GRACE is a network of researchers whose work involves developing analytical observations. As GRACE is present in Africa and the Middle East, GRACE Researchers within countries that are currently facing turmoil can provide accounts of the experiences of people within these communities. Where there is conflict, there are also higher prevalence’s of injustice towards vulnerable groups and this is a major concern.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Uganda Elects first Woman Speaker of the House of Parliament
Uganda law makers on Thursday elected Ms Rebbeca Alitwala Kadaga as Speaker for the 9th parliament. Kadaga, who had been fronted by the NRM party for the seat, won by 302 votes. Her closest rival for the speaker seat, 8th Parliament Public Accounts Committee Chairman and MP for Budadiri West Nandala Mafabi managed to garner 57 votes.
Ms Kadaga also served as Deputy Speaker in the 6th, 7th, and 8th parliament.
During the vote counting for the seat of Speaker, two votes were declared invalid. One of the invalid votes was in favour of 8th Parliament speaker Edward Ssekandi who opted not to stand for the post again. The other invalid vote was cast for MP Jacob Oulanyah.
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MP Jacob Oulanya was voted as deputy speaker of parliament by 299 votes. Opposition MP Odonga Otto (Aruu county) got the same number votes as those of Nandala Mafabi contested for the Speaker of parliament seat -- 57 votes.
Who is Rebecca Kadaga
Born on 24 May 1956 in Kamuli district Rebecca Alitwala Committee attended Namasagali College for her high school education. She graduated with a law degree (LLB) from Makerere University in 1978 and later She went on to obtain the Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Center in Kampala in 1979. In 2000, she obtained the Diploma in Women's Law from the University of Zimbabwe. In 2003, she obtained the degree of Master of Arts (MA), specializing in Women's Law, also from the University of Zimbabwe. is the Woman MP for the Kamuli District Constituency
Between 1984 and 1988, she was in private law practice. From 1989 until 1996, she served as the woman MP for Kamuli District in the District Woman's Constituency. She served as the Chairperson of the University Council for Mbarara University, between 1993 and 1996. During 1996, she served as Secretary General of the East African Women Parliamentarians Association.
From 1996 until 1998, Rebecca Kadaga was the Ugandan Minister of State for Regional Cooperation (Africa and the Middle East). She then served as Minister of State for Communication and Aviation, from 1998 until 1999. Between 1999 and 2000 she was the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
ICC to investigate institutionalized gang-rape of women in Libya
Can conflict minerals really be controlled?
"There will not be a bulletproof solution," he says.
There's Not an App for That
There's Not an App for That
The United Nations' agency for ICTs, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), marks today, 17 May, asWorld Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD). The purpose of the day is to “help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide”. This year the theme of the day is “Better life in rural communities with ICTs”.It is a vital - if optimistic - theme. Over three quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas. They lack economic opportunities, have difficulty accessing basic services, have a limited voice in governance and remain extremely vulnerable to shocks. In Sub-Saharan Africa they account for 67% of the total population and rural poverty in this region is deepening. Rural areas in South Africa share similar characteristics. (IFAD Rural Poverty Report 2011 - www.ifad.org/rpr2011)
But the extent to which information communication technologies (ICTs) have the ability to improve the lives of the rural poor is debatable. There is no doubt that the use of ICTs among poor people is growing rapidly. Coverage reaches further than roads, electricity, sanitation and clean water. ICTs - and in particular mobile technology - provide access to information and communication, complement successful development initiatives, drive innovation, and empower communities and individuals to co-create new solutions.
On the other side, however, is an understandable reaction to the inevitable hype. Competitions and challenges have created a slightly unrealistic environment - at once hypercompetitive and unsustainable - perhaps a case of the ICT4D sector mirroring the commercial tech bubble?
Maybe. But there are some exciting and effective ICT4D projects. And it is not atypical of deeply innovative phases for there to be a flurry of projects, prototypes, pilots – and the non-profit equivalent of exuberant venture capital – inflows of grants to the field of ICT4D. And maybe it takes a crowded podium/appstore/innovation lab, etc. to separate (and the agricultural analogy is deliberate) the wheat from the chaff. And perhaps one of the most exciting aspects is that much of the hype - the events, the formation of app labs, techno-hubs, living labs and the solutions themselves - is happening in the countries and regions most affected by rural poverty. In India, here in South Africa, and even more so just up the road in Nairobi where “technology” and “technology for development” don't sound like completely different fields.
Larger-scale successful uses of ICTs in rural development include improved access to markets, financial services and employment; increased access to education and healthcare; improvement in emergency and disaster relief; and improvement in transparency and public participation through the use of mobile phones in citizen journalism.
And it is easy to throw around the names of projects and products that have made the field seem so exciting and full of potential - m-Pesa, Ushahidi, e-seva, eSoko - or the nascent projects just starting to bubble to visibility like Jamiix.com
But how can we try and measure the value and impact of these tools in support of rural development, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Well, as we celebrate WTISD today, with the emphasis on “Better life in rural communities with ICTs”, SANGONeT is pleased to announce that its 7th annual conference will focus on Information Communication Technologies for Rural Development (ICT4RD) with a theme titled, “Rural Realities, Real Solutions.”
The conference will be held from the 1-3 November 2011 at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Amongst other things, the conference agenda will include a critical review of three keywords that are constantly thrown around in conference presentations and grant applications - scale, sustainability and replication. What is the status of exiting projects? Why are so many ICT4D/ICT4RD projects stuck in pilots? What are the secrets of those projects and products that have broken free and are successfully scaling and replicating? Is there a “development innovation curve where we can map successful methods and projects?
The conference will bring together more than 250 key innovators, implementers, social entrepreneurs and thinkers from across the developing world to explore how ICT innovations can benefit rural populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. It will assess the current state of ICT4RD projects, products and policies; create an environment for matchmaking and deep knowledge-sharing; and contribute to the successful use of ICTs in response to the realities of rural development.
The real success requirements of many ICT4RD projects depend less on great software development and more on good research, effective local capacity, influence, great networks and relationships - the types of things a good NGO does well and has done well through many developmental, technological and methodological phases.
And there's not an app for that.
Click here for more information about the 2011 SANGONeT Conference or assist us in shaping the conference agenda by sharing your views and comments on Facebook, on Twitter, or by replying to ict4rd@ngopulse.org.
Matthew de Gale manages SANGONeT’s “Mobile Services for African Agriculture” programme.
David Barnard is the Executive Director of SANGONeT.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
Rwanda’s Kagame takes on journalist via Twitter
Mushikiwabo: How I wish the simple logic of “despots cannot produce content, hopeful, and upbeat people” would prevail on Ian. Guess too wishful. Would you care to know what 11,000,000 Rwandans think of Paul Kagame before you spread your formed opinion? Too big a challenge for you?
Mushikiwabo : Ian what is so complicated? You can critic but you have no “moral” right. Paul Kagame saved lives, built country and gave hope.
Mushikiwabo: I know Rwandans have dealt with the likes of Ian for many years now. They keep the guess wrong and we keep advance.
Mushikiwabo: Ian, have you ever heard of Rwanda National Dialogue? Are you familiar with Rwanda president’s monthly press conference? Paul Kagame is too secure to fear critics at home.
Monday, 16 May 2011
Abbas orders amendment to 'honor killing' law
Uganda gay death penalty -- we won!!
It was down to the wire -- religious extremists tried to push the bill through on Wednesday, and then convened an unprecedented emergency session of Parliament on Friday. But each time, within hours, we reacted. A huge congratulations to everyone who signed, called, forwarded and donated to this campaign -- with our help, thousands of innocent people in Uganda's gay community do not wake up this morning facing execution for whom they chose to love.
Frank Mugisha, a courageous leader of the gay community in Uganda sent us this message:
"Brave Ugandan LGBT activists and millions of people around the world have stood together and faced down this horrendous anti-homosexuality bill.The support from the Avaaz global community has tipped the scales to prevent this Bill going forward. Global solidarity has made a huge difference."
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs' Office also wrote to Avaaz:
"Many thanks. As you know, thanks to a very large extent to the intensive lobbying and combined effort of you, other civil society representatives, EU and other governments, plus our delegation and embassies on the ground the Bill was not presented to the Parliament this morning."
This fight is not over. The extremists behind this bill could try again within just 18 months. But this is the second time we've helped defeat this bill, and we'll keep going until the hate-mongers give up.
Transforming the deeper causes of ignorance and hatred behind homophobia is an historic, long term struggle, one of the great causes of our generation. But Uganda has become a front line in that struggle, and a powerful symbol. The victory there echoes across many other places where hope is desperately needed, showing that kindness, love, tolerance and respect can defeat hatred and ignorance. Again, a huge thanks to all who made it happen.
With enormous gratitude and admiration for this amazing community,
Ricken, Emma, Iain, Alice, Giulia, Saloni and the whole Avaaz team.
Media highlights:
Anti-gay bill shelved:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13392723
Avaaz's response to the outcome in the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/13/uganda-anti-gay-bill-shelved
Ugandan President did not back bill because of "criticism of human rights groups":
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/05/13/international/i042638D37.DTL
Anti-gay bill delayed amid outcry:
http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Uganda-shelves-anti-gay-bill-20110513
Uganda's "kill the gays" bill defeated:
http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE74C0HP20110513
Support the Avaaz community! We're entirely funded by donations and receive no money from governments or corporations. Our dedicated team ensures even the smallest contributions go a long way -- donate here.
Avaaz.org is an 8-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
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Friday, 13 May 2011
Global Activist Events and Schedules: For more info on the events, Google Event Titles
Mobilizations against the G8/G20 Meeting in Le Havre
Congress of OCLAE
World Campaign for the Right to Habitat
Day of Global Action against Capitalism
Still in this month: International Conference on the impact of the North-American invasion in Iraq
Day of global action against racism, for the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees
Mobilizations around Rio+20
World Campaign for the Right to Habitat
World Forum of Free and Alternative Media
Solidarity Forum to Palestine
International Week of Local Social Forums
World Thematic Forum of Culture and Education for Transformation
Date: May 2-8
Contact: 55 11 3159 - 1243 e 8793 - 7711 / sam@campanhaeducacao.org.br
Website: www.campanhaeducacao.org.br
Date: April and may
Contact: coalicioneducacion.col@gmail.
Website: www.derechoalaeducacion.com
Location: Paris (France)
Date: May 25-27
Event: ICAE Assembly
Location: Malmö, Sweden
Date: June 14-17
Contact: secretariat@icae.org.uy / matsehn@folkbildning.net
Website: www.aworldworthlivingin.se
Location: Argentina
Date: June 17-22
Website: www.redires.net
Location: Brasília, Brazil
Date: August 16-17
Website: www.sof.org.br/marcha/
Location: Bas Saint-Laurent (Canada)
Date: September 29th to October 2nd
Website: www.forumsocialbaslaurentien.
Location: São Paulo (Brazil)
Date: September
Contact: fssp2011@gmail.com
Website: http://forumsocialsp.org.br/
Location: Quebec (Canada)
Date: October 17-20
Contact: Émilien Gruet: emilien.gruet@chantier.qc.ca / Béatrice Alain: beatrice.alain@chantier.qc.ca (program)
Website: www.fiess2011.org/en/
Location: Porto Alegre (Brazil)
Contact: 55 11 8699 – 6683 (Gustavo Anitelli) / 55 51 9104 – 7759 (Richard Serraria)
Website: http://musicaparabaixar.org.
Location: Cobija (Bolivia)
Contact: 55 93 3522 6852 / contato@
Website: www.forumsocialpanamazonico.