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Make your desktop more interesting with sharing your passion with friends and family and believe in God.

Finally here we are, our train is moving on. Now you are in no way, the final say in what YOUR dream


-----Amira--------
Wed, June 17 -09

Today people live in a society where transformation of information and knowledge based on the opportunities for individuals and communities to be information producers as well as consumers, where socialization of knowledge exists. As information and communications technologies (ICT) continue to spread into all sectors of social and economic life, it became a vital tool for creating knowledge based society, building and sustaining human development. It has transformed our world from the industrial society into an informational one.

For that reason, knowledge has become an essential key for production, and a basic determination for creativity. The Info-Technological revolution which is led by advances in ICT is restructuring the global social economic equation— moving from income divide to knowledge divide. The revolution is spearheading the growth of knowledge societies in developed countries and raised much interest among civil society, markets and the agents of change.

While more than 850 million people in developing countries are excluded from a wide range of information and knowledge tools, the poors in those developing countries remain much isolated economically, socially and culturally from the burgeoning information and progress in arts, science and technology. In addition the global economy of capital investment is flowing to where the potential opportunities for reward can be found. These opportunities will be located in these places or regions where new values and creative ideas can be realized.

Information and Communication Technologies broadly refer to set of activities that facilitate—by electronic means—the capturing, storage, processing, transmission, and display of information.[1]
Information and Communications Technology is "an umbrella term that includes computer hardware and software; digital broadcast and telecommunications technologies as well as electronic information repositories such as the World Wide Web or those found on CD-ROMs (Selwyn 2002). It represents a broad and continually evolving range of elements that further includes television (TV), radio, mobile phones, and the policies and laws that govern these media and devices"[2]

Information and communication technologies are the tools that underpin the emerging “information society.” While no universally accepted definition for Information Society exists, it can be defined as "society in which the creation, distribution, and manipulation of information has become the most significant economic and cultural activity. An Information Society may be contrasted with societies in which the economic underpinning is primarily Industrial or Agrarian” (TechTarget 1999). "information" exchange between people and through networks of people has always taken place. The ICT enablement of information exchange, however, has radically changed the magnitude of this exchange, and thus, factors such as timeliness of information and information dissemination patterns have become more important than ever"[3].

As "information" is "the data that has been organized and communicated"[4] while "knowledge" has been described as "the set of statements, facts or ideas; presenting a reasoned judgment or an experimental result, which is transmitted to others through some communication medium in some system systematic form"[5]. In addition, both of the "information" and "knowledge" both considered being main pillars in achieving the "socialization of knowledge" in order to build “information society.”

Information Society has been one of the key terms used to describe today’s world, as ICT have brought revolutionary changes impacting every aspect of our society— connecting cultures, creating new opportunities for education, restructuring employment, generating new economies, and changing citizens' relation to government. Recognizing these and other paradigm shifts are typically seen as the natural development of the modern liberal tradition. Information and Communication Technologies/ICTs represent to today’s world what industrial machines represented during the industrial revolution; they have revolutionized ways of working, transformed the economy, had an irreversible impact on the way people live, and have shaped a new “information society".[6]It is about a second industry revolution but this time based in the information and communication arena.


on the other hand, the term of "socialization of knowledge" is used to "express the idea of transforming the private and individual knowledge to public and collective knowledge"[7].

Within the context of ICTs and Information Societies; we should refer to:

"environmental information systems" and "eco-efficiency"


"environmental information systems": The definition of environmental information is very wide and many researchers link between sustainable development and the information society focusing on the potential for information systems to assist decision-makers "to monitor and evaluate the state of the environment" using computer and information management technology to solve environmental problems and improve environmental stewardship. Environmental information system (EIS) programs seek “to increase the quality, efficiency and accountability of decision-making processes through applications that systematically use environmental information. In this regard EIS development seeks to enhance the use of harmonized environmental data sets through improving data availability; facilitating access to data; ensuring that data is internally consistent; and ensuring that different data sets match each other.” .

While the term eco-efficiency was coined by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in its 1992 publication: "Changing Course". It is based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating less waste and pollution. The 1992 Earth Summit endorsed eco-efficiency as a means for companies to implement Agenda 21 in the private sector, and the term has become synonymous with a management philosophy geared towards sustainability.

According to the WBCSD definition, eco-efficiency is achieved through the delivery of "competitively priced goods and services that satisfy human needs and bring quality of life while progressively reducing environmental impacts of goods and resource intensity throughout the entire life-cycle to a level at least in line with the Earth's estimated carrying capacity.” This concept describes a vision for the production of economically valuable goods and services while reducing the ecological impacts of production. In other words eco-efficiency means producing more with less.

In 2002, the book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things was published by Michael Braungart and William McDonough about the ideas of eco-efficiency and its practical applications.

"Eco-efficiency in the production and consumption of goods and services-environmentally is benign to alleviate the impact of further economic growth on world ecosystems.”


Another term commonly used to describe the changes produced by information technology is the "digital divide" term which refers to the gap between those who benefit from digital technology and those who do not. While the term digital economy; this expression emphasizes the new opportunities created by transforming information into a binary digital code. The digital economy refers to more than the boom and bust cycle of many new ventures that aim at tapping the potential of the Internet for commercial purposes. The more profound effect of ICT is likely to be in improving the efficiency and reach of the mainstream production of goods and services, in both the public and private sectors of the economy. Based on this we can defined the The "global digital divide" is a term used to describe “great disparities in opportunity to access the Internet and the information and educational/business opportunities tied to this access … between developed and developing countries” [8] (Lu 2001 p. 1). Unlike the traditional notion of the "digital divide" between social classes, the "global digital divide" is essentially a geographical division.

Cleary the development of the Information and Knowledge Society shows outstanding differences between individuals, places, cities, countries, and regions, thus leading to the existence of the so-called digital divide. However, how individuals utilize ICT to access equal opportunities differ from country to another and from person to person due to economic, physical, geographical, and other reasons.

Despite the potential benefits that can be offered by Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) developing countries face significant obstacles to ICT access due to a wide variety of reasons including technical, economic, legal and educational factors.


Different degrees of access to technology and connectivity mirror the social and economic divides within countries and between countries. Increase in access to ICTs will not, by itself, reduce poverty or secure freedoms on a sustainable basis. But there is a real danger that lack of access to ICTs, and to the spaces where decisions are made about information and communications infrastructure, content and services, can deepen existing social exclusion and create new forms of exclusion. Academic studies on ICT and society show that there is a range of issues which make clear that the Information Society like any society will have winners and losers, beneficial consequences of ICT and harmful applications. A review of these academic studies shows that there are no simple and straightforward effects of ICT on society. Mostly effects are multiple and contradictory. New positive developments are accompanied by neutral and negative effects.


To benefit the world community, the successful and continued growth of this new information world of today requires global cooperation and harmonization in different business and social domains.

Since there are still governments that are not able yet to fulfill the basic demands to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), then it is even harder to join the ICT revolution for their nations. Thus, the digital divide will remain and the gap between develop and the developing world will continue to be increasing.

For sustainable development (SD) to be achieved, it is a must, to promote the tools of the information society. And in order to have a sustainable information society; it is a must to consider the socio, economic, and the environmental needs, besides the local content of nations.

Then, Governments are exhorted to make greater use of both new and traditional information and communication technologies as a tool for development, as well as are encouraged to implement strategies references to the UN Millennium Development Goals. ICTs can create unknown opportunities for generating sustainable livelihoods. This could be easily achieved by building strategic partnerships among all parties in societies. As governments alone won't be able to achieve this objective.


There is a role for both of the private and non-profit sectors in helping governments to achieve the MDGs -each is dependent on the cooperation of others to accomplish its goals and further enhance sustainable development processes.

Many developed countries' future and economic and social developments depends to an increasing extent on their innovation performance.

Today, research and development (R&D) – intensive industries in some of these developed countries account for more than half of all industrial production. Here comes the role of the civil society and international agencies in raising awareness of the local communities about the important of such kind of businesses that invest more in research and development.
Youth should be aware that ICT is not about providing technology alone to areas devoid of the modern machines and equipments. Simply, ICT is a way of living. Also, young people should know that using ICT is not that hard. ICT could be simple as using pens and papers. ICT is for all; it could be for young and old, it could be for poor and rich.

ICT is not Luxury…ICT is Life




--Amira--
Aug., 2007
==========================================
Refrences:

[1] OECD definition cited by Cynthia Hewitt De Alcántara (2001): The Development Divide in a Digital Age: An Issues Paper, UNRISD, Technology, Business and Society Programme Paper Number 4, August 2001, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, Geneva , p. 3.
[2] Steve Vosloo: Willard, Terri, and Maja Andjelkovic. A Developing Connection: Bridging the Policy Gap between the Information Society and Sustainable Development.. '1st ed'. Canada: IISD , 2005
[3] Steve Vosloo: Willard, Terri, and Maja Andjelkovic. A Developing Connection: Bridging the Policy Gap between the Information Society and Sustainable Development.. '1st ed'. Canada: IISD , 2005
[4] Romer, P., "Endogenous Technological Change", Journal of Political Economy, 98:5 (1990)
[5] Daniell Bell (1973:175)
[6] Sarrocco, "ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF THE INFORMATION." www.itu.int. 19 Jul 2007
[7] Diogo André de Assumpçăo, Willard, Terri, and Maja Andjelkovic. A Developing Connection: Bridging the Policy Gap between the Information Society and Sustainable Development.. '1st ed'. Canada: IISD , 2005
[8]Lu, Ming-te (2001). Digital divide in developing countries. Journal of Global Information Technology Management (4:3), pp. 1-4.
[9]Willard, Terri , and Michael Halder. The Information Society and Sustainable Development- Exploring the Linkages. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: IISD, 2003.
[10]Information Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. “About EIS.” http://www.grida.no/eisssa/about/eis.htm

كلمة الحوار ، و المعروفة عملياً ب"سمعنى سُكاتك" أفتكرت موقعها الجغرافي فى حياتنا اليومية ، لأنى من شوية أثارتني مقال للكاتب والروائي: خالد صُبيح عن الحوار وأخلاقيته، وخلتنى أطرح تساؤلات مفتوحة بدون إجابات عن ماهية الحوار.....وكيف أفتقدنا معنى كلمة الحوار أو بالأحري مش موجودة أصلاً فى قاموس حياتنا اليومية

للأسف انعكس جدلنا السياسي وفقر حجتنا على حياتنا اليومية، وأصبح كلامنا خايب وملوش طعم الصراحة

بيقولو الإناء بينضح بما فيه: طيب معنى الكلام ده إننا بقينا فاضيين أوى كدة فعلا..ولا خلصنا الكلام..ولا مبقاش فى نفس..ولا بعنا القضية ..وحبينا نشتري دماغنا...لأننا من الأخر مش عايزين صداع وكلام ملوش لازمة,,,,لأن أول ما بتتقال الكلمة دى ، يبقة علطول كلام نفخ، وفسطائية جوفاء. أو خناقة وضرب نار...حتى ولو كنا بنتكلم عن "ميكي ماوس" فى الاخر هتتقلب بغم

أو إزاى أى كلام بقة فرصة لضرب بعض...زي ما نكون منتظرين مين هيجي تحت ضرسي النهاردة

وكل ما بناخد وندى مع بعض ، كل ما عداد مسك الأخطاء على الواحد اشتغل،يمكن أكتر مثال له فى يومياتنا بيظهر أوى فى علاقة الأزواج والمخطوبين، فتلاقي البنت فى الخطوبة سااااكتة ، علشان ميتمسكش عليها الكلام، والعكس صحيح بعد الجواز ، وكدة يعنى

حتى المثقفين والأدباء والمفكرين كتير مش بحسهم بيفكروا فى آراء بعض لما بيسمعوها بل بيسمعوها علشان يفكروا فى الرد على بعض

خلاص مبقناش عايزين نعرف حتى معنى كلمة الحوار ، فما بالك بالحوار المتمدن، لأننا عارفين كويس إن الحوار المتمدن هو مسألة بعيده عننا..أو لزوم التلفزيونات والكاميرات لبتوع المؤتمرات واللي بيلبسوا بدل وكرفاتات وبس


------
للحوار أخلاقه أيضاً
http://khalidsabih.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00%2B01%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00%2B01%3A00&max-results=14

النهاردة حصلى موقف وخلصت إلى إنى بجد مشش قادرة..حقيقي يعنى امتى بقة بجد يفتحوا باب الهجرة للفضاء


النهاردة كان عندى محاضرة عادي جدا..والمفروض اننا هنتكلم عن "حل النزاع" وفوجئت بي باصاب بحالة اعياء شديدة

وفى صعوبة فى التنفس..وعايزة أبكي بشدة، رغم انى كنت جاية فريش ومفيش أى مشكلة، فى البداية تصورت انها نوع من الحساسية لرائحة بياض فى القاعة المجاورة من زيوت الطلاء

لكن لأ...الحقيقة إنى مع كل كلمة بقيت حاسة انى عايزة اطلع اجري واصرخ زى المجنونة : كفاية ..كفاية بقة..مش قادرة .يا ناس ارحمونى شوية

أفتح التليفزيون: أطفال بتموت..وأجساد بتتحرق لدرجة انى حاسة انى بشم ريحت شوائهم على نار تخازلنا...وانى بشرب الدموع الحرمان المثلجة بنكهة الحرمان من اثر المجاعات

فى الشراع: الناس بتتخانق مع بعض
فى البيت: فوجئت بأخى بيترجانى إنى أخرج مع بابا لأن بابا بدأ يربي دقنه اكتئاب وحزناً على أهل غزة...وهو حاسس بالعجز انه يعمل حاجة ..وهو اللي كان المحارب الشجاع

الولاد الصغيرة والشباب فى سن الورد: صوتها متحشرج وعايزين يحاربو ..ياااه قسوة قلوبنا بدل ما ولدنا يتكلموا عن أحلام المستقبل..بيتكلموا عن الانتقام

الحبيب بيطعن الحبيب...الأب بيقتل أولاده خوفاً على عليهم من غدر الزمان...خلاص مش هقرا الجرنان

أدخل على الفيس بوك: برده.أفوجئ بشباب صغير زي الفل بيقول انه بيعاني من الاكتئاب وعايز يبكي...وبيعانو من الاكتئاب وأمراض القلب...طيب أروح فين...ياربي حقيقي مش قادرة...خلاص انا هاخد اجازة من الفيس بوك..وهروح السينما...أفوجئ بالاعلانات عن افلام حرب جديدة..أنا ناقصة

روحت اشتري مجلة أطفال: الراجل بيبصلي وانا داخلة بمنتهى الثقة على قسم الاطفال والشباب: أفوجئ بحرب العصابات..يا نهار ابيض ...دى مؤامرة بقة

بصي إحنا هنقرفك هتقرفك.

عايزة أخد اجازة..إحنا ليه بنعمل فى بعض كدة..بجد مكنتيش قادرة اتكلم ومخنوقة..الكلمة نفسها مش راضي تطلع..نفسي أسافر واغير جو...بس اروح فين...مش عايزة حد يعيط وحد يشتكي وحد يقول الحقونى واقف عاجزة انى اساعده

كفاية...أنا عايزة اقدم طلب لناسا بفتح باب الهجرة للفضاء
بس إزاى الإجراءات..والتذكرة بكام...وهل هحتاج "خطاب ضمان" أو كفيل" وهل هحتاج أوقع مذكرة تفاهم

طيب وهل فى ا يمنع إن مصر وطنى جبيبي ميكنيش موقع على مذكرة تعاون مع الهئية العالمية لفلك الكون




------Amira------
Fri. 16-01-2009

النهاردة حصلى موقف وخلصت إلى إنى بجد مشش قادرة..حقيقي يعنى امتى بقة بجد يفتحوا باب الهجرة للفضاء


النهاردة كان عندى محاضرة عادي جدا..والمفروض اننا هنتكلم عن "حل النزاع" وفوجئت بي باصاب بحالة اعياء شديدة

وفى صعوبة فى التنفس..وعايزة أبكي بشدة، رغم انى كنت جاية فريش ومفيش أى مشكلة، فى البداية تصورت انها نوع من الحساسية لرائحة بياض فى القاعة المجاورة من زيوت الطلاء

لكن لأ...الحقيقة إنى مع كل كلمة بقيت حاسة انى عايزة اطلع اجري واصرخ زى المجنونة : كفاية ..كفاية بقة..مش قادرة .يا ناس ارحمونى شوية

أفتح التليفزيون: أطفال بتموت..وأجساد بتتحرق لدرجة انى حاسة انى بشم ريحت شوائهم على نار تخازلنا...وانى بشرب الدموع الحرمان المثلجة بنكهة الحرمان من اثر المجاعات

فى الشراع: الناس بتتخانق مع بعض
فى البيت: فوجئت بأخى بيترجانى إنى أخرج مع بابا لأن بابا بدأ يربي دقنه اكتئاب وحزناً على أهل غزة...وهو حاسس بالعجز انه يعمل حاجة ..وهو اللي كان المحارب الشجاع

الولاد الصغيرة والشباب فى سن الورد: صوتها متحشرج وعايزين يحاربو ..ياااه قسوة قلوبنا بدل ما ولدنا يتكلموا عن أحلام المستقبل..بيتكلموا عن الانتقام

الحبيب بيطعن الحبيب...الأب بيقتل أولاده خوفاً على عليهم من غدر الزمان...خلاص مش هقرا الجرنان

أدخل على الفيس بوك: برده.أفوجئ بشباب صغير زي الفل بيقول انه بيعاني من الاكتئاب وعايز يبكي...وبيعانو من الاكتئاب وأمراض القلب...طيب أروح فين...ياربي حقيقي مش قادرة...خلاص انا هاخد اجازة من الفيس بوك..وهروح السينما...أفوجئ بالاعلانات عن افلام حرب جديدة..أنا ناقصة

روحت اشتري مجلة أطفال: الراجل بيبصلي وانا داخلة بمنتهى الثقة على قسم الاطفال والشباب: أفوجئ بحرب العصابات..يا نهار ابيض ...دى مؤامرة بقة

بصي إحنا هنقرفك هتقرفك.

عايزة أخد اجازة..إحنا ليه بنعمل فى بعض كدة..بجد مكنتيش قادرة اتكلم ومخنوقة..الكلمة نفسها مش راضي تطلع..نفسي أسافر واغير جو...بس اروح فين...مش عايزة حد يعيط وحد يشتكي وحد يقول الحقونى واقف عاجزة انى اساعده

كفاية...أنا عايزة اقدم طلب لناسا بفتح باب الهجرة للفضاء
بس إزاى الإجراءات..والتذكرة بكام...وهل هحتاج "خطاب ضمان" أو كفيل" وهل هحتاج أوقع مذكرة تفاهم

طيب وهل فى ا يمنع إن مصر وطنى جبيبي ميكنيش موقع على مذكرة تعاون مع الهئية العالمية لفلك الكون





------Amira------
Fri. 16-01-2009

The IYPF consolidated its developments in the 2006/2007 financial year and continued to implement its new strategic plan over the course of 2007/2008.

Overall, we continue to build and resource a global network of young professionals who are creating a better world for current and future generations through local and global action:
• Facilitating conversations and information sharing between young professionals that informs and inspires them to take action on important local and global issues through online communities, newsletters, blogs, publications, and presentations.
• Running projects that facilitate youth and young professional led social change, e.g. the Blueprint Project, to nurture youth entrepreneurship; the Youth & Sustainable Communities project to develop young sustainability leaders
• Assisting young professionals to start and run successful community projects and local events
• Convening regular international summits of young professionals, i.e. 3rd IYPS in Manchester, UK in August 2008

In the 2007 / 2008 Financial Year the IYPF had 4 major sources of income:
1. Membership payments from young professionals
2. Interest on accounts
3. The otherWISE project
4. The Foundation for Young Australians Youth Change Maker grant

The Youth Change Maker grant was receipted and expended over the course of the financial year. The otherWISE project income and expenditure delivered a slight loss on our operations. Overall, the Foundation recorded a slight loss ($695), which was a significant improvement on the previous year (loss of $2213). Significantly, membership income increased ($803 compared to $54) and overall revenue increased from $1804 in 2007 to $15008 in 2008. The end of financial year loss reduced our equity to $6927 moving in to the new financial year.

The principal activities of the year remained focused around the Company’s objectives:
• To promote and encourage the work done by young professionals in effecting positive global change.
• To facilitate the implementation of projects developed by members to address the issues of concern in the global community, which are consistent with the objects of the company, including the raising of funds where necessary.
• To further the networks formed during the International Young Professionals Summit 2001 and provide an ongoing platform for organisation and convening of future events and Summits and projects.
• To promote recognition of, mobilise and enhance the capacity of Young Professionals internationally to provide leadership and take action on global issues
• To undertake research and advocacy in regards to issues identified by members as vital to the
creation of a preferred global future.

The IYPF continued to pursue its vision and mission:
• VISION - A global community of young professionals creating a better world for current and future generations through local and global action
• MISSION - Informing, inspiring and equipping young professionals to change their world for good.

Much of the second half of the financial year focused on organising the 3rd International Young Professionals Summit, the IYPF’s flagship international conference. This event was held in Manchester, UK, in August 2008.

Convening the International Young Professionals Summit 2008 drained all of the IYPF’s human and financial resources, as well as leading to a complete rethinking of the IYPF’s operational goals and activities.

Over the course of the 2008/2009 financial year, the IYPF will need to:
• develop a new strategy
• engage a new leadership team
• focus on significant fundraising activities to secure operational revenue

A number of developments will likely impact on operations in future years:

(a) The IYPS 2008 in the UK may have important tax and income implications for the IYPF, i.e. overseas income. The Board and executive will need to research – and possibly engage some expert opinion – in regards to the impact of these activities on income tax exemption assessments.
(b) A new focus on engaging young professionals in the Millennium Development Goals between now and 2015 will require a rethinking of strategy and a different operational emphasis

Young people from around the planet have written, directed and produced one-minute films about the Convention of the Rights of the Child. Each film represents a right and shows how it is met or denied in communities across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe. See what young filmmakers from around the world have to say about the CRC.

http://www.unicef.org/knowyourrights/discuss_videos.php

4th October 2008 is the IYPF’s 7th Birthday.

To celebrate our 7th Birthday, we’ve put together 7 ‘gifts’ for you.

1. IYPS 2008 portal - http://scenta.interwise.com/etechb/Portal/IYPS

2. IYPS 2008 Declaration & Communique - http://www.iypf.org/files/iyps2008/IYPS2008_Public_Communique.pdf

3. Monthly virtual meetings on the MDGs for young professionals - http://scenta.interwise.com/etechb/Portal/IYPS

4. Stand Up Against Poverty - http://www.iypf.org/?q=content/events

5. Mdgpledge.org - http://www.mdgpledge.org

6. Onedoes.org - http://www.onedoes.org

7. New IYPF.ORG - http://www.iypf.org

Click through to enjoy each gift and share these gifts with your friends and colleagues.

Cameron, Greg and the IYPF team

Unique experience I passed through my visit to Lebanon (last week), it was work, as (UNDP-ICTDAR) was a partner in a project there.

I was touched by everything there…and really get confused!!
The ppl are awesome on the personal level… Lebanese ppl love life, have sense of humor, hospitable, kind, friendly, love dance and jokes…

The country its natures just like a piece of heaven …

BUT..and there is always BUT…I don't know why all these conflicts over there between the different parties….and the issue of denominationalisms as well !!

I went there as "Human Rights" Trainer for young youth in a project aiming to engage young youth from all Lebanon in a peace project ,
the "TAWASOOL-Youth ICT Boot Camp-Lebanon", which took place in the "University of Balamand" and organized by "iJMA3". The campers took courses on Microsoft Unlimited Potential, Consensus, Red Cross lecture, and sure my organization "UNDP-ICTDAR" … the camp was so interesting and different, where campers had the opportunity to have fun, play sports, watch movies.

By the first day, I get touched by their wonderful spirit and I noticed that everybody is avoiding some kind of topics…
Later on, I realized that the organizing committee asked them and their parents to not get involved in religion nor politics..

Yess …this was good in some kind of aspects and has its negative points as well,

Good: the young youth get involved with each other forgetting their differences and focus on their common bonds as human and Lebanese youth.
Negative Point: that they didn't choose this but they forced not to declare their selves freely….

But in my sessions I broke these golden rules for sure :D

@ the very beginning I asked for open space where trainees can sit on floor and that the materials will be activity based. Through games and fun activities we all get engaged in religion and politics

I was amazed by the Lebanese spirit in conflict management activities..The participants were creative especially that they liked this style of learning, when they sit as groups, and deal with each other in a more friendly and informal way. As Lebanese they got everything to celebrate life, and their spirit gave unique spirit to the sessions …

In my first session the organizing committee didn't believe what I am doing, they were standing watching ….and saying like "oh poor girl..you don't know what you are gonna do with ur self…don't don't get involved in such things..you are in Lebanon" and some of the other trainers asked the trainer from the "Red Cross" to be ready ..just in case for any broken necks or something …:))

But on the contrary the young participants were awesome, a lot of things raised up, and the best thing was that they opened their hearts and spoke up and shared with me a lot of things…how challenges could we face in reall life…

Some of the participants mentioned how they don't feel any problem to share and talk with other parties but because of their surroundings may be it will be little difficult to solve issues…and so on when it comes to electioneering many times..
And this was quite true, I touched it my self, on the personal level they are gr8 ppl but when it comes to denominationalism you will see the big disaster..

The young ppl who I met there, were quite open minded, well cultured, may be this caused by the current situation in Lebanon which created unique generation …they are not kids any more..they are mature, the politics in their daily life changed them..some times I was little bit alarmed from their arguments in our sessions through games and activities…

This generation will create a new Lebanon..I pray to visit Lebanon after 15 years from now …as I am looking forward to see "how this generation will do" …Lebanon is changing …and this generation has a lot to share and give….but hopefully to be for good….

in order to help this generation to do something, we have to step aside and give them a real chance for dialogue and not to be over protecting...and stop hiding behinde our fingers...lets face our challanges and put hand together to solve our issues

I love Lebanon..and miss every body there…and I wanna be there again soooooooooooon…

[ Don't forget to join the Virtual Summit in the morning for Jeffrey Sachs and our panel on environmental sustainability in the afternoon. See the posted items on the event page on Facebook to download a guide on how to join. ]

Opening Session - Tuesday 19th August

Sarah-Jo Dawson - IYPF and IYPS organisaing committee

• Delegates from over 25 countries, including Engineers, IT professionals, Journalists, Educationalists etc.
• Idea of conference is to be really interactive - use all the keys skills and experience of delegates, develop peer-to-peer culture
• Having a more specific topic for the conference was considered but was decided to keep it more open to include all the varies skill of professionals in the network
• The teams feels that the geographical and skill breadth of young professionals involved means we can offer much to help

Professor Tony Ridley - Commonwealth Engineers Council, Patron of IYPF

• The Commonwealth Engineers Council has held meetings at the same time as CHOGM since 1997, when 25 young commonwealth engineers met hosted by CEC so that young engineers had an outlet to decision makers of the world - send a declaration to the heads of government
• Important to find potential political outlets in order to achieve what you wish to achieve
• CEC continued the tradtion of hosting young enginners every years in the same city as the CHOGM, and in 2001 young commonwealth professionals met. In 2001 IYPF was created from this Brisbane meeting
• 25 engineers has morphed into a network of young professional from over 100 countries and diverse backgrounds, but retains a focus on poverty, sustainability and advocacy
• 'Never be afraid to demand to be heard'

Cameron Neil - IYPF CEO

• IYPF was launched in 2001 to carry forward the dreams, ambitions and goals of the young professionals involved in the Summits
• Aims to keep people involved in making the world a better place after they leave university and join the real world of employment and families. Realise as you get older you colleagues and peers are doing increasingly amazing things - aims to tap into these skills and resources
• Together have impact to make significant impact on the world
• Theories of change, need Awareness, Action and Association - more powerful when working in a group
• The IYPS Dream. Signed by 120 delegates in 2001 to represent the world we want to live in
• The Summit outcomes - some documents - primarily about delegates getting what they want from the summit
• The Summit is kept intimate to give everyone a chance to interact and connect - get involved

--
Compiled by Susan Long, IYPS 08 Volunteer

Edited and published by Cameron Neil

Here's further proof that the simplest tools often make the greenest sense. For making woodstoves that save 43,000 tons of wood each year, the CEO of a green business in India won the top honors at the Ashden Awards held in London recently. Svati Bhogle helms TIDE, which makes efficient woodstoves and kilns especially for small industries, stoves renowned for conserving 30 percent of fuel. TIDE and its 10,000 products are also directly credited for having improved working conditions for 110,000 workers.

The Ashden Awards iis known as the "Green Energy Oscars" and recognizes and rewards local communities for utilizing sustainable energy. For her win, Bhogle received £40,000.

For more details of the story check out:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080619/world/britain_india_energy_climate_environment_1

"Say NO to Violence against Women" is a global Internet-driven advocacy effort, organized by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). It invites people to sign their names to a virtual book as an expression of public support and a call to decision-makers worldwide to make ending violence against women a top priority. As a partner in the campaign, the International Young Professionals Foundation is urging more people everywhere to click and be counted. Over 225,000 people from around the world have signed on. We ask that you please help UNIFEM reach its goal of at least 1,000,000 signatures by November 2008.

How to help:

1) Visit www.saynotoviolence.org and sign the campaign’s ‘virtual’ book.


2) Add your group as a ‘Supporting Organization’ and be included on the global campaign website, receive updates and stay informed.

3) Utilize the Campaign Toolkit, which provides press releases, videos and more—most are provided in English, French and Spanish.

4) Add the campaign’s application to your Facebook profile: Log in to Facebook, click on applications, search for UNIFEM, and add “campaign” to your profile … and invite friends and colleagues to sign and pass on.

5) Send the campaign link and message to colleagues and friends.

Sign your name, spread the word, Say NO to Violence against Women.

Suggestions? Questions? Go to saynotoviolence@unifem.org.

Association of World Citizens - documentation of the Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council
22 May, 2008

Citizens of the World welcome the Special Session of the Human Rights Council devoted to the Right to Food and the current world food crisis.

Today, cooperation is needed among the UN family of agencies, national governments, non-governmental organizations, and the millions of food producers to respond to the food crisis which has already led to destabilizing food riots. There is a need for swift, short-term measures to help people now suffering from lack of food and malnutrition due to high food prices, inadequate distribution, and situations of violence.

Such short-term action requires additional funding for the UN World Food Programme and the release of national food stocks. However, it is the longer-range and structural issues on which we must focus our attention.

The world requires a World Food Policy and a At the Rome World Food Conference in November 1974, the then US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger declared that the bold objective of the conference was that "within a decade, no child will go hungry, no family will fear for its next day´s bread, and no human being´s future and capacity will be stunted by malnutrition."

Yet in 1996, then UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali could write, "There has been little progress in reducing malnutrition. In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the number of malnourished children is actually rising. Almost a third of all children under five in developing countries are malnourished, and malnutrition still contributes to more than half the deaths of young children in these countries." Even the modest Millennium Development goal of halving hunger by 2015 is not being met. Thus, we must agree with a World Bank evaluation that, "The development community, and the world as a whole, has consistently failed to address malnutrition over the past decades."

A central theme which citizens of the world have long stressed is that there needs to be a world food policy and that a world food policy is more than the sum of national food security programs. Food security has too often been treated as a collection of national problems. Typical of this approach is the General Comment 12 on The Right to Adequate Food of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights "The Covenant clearly requires that each State party take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that everyone is free from hunger and as soon as possible can enjoy the right to adequate food. This will require the adoption of a national strategy to ensure food and nutrition security for all, based on human rights principles that define the objectives, and the formulation of policies and corresponding benchmarks."

Yet the focus on the formulation of national plans is clearly inadequate.

There is a need for a world plan of action with focused attention to the role that UN and regional institutions must play if hunger is to be sharply reduced. It is clear that certain regional bodies, such as the European Union, already play an important role in setting agricultural policy both in terms of production and export policy. There may be a time when the African Union also will play a crucial role in setting policy, monitoring and coordinating agriculture.

It is certain that attention must be given to the local and national level of food production, distribution, and food security. Attention needs to be given to cultural factors, the division of labor between women and men in agriculture and rural development, in marketing local food products, to the role of small farmers, to the role of landless agricultural labor, and land-holding patterns.

However, for the formulation of a dynamic world food policy, world economic trends and structures need to be analysed, and policy goals made clear. There are at least five areas that world citizens suggest as a focus for the Special Session: climate change, energy costs, ethanol, the food production and export policy of major agricultural production States, the role of speculation in commodities.

1) There is a need to intensify action on climate change. This year (2007-2008), there has been bad weather in key growing areas. Australia, normally the world´s second-largest wheat exporter, has been suffering from an epic drought. This may be a result of particular weather conditions this year or may be a sign of climate change. It is necessary to analyse the impact of climate change on long- term food production and see alternative strategies.

2) Higher prices for food are in part a reflection of the higher price of oil and energy costs. Much modern farming is energy-intensive for producing fertilizers, running tractors, and transporting farm products to consumers, often at long distances.
Oil prices are influenced by the violence and social breakdown in Iraq and heavy speculation on the oil markets. There is need both for short term measures to bring oil prices down to a reasonable level based on production costs and transportation as well as longer-range energy policies to free countries from oil dependence.

3) Higher prices for oil have encouraged a greater use of ethanol and other biofuels, often without consideration of the impact of the production of biofuels on land use and food production.
While biofuels are likely to be useful, their use should be limited at present so that the consequences of their use can be studied and biofuels developed from non-food sources.

4) Governmental food and agriculture policies need to be analysed and reviewed carefully. The agricultural policies of the European Union and the larger food-exporting countries - USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia - need to be reviewed along with the impact of agricultural subsidies and export encouragement.

5) There needs to be a detailed analysis ot the role of speculation in the rise of commodity prices. Banks and hedge funds, having lost money in the real estate mortgage packages, are now investing massively in commodities. For the moment, there is little governmental regulation of this speculation. There needs to be an analysis of these financial flows and their impact on the price of grains.

A world food policy for the welfare of all requires a close look at world institutions and patterns of production and trade. As Stringfellow Barr wrote in his 1952 book Citizens of the World "Since the hungry billion in the world community believe that we can all eat if we set our common house in order, they believe also that it is unjust that some men die because it is too much trouble to arrange for them to live."

Unite for Sight is currently accepting applications for 2008 and 2009. This opportunity was recently featured on CNN International and recently in The New York Times.

Volunteers who may not have previous health or eye care experience are welcome. You will receive all necessary training from Unite For Sight so that you are able to assist eye doctors with community eye outreach programs. Unite For Sight also welcomes volunteers to participate as photographers and filmmakers.

What is Unite For Sight's Mission?

Unite For Sight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness. Unite For Sight's work to prevent blindness and restore sight is featured weekly on CNN INTERNATIONAL from September 2007-August 2008.

No patient should remain blind due to lack of funds and Unite for Sight makes it possible. Volunteers immediately see the joy on patients' faces when their sight is restored after years of blindness. These memories last a lifetime. While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what works, and what role they can have to ensure a health system that works for everyone and that leaves no person blind in the future.

What Do Volunteers Say?:

"During my volunteering experience, I realized that Unite for Sight´s service is a campaign for the salvation of humanity that allows the light of compassion to shine through each of us. I believe it is this display of altruism and commitment that makes the organization´s service so virtuous and treasured by both volunteers and patients. After all, making a difference in the world is not so difficult if only one would care enough to sacrifice a part of oneself in order to change the world for the better. My experience as a Unite for Sight volunteer has inspired me to dedicate my future career to serving underprivileged communities around the world."-Chiwing "Jessica" Qu, Yale University Undergraduate Student, Unite For Sight Volunteer in Chennai, India

"I can honestly say that everything I learned in 3 years of medical
school paled in comparison to the 3 week experience I had done in my life. The people of Ghana are some of the friendliest and most thankful of anyone I have ever met. Overall, the experience has changed the way I view the world, my own country, and my role in the world forever. The only way to understand the way 4/5 of the world lives is to go yourself and get involved. The staff I worked with that are the heart and soul of Unite for Sight in Accra were some of the brightest and hard working individuals I have ever met. They are accomplishing feats few ever accomplish in their lives, and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with them and now call them my friends. I look forward to future work with Unite for Sight as an Ophthalmologist. The task at hand in Ghana, and I'm sure in all of Unite for Sight's locations throughout the world, is enormous. The more people that get involved, the more accessible services will be to these wonderful people. Plain and simple, the more we help, the more people can see the world they live in!"-Brian

For more information check out the link:

http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer