hi all

the report from Task Force 10 on science, technology and innovation has been released.

called 'innovation: applying knowledge in development', this 220 page report sets out key priorities and opportunities for linking innovation and the application of science and technology to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

you can access the report from here:
http://bcsia.ksg.harvard.edu/BCSIA_content_stage/documents/TF-Advance2.pdf

in the report, the valuable and necessary contribution of young professionals in this area is highlighted.

if you want to discuss the report, and the role of young professionals, join the IYPF's ICT for development community by sending a blank e-mail to
IYPF-ICT-Campaign-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

also see http://projects.takingitglobal.org/ICT-Campaign for other information and resources

cameron

Dear young professional colleagues

Some of you might be aware that the UN Secretary-General has just released a report entitled "In Larger Freedom: Towards Security, Development and Human Rights for All".

The report represents the Secretary-General's contribution to the Millennium Summit+5 that will take place from 14-16 September 2005.

As part of the preparatory process for the MDG+5 Summit, the UN General Assembly will hold Hearings with Civil Society, NGOs and the Private Sector from 24-25 June 2005.

NGLS, in cooperation with UN and NGO colleagues, is playing a central role on the Civil Society/NGO track of the preparatory process and is inviting comments, observations and viewpoints on the Secretary-General's Report and the issues at stake when the World's Heads of States meet at the Summit in September. Should there be sufficient inputs from civil society, NGLS will compile and produce a report for
distribution at the June 'Hearings' and for posting on their website.

The cut-off date for your inputs is 30 April.

To facilitate an official IYPF input to NGLS, we are inviting all of you to join the IYPF's discussion online forum and express your views on the paper.

To join the discussion list, send a blank e-mail to
IYPFoundation_Discussion-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Upon joining, you will be sent an introductory message about the UN SG's report, and we then ask for you to send in your thoughts / comments + a brief bio on who you are.

In addition, we are looking for a small number of young professionals to volunteer to take on the role of compiling the discussion in to a formal submission from the IYPF to the NGLS. Please get in contact with me if you are interested - cameronneil@iypf.org.

We look forward to your thoughts on this report and your contribution to our submission.

Cameron

Call for Expressions of Interest in the new role of FTAANZ Executive Officer in Australia


Title FTAANZ EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Responsible to FTAANZ COORDINATOR
Duration 6 months period initially


Expressions of Interest due by close of business, Monday 4 April 2005 via e-mail to ftrade@coombs.anu.edu.au


Expressions of interest should include:
· a covering letter detailing why you are interested in the position, the hours per week and remuneration you are seeking, preferences for city location and your availability to relocate, and whether you have existing office space or require us to organise an office location
· an up to date curriculum vitae
· a document outlining your relevant skills and experience in relation to the competencies of the role (outlined below)


SCOPE OF ROLE

This is a new position created by the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ), with the support of Oxfam Community Aid Abroad (Oxfam), as part of growth and restructuring of fair trade activities in Australia and New Zealand.

The executive officer will represent FTAANZ in Australia and will be responsible for developing and supporting the network of individual and institutional supporters of fair trade in Australia (FTAANZ membership), as well as promoting fair trade to Australian industry and consumers and facilitating the involvement of organisations in various fair trade systems.

Final details of the duration of appointment and remuneration are still being worked out and will be discussed with those who express interest in the role. City location and office environment are negotiable. It is anticipated that this will initially be a part-time (i.e. 2-2.5 days/week) appointment for 6 months with the possibility for extension and increased hours in the future.


PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The appointee will have primary responsibility for supporting FTAANZ membership and promoting fair trade to businesses in Australia. The position reports to the FTAANZ coordinator, based in New Zealand, and is ultimately responsible to the FTAANZ Executive Committee.

q Provide secretariat support for FTAANZ and the Fairtrade Labelling Initiative for Australia and New Zealand
q Develop a Fair Trade education kit for young people and facilitate training workshops in coordination with FTAANZ members
q Facilitate the further development of FTAANZ membership in Australia
q Assist with delivery of services to members including the publication of a quarterly electronic newsletter and the organisation and facilitation of meetings and relevant workshops
q Assist with maintaining the FTAANZ website and support online member interaction
q Provide information and assistance to companies interested in participating in the Fairtrade Labelling system
q Assist with fundraising for projects to support the aims and objectives of FTAANZ
q Assist with fair trade campaigns initiated by FTAANZ and its members, including procurement


COMPETENCIES

Technical Knowledge and Experience
1. A bachelors degree, preferably in Law, Economics, Commerce or the Social Sciences, or demonstrated comparable work experience
2. Strong, demonstrated interest in trade justice
3. International development, community development or international business experience preferable
4. Project and event management experience
5. High level of awareness of international trade issues desirable

Professional Skills
6. Strong English written and oral communication skills
7. Strong presentation skills
8. Strong time and project management skills
9. Competence with word processing, and ability to work with spreadsheets
10. Website maintenance/updating experience

Personal Attributes
11. Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a team, in both face to face and virtual environments
12. Interest and ability to network with other parties interested in fair trade including other NGOS, members of the public, academics, government and businesses.
13. Commitment to social and environmental development
14. Flexibility, adaptability and willingness to take on a wide range of tasks


TRAVEL
Some overseas and domestic travel may be required in the role.

Young Leaders Congress 2005
“Ecological Generational Justice into the Constitution? Europe’s Green Future in the 21st Century”

From 22-26 June 2005 about 50 young activists between 20-30 years old from all over Europe will gather in Berlin to discuss about an implementation of ecological generational justice and sustainability in their respective national political systems and the European Union. A symbolic participation fee is 25 € per person, accommodation and a subsidy for travel arrangements included.

Apply now on www.frfg.org until 15th of April!

_____________________________________________

Invitation to the Young Leaders Congress 2005 „Ecological Generational Justice into the Constitution? Europe`s Green Future in the 21st Century”, Berlin, 22 to 26 June 2005

“Politicians think about the next election,
Statesmen think about the next generation“.

Sir Winston Churchill

Dear friends,

together we want to find solutions for the greatest tasks of our generation: to make Europe much more sustainable. We want future generations to say, “Yes, we have the same opportunities to meet our own needs as the generation governing before us”. It has become time to realize this project, to protect the future generation by institutionalising their rights in the society. We are looking for committed people who want to be part of a movement for Generational Justice.

Currently our society lives at the cost of future generations, especially regarding ecological aspects. The main problem arises from the fact that future generations cannot take part in today’s elections. Fresh and innovative thinking is necessary in order to find solutions for this lack in our democracy.

One such innovative opportunity lies in the institutionalisation of ecological generational justice.

How does it work? What are the different models? And: How can we start a campaign for it in the European Union?

We will hear and develop answers to these questions at the Young Leaders Congress “Ecological Generational Justice into the Constitution? Europe´s Green Future in the 21st Century”, with eminent guest speakers such as Timo Mäkelä, Director Sustainable Development and Integration of the EU. The congress is organized by the Foundation of the Rights of Future Generations (FRFG), YOIS Europe, AEGEE, the Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment and the Protestant Academy Berlin. It will take place from 22-26 June 2005 in Berlin. The main congress venue is the “Haus Schwanenwerder”, an excellent hotel surrounded by parks nearby the famous lake “Wannsee”.

The aims of the congress are to draw public attention to the topic of sustainability and to create a new European network for the promotion of the idea that intergenerational justice should be institutionalised in all European countries and beyond.

Fifty committed young leaders – between 20 and 30 years - from all over Europe will be given the chance to participate in the four day conference in Berlin at the total cost of only 25 Euro per person. We are also able to subsidise the participants’ travel costs, depending on the country of residence.

Please find further information and apply until the 15th April on our website at www.frfg.org

With kind regards
FRFG-Team

G7 Embassy Action - 1st April 2005

Global Call to Action Against Poverty to demand debt cancellation on 1 April 2005

On Friday 1 April 2005, organisations and national platforms involved in the Global Call to Action against Poverty are asked to target representatives of rich creditor countries with a demand for debt cancellation, and to wear the white band. Through Embassy Actions, this GCAP mobilisation will focus on the embassies of the G7 - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and US - calling for full cancellation of the debts of the most impoverished countries. Particular emphasis will be on the French and German embassies to encourage their leaders to sign-up to debt cancellation - although each national platform should decide on its own target, based on its own national context.

The action comes ahead of the meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington DC on 16 and 17 April. The G7, the group of the world's richest and most powerful nations, holds more than half the votes for the World Bank and IMF.

Campaigners are demanding that they seize the opportunity at these meetings to agree a deal on 100% debt cancellation and particularly on using IMF gold reserves to fund cancellation.

This follows a similar day of action on Tuesday 18 January, ahead of the G7 Finance Ministers' meeting in London. On that day, debt campaigners mobilised in over 20 countries worldwide, as far apart as Finland, Tajikstan and Uganda. They made their voices heard through a wide range of actions: by staging protests, marches and media stunts; meeting embassy representatives; delivering letters; issuing statements; and holding press conferences. In Zambia, for example, campaigners from around the country held a protest march targeting the Canadian and Japanese embassies; while in Tanzania, delegations from citizens groups met with the German and Canadian ambassadors to urge them to go further with debt cancellation; and in Tajikstan, NGOs held a debt conference and produced a petition.

The huge range and spread of international activity clearly had an impact which built on many years of dedicated campaigning: for instance, shortly after being lobbied in its embassies around the world, the Canadian government agre ed to release millions more dollars in debt relief, for both HIPC and non-HIPC countries.

Any activity on 1 April - from rally outside embassies, to sending a letter to the ambassadors to make them aware of civil society demands - will add to the pressure and make a difference. Wearing the white band as part of this action will show world leaders that we are standing together on this issue. Please do share details of anything you are planning with other colleagues in the debt movement internationally and other civil society groups. You can email info@whiteband.org for more information or to share plans and ideas with GCAP groups world-wide.

For more information please contact www.whiteband.org

Global Call to Action against Poverty

www.whiteband.org
info@whiteband.org

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