ECHOES FROM AEFJN N. 26 - March 2016
REFLECTION |
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A PATHWAY TO REAL SOLIDARITY |
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Talking about spirituality these days in Europe gives the impression that you are out of touch with life and immediately pitches you against those who want to uncouple religions from every sphere of human endeavour. Though the human elements of institutional religions have continued to rear their ugly head, the eternal truths and values they offer about the imperatives of justice and charity on the use of wealth and power for the common good cannot be eclipsed. However, there is an element in human nature that resists the imperative of justice and leads to behaviours that consistently and systematically violate the basic principles of Human Rights and international relationships. In the final analysis, the roots of our present socio-economic and ecological crises are spiritual and ethical questions of life. Read more
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FROM THE AEFJN DESK |
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR WHOM? |
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ALSO IN THE NEWS
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HOW PHILANTROPIC IS GLOBAL PHILANTHROPY
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The recent report of “Global Policy Forum” examines the role of Philanthropic organisations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations and the Rockefeller Foundation in shaping the international development agenda. Philanthropic organisations have become increasingly important players both financially and in terms of agenda setting. Indeed, the spending of philanthropic organisations has exceeded $10 billion according to estimates. At the same time these foundations have increased their influence on development programmes, in particular in the UN-setting. Read more
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HEALTH IS A BASIC RIGHT |
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International treaties and agreements oblige countries to guarantee that everyone can exercise the right to health. Is this right, however, compatible with economic interests? What are the impacts of free trade agreements on the healthcare of countries in the South with whom the European Union has concluded and/or is negotiating an agreement? A series of policy briefs from the North-South working group of the Action Platform Health and Solidarity and Because-Health’s working group on Social Determinants of Health of focus on various aspects of the impact international trade policy has on health. The policy briefs examine the following topics: international trade policy and the right to health in relation to (1) intellectual property rights (TRIPS), (2) decent work and (3) universal health coverage. Read More
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ADVOCACY
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CONFLICT MINERALS: THREE-WAY DISCUSSION ON THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS |
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The Dutch Presidency intends to conclude discussions on conflict minerals within its mandate. In May 2015, the European Parliament voted in favour of a binding mechanism for monitoring the supply chain of minerals from conflict zones. The proposal is ambitious because it requires not only importers of minerals, smelters and refineries to source responsibly but also manufacturers of semi-finished and finished manufactured goods such as mobile phones, PCs and washing machines to ensure that the minerals in their products are not supplied to armed groups. However, Member States are in favour of a voluntary system throughout the supply chain and the European Commission wants to set itself up as a facilitator by suggesting a compromise: a binding settlement for importers of minerals and smelters. The three-way discussions probably resume in April, so stay tuned! Read more |
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G8 Discussions at European Parliament |
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LAND GRABBING IN CAMEROON |
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Did you know that land grabs occur at large scales in the Cameroon ? Multinational organization often remove people from the little property they have inherited from ancestors. Their land is unjustly taken from either the state, elites or others who equally carry out the latter. How much of the land in the Cameroon have been sold to Europeans bodies in order to the plant GMO plant Jatropha? In these situations, it is the citizen who pays the heaviest price: their land is expropriated without just compensation, they are subsequently forced to migrate to the city center or work on their own land as an employee of a land grabber.
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ACTIONS |
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SYMBOLIC ACTION IN BRUSSELS |
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THE SECRETARIAT |
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VISIT TO THE SECRETARIAT OF PILAR TRILLO |
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Pilar Trillo, the contact person for AEFJN of the Religious Congregation of the Little Sisters of Assumption, visited the Secretariat for 10 days. She was trained in the work of the Secretariat and had the opportunity to discuss with the staff the work they do in Brussels. The main purpose of her visit was to gain first-hand knowledge of the Secretariat’s work, to consider how best to share it with her congregation and to study new possibilities for collaboration between her congregation and AEFJN. Read more
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INTERNS AT THE SECRETARIAT |
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Two interns, Kaleke Kolawole and Eva Demaré have joined the secretariat in Brussels. Kaleke studies International Development at the University of Portsmouth and will be staying with AEFJN for 5 months. She will mainly work on agriculture and gender related issues. Eva Deraré has successfully finished her masters in EU Studies at Ghent University. She will be staying at AEFJN for 3 months and work on the natural resources and transparency. Both interns contacted AEFJN out of a personal interest in the dossiers and work of the organisation. Besides the main dossiers, Kaleke and Eva will also be helping with the daily work of the Secretariat and looking at AEFJN’s involvement in social media, including renewing the current AEFJN website. Read more
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VIDEOS |
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Ce que des multinationales nous cachent (What the multinationals hide from us) Amnesty International France asks us not to bury our heads in the sand like ostriches but to challenge violations of human rights.
Mega agrobusiness grows resentment in Mozambique (2:14) Immense reserves of gas and coal in northern Mozambique have attracted foreign investors in recent years, but so has its fertile soil, much to the concern of small farmers displaced by agricultural mega-projects. Many local farmers are being squeezed out over government plans to encourage the establishment of huge plantations.
Towards system change: conference ‘People and Planet First’ This 15-minute video looks back to the conference about the encyclical Laudato Si which provided a unique space for discussions through which worlds that usually operate independently met, shared reflections and built unusual alliances.
Video of the action by AEFJN & Partners to denounce the activities of SOCFIN.
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