Attivismo civico & Terzo settore
August 2010
A Vita Europe selection of civil society events around Europe.
Listed events (for further descriptions of events and links scroll down):
The European Year Journalist Award 2010: Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, Final date for entries: September 24 2010
26 July – 2 August 2010, Caux, Switzerland, Everybody Counts – A Dialogue across Generations and Cultures
2-6 August 2010, Bonn, Germany, United Nations Climate Change Conference
4 August 2010, London, United Kingdom, Somaliland’s Election: Reflections on the Result
4 – 10 August 2010, Caux, Switzerland, Leading Change for a Sustainable World
4-10 August 2010, Caux, Switzerland, Training by Initiatives of Change
5 August 2010, London, United Kingdom, Rwanda’s Future
5-7 August 2010, Brussels, Belgium, The European Parliament – The Role And Function For Selected Policy Areas
9 August 2010, UN offices worldwide, International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
12 August 2010, UN Headquarters, New York, and worldwide, International Youth Day
15-27 August 2010, Joensuu, Finland, UNEP Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements
18-20 August 2010, London, United Kingdom, Ecohealth 2010: The Third Biennial Conference of the International Association for Ecology and Health (IAEH)
25 – 26 August 2010, London, United Kingdom, Promoting Democratic Management of Africa’s Oil Wealth: Lessons from Angola, São Tomé e Príncipe, and Nigeria
25-27 August 2010, London, United Kingdom, Corporate Responsibility and Global Challenges
29 August 2010 – 7 September 2010, Eindhoven, Belgium, NVMP-StEP E-Waste Summer School 2010
30 August 2010 – 3 September 2010, Bruges, Belgium, First Executive Training for the European External Action Service (EEAS)
The European Year Journalist Award 2010: Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
Final date for entries: September 24 2010
The European Year (EY) Journalist Award 2010 has been created by the European Commission in order to support and recognise journalists who contribute to an increased awareness and a broader understanding of poverty and social exclusion through their work.
The competition is open to print, online, and audiovisual journalists who have articles published or news reports aired that cover the issues of poverty and social exclusion in the European Union. Their articles or news reports must be published or aired between 1 October, 2009 and 31 August, 2010 in a media outlet who has a headquarter editorial office in one of the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, or Norway.
The objectives of the EY Journalist Award are:
To recognise excellence in journalism in coverage of the issues of poverty and social exclusion
To create awareness of the EY2010 campaign among mass media representatives across the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway
To promote a better understanding of poverty and social exclusion; causes and possible solutions
The final date for entries is 24, September 2010. There can be no exceptions or extensions.
There are no entry fees.
www.2010againstpoverty.eu/journalistaward/index/?langid=en
26 July – 2 August 2010, Caux, Switzerland
Everybody Counts – A Dialogue across Generations and Cultures
This conference is organised by the Swiss CAUX-Initiatives of Change foundation, in collaboration with the NGO Initiatives of Change International.
A dialogue across generations and cultures about what really matters to us all. In a world of great challenges and possibilities it is with a sense of urgency that young and old – children, students, professionals, families, pensioners and grandparents – are invited to come and take the time to listen and to share, to reflect and to discuss. It is the aim of the dialogue that participants will become friends, supporting each other across generations and cultures, and together working for a better, healthier, fairer and more peaceful world.
www.caux.iofc.org/en/node/44480
2-6 August 2010, Bonn, Germany
United Nations Climate Change Conference
The conference will feature the thirteenth session of the AWG-KP and the eleventh session of the AWG-LCA .
Over a decade ago, most countries joined an international treaty — the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable.
The Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.
It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Convention enjoys near universal membership.
The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994.
4 August 2010, London, United Kingdom
Somaliland’s Election: Reflections on the Result
This event is organised by Chatham House.
Somaliland has achieved a peaceful transfer of power from President Riyale to President Silanyo following its June elections, which were declared free and fair by observers. This is remarkable in a region known for conflict and where elections are often questioned by observers. Michael Walls, who was a key member of the international election observation team, will discuss what the result means for Somaliland’s developing democracy and international standing.
www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1649
4 – 10 August 2010, Caux, Switzerland
Leading Change for a Sustainable World
This conference is organized by the Swiss CAUX-Initiatives of Change foundation in collaboration with the NGO Initiatives of Change International.
Drawing from Caux’s unique capital of know-how and experience, this innovative conference, lead by a team of young adults, will concentrate on initiatives to end poverty and to curb global warming with the participation of involved activists, entrepreneurs, policy makers and young people. It will be a time for skill building, reflection and discernment for those who want to get involved in concrete change projects to build a sustainable future.
www.caux.iofc.org/en/node/44481
4-10 August 2010, Caux, Switzerland
Training by Initiatives of Change
This training is organised by the Swiss CAUX-Initiatives of Change foundation, in collaboration with the NGO Initiatives of Change International.
These sessions will explore through various training modules the skills of leading and managing change in the world. There will also be lectures and discussion groups to provide participants with the opportunity to explore the values and life experiences that could help create a sustainable world. This session will use expertise developed in the successful Tools for Change workshops.
www.caux.iofc.org/en/node/44483
5 August 2010, London, United Kingdom
Rwanda’s Future
This event is organised by Chatham House.
International attitudes towards Rwanda have begun to shift in recent years. Earlier hailed as a development success story there are now concerns about democratic slippage: the run up to the country’s 9 August presidential elections has been marred by imprisonments and attacks on opposition and independent media. Yet Rwanda has been effective in the past at courting international partners and has had a key role to play in the fate of its region. At this event Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Hon. Louise Mushikiwabo, will discuss the direction of Rwanda’s democracy and political development and the role it plays in the region and broader international relations.
www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1651
5-7 August 2010, Brussels, Belgium
The European Parliament – The Role And Function For Selected Policy Areas
This conference is organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung-EU Office.
The civic education programs in the European Parliament during the session weeks in Strasbourg will give participants an insight into the daily events of the European Parliament and the opportunity to discuss with members on current European issues and monitor the plenary meetings on site. The role of the European Parliament in the fabric of the European institutions and the importance of European policy are discussed at national, regional and local level.
9 August 2010, UN offices worldwide
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Growing public interest in indigenous people and a long process of international negotiations involving indigenous organisations prompted the international community to proclaim 1993 as the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People, and then the period 1995-2004 as the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People, to focus on issues of concern to indigenous people.
On 23 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.
In 2004 the Assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (2005-2014), also deciding to continue observing the International Day of Indigenous People every year during the Second Decade, in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United Nations. The Assembly asked the Secretary-General to support observance of the Day from within existing resources, and to encourage Governments to observe the Day at the national level.
First observed in 1995, the commemoration of the International Day offers the world community an opportunity to reiterate the principles of respect for human rights enshrined in the Charter and to find solutions to alleviate the plight of indigenous people.
www.un.org/events/indigenous/2008/index.shtml
www.un.org/depts/dhl/indigenous
12 August 2010, UN Headquarters, New York, and worldwide
International Youth Day
This year’s International Youth Day is a particularly important day for youth around the world. In December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the Year commencing this International Youth Day (12 August 2010) as the International Year of Youth.
In line with the theme for the International Year, the theme for this year’s International Youth Day is “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”. The choice of theme reflects the General Assembly’s appreciation of the value of dialogue among youth from different cultures as well as among different generations. ??International Youth Day will be celebrated at United Nations headquarters in New York with the global launch event of the International Year of Youth. The event will be a celebration of young peoples’ energy, imagination and initiatives and will recognize their crucial contributions to enhancing peace and development. The event is an opportunity for the international community and the UN system to demonstrate their commitment to young people. But it will also be a fun occasion with musical guests and performances. A photo exhibit entitled “Visual Voices – Youth perspectives on Global Issues” will be inaugurated in the UN visitors lobby. The exhibit will be open to the public until early September.
In addition to the global launch event at UN Headquarters, there will be celebrations all over the world, which will highlight opportunities and challenges for youth throughout the International Year of Youth in different regions and countries.
www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyouthday.htm
15-27 August 2010, Joensuu, Finland
UNEP Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements
The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are jointly organizing a high profile two-week course on multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). The Course transfers past experience in the field of international environmental law to current and future negotiators of MEAs. The Course is intended for experienced government officials engaged in international environmental negotiations.
18-20 August 2010, London, United Kingdom
Ecohealth 2010: The Third Biennial Conference of the International Association for Ecology and Health (IAEH)
This conference, organised by EcoHealth-International Association for Ecology and Health, will bring together academic institutions, government bodies and civil society groups to discuss jointly the major challenges facing people, wildlife and ecosystems internationally in 2010 and the future. Placing major emphasis on the perspectives of peoples most vulnerable to the harms of ecosystem destruction, including indigenous peoples, women, and young people, the three main themes for the conference are: urban ecohealth; biodiversity and ecohealth; and sustainability and future priorities for ecohealth.
25 – 26 August 2010, London, United Kingdom
Promoting Democratic Management of Africa’s Oil Wealth: Lessons from Angola, São Tomé e Príncipe, and Nigeria
This event is organised by Chatham House.
This event will disseminate the lessons from the project ‘Promoting Democratic Management of Africa’s Oil Wealth’ – a joint regional project between Chatham House, Catholic Relief Services and Human Rights Watch. Funded by the Ford Foundation, the project addresses oil revenue transparency and accountability in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Its aim is to inform the international public debate on the extractives industry – primarily oil revenue management in Africa – and to help citizens in resource-rich states gain an understanding of the amount and use of oil revenues so that they can hold their governments accountable
www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1647
25-27 August 2010, London, United Kingdom
Corporate Responsibility and Global Challenges
This conference is organised by the London Metropolitan University and it is intended to provide a leading international forum for presentation and discussion of research in corporate responsibility and sustainability.
The fashionable language in CSR circles has for a while now centred on sustainability. However, one party’s idea of a sustainable strategy may easily conflict with other stakeholders’ priorities. The notion of sustainability seems under-examined, its meaning taken for granted. Further, as important as the long view is, there is a danger of other equally important markers of human development being sidelined, such as equity, meaning fair or just outcomes. Which begs the question ‘what is fair or just’?, and ‘who gets to decide what is equitable’?
The scope of the conference is interdisciplinary. Contributions that focus both on single issues whether social, environmental, economic or technological are encouraged, as well as contributions that focus on the challenges and opportunities where these streams seem to merge. We seek to develop nuanced knowledge and locally relevant practice. Such ambition requires perspectives that are critical, situated in the context of an evolving global dynamic.
www.europeanagenda.eu/events/27983.php
29 August 2010 – 7 September 2010, Eindhoven, Belgium
NVMP-StEP E-Waste Summer School 2010
The United Nations University, hosting the Secretariat of the StEP Initiative, is inviting applications for the second NVMP-StEP E-waste Summer School 2010.
This summer school aims to provide a platform for young scientists involved in e-waste related research to share their knowledge, interact with experts, and develop collaborative partnerships fostering high quality cutting edge scientific research on all areas related to e-waste – from policy to technology to economics to social aspects.
www.step-initiative.org/news.php?id=0000000133
30 August 2010 – 3 September 2010, Bruges, Belgium
First Executive Training for the European External Action Service (EEAS)
With the European External Action Service taking shape, the College of Europe, in cooperation with the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’, the Centre for Political and Diplomatic Studies (CPDS) in Oxford and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna will hold the first specialised training for officials from the European Commission and the Council Secretariat as well as for diplomats from the 27 Member States who are joining the EEAS.
This training covers sessions about the main policy issues of the EEAS; it offers a choice of related, interactive workshops which address the needs of EU officials and national diplomats respectively, and provides an opportunity for participants to network, to exchange experience and to explore a new EEAS ‘esprit de corps’.
www.coleurope.eu/content/development/prof/EEAS-training/index.html
