tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63545012011-04-21T17:34:02.278-06:00International DevelopmentInternational Development in Eatern Europe:
Visit this page for news, resources and opinions on International Development topics: economic, educational, health and environmental policies.Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.comBlogger1121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1113924905464787162005-04-19T09:34:00.000-06:002005-04-19T09:35:05.463-06:00http://stoyan.typepad.com/Visit my new blog!Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1113257954751020432005-01-11T16:17:00.000-07:002005-04-11T16:19:14.753-06:00UNDP helps women in Viet NamTwo projects, one promoting biogas as an alternative energy source and the other providing access to clean water, are examples of how technology can be used by and for women. The biogas project, in Quang Ninh province, has helped families reduce household chores by 40 per cent, eliminated smoke from cooking over wood fires and put animal waste to good use. A biogas tank, built from bricks and Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1102527398053345482004-12-08T07:54:00.000-07:002004-12-08T10:36:38.053-07:00Another Small Victory - Ukrainian Parliament Votes Constitutional ChangesVerhovna Rada of Ukraine today voted with overwhelming majority changes in the Ukrainian Constitution together with changes in the regional governance laws and the election laws paving the way for the establishment of parliamentary democracy in Ukraine and the upcoming re-run of the second round of the presidential election on December 26, 2004.
Considerable power was transferred from the Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1102091198778798402004-12-03T09:18:00.000-07:002004-12-03T09:58:28.740-07:00PEREMOHA (Victory) - Or Just The First StepJust a few minutes ago the Supreme Court of Ukraine invalidated the results of the second round of the presidential elections. Ukrainians will cast their vote for Viktor Yushchenko or Viktor Yanukovich for a third time on December 26, 2004.
"Today, the court system proved that it exists and it works", said a protester. The sense in the air is that people will no longer be scared to stand up for Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1102434647217955502004-11-30T08:47:00.000-07:002004-12-07T08:54:00.036-07:00The Revolution in Ukraine: Opinions“The current President Kuchma is using stall tactics. He is now harping on how the current leaders in Ukraine must get together to discuss how the current economic situation in Ukraine may suffer as a result of demonstrations. But, Kuchma still REFUSES to acknowledge that the demonstrations continue because of his corrupt regime and the recent election sham. He is using this tactic to show Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1102435157217068022004-11-27T08:51:00.000-07:002004-12-07T08:59:17.216-07:00An International Observer Speaks: I have recently acted as an election observer for Ukraine's Presidential elections held on November 21, 2004 in Ukraine. My first hand observations have led me to believe that these "elections" were severely fraudulent.
During these election days, I witnessed the following infractions:
1.) Hundreds of university students being threatened with expulsion if they did not vote for Mr. Victor Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1101482586777264712004-11-26T06:58:00.000-07:002004-11-26T14:16:57.066-07:00Day Five – The Orange Revolution Grows StrongerNovember 25, 2004
7 pm – On Maidan, in front of, Yushchenko announced the decision of the Ukrainian Supreme Court (BBC's Court freezes Ukraine poll result) to suspend the publication of the presidential election results. What appeared the largest so far crowd welcomed the news as victory.
7:15 pm – Lech Valesa spoke on Maidan: Ukraine has a chance!
7:30 pm – Youlia Timishenko, future Prime Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1101382794433948112004-11-25T03:57:00.000-07:002004-11-25T04:53:46.486-07:00Day FourThe Orange Revolution continues! Last night, Yushchenko asked his supporters to stay on the streets and demand democracy in Ukraine. A general strike may be announced soon. At this moment, the capital operates at less than 80%. Buses, metro, and trains run but some stores don’t follow normal hours. Offices work only for a few hours a day. University students are on the streets.
International Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1101313763844377262004-11-24T09:27:00.000-07:002004-11-24T09:35:44.426-07:00Day Three - It is YanukovichThe situation is escalating. The Central Election Committee was supposed to announce the official results of the election 2,5 hrs ago. But it just happened, at 6:30 local time, CEC announced that Yanukovich is the new President of Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of people are on Lessi Ukrainky’s Square in front of CEC. Tonight, there are many supporters of Yanukovich on the strees as well. The Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1101232439654575222004-11-23T10:39:00.000-07:002004-11-25T03:44:52.003-07:00Two Days After the ElectionVerhovna Rada’s special session closed today at 5 pm local time . Insufficient quorum didn’t allow the opposition to pass a vote of no confidence in the Central Election Committee (CEC) but the over 190 parlamentarians but applauded the symbolic oath ceremony of Viktor Yushchenko (BBC's I'm true Ukraine head - Yushchenko). Outside, a 300,000 people crowd gathered in his support. What will happen Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1101139564842241582004-11-22T09:02:00.000-07:002004-11-22T09:26:48.793-07:00The Day AfterThe protests on Independence Square in Kyiv have turned into one big party with music and smiles. If it weren’t for the camp of Pora! (It’s Time! student movement) an uninformed observer would think that this is a local rock concert. The peaceful crowd of at least 50,000 is signing and dancing in the -1C weather (although it feels like -10C!), while the Verhovna Rada (the Ukrainian Parliament) isEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1101136482590232032004-11-22T08:05:00.000-07:002004-11-22T09:32:49.886-07:00Elections Monitors’ Report from Ukrainian Presidential Election – Round 1Now that the official part of the elections monitoring of the first round is over I can post this international observers report:
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Highlights:
Significant violations and falsification of election results at polling station #4
Several technical violations in majority of polling stations visited
Opening of polling station
The opening of the polling station #48 was handled “by Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1101118740430165962004-11-22T02:57:00.000-07:002004-11-22T08:32:46.750-07:00Yanukovich Has WonAt 11:36 a.m. (Ukraine local time), the Central Election Committee (CEC) released the following information (Liga Online):
98.24% of bulletins are counted
49,58% voted for Yanukovich (current Vice President of Ukraine)
46,57% of voters chose Yushchenko (oposition leader of Nasha Ukraina / Our Ukraine)
Exit polls shown live on Maidan last night reported victory for Viktor Yushchenko.
The CEC Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1100511030799112482004-11-15T02:01:00.000-07:002004-11-15T06:13:44.510-07:00Trial for Kosovo Liberation ArmyThe International War Crimes (IWC) tribunal put on trial three Kosovo Albanians for crimes against ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in 1998. The IWC has only dealt with Serbs accused of atrocities in Kosovo, reported BBC (Kosovo war crimes trial begins).
On a related topic, Delays plague Milosevic's trial (BBC).
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1100257181622391302004-11-12T03:49:00.000-07:002004-11-12T04:04:20.376-07:00Do you think that all Eastern European countries started from the same level?Do you think that corruption and the grip of old communist cronies are the only reasons for slower economic and democratic changes in some Eastern European countries? The The truth is that in some counties, such as Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Poland economic policy changes started as early as the 1960s. Read Hungarian Government Strategy for Development and Promotion of SMEs to learn more about Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1100164460624119662004-11-11T01:58:00.000-07:002004-11-11T02:14:20.623-07:00Yasser Arafat DiesConcentrating power in Arafat’s hands was Palestine’s hope but it could also very well be its demise: no strong successor was chosen. Here are several BBC articles about Arafat and the intricate webs of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. If you have time for only one, I strongly recommend: Analysis: What future for the Palestinians?.
Also read: Veteran leader Yasser Arafat dies, Who could follow?,Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1100087921607350012004-11-09T04:29:00.000-07:002004-11-10T04:58:41.606-07:0015 Years AgoThe fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 metaphorically signaled the end of an era that divided Europe ideologically for over 40 years: Press reflects on Berlin Wall (BBC)
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1099917145381353272004-11-08T05:23:00.000-07:002004-11-08T05:32:25.383-07:00Macedonia to Give Greater Autonomy to Ethnic AlbaniansA controversial referendum this weekend did not repeal the changes, passed by Macedonian parliament in August, under which 16 (out of 84) municipalities will be largely under the control of ethnic Albanians. In some areas, including Skopje, the changes would enable Albanian to become the second official language, reported BBC (Crucial poll fails in Macedonia).
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1099670360171351472004-11-05T08:47:00.000-07:002004-11-05T09:01:13.303-07:00How Well Are Political Rights and Civil Liberties Observed Internationally?The 2004 Freedom House Country Rating groups countries into three categories:
Free – Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia
Partly Free – Albania, Armenia (deteriorating), Bosnia-Herzegovina (improving), Macedonia (improving), Moldova, Russia (deteriorating), Serbia and Montenegro (deteriorating), Ukraine
Not Free – Azerbaijan, Belarus Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1099568033394051712004-11-04T04:08:00.000-07:002004-11-04T04:50:07.400-07:00Trafficking - the Human Rights Issue of the 21 Century
Lured with jobs as nannies, waitresses or dancers, new husbands and boyfriends, or plainly stolen on the way home, many Eastern European and Asian women fall into the crutches of sex slave trade. Each year, about 500,000 women and girls from developing countries and countries with economies in transition are entrapped in Western Europe alone Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1099482139179912462004-11-03T04:29:00.000-07:002004-11-04T02:02:35.240-07:00Ukrainian Elections is the Press
The first round of the presidential elections finished with close results for Yanukovich and Yushchenko, with Yanukovich leading with less than 1%. The second round is scheduled for November 21. How much dirtier can this election get? What will the people do? So far, despite reports of protests the streets of Kyiv have been quet.
Ukraine Balances Between Unity, Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1099412362304967592004-11-02T09:05:00.000-07:002004-11-04T01:14:21.873-07:00HIV/AIDS in Ukraine
Ukraine has the highest rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence in Europe and the cases are increasing with the fastest rate in the world. In her article Epidemic proportions: Ukraine's HIV challenge (CBC News Viewpoint), Sara Newham puts a human face to the pandemic: Natasha – a former alcohol and injected drug adict – today a regional coordinator with a local HIV/AIDS support Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1099415067206855872004-10-27T09:38:00.000-06:002004-11-19T04:45:35.990-07:00Russia Ratifies Kyoto Protocol This could only happen in Russia: first say No and then say Yes to derive further benefits. Originally, opposed to Kyoto in 2002, Russia’s Dumma today ratified the protocol. In exchange, Russia will receive support from the European Union for its bid to join the World Trade Organization. (CBC's Russia's parliament ratifies Kyoto)
Now that Russia has ratified Kyoto, the protocol has the support ofEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1098800498527804642004-10-24T08:13:00.000-06:002004-11-04T01:03:35.476-07:00The Battle of the Viktors
24 presidential nominees will be battling it out on October 31, 2004 in Ukraine’s presidential elections. However, the true battle is between two contenders:
Contender #1
Viktor Yushchenko - the West
Opposition leader Nasha Ukraina (Our Ukraine)
Past Prime Minister and President of the National Bank of Ukraine
Must be backed by foreign capital
Supported by Ukrainian Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1098692076002381622004-10-24T02:13:00.000-06:002004-10-25T02:14:36.003-06:00UN Day
Today is the United Nations day. How celebrated is this day in your community?
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1098376787127101682004-10-22T10:37:00.000-06:002004-11-04T07:32:37.116-07:00Corruption in Eastern Europe and CIS
Although corruption affects the democratic process and stifles economic development - preprequisites for EU accession, corruption level per se seem to be an unimportant factor for accession to the European Union. The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2004 ranks new EU members like Poland 67 (64 in 2003), while EU hopeful Bulgaria takes Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1099574821981746472004-10-21T05:29:00.000-06:002004-11-04T07:34:36.336-07:00“The People Have Spoken”:
Europe’s Last Dictator Will Be Allowed to Run for Third Term
On October 16, 2004, few Belarusians cast their votes for new members of Parliament and for constitution amendment allowing the current president to run again for the post. Despite the numerous issues of election and referendum legitimacy (ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Belarus), new Parliament was Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1099668874042389082004-10-15T08:31:00.000-06:002004-11-05T08:44:32.370-07:00African DevelopmentWell, we think that Africa can't get their act together. But some countries have. According to Jeffrey Sachs (!!!) international donors should jointly assist development efforts of countries such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda, who have sound development and poverty alleviation plans. In Doing the Sums on Africa (Economist.com) Sachs says that a growing number of African Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1098458553655022042004-10-07T08:36:00.001-06:002004-10-22T09:33:45.550-06:00Poverty Alleviation Through SME Development in Ukraine – continued
Another major donor that contributes to economic development of Ukraine is the European Union through its TACIS technical assistance. Several successful projects part of the Improving of SME Environment runs primarily in Western Ukraine: establishing and operation of a Business Incubator, funding Mechanisms for Business Support Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1098375469428788012004-10-06T09:49:00.000-06:002004-10-21T10:17:49.440-06:00Poverty Alleviation Through SME development in Ukraine – Major Donors
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) runs BizPro program across Ukraine. The main goals of the program are to provide Market Development Support and SME Enabling Environment by helping the public and private sector in selected municipalities formulate and implement balanced and predictable regulations Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1097673881446266812004-10-05T07:15:00.000-06:002004-10-13T07:24:41.446-06:00UNDP Poverty Research
The United Nations Development Programme has produced several interesting papers on poverty and its implications on sustainable human development, environment, trade, gender dynamics, etc. For the economists out there, the site offers several publications discussing techniques on measuring poverty, as well as poverty monitoring reports. Summary of UN poverty eradication Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1097673216722932612004-10-04T07:12:00.000-06:002004-10-13T07:13:36.723-06:00Microfinance
Another information rich site on microfinance is the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) website, which contains information on how to promote microenterprise development in developing countries.
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1097671576470805862004-10-03T05:56:00.000-06:002004-10-13T07:08:33.930-06:00Poverty Eradication in Economies in Transition - Focus on Poland
In Programme Outline for Actively Counteracting Poverty and Social Marginalization, Mieczysław Kabaj analyses the reasons for poverty in Poland and proposes a macroeconomic plan to address its eradication. This strong analytical document concludes that the main reason for impoverishment in Poland is unemployment and proposes an Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1097509238107572312004-10-02T09:28:00.000-06:002004-10-11T09:40:38.106-06:00Microenterprise
For case studies and tools on assessing the impact of microenterprise programs visit this USAID website.
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1097487892084804512004-10-01T03:36:00.000-06:002004-10-11T03:47:48.520-06:00On the Go
Ok. I’ve caught the traveling bug! However, I’ve decided to slow down the pace and now I’ll have more time to keep this blog updated although not on a regular basis. So, keep checking!
Since I’m traveling in Eastern Europe, I’ll focus my stories on poverty alleviation programmes in this part of the world. I’ll cut down on current events reviews as it is more difficult to find impartial Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1090098927390328072004-07-17T15:14:00.000-06:002004-07-17T15:15:27.390-06:00I have been traveling, so check back for new stories in September!
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1086126148196736232004-06-02T15:06:00.000-06:002004-06-01T15:43:38.646-06:00Nelson Mandela Retires from Active Public Life
Nelson Mandela is one of the most illustrious and well-known world leaders. At 85, the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner has had many battles as an human rights layer, leader of the African National Congress, President of South Africa, global ambassador of South Africa and the HIV/AIDS cause. Now, Mr. Mandela wants to devote his time to his family and Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1086123262619505282004-06-01T10:32:00.000-06:002004-06-01T16:19:07.046-06:00Interim Government for Iraq
Iraq's interim government was sworn in, reported BBC (Iraq's interim cabinet sworn in). The interim government is to lead the country from June 30, 2004, when the power will be officially transferred to the Iraqi people, to the beginning of 2005 when the elected representatives of the National Assembly will elect new transitional government.
Most of the Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078772215911294472004-05-30T11:36:00.000-06:002004-06-01T16:10:52.093-06:00Remembering Tiananmen Square
Thousands of people in Hong Kong participated in a demonstration honoring the anniversary of the crushing of the June 4,1989 pro-democracy movement on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, reported BBC (Tiananmen protests marked). The march was organized by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China not only to remember the events from Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1086127787535611412004-05-29T15:45:00.000-06:002004-06-01T16:09:47.536-06:00UN Peacekeepers Day
It was the Canadian Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, that recommended the establishment of UN peacekeeping missions. The first armed UN peacekeeping force was used in the Suez Canal conflict to supervise withdrawal of invading forces and act as buffer between Egyptians and Israelis. Today, over 50 years later, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations currently has 15 Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1085785248672974282004-05-28T16:25:00.000-06:002004-05-28T17:29:51.690-06:00Pinochet striped from immunity
Today Chile's Supreme Court voted 14-9 to take away the immunity from prosecution of the former military leader Augusto Pinochet, BBC reported (Court lifts Pinochet's immunity). Although Pinochet relinquished, reluctantly, Chile's presidential post in 1990, trials for his human rights abuses did not start until 1998 when Spain requested his extradition from BritainEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1085781810840978472004-05-26T15:50:00.000-06:002004-05-28T17:33:12.226-06:00Lethal Injection Challenge
The US Supreme Court voted unanimously that an inmate on death penalty can pursue an appeal on the grounds that lethal injection would be cruel and unusual punishment, BBC reported (Lethal injection challenge upheld).
The US and countries like China and Iran continue to lead the statistics for the number of death penalty executions carried out. According to Amnesty Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1084919312124638152004-05-18T13:35:00.000-06:002004-05-26T10:19:02.466-06:00Moving Closer to a New Trade Deal?
Probably not. Since the stall of trade talks in Cancun in December 2003, world trade powerhouses have been exchanging polite letters seemingly making concessions. However, no new framework for global negotiations has emerged. As usual, the contentious points are subsidies on agricultural products, textiles, sugar, cotton, fisheries, and market assess.
On May Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1086041059676298062004-05-15T15:21:00.000-06:002004-06-01T10:30:53.123-06:00Civil Society in the Muslim World: Contemporary Perspectives, Amyn B. Sajoo (Editor)
Civil Society in the Muslim World: is this an oxymoron? According to the authors, the Muslim society historically has had pluralistic tradition and a society that respects human rights and pluralism can co-exist with Islam. This publication of the London Institute of Ismaili Studies is a compendium of articles Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1084319028772454832004-05-10T16:56:00.000-06:002004-05-26T10:20:20.786-06:00Russia doesn't want to let Chechnya go
and blood continues to flow...
This verse is definitely not Pushkin's, although the Chechen issue was contemporary to the Russian poet. The Russian-Chechen antagonism has exasperated through the centuries, reaching its culmination in the 1990s when Chechnya first tried to separate. During the dark years of the Imperium, Chechens were held tight in the iron Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1083789032848355502004-05-06T13:46:00.000-06:002004-05-07T11:56:22.576-06:00On Human Rights and Economic Development
speech by Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize Recipient for 2003
Dr. Ebadi is an Iranian advocate of human rights. In her speech to a World Bank audience she said that protecting human rights and promoting development are intricately linked. For the Bank to implement its development agenda successfully, she suggested it should focus its resources on Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1083787144364642432004-05-05T12:44:00.000-06:002004-05-11T16:53:59.756-06:00Target Iraq: American Human Rights under Scrutiny
After one of the bloodiest months of the Iraqi occupation, evidence that the US and the UK have lost their cool started to emerge. Last week newspapers printed pictures that depicted alleged abuse of detainees in Basra and Baghdad. A report into allegations of prisoners abuse by US forces in Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison has uncovered "numerous Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1083706595458157282004-05-04T15:29:00.000-06:002004-05-06T13:58:34.310-06:00More On Sudan's Hidden War
The UN's World Food Programme official James Morris in an interview with BBC said that the situation in Sudan's western Darfur region was "one of the world's worst humanitarian crises" and added that he had never before seen such frightened people. He confirmed earlier reports that more than a million people had been forced violently from their homes. Nomadic Arab Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1083793923676858192004-05-03T15:34:00.000-06:002004-05-05T16:01:58.793-06:00World Press Freedom Day
A free press is one of the most essential components of a democratic society, which in turn is a prerequisite for sustainable social and economic development. Every year, May 3 serves as an occasion to inform the public of violations of the right to freedom of expression and as a reminder that many journalists brave death or jail to bring people their daily news. Last yearEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1083705522551676372004-05-01T15:01:00.000-06:002004-05-04T15:23:32.763-06:00Religious Clashes in Nigeria
Muslim Fulani cattle herders and Christian Tarok farmers have been clashing for more than two months, the BBC reported. The bloody fights over land and cattle have caused hundreds of deaths and have forced thousands to flee their homes. In 2001, over 1000 people were killed in religious clashes in the state capital of Plateau, Los.
Read more: Thousands flee Nigerian Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1083362585575798732004-04-30T11:54:00.000-06:002004-06-25T15:49:06.740-06:00EU enlargement to the East
At 12 am Central European time on May 1, 2004 the EU will officially welcome 10 new full members. Although this day will not be remembered in history with the same emotion as the fall of the Berlin Wall, May 1 will be memorable for millions of people who lived under socialist regime as the day their counties finally severe the last link with their past of Soviet Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1085599611241693272004-04-25T13:26:00.000-06:002004-05-31T15:17:56.876-06:00Sustainable Development Indicators
Should company success be measured only by its profits or should we also take into account the impact its activities have on the environment and society? You've probably heard the expression, triple bottom line. Here are some ways how governments and the private sector can measure that bottom line and their progress towards achieving sustainable development.
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1085594026890675382004-04-18T10:22:00.000-06:002004-05-26T13:17:02.016-06:00On Corporate Responsibility
Corporate responsibility represents a decision-making process where financial goals, personal values, social and environmental concerns are given equal consideration when making a business decision. To enforce or encourage socially and environmentally conscious behaviour, governments enact corporate, employment, environmental and social (e.g. equal opportunity or Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1082918209477050002004-04-11T12:29:00.000-06:002004-04-28T08:58:27.746-06:00Out of Poverty
John Stackhouse
I highly recommend the book of John Stackhouse, a Globe and Mail development issues reporter based in India. It is a book about development projects gone wrong but also of how poor people from India, Africa, Indonesia, and Bangladesh have taken their future in their hands, changing the world.Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1086042795928478812004-04-10T16:05:00.000-06:002004-05-31T16:33:15.926-06:00On Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development is all the rage these days but what is it? The most common definition is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This definition was first published in the Brundtland Commission's report Our Common Future in 1987. This report prompted the Earth Summit in RioEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1081745297997056462004-04-04T22:11:00.000-06:002004-04-13T17:18:02.246-06:00The Other Path: The Invisible Revolution in the Third World
by Hernando de Soto
If you were wondering how de Soto arrived to the his great ideas included in The Mystery of Capital (see post of March 13, 2004), you should read his previous book: The Other Path. In The Other Path, the author provides an analysis of Peruvian informal economic activity, the reasons why it exists and its costs to Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1081809056966605632004-04-01T15:46:00.000-07:002004-04-12T16:36:16.500-06:00The Invisible Hand in Economics and Politics
by Milton Friedman
I found this lecture very intriguing not only because of the eloquent argument of the Nobel prize laureate in economics in favour of free market and against government intervention but also because of his explanation of the existence of government intervention. He uses the research on the influence of public opinion on government Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1081810638292630602004-03-29T16:37:00.000-07:002004-04-13T17:19:53.936-06:00The Corporation
documentary by Mark Achbar, Jennifer Abbott and Joel Bakan
Great movie! Corporations create the wealth of nations, hence, governments have given them liberty to do what they do best - generate income, lots of it, and as money makes the world go round, some corporations have become stronger than governments. The film examines the legal flaws that have allowed corporations to exert Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1081105162850569372004-03-25T12:32:00.000-07:002004-04-08T12:46:34.796-06:00Gender and Technology:
Lessons from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
It is no surprise to anybody: the introduction of new technologies to reduce drudgery in women's lives and assist with income generation does not solve all problems of gender inequality. The article, Technology and Dynamics of Gender: Insights from UNIFEM's Experience, briefly describes some of the Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1080071704471300482004-03-23T11:41:00.000-07:002004-03-25T14:14:31.436-07:00Look Who's Talking: the US Condemning Human Rights in China
China suspended talks with the US on human rights issues after an announcement that the US will seek a UN Human Rights Commission resolution condemning China's human rights abuses. The US stated that areas of concern included extrajudicial killings, torture, repression of religious and political groups, and arrests of internet dissidentsEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079973502587664132004-03-21T09:33:00.000-07:002004-04-15T10:22:54.420-06:00Saddam Could Have Profited From the Food for Oil Program, Duh!
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for an independent inquiry into allegations of fraud and corruption in its oil-for-food programme in Iraq, reported BBC (Annan seeks Iraq 'fraud' inquiry). But those of us that remember well the years between the 2 wars on Iraq by the Bush family know that the food-for-oil program was createdEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079838624577803312004-03-20T18:16:00.001-07:002004-05-18T17:19:06.113-06:00Frail Democracy for Taiwan
President Chen was re-elected by a fewer of 30,000 votes.
But the controversy surrounding Taiwan's elections continues: first it was the assassination attempt, then China flexed muscles during navy exercises with France (at least this time it didn't fire missiles in direction of the island), now a petition has been filed with a court in to examine the validity of the Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079728511240838162004-03-19T12:17:00.000-07:002004-03-19T13:49:42.246-07:00The New Rwanda: Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan
Arab militias raped over 100 women, abducted 150 women and 200 children, and killed over 80 people yesterday in Darfur in western Sudan, reported BBC (Mass rape atrocity in west Sudan). The conflict between the Arabic North, dominating the government, and the animist and Christian black south has existed since the country's independence in 1956 but the Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079717286599512672004-03-19T10:19:00.000-07:002004-03-23T10:27:48.030-07:00Hours Before Elections: Taiwan's President Was Shot At
President Chen Shui-bian and Vice-President Annette Lu were shot at during a rally. The President received 11cm wound in his stomach and the Vice-President in her knee. President Chen is a proponent of Taiwan's greater independence from China. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province which should be reunited with the mainland, by force if Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079730265327660702004-03-19T09:50:00.000-07:002004-03-19T15:09:08.903-07:00Developing Countries - Junk Yard for E-waste for the "Civilized" World
Do you ever wonder what happens to your old computer? Despite international conventions, developing countries have long been final destination for first world toxic waste but recently, they've been able to assist developed countries deal with another type of hazardous waste: computer component's. Unbeknownst to most of us, Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079566125919547342004-03-18T12:44:00.000-07:002004-03-18T12:47:14.013-07:00A Story about Protection of Indigenous Species, Emancipation, and Economic Development
This is a story of how Ms. Zoubida Charrouf, Professor in the Science Faculty of Mohamed V. University, in Rabat, Morocco brought to bear more than 15 years of research to establish the country’s first-ever argan oil processing cooperatives. With International Development Research Centre (IDRC) assistance, Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079561712490359832004-03-18T12:42:00.000-07:002004-03-18T12:45:47.013-07:00A Modest Proposal: Let's Have Two GDPs
A proposal by a fellow blogger: Arianna Online.
Sustainable development indicatorsEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079551320846774422004-03-17T11:52:00.000-07:002004-03-17T12:27:44.293-07:00China Moving Further Away from Communism: Economic and Human Rights Reforms
Karl Marx would not be amused, reported Canadian Globe and Mail (Right to private property enshrined in Chinese constitution). Chinese Parliament voted with overwhelming majority (of course, communists work, think and vote like one) that private property is "inviolable" and must be given constitutional protection. A Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079554590011683822004-03-17T11:20:00.000-07:002004-03-24T12:21:00.780-07:00China: the Global Trade Pariah
Two economic analyses of the Globe and Mail (Why China's boom is good for all of us
and Where have all the U.S. jobs gone?) explain why China is the new bete noire of global trade. The articles allude that it is not only the US and other developed countries that are suffering, but economies in transition and fragile smaller developing countries are not getting Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079382479767046002004-03-16T10:26:00.000-07:002004-03-16T10:59:24.670-07:00Jordan Women
In the month of the woman, we continue with the coverage of gender issues.
UNIFEM's report on the Status of Jordanian Women: Demography, Economic Participation, Political Participation and Violence, showed that while many strides were made to enhance women's rights through improved legislation and greater advocacy, progress will continue to be hampered by gender inequities, Jordan Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079376411428670792004-03-15T13:51:00.000-07:002004-03-18T13:04:58.420-07:00China's Dirty Tricks in Taiwan
On March 20, Taiwanese people will decide whether to continue the love-hate relationship with China and re-elect President Chen Shui-bian or reenact the return of the prodigal son and elect China's lapdog, KMT's candidate, Lien Chan.
China has always considered Taiwan as a rogue province. China and the China friendly Taiwanese opposition have pulled all dirty Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079383807897012922004-03-13T13:35:00.000-07:002004-04-11T23:02:30.390-06:00The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else
by Hernando de Soto
De Soto's answer is property rights. What is truly remarkable about this book is that the author not only gives a fresh analysis of the every day life in developing countries but also proposes an action plan for addressing the shortfalls of property systems in the developing world. The actionEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1079545844635372232004-03-12T10:19:00.000-07:002004-03-17T10:59:48.326-07:00Jeffrey Sachs: Millennium Development Goals
An amazing speech by Jeff Sachs, Special Advisor to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Director of the Millennium Project. Check it out!
Read more:
Millennium Development Goals
Millennium ProjectEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078948766496253952004-03-11T12:24:00.000-07:002004-03-15T10:06:33.826-07:00Saudi Arabia Women Can Vote in Municipal Elections, if They Are Allowed to
Mr. Saleh al-Malik, a member of Saudi Arabia's non-elected parliament, said that there will be no clause saying that women are not eligible to vote or be elected and anyone aged over 21 would be entitled to vote, reported the Guardian. This means that women will be able to vote in October if their husbands allow them to, Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078945888590491762004-03-10T09:56:00.000-07:002004-03-10T12:25:16.170-07:00Argentina and the IMF
Shortly before the deadline imposed by the IMF, the Argentine President Nestor Kirchner ordered to transfer a payment of $3.1-billion to the fund, the Guardian, the Globe and Mail, and the Buenos Aires Herald reported. Argentina had threatened to default claiming that a payment to the IMF would result in cancelling payments to schools and hospitals. The payment was made Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078851866156368932004-03-09T09:49:00.000-07:002004-03-09T10:07:33.483-07:00Global HIV/AIDS Support from G8 Countries
A fact sheet published by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation lists how much G8 nations, with exception of Russia which is a recipient of aid, are spending on bilateral and multilateral (through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria) basis to fight global HIV/AIDS.Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078771672733900102004-03-08T15:10:00.000-07:002004-03-08T15:14:01.780-07:00New Constitution for Iraq
The members of the Governing Council in Iraq signed an interim constitution in Iraq, BBC reported today. The new constitution, which states that Islam will be the official religion of the state, is quite progressive as it ensures equal rights of all (regardless of gender or religion), a right of minority groups to veto a future permanent constitution and a provision for Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078783721420918852004-03-07T15:02:00.000-07:002004-03-08T15:11:47.640-07:00In the Eve of the International Women's Day: True Equality for Women at Work is Still Out of Reach
Global Employment Trends for Women 2004 report released by the International Labour Organization finds that the explosive growth in the female workforce has not been accompanied by true socio-economic empowerment for women, nor has it led to equal pay for equal work or balanced other benefits makingEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078781827787404472004-03-06T15:09:00.000-07:002004-03-08T15:13:09.530-07:00South-South Cooperation: India, Brazil and South Africa Formalize Relationship
The Times of India reported that at the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Trilateral Commission meeting, the foreign ministers of the three countries unveiled an ambitious programme for cooperation in areas such as health, IT, civil aviation and defence. IBSA plan to launch a trilateral business forum to facilitate Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078774972469855762004-03-04T15:10:00.000-07:002004-03-08T15:13:44.496-07:00The New Globalization Wave
When you see that white collar jobs are being outsourced to developing nations, you know it that we are entering a new globalisation era. During the 70s, 80s and early 90s developed nations saw gradual exodus of blue collar manufacturing jobs to developing countries. Many companies took advantage of the abundant low cost labor but in the mid 1990s companies started to Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078785597943568172004-03-03T15:36:00.000-07:002004-03-08T15:44:16.950-07:00Siphoning oil out of Nigeria
ISP article about smuggling oil from Nigeria's southern Niger Delta region.Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078555033731961052004-03-01T23:27:00.000-07:002004-03-08T14:12:02.686-07:00British Aid Conditional on Privatization
Guardian reported findings of War on Want report which claims that Britain's aid to some of the poorest countries in the world is conditional on governments privatizing services, such as water and electricity, despite evidence that the private sector has consistently failed to deliver those services at an affordable price and satisfactory quality.Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078274020736892822004-02-29T16:56:00.000-07:002004-03-02T17:42:36.296-07:00Endangered Languages
A loss of language is a loss of indigenous knowledge: history, rituals, even farming and medicinal (healing) practices. According to the UN and UNESCO there were between 7,000 and 8,000 distinct languages. Now, over 50% of the world's 6000 languages spoken today are endangered. Half of those languages have fewer than 10,000 speakers, a quarter have fewer than 1,000 and 96% Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078270783850040692004-02-27T16:48:00.000-07:002004-03-02T17:43:10.560-07:00Back to our Roots
Our hunting-gathering roots, that is, back to the time of pre totalitarian agriculture (as Daniel Quinn calls it), when our ancestors' diet consisted of numerous edible weeds and fruits collected from the forest. Today, after the collapse of the Argentinian economy in late 2001, research institutions are urging communities to explore the wild-growing fauna as a source of Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1078025038787811362004-02-25T20:17:00.000-07:002004-02-28T20:27:24.390-07:00Children Death Toll in Developing Countries
The World Bank Group reported that among the 10.5 millions children under five who died in 1999, all but 1 per cent were from developing countries. Of these children 36 per cent died in Asia, and 33 per cent in Africa. More than 50 per cent of all deaths are due to just five communicable diseases: pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles, malaria and HIV/AIDS. Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077662158255841332004-02-24T17:28:00.000-07:002004-03-02T20:34:05.263-07:00News from Mother Russia
Eager Putin couldn't wait another month, when the people of Russia will officially re-elect him, to reorganize his government and in a surprise move yesterday the President of Russia sacked his government on national television. No, this isn't another profession of "controlled democracy", an euphemism used widely today to characterize Russia's shaky steps towards Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077554859551233012004-02-22T17:27:00.000-07:002004-02-24T17:37:39.860-07:00Global Warming is Upon Us
In an article of the Guardian, Mark Townsend and Paul Harris reveal details from a secret Pentagon report painting a dramatic future. The Bush administration has been ignoring the global warming issue, but according to the Pentagon report the climate change issue is not a problem of the distant future any longer: "As early as next year widespread flooding by a rise in Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077734882681550882004-02-20T11:02:00.000-07:002004-02-25T11:52:13.123-07:00New UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has nominated Canadian Justice Louise Arbour as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Once the nomination is approved by the General Assembly, Justice Arbour is expected to retire from the Supreme Court of Canada in June 2004. The former High Commissioner, Sergio Vieira de Mello from Brazil was killed in Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077668356658634052004-02-18T16:28:00.000-07:002004-02-24T17:30:01.326-07:00African Science Produces Results - Rice for Africa: NERICAs
Rice is a staple crop for Africans but many farmers had given up on the traditional African varieties as they have a very small yield. Asian varieties were introduced to Africa but differences in humidity and plant structure require farmers, primarily women and children, to spend more hours weeding.
In 1991, in the Africa Rice Center (Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077578219881560362004-02-16T14:54:00.000-07:002004-02-24T15:01:25.090-07:00Internally Displaced Persons
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are people who have been forced to suddenly flee their homes in large numbers. Even though some of the IDPs are displaced because of natural disasters, such as earthquakes or volcano eruptions, the majority are forces to leave their home to avoid armed conflicts or gross human rights violations. According to UNDP, the displaced are Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077663195387870122004-02-15T15:43:00.000-07:002004-02-24T15:56:37.700-07:00Improving Effectiveness of Development Assistance
Realizing that something could be done to improve the effectiveness and coordination of development assistance provided to developing countries, representatives from development agencies and developing countries met in Marrakesh, Morocco on February 3-4, 2004. The delegates agreed on 7-point plan to improve development assistance.The first Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077067709032093202004-02-14T18:14:00.000-07:002004-02-17T18:31:36.093-07:00Doha Development Round - the Useless Banter Continues
The EU announced its plan to provide support to African cotton and coffee growers in an effort to revive the stalled global talks. Cotton is not one of the crops for which the EU offers lavish agricultural subsidies but the US happens to. Is this a stab at the US or just a simulation of action?
Read more:
EU press release
Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077054988820532482004-02-12T18:11:00.000-07:002004-02-17T18:14:42.106-07:00Wasn't the War on Afghanistan also a War for Human Rights?
Yes, the war on Afghanistan, that most of world conveniently forgot, was a war against terrorism and gross infringement of human rights. But today, two years later, Osama bin Laden is still loose and the plight of women in Afghanistan has not improved. In a commentary in The Guardian, Mariam Rawi, a member of the Revolutionary AssociationEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1077066637292275972004-02-11T17:42:00.000-07:002004-02-17T18:13:16.513-07:00Reading Material
Check out Developments, international development magazine:
http://www.developments.org.uk/Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1076034129655533552004-02-09T17:38:00.000-07:002004-02-17T17:41:47.796-07:00Bringing the price of AIDS treatment down
Only three years ago the price of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment was over $2,000 per person per year. Generic drugs manufacturing brought the price down to about $500 per person per year. Efforts of UNAIDS, World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and recenty of the Clinton Foundation, brought the price Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1076997155516091762004-02-08T22:32:00.000-07:002004-02-17T17:44:23.076-07:00Focus on Crazy Ideas
A few days back, at a conference, while listening to a speaker describing the immense obstacles to confining the spread of AIDS in Africa, I was thinking that there must be a way to overcome the numerous cultural barriers. Then suddenly I thought: traveling theatre that uses drama to teach people AIDS prevention and slowly change cultural perceptions. The power of Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1075854584695180472004-02-07T13:14:00.000-07:002004-02-15T18:08:06.403-07:00IT helping Karnataka farmers
Bhoomi project - Computerisation of Land Records - of the Karnataka State is using IT to bring accountability in the city administration and utility agencies. Land taxes are the largest sources of revenues of India's state budgets and the whole bureaucratic process was used for personal enrichment of some of the local administration clerks. The use of computers and Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1076875372171955932004-02-06T12:35:00.000-07:002004-02-15T13:07:14.746-07:00Poverty Dynamics in Uganda: 1992 to 2000
Uganda is one of the few African countries that has shown progress eradicating poverty. In their research, John A. Okidi, Economic Policy Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda and Andrew McKay, School of Economics, University of Nottingham, UK show that even though the Uganda's market-oriented development policies, which have led to macroeconomic success, haveEvgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1076648359631173192004-02-05T21:33:00.000-07:002004-02-13T21:24:47.013-07:00WB, WTO & IMF, the Real War Criminals?
The World Bank Group, the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund found their way on the face of 3 of the Aces in the War Profiteers card deck. The deck is a spoof of the US Army deck used in Iraq to help soldiers memorize the faces of the most wanted Iraqi war criminals. War Profiteers created the deck to expose the real war criminals Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6354501.post-1076646267462863102004-02-04T20:24:00.000-07:002004-02-12T22:06:45.873-07:00Belief in Hell Makes You More Productive
Religion and Economic Growth, Robert J. Barro and Rachel M. McCleary, Harvard University
The study analyzes the influence of religion on a country’s rate of economic growth. Barro and McCleary argue that religion affects economic performance mainly by fostering religious beliefs that influence individual traits that enhance productivity, such as honesty, Evgeniahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00104137156196325741noreply@blogger.com0