China

human rights watch have a multimedia presentation giving us a glimpse of the pre olympic build up and the human rights violations in China.

After Steven Spielbergs stand (stepping down from artistic director to the bejing olympic games because of Chinas role in Darfur- which is mostly to do with oil) in full public view against china, we hope they take notice. Though they are developing fast, their standard of human rights needs to keep up!

check out the short and concise clip here:

http://china.hrw.org/

New Report on the situation in DR Congo

DR Congo death toll more than 5m
By Mark Doyle
BBC World Affairs correspondent



Life in eastern DR Congo is a daily struggle
An international aid agency reports a massive continuing death toll from war and the related humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The International Rescue Committee says 45,000 people are dying every month in the central African state - a total of 5.4 million dead over the past decade.

This death toll surpasses any conflict since World War II, it says. These shocking figures follow a scientific, nationwide survey across DR Congo's 11 provinces.

The IRC has concluded that there are 45,000 more deaths, every month, than would be expected from the average, already poor conditions in the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.

And because DR Congo's population is large - the country stretches across the whole of the centre of the continent - it's a worse humanitarian crisis even than that caused by other African wars.

One of the report's authors, Dr Richard Brennan, says a number of other countries like Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Angola have seen sustained elevations of mortality for a number of years after conflict.

"What is different about Congo is the scale. There are just so many more people living in Congo than there are in these other countries."

And so many more are dying there, from easily preventable conditions like malaria, pneumonia and malnutrition.

The report's authors say the Congolese government has the greatest responsibility to address the crisis, while international aid also has a vital role to play.

But the authors add that DR Congo's crisis continues to be overlooked, with funding inadequate compared to the enormity of the need.

Article found at:www.bbc.co.uk

Its not just diamonds baby!

Burma produces the vast majority of high-quality rubies on the world market. According to industry estimates, the country accounts for more than 90 percent of the trade by value. It is also the top global producer of jade. Burma’s gem mines are ruled with an iron hand by military authorities and mining companies. Deplorable conditions at the mines reportedly include rampant land confiscation, extortion, forced labor, child labor, environmental pollution and unsafe working conditions for miners. HIV/AIDS, drug-resistant malaria and tuberculosis are increasingly common in mining areas.

www.hrw.org

small steps

we often hear its our small steps of changing the way we do things, think about things and respond to things. And its totally spot on, small things add to the bigger picture. This year for birhtdays and other gifts maybe change to buying fair trade products, or gifts of hope (Salvation Army) or Oxfam Unwrapped (oxfam.org.nz). A small step for better.

Thats a pretty consumer driven point ha? well its true we are consumers and we have bying power, but there is a great quote that i am yet to put my finger on (will get back to you) and the guy empasises that we are not only consumers but we are formostly citizens of our lives, communtiies, and the world. We have the right to belong, to speak out and make decisions.WE will have to deal with the consequeces of what ever decisions are made by us or the multinationals or the governments--- so get involved i say, make a informed choice about what you buy.

“The job of a citizen is to keep his mouth open.”
Gunter Grass (German poet, novelist, playwright, sculptor, and printmaker, 1999 Nobel Prize for Literature, b.1927)

f-a-c-t-s w-o-w

Facts that made me go WOW

7 million people are dependant on foreign Aid every day in Ethiopia.

For every dollar given to a poor country in aid, they loose two dollars to rich countries because of unfair trade.

Trade rules are unfair- for what? why not let countries develop? Our need for power and pride sux.

Human Traffick-- Keep up the fight good people!

This year human Trafficking continues, it is a horrible, disgusting illegal crime. Robbing life, self respect, and any scrap of human rights from a person. Though the campaign against trafficking of Humans has reached new levels, trafficking still exists. We need to continue to think about what we buy, what we talk about, what we suppport, and what we act on. So continue to support the work of anti trafficking organisations, and making our voices heard in the public forum (media and friends alike!).

Together, side by side, as a community continuing the ongoing opposition of injsutice will see then end to things such as this... in the mean time we will see people like you and me free to live lives they were intended to life-- free and good.

On that note, the petition by stop the traffik is due to be presented to the UN in a few days-- get signing-- www.stopthetraffik.org

Social Action Calander

Here is a new blog site, its great for a quick glance to keep you posted about social action days around the world. Great to use in a workplace, church, youth groups etc. to bring about awareness, meditation and action on pertiant issues!

http://www.socialactioncalendar.blogspot.com/