The Drum Beat 85 - Communication and Change News and Issues

PROGRAMMES

1. On 8 Mar, Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE) held a Webcast Marathon, dedicated to the struggles of women against the racism . "Full Spectrum Against the Racism" was held with the collaboration of WIN - the Women's Network of AMARC (World Association of Community Radios) - and it forms part of the "Voices Without Frontiers" Campaign of AMARC which will hold a 24 hour broadcast from South Africa via Internet, Satellite and local radios world wide on March 21st. AMARC website.

2. Uganda Participatory Development Network (UPDNet) - Uganda - a loose association of about 30 organisations and individuals interested in promoting participatory techniques for community development. They provide an opportunity for practitioners to meet, discuss and exchange experience and they organize workshops on specific themes relevant to the use and development of Participatory Techniques in Uganda. RCPLA website - search for UNDPNet. Contact [email protected]

3. Fundación Cabo San Francisco - Ecuador - an NGO working in the fields of education, health and the environment that has constructed an optimal water supply system and a school for the community. They are seeking funders and technical assistance to continue their projects. Contact [email protected]

4. Development Teams - Global - matches projects in the developing world with corporations seeking Leadership Development programmes for their staff. Involves the staff in overseas volunteer work on specific ongoing projects. Tasks may be manual, technical, or administrative, and often in remote locations. Clients can also donate their own time, skills and resources via online volunteering to specific projects on a longer term basis. Fees are paid directly to the selected development projects. Contact Robert Winter [email protected]

5. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation - South India - committed to a mission of harnessing science and technology for environmentally sustainable and socially equitable development. MSSRF's research, training, communication, extension and networking programmes, in the fields of agriculture and rural development, seek to link ecological security to livelihood security in a mutually reinforcing manner. Contact [email protected]

6. TEAMS (Time to End Alcohol Marketing in Sports) - USA - a national campaign to promote voluntary and governmental policies and actions to eliminate alcohol marketing to underage persons in sports. TEAMS will also work to promote positive sports role models for youth. Main focus is on limiting marketing strategies (prohibiting alcohol advertising, eliminating alcohol sponsorship of youth events, etc.) and eliminating the presence of alcohol at youth events. Contact Lloyd Jacobson [email protected]

7. Workers World Radio - South Africa - from Sept-Dec 1997, a collective of labour service organisations carried out a radio pilot project. It consisted of 12 weekly 30-minute slots on Bush Radio, a community radio station, focussing on issues relevant to workers and the labour movement. At the evaluation meetings at the end of the pilot project, it was agreed by the participating organisations to set up a semi-independent radio production project. Contact Martin Jansen [email protected]

8. World TB Day - 24 Mar 2001 - In recognition of the right to the highest attainable standard of health for all, the theme for this year's global campaign is "DOTS: TB Cure for All". The campaign has 2 objectives: (i) to alert political leaders and decision-makers to the situation of TB sufferers worldwide and the effects of the disease on human development; (ii) to raise awareness that a cost-effective cure-DOTS-exists and that accessing and completing treatment free from stigma and discrimination is an important step in realizing one's right to the highest attainable standard of health and well-being. Contact [email protected]

9. United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS - New York, USA - NGO and civil society organisations are invited to join in the preparations for the Special Session, scheduled for 25-27 Jun 2001. "As more is understood about the epidemic, greater emphasis is being placed on the value of community-based experience and expertise. With individual countries and communities recognised as the major source of relevant expertise and understanding regarding personal AIDS responses, that knowledge must be a cornerstone of the HIV/AIDS UNGASS process." Contact [email protected]

10. The EuroTransMed Foundation (ETM) - Europe - offers a range of postgraduate continuing medical education programmes, by satellite in Europe and via the web world-wide. ETM works with major medical organisations in presenting evidence based best practice. Over 200 hospitals receive the satellite broadcasts, which facilitate live interaction with international opinion leaders in the studio. After the broadcast text summaries and RealAudio files with streaming graphics are available from the ETM website. ETM also offers hospitals the opportunity to replicate RealVideo files of programmes within their Local Area Networks for local self-directed learning and reference. Contact [email protected] 

11. Asha for Education - India - an action group for basic education for underprivileged children in India, with 35 chapters in the USA, India, Singapore, England, Australia, and Canada. Asha is run by an all-volunteer force, has a flat structure and zero overhead costs, and supports over 100 secular and apolitical projects. Identifying, researching, owning, funding, and sustaining projects forms the core of Asha's activities. Asha-Computers is a focus group within Asha that is exploring the use of computers for basic education. Contact [email protected]

 

Drum Role 7 - Stephen Lewis, former Canadian ambassador to the UN and deputy executive director of Unicef, reflects on the responsibility of drug companies to make AIDS drugs available to all, in an article he titles "J'accuse!".

 

EVENTS

12. The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) held its national executive meeting in Khayelitsha, Cape Town on 15-16 Jan 2001. This meeting adopted a programme of action for 2001. From 18-21 Mar 2001, TAC will hold its national Treatment Congress in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The Treatment Congress will adopt a Treatment Charter and build a campaign to produce generic anti-retrovirals. Contact [email protected]

13. The 2nd World Education Market (WEM), will take place 21-24 May 2001 at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, British Columbia, Canada. Contact [email protected] 

DISCUSSION FORUM

14. Health Communication Materials Network - The Media/Materials Clearinghouse at Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs has established a network of professionals specializing in all aspects of health communication materials development and dissemination. Share ideas, information, and samples of materials with colleagues. Membership is free. Visit M/MC website to join.

WEB SITES

15. Health-e is an online health news agency with the objective of supplementing and broadening the coverage of health issues in South Africa through the mainstream media. News and feature stories - for daily and weekly newspapers, radio and on their website. Contact Sue Valentine [email protected]

16. The Child Survival Technical Support Project (CSTS) assists private voluntary organizations (PVOs) in increasing their capacity to achieve sustainable service delivery in public health interventions. Some features include an events calendar; online conference registration; a links page; and Child Survival Connections, a collection of articles on successes, innovations, and promising practices from projects around the world.

MATERIALS

17. The Report on the Eastern & Southern Africa Regional Workshop on Orphans & Vulnerable Children, which was held 5-8 Nov 2001 in Lusaka is available on the CABA (Children Affected by AIDS) archive (under Title: Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Workshop Report). The workshop was sponsored by UNICEF Zambia and USAID Zambia and included 80 participants from 14 countries in the region.

18. "A World of Difference: Sexual & Reproductive Health & Risks" - an effort to measure the progress of nations toward transforming reproductive health programmes. A wallchart ranks 133 countries on a Reproductive Risk Index (RRI) composed of 10 key indicators of sexual and reproductive health. The study documents the vast disparities between rich and poor countries and the need to accelerate progress in this area. From Population Action International (PAI) and CARE. Contact [email protected]

 

The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.

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