Zimbabwe
Is it time to go home? IRIN – 19 Feb 09
It is estimated that over 3 million Zimbabweans have left for neighboring countries and further over the last 10 years. With the new power- sharing government in power, many wonder if the time to return has arrived.
Farewell South Africa, but not just yet - IRIN – 19 Feb 09
Zimbabwe recovery costs "massive" - BBC News- 20 Feb 09
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai estimates the costs of rebuilding Zimbabwe’s economy could be as high as 5 billion dollars.
Harare diary: "Motivated workers" - BBC News- 20 Feb 09
A Zimbabwean gives her perspective about the current conditions and the mood of the people in her country.
South Africa
Civil Society Claims UN "Mishandled" Refugee Crisis - allAfrica.com- 23 Feb 09
An inquiry has blamed misunderstandings over the role of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for charges that its South African office mishandled the humanitarian crisis that resulted from last year’s wave of xenophobic violence.
Gift Dube: "Loxion management happens when you are unemployed and chilling on the streets" - IRIN- 17 Feb 09
One South African explains what it means to create your own opportunities with the lack of jobs in the formal sector.
Fighting for the Right to Fish - allAfrica.com – 21 Feb 09
South African law prohibiting local fisherman from selling their catch is causing increased hardships.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh hunts violent Islamists, funding sources - Reuters- 23 Feb 09
Government has launched a massive hunt for Islamist militants exploding or piling up bombs and grenades in a campaign to turn the country into a sharia according to Home Minister Shahara Khatun.
India
Gov’t schools to have innovative study method - Times of India- 23 Feb 09
State government has plans to introduce new courses in English and computer education for students in Jodhpur on a trial basis.
Army’s multi-dimensional expedition flagged off - Times of India- 23 Feb09
An Army expedition aimed at fostering camaraderie with civilians set off on Saturday and will pass thru Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the Arabian Sea.
Rajasthan going strong in times of downturn - The Hindu - 22 Feb 09
Predictions that the state of Rajasthan may fair well in the current economic climate because of its relative political stability, industry-friendly atmosphere, and availability of skilled work force.
Mexico
Latin America: Recession challenges Fair Trade - IPS – 20 Feb 09
Leaders involved in fair trade are preparing for expected impacts of the global economic downturn.
Nepal
Avian influenza outbreak contained but risks remain - IRIN – 17 Feb 09
The H5NI virus has been brought under control after a month-long outbreak in poultry in Jhapa district, nearly 500km south-east of the capital, according to government officials.
Nepal Maoists watch army day parade, tensions ease - Reuters- 23 Feb 09
Nepal’s prime minister attended an army parade on Monday in what analysts said could be a sign of growing confidence between the army and former rebel fighters.
What led me to IDEX? That's a good question. It wasn't an obvious or linear path, but I guess career paths these days rarely are, right? I went to school to learn how to be a journalist, dabbled in different forms of media, and worked in television production for number of years…
But a move to San Francisco after living in New York for a while sparked something in me. It’s like that line… "Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; Live in Northern California once..."
Well, perhaps I moved just in time before becoming irrevocably jaded! In truth, it wasn’t New York itself so much as my state of mind. I had long been interested in learning about different cultures, in traveling, in social justice issues, and in international development. The interest was always there, but really, I wasn’t doing much about it.
Finding IDEX, an organization whose mission I truly felt aligned with— it just clicked.
Practical, meaningful and sustainable solutions to issues of poverty and social injustice. Embracing locally run organizations at the grassroots level. Supporting communities in setting their own agendas. Leveraging relatively small amounts of money to create lasting social and economic change. Community by community.
Yes, the world is largely unfair and the stories we hear of poverty and suffering are often overwhelming. And sometimes it seems as if nothing we do really matters. It's easy to feel cynical and hopeless. I know, I’ve been there. But it's also possible to turn that energy and compassion into action.
I have seen this in the drive and determination of my colleagues. I’ve seen it in the amazing, inspiring leaders who work tirelessly in their communities. I’ve seen it in the generosity of our supporters and donors. I’ve seen it in the transformative stories of the many individuals have been part of the programs we help support.
On a daily basis, I am reminded that we all have the power to change the world in small but important ways that, in the end, really add up. Step-by-step, dollar-by-dollar, action-by-action, person-by-person.
I gotta say, it’s pretty cool to be able to share in this collective vision of hope.
New charges against MDC official - Aljazeera.net – 15 Feb 09:
Charges of treason against Roy Bennett have been dropped and replaced with sabotage.
Roy Bennett Charged with Treason - allAfrica.com – 14 Feb 09:
MDC Treasurer General and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate Roy Bennett was arrested Friday and charged with treason for allegedly taking part in a plot to overthrow President Mugabe in 2006.
Teachers dig their heels in over dollars - IRIN – 13 Feb 09:
Striking teachers rejected Prime Minister Tsvangirai appeal that they return to work. The teachers are demanding that their salaries be paid in foreign currency.
Lawyers in Three-day Jail Stakeout - allAfrica.com – 14 Feb 09:
Members of Zimbabwean Lawyers for Human Rights have spent three days outside Harare’s Chikurubi’s maximum-security prison in an effort to get three seriously ill detainees hospital treatment
New Government Comes at Price - allAfrica.com - 12 Feb 09
The newly sworn in 46-member cabinet is reported to be the largest and most costly in the history of post-independence Zimbabwe. Salaries alone will cost taxpayers about U.S $ 400,000.
South Africa
New Budget Leaves Vulnerable Teens in the Cold- IRIN – 12 Feb 09:
Although South Africa has plans to expand some social safety nets this year, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced that a plan to extend the age of qualification for child grants from 15 to 18 would not be among them at this point.
President ‘Creating Confusion’ Over Poll- allAfrica.com – 13 Feb 09:
President Motlanthe has set the election date for April 22; however, the Freedom Front Plus will ask the Constitutional Court to give South Africans working abroad the right to vote. If the FF+ is successful, it will likely mean a delay.
The Institutional Dimension of Mbeki’s Legacy - allAfrica.com – 12 Feb 09:
Opinion piece that discusses varying discourse and action to deal with HIV and AIDS at the government and local organization levels in South Africa.
Mexico
Drug cartels behind Monterrey protests - Prensa Latina- 13 Feb 09:
Authorities in Monterrey are claiming that recent demonstrations against the presence of the Armed Forces and Federal Police in the local area were financed by drug cartels.
Mexico Readies for mid-term elections - Prensa Latina – 15 Feb 09:
Mexico’s political parties have begun preparations for July 5th midterm legislative and municipal elections.
Guatemala
PAHO Praises Cuba Docs in Guatemala - Prensa Latina – 14 Feb 09:
Representative of PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) in Guatemala praised the work of Cuban doctors and graduates of the Latin American School of Medicine working in Guatemala’s rural areas.
Nepal
"Existing laws affecting education sector":eKantipur.com – 15 Feb 09:
Minister of Education, Renu Yadav stated that the present government is unable to provide qualitative education because of the existing laws and policies set by prior governments. Minister Yadav said she would work towards improvements.
No U.S timetable to remove Nepal Moaists’ terror tag - Reuters- 12 Feb 09:
Even with the Maoist elected to power in Nepal, U.S Secretary of State Official says there is no timetable to remove them from the U.S list of terrorist groups.
Bangladesh
Report blasts primary school education - IRIN – 11 Feb 09:
An internal report by the Department of Primary Education states that 70 percent of children in Bangladesh who have completed primary school are unable to read, write, or count properly.
Bangladesh elects new president: BBC - 11 Feb 09:
Zillur Rahman was elected president last Wednesday and will take the oath of office on Thursday.
India
People’s Manifesto Gets Political Support in India - OneWorld.net – 16 Feb 09:
A member of parliament in Maharashtra has endorsed All India People’s Manifesto, a development agenda put forth and conceived by regular citizens and to be implemented in over 300 districts across India.
Go to Wada Na Todo Abhiyan for more information.
Nearly, 1,400 forged land deed cases await action - Times of India – 16 Feb 09:
In Jaipur, the government has been unable to resolve disputes involving forged land deeds and property worth hundreds of millions rupees.
Spotlight on removal of iodine deficiency - The Hindu – 16 Feb 09:
The Global Network for Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency will be holding its board meeting in Jaipur on February 19 and 20. I was in the working world for the last five years, always wishing I could have the time to volunteer and give back. After a recent transition into a full time student here in San Francisco, I realized that I could no longer make excuses NOT to be involved!
I admire IDEX's mission, and wanted to support this organization. With seven staff they manage to move mountains with their fundraising and partnership grants. My favorite aspect of IDEX's model is the manner in which they fund projects. They accept projects from developing countries, to be managed and run by locals within their own communities. This ensures the effectiveness and relevancy of each project.
In school I am studying sustainable management. It has become evident to me that we cannot have social or environmental justice until we help the neediest parts of our world – especially in developing countries. Like one connected body, we can never move parts of our body forward without the whole. IDEX strives to move the whole forward, by assisting the struggling parts.
While it can be difficult to set aside time for a volunteer position, it helps me re-evaluate my priorities on a weekly basis (get OFF of Facebook!). I've become better at managing my time, and look forward to my days in the IDEX office.
IDEX kicked off 2009 by encouraging staff, and volunteers to read development oriented books. The plan? To better inform ourselves, and just as importantly to get together after hours and review issues we work on daily. What better way to review and share current thoughts on international issues and development!
Last week IDEX held our inaugural book club discussion. For our first book we chose Making Globalization Work by Nobel Prize winner economist Joseph Stiglitz. Stiglitz argues that we can make globalization work for both developed and developing countries, but changes have to be made.
What stuck out was his acknowledgment of the need to take the environment into account, while also preserving traditional indigenous knowledge as corporations are trying to patent natural resources. Preserving traditional knowledge is something we do focus on at IDEX. Many of our partners practice sustainable agriculture. Our partners GRAVIS, in India, and ASHA, in Nepal, encourage local communities to save seeds to conserve local varieties.
Stiglitz dedicates a number of pages to the role of community. He says in his book: "what makes programs (such as BRAC and Grameen Bank) so successful is that they come out of the communities that they service and address the needs of the people in those communities." (p52) Stiglitz’s book also provided us a good platform to have discussions on the role of the IMF and The World Bank in poverty alleviation and the impacts of so-called free trade.
If you have read the book, or have comments to share with us about how Stiglitz’s book is relevant to supporting community development, we invite you to share your thoughts with us.
For more thoughts on globalization in 2009, a recent blog posting by Zarah Patriana discusses views on the future of globalization as a result of the recent World Economic Forum in Davos and World Social Forum in Belem, Brazil. What do you think the future holds for globalization?
We’ll be reading the book Stuffed and Starved by Raj Patel for our next book club in March.
Photo credit: Jan Stürmann. Members of ASHA in Nepal demonstrate seed-saving techniques.
Rajasthan seeks additional fund for rural schemes - The Hindu – 2 Feb 09
The state has requested an additional Rs.600 crore towards the National rural employment Guarantee Scheme reporting that it expects expenditures for this fiscal year to reach Rs.5,700 crore.
Internet kiosks soon in rural post offices: Scindia - The Hindu- 2 Feb 09
India’s Department of Posts is continuing its efforts to modernize post offices across the country, mostly in rural areas. Projects include upgrading infrastructure of post offices and providing internet services at all head post offices as well as some other important rural and urban offices.
Nepal
Nepalese Maoists warn army leader: BBC - 28 Jan 09
Maoist defense minister has issued a new warning to army chief to stop recruiting people to the military. This latest disagreement is about General Rukmangad Katuwal’s insistence that the military has the right to recruit new people to fill vacancies created by retirements.
The Big Deluge - Part 1 (Nepal/India): Aljazeera.com- 31 Jan 09
Documentary about the flooding caused in August 2008 when the Koshi river between India and Nepal burst, arguments that the disaster could have been prevented and whether the manmade embankments should be rebuilt. Part 2.
Zimbabwe
Cosatu wants Neutrals for Harare Polls - allAfrica.com - 30 Jan 09
The trade union federations of South Africa and Zimbabwe called on African Union leaders to establish a neutral transition body to arrange free and fair elections under international supervision in Zimbabwe.
The Darkness before the Dawn? - allAfrica.com- 30 Jan 09
President Mugabe and Tsvangirai have now agreed to form an all-party government on February 13.
MDC (Movement of Democratic Change Party) Bites the Bullet - IPS- 30 Jan 09
The spirits of a nation were lifted when Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main section of the Movement for Democratic Change declared that his party would enter a unity government under terms negotiated at a special regional summit.
UN to Cut Aid as cash dries up - allAfrica.com – 30 Jan 09
The UN World Food Program will cut it’s maize rations to Zimbabwe by about half reportedly due to growing concerns of donors to put money into the country given current political and social circumstances.
South Africa
Africa to help rebuild Zimbabwe: Reuters- 30 Jan 09
South African president Kgalema Motlanthe said on Tuesday that once a unity government is formed in Zimbabwe in February, the two countries could work together towards economic recovery.
Research Inputs Needed to Improve People’s Lives - allAfrica.com – 30 Jan 09
At the unveiling of the new Center for Social Policy and Local Government Studies at the University of Fort Hare, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya highlighted the important connections between academic research and policy-making, delivering quality social services and socioeconomic conditions.
Bangladesh
Women move forward but challenges remain - IRIN – 27 Jan 09
Once all the legislative ministers take there seats, 62 out of 345 will be female representatives, breaking new ground towards gender equality in Bangladesh. Supporters are cautiously optimistic of the progress made and future possibilities.
Bangladesh launches sign language for handicapped - The Earth Times- 1 Feb 09
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed reported that the government would introduce the use of sign language at the state level in state-run television news and other programs.
Mexico
Mexico wages less than food costs - Prensa Latina- 31 Jan 09
According to research from the Faculty of Economy of the Mexican National Autonomous University (UNANM), over 48.82 percent of the working population in Mexico receives a salary that is not enough to buy essential food.
Mexico City reduces water service as reserves dip - AP – 1 Feb 09
Mexico City shut down a main water pipeline on Sunday, cutting service to more than 2 million residents. The conservation plan will interrupt service for three days each month until May when the rainy season begins.
Guatemala
Important International Forum on Migration in Guatemala - The Guatemala Times - 30 Jan 09
The First International Forum on Migration and Peace was held January 29 and 30th in Antigua. The forum gathered a variety of groups to discuss the need of promoting a culture of peaceful coexistence between migrants and local communities.
Guatemala forms Task force to enforce environmental laws - Guatemala Times- 27 Jan 09
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has established a new task force that will be charged with, among other things, helping to improve the prevention of deterioration and misuse of natural resources. Eleven ministries will be taking part in carrying out the work of the council in various ways.
Ten years ago, Lal Maya Tamang says, she could not have imagined that she would end up here, as a respected elder stateswoman of a local women’s group. From her mud brick patio, she points out the view of her rainbow-colored vegetable plot where she grows leafy greens, squash, oranges, and corn.
And there on the hillside below her one-room thatched-roof cottage, she keeps her four goats. The first two were purchased with a loan she has repaid. She is fattening them for the Dashain festival, Nepal's biggest feast day.
Outside on her patio, a group of 19 women, who call themselves the Kurilo Women’s Society, sit on woven mats listening to her speak about the importance of savings. A few men and children sit huddled on the wall behind the group. The sun shines brightly, but it is cold on the mountain. Lal Maya proudly hands over her monthly savings to the group’s treasurer, her neighbor, who records the amount in a book: 50 Nepalese Rupees, around 75 cents. This is the average amount they save each month.
Lal Maya, 54, is an ethnic Tamang woman who lives with her husband and their 9 year-old son in Nuwakot, about an hour drive from Kathmandu. She and her husband migrated here a decade ago as day laborers. Their job was to build retaining walls rock-by-rock near the steep winding road they now live near.
One day, the contractor abandoned them owing them months of back pay. They were stranded. So they settled by the side of the road, taking other meagerly paying jobs to survive.
But life for Lal Maya is no longer about mere survival. For the last three years, Lal Maya and 19 other women in the Kurilo Women’s Society, a group supported by ASHA-Nepal, have been providing each other with small loans to invest in income-generating activities.
Standard microfinance institutions usually exclude membership to women over 50, considering them not able-bodied enough. Try telling that to Lal Maya! Her son, who was born with severe development delays, is completely dependent on her, as is her husband who was recently blinded by cataracts. Since the loan funds in Lal Maya’s group come completely from group members themselves, they set the rules; women like Lal Maya, who are the sole supporters of their families, are welcome to join.
The Kurilo Women’s Society also participated in ASHA’s sustainable agriculture training that includes free seeds and tree saplings to get members started. Their crop yields have been so good that they are able to eat more nutritiously and sell additional produce to a group of vendors who travel from Kathmandu. The women have also learned how to naturally preserve their own seeds, saving them costly treks to the city.
This year, the women pooled their money and purchased a plot of land. They requested, and received, a grant from the district council for a crop storage warehouse to facilitate wholesale marketing of their crops.
Lal Maya is longer dependent on an unscrupulous employer. She’s engaged in the community. She has more material wealth, better food, and is better equipped to take care of her family. And with each passing month, she becomes an ever-savvier businesswoman. As she sees it, Lal Maya’s crops are thriving, and so is she.
Lal Maya’s group is one of three groups in the Nuwakot region that were started with IDEX’s support. This year, two more groups are set to start their work.
Photo credit: Jan Stürmann.
Is it time to go home? IRIN – 19 Feb 09
It is estimated that over 3 million Zimbabweans have left for neighboring countries and further over the last 10 years. With the new power- sharing government in power, many wonder if the time to return has arrived.
Farewell South Africa, but not just yet - IRIN – 19 Feb 09
Zimbabwe recovery costs "massive" - BBC News- 20 Feb 09
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai estimates the costs of rebuilding Zimbabwe’s economy could be as high as 5 billion dollars.
Harare diary: "Motivated workers" - BBC News- 20 Feb 09
A Zimbabwean gives her perspective about the current conditions and the mood of the people in her country.
South Africa
Civil Society Claims UN "Mishandled" Refugee Crisis - allAfrica.com- 23 Feb 09
An inquiry has blamed misunderstandings over the role of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for charges that its South African office mishandled the humanitarian crisis that resulted from last year’s wave of xenophobic violence.
Gift Dube: "Loxion management happens when you are unemployed and chilling on the streets" - IRIN- 17 Feb 09
One South African explains what it means to create your own opportunities with the lack of jobs in the formal sector.
Fighting for the Right to Fish - allAfrica.com – 21 Feb 09
South African law prohibiting local fisherman from selling their catch is causing increased hardships.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh hunts violent Islamists, funding sources - Reuters- 23 Feb 09
Government has launched a massive hunt for Islamist militants exploding or piling up bombs and grenades in a campaign to turn the country into a sharia according to Home Minister Shahara Khatun.
India
Gov’t schools to have innovative study method - Times of India- 23 Feb 09
State government has plans to introduce new courses in English and computer education for students in Jodhpur on a trial basis.
Army’s multi-dimensional expedition flagged off - Times of India- 23 Feb09
An Army expedition aimed at fostering camaraderie with civilians set off on Saturday and will pass thru Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the Arabian Sea.
Rajasthan going strong in times of downturn - The Hindu - 22 Feb 09
Predictions that the state of Rajasthan may fair well in the current economic climate because of its relative political stability, industry-friendly atmosphere, and availability of skilled work force.
Mexico
Latin America: Recession challenges Fair Trade - IPS – 20 Feb 09
Leaders involved in fair trade are preparing for expected impacts of the global economic downturn.
Nepal
Avian influenza outbreak contained but risks remain - IRIN – 17 Feb 09
The H5NI virus has been brought under control after a month-long outbreak in poultry in Jhapa district, nearly 500km south-east of the capital, according to government officials.
Nepal Maoists watch army day parade, tensions ease - Reuters- 23 Feb 09
Nepal’s prime minister attended an army parade on Monday in what analysts said could be a sign of growing confidence between the army and former rebel fighters.
Labels: IDEX NewsFlash
What led me to IDEX? That's a good question. It wasn't an obvious or linear path, but I guess career paths these days rarely are, right? I went to school to learn how to be a journalist, dabbled in different forms of media, and worked in television production for number of years…But a move to San Francisco after living in New York for a while sparked something in me. It’s like that line… "Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; Live in Northern California once..."
Well, perhaps I moved just in time before becoming irrevocably jaded! In truth, it wasn’t New York itself so much as my state of mind. I had long been interested in learning about different cultures, in traveling, in social justice issues, and in international development. The interest was always there, but really, I wasn’t doing much about it.
Finding IDEX, an organization whose mission I truly felt aligned with— it just clicked.
Practical, meaningful and sustainable solutions to issues of poverty and social injustice. Embracing locally run organizations at the grassroots level. Supporting communities in setting their own agendas. Leveraging relatively small amounts of money to create lasting social and economic change. Community by community.
Yes, the world is largely unfair and the stories we hear of poverty and suffering are often overwhelming. And sometimes it seems as if nothing we do really matters. It's easy to feel cynical and hopeless. I know, I’ve been there. But it's also possible to turn that energy and compassion into action.
I have seen this in the drive and determination of my colleagues. I’ve seen it in the amazing, inspiring leaders who work tirelessly in their communities. I’ve seen it in the generosity of our supporters and donors. I’ve seen it in the transformative stories of the many individuals have been part of the programs we help support.
On a daily basis, I am reminded that we all have the power to change the world in small but important ways that, in the end, really add up. Step-by-step, dollar-by-dollar, action-by-action, person-by-person.
I gotta say, it’s pretty cool to be able to share in this collective vision of hope.
Labels: Deborah, IDEX, Stories
ZimbabweNew charges against MDC official - Aljazeera.net – 15 Feb 09:
Charges of treason against Roy Bennett have been dropped and replaced with sabotage.
Roy Bennett Charged with Treason - allAfrica.com – 14 Feb 09:
MDC Treasurer General and Deputy Minister of Agriculture designate Roy Bennett was arrested Friday and charged with treason for allegedly taking part in a plot to overthrow President Mugabe in 2006.
Teachers dig their heels in over dollars - IRIN – 13 Feb 09:
Striking teachers rejected Prime Minister Tsvangirai appeal that they return to work. The teachers are demanding that their salaries be paid in foreign currency.
Lawyers in Three-day Jail Stakeout - allAfrica.com – 14 Feb 09:
Members of Zimbabwean Lawyers for Human Rights have spent three days outside Harare’s Chikurubi’s maximum-security prison in an effort to get three seriously ill detainees hospital treatment
New Government Comes at Price - allAfrica.com - 12 Feb 09
The newly sworn in 46-member cabinet is reported to be the largest and most costly in the history of post-independence Zimbabwe. Salaries alone will cost taxpayers about U.S $ 400,000.
South Africa
New Budget Leaves Vulnerable Teens in the Cold- IRIN – 12 Feb 09:
Although South Africa has plans to expand some social safety nets this year, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced that a plan to extend the age of qualification for child grants from 15 to 18 would not be among them at this point.
President ‘Creating Confusion’ Over Poll- allAfrica.com – 13 Feb 09:
President Motlanthe has set the election date for April 22; however, the Freedom Front Plus will ask the Constitutional Court to give South Africans working abroad the right to vote. If the FF+ is successful, it will likely mean a delay.
The Institutional Dimension of Mbeki’s Legacy - allAfrica.com – 12 Feb 09:
Opinion piece that discusses varying discourse and action to deal with HIV and AIDS at the government and local organization levels in South Africa.
Mexico
Drug cartels behind Monterrey protests - Prensa Latina- 13 Feb 09:
Authorities in Monterrey are claiming that recent demonstrations against the presence of the Armed Forces and Federal Police in the local area were financed by drug cartels.
Mexico Readies for mid-term elections - Prensa Latina – 15 Feb 09:
Mexico’s political parties have begun preparations for July 5th midterm legislative and municipal elections.
Guatemala
PAHO Praises Cuba Docs in Guatemala - Prensa Latina – 14 Feb 09:
Representative of PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) in Guatemala praised the work of Cuban doctors and graduates of the Latin American School of Medicine working in Guatemala’s rural areas.
Nepal
"Existing laws affecting education sector":eKantipur.com – 15 Feb 09:
Minister of Education, Renu Yadav stated that the present government is unable to provide qualitative education because of the existing laws and policies set by prior governments. Minister Yadav said she would work towards improvements.
No U.S timetable to remove Nepal Moaists’ terror tag - Reuters- 12 Feb 09:
Even with the Maoist elected to power in Nepal, U.S Secretary of State Official says there is no timetable to remove them from the U.S list of terrorist groups.
Bangladesh
Report blasts primary school education - IRIN – 11 Feb 09:
An internal report by the Department of Primary Education states that 70 percent of children in Bangladesh who have completed primary school are unable to read, write, or count properly.
Bangladesh elects new president: BBC - 11 Feb 09:
Zillur Rahman was elected president last Wednesday and will take the oath of office on Thursday.
India
People’s Manifesto Gets Political Support in India - OneWorld.net – 16 Feb 09:
A member of parliament in Maharashtra has endorsed All India People’s Manifesto, a development agenda put forth and conceived by regular citizens and to be implemented in over 300 districts across India.
Go to Wada Na Todo Abhiyan for more information.
Nearly, 1,400 forged land deed cases await action - Times of India – 16 Feb 09:
In Jaipur, the government has been unable to resolve disputes involving forged land deeds and property worth hundreds of millions rupees.
Spotlight on removal of iodine deficiency - The Hindu – 16 Feb 09:
The Global Network for Sustained Elimination of Iodine Deficiency will be holding its board meeting in Jaipur on February 19 and 20. I was in the working world for the last five years, always wishing I could have the time to volunteer and give back. After a recent transition into a full time student here in San Francisco, I realized that I could no longer make excuses NOT to be involved!
I admire IDEX's mission, and wanted to support this organization. With seven staff they manage to move mountains with their fundraising and partnership grants. My favorite aspect of IDEX's model is the manner in which they fund projects. They accept projects from developing countries, to be managed and run by locals within their own communities. This ensures the effectiveness and relevancy of each project.
In school I am studying sustainable management. It has become evident to me that we cannot have social or environmental justice until we help the neediest parts of our world – especially in developing countries. Like one connected body, we can never move parts of our body forward without the whole. IDEX strives to move the whole forward, by assisting the struggling parts.
While it can be difficult to set aside time for a volunteer position, it helps me re-evaluate my priorities on a weekly basis (get OFF of Facebook!). I've become better at managing my time, and look forward to my days in the IDEX office.
Labels: Stories
IDEX kicked off 2009 by encouraging staff, and volunteers to read development oriented books. The plan? To better inform ourselves, and just as importantly to get together after hours and review issues we work on daily. What better way to review and share current thoughts on international issues and development!Last week IDEX held our inaugural book club discussion. For our first book we chose Making Globalization Work by Nobel Prize winner economist Joseph Stiglitz. Stiglitz argues that we can make globalization work for both developed and developing countries, but changes have to be made.
What stuck out was his acknowledgment of the need to take the environment into account, while also preserving traditional indigenous knowledge as corporations are trying to patent natural resources. Preserving traditional knowledge is something we do focus on at IDEX. Many of our partners practice sustainable agriculture. Our partners GRAVIS, in India, and ASHA, in Nepal, encourage local communities to save seeds to conserve local varieties.
Stiglitz dedicates a number of pages to the role of community. He says in his book: "what makes programs (such as BRAC and Grameen Bank) so successful is that they come out of the communities that they service and address the needs of the people in those communities." (p52) Stiglitz’s book also provided us a good platform to have discussions on the role of the IMF and The World Bank in poverty alleviation and the impacts of so-called free trade.
If you have read the book, or have comments to share with us about how Stiglitz’s book is relevant to supporting community development, we invite you to share your thoughts with us.
For more thoughts on globalization in 2009, a recent blog posting by Zarah Patriana discusses views on the future of globalization as a result of the recent World Economic Forum in Davos and World Social Forum in Belem, Brazil. What do you think the future holds for globalization?
We’ll be reading the book Stuffed and Starved by Raj Patel for our next book club in March.
Photo credit: Jan Stürmann. Members of ASHA in Nepal demonstrate seed-saving techniques.
Labels: ASHA, Bookclub, Globalization, GRAVIS, Sustainable Agriculture
IndiaRajasthan seeks additional fund for rural schemes - The Hindu – 2 Feb 09
The state has requested an additional Rs.600 crore towards the National rural employment Guarantee Scheme reporting that it expects expenditures for this fiscal year to reach Rs.5,700 crore.
Internet kiosks soon in rural post offices: Scindia - The Hindu- 2 Feb 09
India’s Department of Posts is continuing its efforts to modernize post offices across the country, mostly in rural areas. Projects include upgrading infrastructure of post offices and providing internet services at all head post offices as well as some other important rural and urban offices.
Nepal
Nepalese Maoists warn army leader: BBC - 28 Jan 09
Maoist defense minister has issued a new warning to army chief to stop recruiting people to the military. This latest disagreement is about General Rukmangad Katuwal’s insistence that the military has the right to recruit new people to fill vacancies created by retirements.
The Big Deluge - Part 1 (Nepal/India): Aljazeera.com- 31 Jan 09
Documentary about the flooding caused in August 2008 when the Koshi river between India and Nepal burst, arguments that the disaster could have been prevented and whether the manmade embankments should be rebuilt. Part 2.
Zimbabwe
Cosatu wants Neutrals for Harare Polls - allAfrica.com - 30 Jan 09
The trade union federations of South Africa and Zimbabwe called on African Union leaders to establish a neutral transition body to arrange free and fair elections under international supervision in Zimbabwe.
The Darkness before the Dawn? - allAfrica.com- 30 Jan 09
President Mugabe and Tsvangirai have now agreed to form an all-party government on February 13.
MDC (Movement of Democratic Change Party) Bites the Bullet - IPS- 30 Jan 09
The spirits of a nation were lifted when Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main section of the Movement for Democratic Change declared that his party would enter a unity government under terms negotiated at a special regional summit.
UN to Cut Aid as cash dries up - allAfrica.com – 30 Jan 09
The UN World Food Program will cut it’s maize rations to Zimbabwe by about half reportedly due to growing concerns of donors to put money into the country given current political and social circumstances.
South Africa
Africa to help rebuild Zimbabwe: Reuters- 30 Jan 09
South African president Kgalema Motlanthe said on Tuesday that once a unity government is formed in Zimbabwe in February, the two countries could work together towards economic recovery.
Research Inputs Needed to Improve People’s Lives - allAfrica.com – 30 Jan 09
At the unveiling of the new Center for Social Policy and Local Government Studies at the University of Fort Hare, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya highlighted the important connections between academic research and policy-making, delivering quality social services and socioeconomic conditions.
Bangladesh
Women move forward but challenges remain - IRIN – 27 Jan 09
Once all the legislative ministers take there seats, 62 out of 345 will be female representatives, breaking new ground towards gender equality in Bangladesh. Supporters are cautiously optimistic of the progress made and future possibilities.
Bangladesh launches sign language for handicapped - The Earth Times- 1 Feb 09
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed reported that the government would introduce the use of sign language at the state level in state-run television news and other programs.
Mexico
Mexico wages less than food costs - Prensa Latina- 31 Jan 09
According to research from the Faculty of Economy of the Mexican National Autonomous University (UNANM), over 48.82 percent of the working population in Mexico receives a salary that is not enough to buy essential food.
Mexico City reduces water service as reserves dip - AP – 1 Feb 09
Mexico City shut down a main water pipeline on Sunday, cutting service to more than 2 million residents. The conservation plan will interrupt service for three days each month until May when the rainy season begins.
Guatemala
Important International Forum on Migration in Guatemala - The Guatemala Times - 30 Jan 09
The First International Forum on Migration and Peace was held January 29 and 30th in Antigua. The forum gathered a variety of groups to discuss the need of promoting a culture of peaceful coexistence between migrants and local communities.
Guatemala forms Task force to enforce environmental laws - Guatemala Times- 27 Jan 09
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has established a new task force that will be charged with, among other things, helping to improve the prevention of deterioration and misuse of natural resources. Eleven ministries will be taking part in carrying out the work of the council in various ways.
Labels: Newsflash
Ten years ago, Lal Maya Tamang says, she could not have imagined that she would end up here, as a respected elder stateswoman of a local women’s group. From her mud brick patio, she points out the view of her rainbow-colored vegetable plot where she grows leafy greens, squash, oranges, and corn.And there on the hillside below her one-room thatched-roof cottage, she keeps her four goats. The first two were purchased with a loan she has repaid. She is fattening them for the Dashain festival, Nepal's biggest feast day.
Outside on her patio, a group of 19 women, who call themselves the Kurilo Women’s Society, sit on woven mats listening to her speak about the importance of savings. A few men and children sit huddled on the wall behind the group. The sun shines brightly, but it is cold on the mountain. Lal Maya proudly hands over her monthly savings to the group’s treasurer, her neighbor, who records the amount in a book: 50 Nepalese Rupees, around 75 cents. This is the average amount they save each month.
Lal Maya, 54, is an ethnic Tamang woman who lives with her husband and their 9 year-old son in Nuwakot, about an hour drive from Kathmandu. She and her husband migrated here a decade ago as day laborers. Their job was to build retaining walls rock-by-rock near the steep winding road they now live near.
One day, the contractor abandoned them owing them months of back pay. They were stranded. So they settled by the side of the road, taking other meagerly paying jobs to survive.
But life for Lal Maya is no longer about mere survival. For the last three years, Lal Maya and 19 other women in the Kurilo Women’s Society, a group supported by ASHA-Nepal, have been providing each other with small loans to invest in income-generating activities.
Standard microfinance institutions usually exclude membership to women over 50, considering them not able-bodied enough. Try telling that to Lal Maya! Her son, who was born with severe development delays, is completely dependent on her, as is her husband who was recently blinded by cataracts. Since the loan funds in Lal Maya’s group come completely from group members themselves, they set the rules; women like Lal Maya, who are the sole supporters of their families, are welcome to join.
The Kurilo Women’s Society also participated in ASHA’s sustainable agriculture training that includes free seeds and tree saplings to get members started. Their crop yields have been so good that they are able to eat more nutritiously and sell additional produce to a group of vendors who travel from Kathmandu. The women have also learned how to naturally preserve their own seeds, saving them costly treks to the city.
This year, the women pooled their money and purchased a plot of land. They requested, and received, a grant from the district council for a crop storage warehouse to facilitate wholesale marketing of their crops.
Lal Maya is longer dependent on an unscrupulous employer. She’s engaged in the community. She has more material wealth, better food, and is better equipped to take care of her family. And with each passing month, she becomes an ever-savvier businesswoman. As she sees it, Lal Maya’s crops are thriving, and so is she.
Lal Maya’s group is one of three groups in the Nuwakot region that were started with IDEX’s support. This year, two more groups are set to start their work.
Photo credit: Jan Stürmann.
Labels: ASHA, microcedit, Nepal