers of Kamajor militiamen have left Guinea's troubled "Parrot's Beak" region and returned to Sierra Leone leaving behind their families, the World Food Programme said in its latest emergency report released on 8 June.

Giving the back of his hand to the suffering of millions, a key Bush administration official is opposing any extensive use of the life-extending anti-AIDS drugs in Africa, insisting that the health care infrastructure is too primitive and that Africans, in most cases, are incapable of following the regimen.

The Rwandan government has violated the basic rights of tens of thousands of people by forcing them to abandon their homes in rural areas and move to makeshift dwellings in government-designated sites, Human Rights Watch has charged in a report.

At SAfAIDS monthly discussion forum (May, 2001), Dr Patrick Osewe of USAID presented and discussed the New Start HIV Counselling and Testing Initiative. In 1998, Population Services International, NACP and USAID launched an initiative to provide voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) in Zimbabwe. To date, the New Start clinics have provided HIV counselling and testing to 18,973 individuals.