The world’s governments have a unique chance to tackle the global education crisis and pave the way for universal primary education, Oxfam has said. The opportunity comes at the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC, April 18th – 21st, when Finance and Development Ministers will be considering the World Bank’s new action plan for primary education.

The accused at the Afro-Brazilian tribunal run at Porto Alegre during the second World Social Forum were the Brazilian government and its associated partners, including the governments of the G7 countries, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organisation, the world’s biggest banks and corporations and the Roman Catholic Church. The alleged crimes were those of genocide, racism and destruction of the lives of indigenous people and blacks over the centuries right up to the present.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has assisted in the publication of a guide to humanitarian law which aims to explain the rights of victims and humanitarian organizations in times of conflict, tension and crisis. Titled “The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law” the book presents humanitarian law in a new light: from the perspective of relief action carried out for the benefit of victims. By contrast, most books on humanitarian law explain the rules from the point of view of states and armed forces, the most powerful actors.

As the world's economy becomes more global, the amount and variety of imported products raises concerns about child labor, workplace health and safety regulations in factories that produce the clothes we wear, the shoes on our feet and the toys and sports equipment played with by our children. Most companies are still exploring these issues, trying to determine the best ways to avoid using factories where abusive workplace conditions could potentially put reputations and brands at risk.

According to press reports China and Central African Republic have signed an economic coopertaion agreement worth yuan (US $1.2 million).

According to press reports USAid will continue to assist South Africa's fight against Aids despite Mbeki's ''tragic'' stance on the disease.

In the 1990s globalization was the buzzword; it promises to become ever more important in the first decade of the 21st century. One view suggest that globalization can be dated back to the beginning of the 1980s, while a second view holds that globalization has a long history that can be traced to the 19th century, if not before. This work offers a categorization of types and stages of globalization that existed before the late 20th century. It also emphasizes the fact that globalization has non-Western as well as Western origins. The contributors bring their expertise to bear on themes that give prominence to China, South Asia, Africa and the world of Islam, as well as to Europe and the United States, and span three centuries. ISBN: 0712677402, 2002, Pimlico.

Funding proposals submitted to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have exceeded the resources available for this year, the Fund's spokeswoman told PlusNews this week.

Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is an annual global event led by Youth Service America with the Global Youth Action Network as its key partner, together with a consortium of 32 International Organizations and well over 100 National Coordinating Committees. The goals of GYSD are to:
*Highlight the ways that young people improve their communities through service 365 days a year
*Recruit the next generation of volunteers
*Promote the benefits of youth service around the world.

This e-conference will contribute to the global debate on CSR, and develop an agenda for future leaders by providing an opportunity for young people to express their view on the role of various stakeholders in promoting CSR. Each week, a new topic for discussion will be introduced. Each topic will be moderated by young people from developed, developing, and transition economies.

This article from the Rural Development Services Network spells out the political tensions around the Civil Society WSSD Forum....

In an UN International Forum on Finance for Development anticipatory meeting in Monterrey, Mexico, anti-globalisation groups have rejected America's $5-billion aid commitment by scornfully referring to it as ''crumbs''.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a new initiative to combat the epidemics that kill six million people each year, announced the appointment of an international panel of experts that will review all grant proposals and make recommendations to the Board for funding.

The Health GAP Coalition has said dozens of potential recipient countries caved in to donor pressure and the likelihood of low funds by pre-emptively weakening project proposals they submitted last week to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The case for increased funding can only be made by bolder and more comprehensive proposals, the coalition said. Calling on the Global Fund to post country proposals on its Web site as a matter of transparency and good governance, the coalition announced that, in the meantime, the proposals will be posted on the Website Access Project for the Global Fund, based at Harvard University's Center for International Development.

Two years ago, as the world's population surpassed the high mark of 6 billion, scientists were sounding alarm bells over unchecked population growth, especially in the developing world. But now there is a growing consensus among demographers over a new forecast: Before the century ends, the number of humans likely will start to shrink, reckons James Chamie, director of the United Nation's population division.

This Paper is a response to the recommendation of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee in its report on Sierra Leone (HC116-I) that in respect of mercenary activities, the Government publish a Green Paper outlining options for the control of private military companies which operate out of the UK, its dependencies and the British Islands.

Scientific American - "Slavery still flourishes underground in many parts of the world. This case study presents the perspectives of West African social scientists, diplomats, activists and escaped slaves in Gabon. Of particular interest is the Gabonese effort to rehabilitate and repatriate those children who have the luck and courage to escape their bondage."

The Tech Museum of Innovation, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is now seeking nominations for its 2002 global awards. The program draws international attention to individuals, for-profit companies, and public and not-for-profit organizations that are using technology to improve the quality of life around the world in five universal categories: Education, Equality, Economic Development, Environment, and Health. Nominations are welcome from all sources, including self-nominations. Individuals, for-profit companies, and public or non-profit organizations are eligible. The simple nomination form can be filled out online.

An interesting article at CNET details the planned implemtentation of a supercomputing grid in India. India is a developing country, but this has not stopped it's rapid progress in the world of ICTs. It is on the way to becoming a serious contender in the digital world.

A collective of computer experts is working to enhance the privacy of non-governmental organizations around the world.