December 23

Development Challenges For The Arab Region

Development Middle East Arab nations Trackbacks (0)

A new report produced collaboratively by the League of Arab States, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and a group of Arab experts outlines development challenges for the Arab States. Development challenges for the Arab region (Vol. I - A human development approach, 1.02 MB; Vol. II - Food security and Agriculture, 1.29 MB) can be also downloaded from the UNDP web site . "The report highlights six key interrelated challenges facing the region, including: institutional reform; job creation; the promotion and financing of pro-poor growth; the reform of educational systems, economic diversification, and increased food security and self-sufficiency within existing environmental constraints. The report stresses that dealing with these challenges requires the adoption of a comprehensive development model based on the human development approach which considers freedoms as the basis for development".

UN Pulse: 

Permanent Link: Development challenges for the Arab region
December 23

Civil Society And The Zuma Administration: Opportunities For Engagement From IDASA

South Africa Civil society Trackbacks (0)
This booklet consist of contributions by Steven Friedman, Raenette Taljaard, Kehla Shubane and Yvette Geyer. It is a collection of the presentations made at the roundtable discussion had at Idasa Kutlwanong in August, funded by the IDRC, to talk through the challenges and opportunities South Africa's civil society faces under the new administration.

Civil Society and the Zuma Administration Opportunities for Engagement.pdf

December 22

Copenhagen Accord (182 KB)

Climate Change Trackbacks (0)

Accord signed at the end of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen COP 15/CMP 57 to 18 December 2009

http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_15/application/pdf/cop15_cph_auv.pdf
December 19

Tsunami Report - 5 Year Anniversary. UNICEF

Disasters and humanitarian relief Trackbacks (0)

he United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports on the results of its relief and recovery programmes in the eight countries affected by the tsunami of 26 December 2004. Tsunami report five year anniversary is available in pdf (full-text, 1.38 MB).

UN Pulse Permanent Link: UNICEF tsunami report - 5 year anniversary T
December 19

Copenhagen 2009. Mail And Guardian Blog

Climate Change Trackbacks (0)

http://www.mg.co.za/specialreport/copenhagen-2009

Some recent posts: 

Obama climate deal founders at Copenhagen

A global warming deal worked out by US President Barack Obama and four other countries, including SA, faces mass opposition at Copenhagen.

'Meaningful' climate deal reached?

World leaders have reached a "meaningful" climate accord but it is not sufficient to combat the threat of global warming, senior officials say.

Main Issues slideshow

The main issues facing the delegates at the Copenhagen conference summarised in photographs in our informative slideshow. Click on link below:

http://www.mg.co.za/multimedia/2009-12-08-a-time-for-change

December 19

Connecting The Dots [Pdf]. Demos Thinktank

Policy Trackbacks (0)
The Demos thinktank organization is based in London, and they never shy away from the tough topics. This 108-page paper released in November 2009 is titled "Connecting the Dots" and was written by Demos staff members Jake Chapman, Charlie Edwards, and Simon Hampson. This paper "offers an approach premised on learning and adaptation, which demands that politicians and policymakers be prepared to embrace uncertainty and complexity." It does this by taking a close look at three very complex and intractable policy issues: illicit drugs in Mexico, London gang crime, and climate change. The report includes five separate chapters, along with a section of references. For anyone looking for a compelling voice in the wide world of public policy and related matters, this paper is an excellent find. [KMG]  From Scout Report

http://www.demos.co.uk/files/Connecting_the_dots_-_web-2.pdf?1259947418

December 18

RE-IMAGINING THE SOCIAL IN SOUTH AFRICA: CRITIQUE AND POST-APARTHEID KNOWLEDGE [Book Review]

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RE-IMAGINING THE SOCIAL IN SOUTH AFRICA... edited by Heather Jacklin and Peter Vale. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press

A 'revolutionary' new volume of essays published by the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press seeks to revive the tradition of intellectual argument in post-apartheid South Africa.

http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/61078

[The Library has a copy of this book in the African Studies Library: Shelf Number: BA 320.968 REIM, and in the Main Library: Shelf Number: 320.968019 REIM]

December 18

Climate Change Conference And CHALLENGING DOMINANT GOVERNANCE PARADIGMS

Climate Change Governance Trackbacks (0)
FROM BELEM TO COPENHAGEN: CHALLENGING DOMINANT GOVERNANCE PARADIGMS
Salma Maoulidi
As the United Nations Climate Change Conference approaches its final day, Salma Maoulidi writes in this week' s Pambazuka News of her elation at "the stance of African countries and other developing nations against a unilateral pollution emissions framework being imposed by rich, industrialised and polluting nations". But, Maoulidi argues, unless key global governance structures are reformulated to make them relevant and accountable to global citizens, not just imperial and financial interests,
the outcomes expected of international forums will remain elusive for Africa, no matter how well resourced and empowered the continent's delegations.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61096
December 18

Population Dynamics And Climate Change. UNFPA Report

Climate Change Population Women Trackbacks (0)

 

The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) has issued a report on population dynamics and climate change. The report broadens and deepens understanding of a wide range of population-climate change linkages. Incorporating population dynamics into research, policymaking and advocacy around climate change is critical for understanding the trajectory of global greenhouse gas emissions, for developing and implementing adaptation plans and thus for global and national efforts to curtail this threat. UN Pulse: Permanent Link: UNFPA Report: Population Dynamics and Climate Change

December 18

World Economic Situation And Prospects 2010

Economic conditions and policy Trackbacks (0)

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), has issued an advance copy of The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2010; ( Global Outlook Report). This report is a joint product of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the five United Nations regional commissions (Economic Commission for Africa, (UNECA), Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the (Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). The report provides an analysis of the past year economic situation and prospects for the future.

UN Pulse Permanent Link: World Economic Situation and Prospects 2010
December 18

William Gumede And Leslie Dikeni In Pambazuka News

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THE TRUTH ABOUT SUSTAINING BROAD COALITIONS
William Gumede
A dramatic "realignment" in the coalition of political forces that came together at South Africa's ruling African National Congress' 2007 Polokwane conference  "which swept Thabo Mbeki out of the presidency of the party and country and lifted Jacob Zuma to the pinnacle of power " is currently taking place, writes William Gumede in this week's Pambazuka News.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61080



THE POVERTY OF IDEAS
William Gumede and Leslie Dikeni "Active and engaged public intellectuals play a crucial role in the ongoing life of democratic societies", perhaps even more so in new democracies like South Africa, William Gumede and Leslie Dikeni write in this week's
Pambazuka News. In an extract from their new book, "The Poverty of Ideas", Gumede and Dikeni make the case for opening up the "space for debate, dissent and public dialogue" and reversing a culture of intolerance that flourished under the Mbeki administration.[The Library has a copy of this book in the African Studies Library, and a Main Library copy: Shelf Number 305.5520968 POVE]
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61073

December 17

Iran. House Of Commons Research Paper

Iran Trackbacks (0)

Islamic Republic of Iran: an introduction

This site provides free access to House of Commons Library research paper 09/92 which was published in December 2009. The 160 page paper provides a solid introduction to the history, politics, economy and human rights policy of Iran from 1979-2009. It includes coverage of the Islamic revolution of 1979, the disputed presidential election of 2008, Iranian foreign policy and nuclear weapons policy. An appendix contains maps and a selected bibliography of further reading.

http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2009/rp09-092.pdf

December 17

Economic Situation In The Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPt)

Economic conditions and policy Israel-Palestine Trackbacks (0)

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has released three briefing papers on the economic and labour situation in the oPt in 2008:

  • Socio-Economic Developments in the oPt 2008 (pdf)
  • The West Bank Labour Market in 2008 (pdf)
  • The Gaza Labour Market in 2008 (pdf)
UN Pulse Permanent Link: Economic Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt)
December 17

World Malaria Report 2009. WHO

Health Trackbacks (0)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued the World Malaria Report 2009.

The World malaria report 2009 describes the global distribution of cases and deaths, how WHO-recommended control strategies have been adopted and implemented in endemic countries, sources of funding for malaria control, and recent evidence that prevention and treatment can alleviate the burden of disease.

The Full Report is downloadable in English only. Executive summaries are available in Chinese, French and Spanish and Portuguese.

UN Pulse Permanent Link: World Malaria Report 2009

December 15

Copenhagen Climate Change Conference

Climate Change Trackbacks (0)

official conference website: http://unfccc.int/2860.php

Resources:

 

December 15

World Of Work Report 2009: Global Jobs Crisis And Beyond

Employment and work Trackbacks (0)

ILO Jobs Report


The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released World of Work Report 2009: Global Jobs Crisis and Beyond (pdf, executive summary pdf). In analyzing the financial crisis, the report warns that "unless adequate measures are adopted and in some cases continued, more than 40 million people could drop out of the labour market" (news release).

UN Pulse Permanent Link: ILO Jobs Report

December 10

John Locke

Human Nature Trackbacks (0)
The Digital Locke Project

The influence of John Locke on human thought is hard to overstate, and scholars continue to mine his substantial corpus for insights into the ways that humans interact. This delightful website brings together a scholarly text edition of many of his works. The project is being overseen by Professor Paul Schuurman, and the database here includes multiple drafts of some of Locke's most powerful works, such as the seminal "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding." Visitors can get started by clicking on the "Texts" button to find the text of his works, along with an "About" area that gives some background material on each work. Those persons who might not be familiar with Locke might also appreciate the "About Locke" area of the site.  http://www.digitallockeproject.nl/   [KMG]  From The Scout Report

December 10

20 Years After: Life Beyond Communism In Central And Eastern Europe [Flash Player]

Eastern Europe Trackbacks (0)
What was life like for people twenty years ago in Eastern Europe? Certainly it was a time of great social upheaval, and the Transitions Online (TOL) organization has created this website to collect articles, essays, and videos related to the revolutions that unfolded in 1989 in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. The six primary sections on the homepage include "Features, "Recollections", "Where Are They Now?", "Countries", "Video", and "Timelines". The interactive "Timelines" area is a great way to start looking around on this site, and it includes chronological listings of key events in both the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Visitors can click on tags related to each event, and they may be curious to learn of lesser-known policies, like the so-called "Sinatra Doctrine", which was announced by Mikhail Gorbachev on October 25, 1989. Moving on, the "Recollections" area contains fascinating first-hand remembrances from people who were part of this historical milieu, like Michael Horacek, a ground-breaking journalist who experienced and wrote about the Velvet Revolution first-hand. Finally, the "Where Are They Now?" section offers written and visual updates on publishers, politicians, activists, and others associated with this period of revolution. http://20years.tol.org/    [KMG]  From The Scout Report