Flash info | Summer 2008

Global Education News is an electronic newsletter where national global education coordinators or practitioners can share global education news and best practices, useful thematic links and educational materials. It also serves as a medium for the North-South Centre global education network national coordinators' own use.

    Dear friends,

    A mid-summer flash info full of news on the Youth front with the Youth International Day and the preparation of the annual North-South Centre Mollina Summer University on Youth & Development. More information on the intercultural and interfaith dialogue front while Human Rights learning is deserving some highlight as well as the preparatory process of the 2009 World Social Forum.
    Because climate change is the topic of the Youth International Day, you will find new useful resources related to it under § 4, training opportunities under § 6 and much more on the flash info…

    Enjoy the reading!

1. News from North-South Centre of the Council of Europe & the Global Education Week network

2. Other GE news

    . Special file : Council of Europe intercultural and interreligious dialogue policy

    . Promotion of intercultural dialogue through education - representatives of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the United Nations agreed that the promotion of intercultural dialogue and the management of cultural diversity remained among the priorities of their organisations. They emphasised the promotion of ''intercultural competences'' through education as well as the link between intercultural dialogue and conflict prevention. more ...

    . Council of Europe Education Newsletter - Special issue on “World Programme for Human Rights Education”

    . Guidelines from One World Week's Inter Faith Project
    OWW's Inter Faith project in 2007-8 was completed in March. The report is published as an illustrated booklet, which you can download or read the text here on the website, or download the text.
    The report, "Building Local Bridges Together to Address Shared Global Concerns", looks at a very varied set of case studies from four regions: the South West; Worcester, Manchester and Essex. Each case study outlines what happened and discusses the lessons learned from each. These are then distilled into Ten Top Tips  which offer really practical ideas for anyone planning to incorporate inter faith and intercultural elements into their OWW events. There are tips for everyone here: for areas that are predominantly white Christian to those with many faiths and Black and Ethnic Minorities.

    . International Day of the World’s Indigenous People – August 9

    . 2008-2009 International Year of Human Rights Learning
    The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed the year commencing on 10 December 2008 as the International Year of Human Rights Learning, to be devoted to activities to broaden and deepen human rights learning based on the principles of universality, indivisibility, interdependency, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity, constructive dialogue and cooperation (resolution 62/171 of 18 December 2007). It aims to enhance the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development.

    . Special 17th International AIDS Conference - Mexico City August 3 - 8

    Targeted, Data-Driven Strategies Aim to Make AIDS Money Work
    … more

    Exploring New Policy Questions in HIV/AIDS Treatment
    … more

3. Useful links

4. Useful resources

    Council of Europe

    . The Council of Europe has developed several tools aimed at helping practitioners to promote citizenship, human rights and intercultural learning.  …more

    . COMPASITO - Manual on human rights education for children (2008)

    Others

    . The Caribbean Conservation Corporation recently launched Tour de Turtle, a fun, educational journey through the science, research and geography of sea turtle migration using satellite telemetry. MEDASSET adopted one of the eight competitors, Little Crush, an endangered green sea turtle. The two year old, was rescued by the University of Florida after having swallowed more than 70 pieces of plastic waste. Little Crush is swimming to raise awareness about the
    threat of marine pollution to sea turtles.

    . A Practical Guide to Climate-proof Cities : the world’s urban centers are increasingly exposed to rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change. These changes threaten the property and the lives of billions of urban citizens. However, cities’ vulnerability to climate change-induced disasters can be reduced. Policy-makersresponding to the greater risks will find support from international development institutions including the Bank. Cities that have already responded are also willing to share good lessons with others, especially those in poorer countries. However, most of the necessary measures must be taken by the cities themselves. To help local governments do just that, the Bank joined with the United Nations agencies to publish an interactive report entitled, “Climate Resilient Cities”

Global Monitoring Report on Education for All, 2008 Global Monitoring Report on Education for All, 2008

5. Message in a bottle

    . On 9-10 October 2008, a Forum on "Civic Partnerships for Citizenship and Human Rights Education" will be organised by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Committee of Ministers. Partnerships between governments, regional and local authorities, civil society organisations and other relevant actors are essential for effective promotion of EDC/HRE. There is already a wealth of good practices developed in this respect in the Council of Europe member states, but such partnerships need to be further developed and supported. The aim of the Forum is to produce recommendations on how this could be done at national and European level.
    The participants of the Forum will be officials from the 49 states party to the European Cultural Convention, representatives of international institutions, civil society and foundations active in the field of EDC/HRE. From 150 to 300 participants are expected to attend the Forum.
    Travel and subsistence expenses of all participants will have to be covered by their organisations / institutions. Further information, application form and deadline

6. Events

    . Training Course in Human Rights Education with Children for Ombuds Offices and Advocacy Organisations - 12-19 October 2008 - European Youth Centre Budapest
    APPLICATION DEADLINE : 21 August 2008

    . Training of Trainers in Human Rights Education with Children - 12-19 October 2008 - European Youth Centre Budapest
    APPLICATION DEADLINE : 21 August 2008

    . "Intercultural Dialogue -- Challenge for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education", from 14-16 November 2008 in Vienna, Austria. This conference organised by DARE - Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe aims at providing a forum for practitioners in formal and non-formal education, academia and activists, political scientists, educators in HRE/EDC, and policy makers from various levels. It aims to contribute to the development of coherent European framework policies in HRE/EDC in order to improve the access to information and sufficient resources for relevant NGOs. The conference offers not only networking opportunities, but focuses on hands-on training and an exchange of best practices. The findings and results developed during the conference will be published and used for the preparation of a hearing on EDC/HRE in the European Parliament in 2009. Registration Deadline is 31 Aug 2008 more …
    Registration form - Invitation and programme overview - Detailed workshop descriptions

    . The First Students Workshop on Peace, Religion and Media will be held in Iran, from November 9th to 22nd, 2008 simultaneously with The Second International Conference on Religion and Media. It will provide a unique opportunity in a friendly environment for the young participants to explore the complicated relationship between religion and media and to enhance their knowledge and skills in redirecting the power of this relationship towards the positive aim of building a culture of peace.

7. Special Sustainable Development

8. Campaigns