Launched in 2005, this series consists of 32 five-minute films produced in 31 countries around the world by the Broadcasting for Change Network. Several of the films explore basic human rights, such as the right to education, through the stories of girls and women who have been denied those rights. For instance, Sierra Leone's "The Sky is the Limit" and the Czech Republic's "Women in Power".

When civil war broke out in Liberia at the end of 1989 it triggered an intractable cycle of conflict and displacement that directly affected three other countries and indirectly affected several more. The violence that has ebbed and flowed between Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire - added to the separate conflicts in Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria and Togo - has created an extremely complex situation of displacement, both internally and across borders.

The purpose of this report is to set forth policy options for supporting developing countries and transition economies in adapting their secondary education systems to demands arising from the successful expansion of primary education and the socioeconomic challenges presented by globalisation and the knowledge-based economy.

Education International (EI) welcomes the UIS (UNESCO Institute for Statistics) report on teacher recruitment, which fully supports all of EI’s demands in terms of teacher training, quality of education and proper planning by governments. Education International welcomes the release of the report, which should help governments and the international community achieve the Education For All initiative by 2015, will state the EI General Secretary, Fred van Leeuwen at a press conference at the UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC) today (April 26).

High-profile meetings in 2005 raised expectations that commitments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals would result in more aid for Education for All (EFA) programmes. But are donors ready to finally honour the EFA promises made in Dakar in 2000?

Africa was the subject of unprecedented international political attention in 2005. In March, the Commission for Africa - set up by Tony Blair - published its report, Our Common Future, which provided an extremely detailed analysis of the challenges facing the continent and of the policy responses that might better help to tackle them. However, international policy makers have underestimated the extent to which China is now a major player in Africa. They have failed to fully appreciate the extent to which China’s engagement in Africa has the potential to seriously undermine some of their existing policy initiatives towards the continent.

Founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day Network (EDN) promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide. Earth Day Network is a driving force steering environmental awareness around the world. Through Earth Day Network, activists connect, interact, and impact their communities, and create positive change in local, national, and global policies. For information and resources follow the link.

This campaign briefing paper gives policy information, facts, statistics and case studies that explain the need for more, better paid, qualified teachers in order to give every child a quality education. The paper states Global Campaign for Education positions and specific demands to governments.

Global Action Week (GAW) gets off to a kick start today, Monday 24th of April, with activities taking place internationally to advocate for free quality Education for All.

Follow the link for some of the events being held around Africa.

The Mozambican government on Thursday (April 21) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Export-Import Bank of China (China Eximbank) for financing the Mepanda Nkua dam and hydro-electric station on the Zambezi, in the western province of Tete. The cost of the dam, the power station, and the transmission line from Tete to Maputo is put at 2.3 billion US dollars.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's reform proposal for the world body that would give new responsibilities to the secretary-general is receiving sharp criticism from the Group of 77, which represents developing countries within the General Assembly. Action on the group's resolution, proposed by South Africa, could put off consideration of the changes for months and could bring about a showdown in June, when the UN must reconcile its annual budget, according to the NY Times.

Human trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced labor not only still exists in the 21st century, it affects most countries in the world, the United Nations reports. The report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime urges the international community to do more to protect victims and prosecute offenders. “The fact that this form of slavery still exists in the 21st century shames us all,” UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said of the report - Trafficking In Persons: Global Patterns.

Civil society organisations from a large group of developing countries are insisting on full participation in negotiations under way with the European Union. The ongoing talks about economic partnership agreements (EPAs) are critical for long- term development, economic growth, and poverty reduction in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries, according to participants at the ACP Civil Society Forum held in Brussels April 19-21.

As oil prices reached a record high of 68 dollars a barrel last week - compared with the oil producers' targeted range of 22 to 28 dollars back in January 2005 - the United Nations remains hopeful there will be increasing demand for conservation and alternative sources for energy.

Transparency International recently launched "Transparency Watch," an e-bulletin of the global anti-corruption movement. The newsletter has been redesigned to be distributed electronically, both on their Web site and by email, on a monthly basis. Beginning in May, readers will be able to subscribe to receive "Transparency Watch" automatically via email.

Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL), the only fixed-line provider in the country, has substantially reduced its telephone The new tariffs enable a client to make an international call at just Tsh750/- (US$ 0.70) per minute compared to a previous rate of Tsh1,500 ($ 1.10) per minute.

This is a great opportunity for two researchers well versed in African social, political, cultural and economic, pre and post independence history to work on an exciting documentary-film for broadcast in 2007. All candidates must have excellent research skills and must be able to work to tight deadlines. Both positions are voluntary but researchers will be duly credited. There may be some scope to travel to Africa in late 2006. Researchers with knowledge of Ghanaian, Sierra Leonean, Nigerian, South African, Ugandan, Kenyan and The Gambian Histories are particularly welcome. Please apply with your CV and details of your skills and experience to Michelle Akande, [email]m.akande@virgin.net

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was ratified in 1989 but many young people grow up knowing little of what it is to have the protection and freedoms that are described within its 54 articles. Much remains to be done to guarantee teenagers their rights. Often mistaken for or treated as adults, teenagers are vulnerable to many risks and dangers. Despite the protection offered by the CRC, their rights are too often neglected. Between eight and twenty million children are thought to be involved in the worst forms of child labour: forced and bonded labour, armed conflict, prostitution, pornography and trafficking.

Google has launched its latest salvo against rivals such as Yahoo and Microsoft, unveiling a free online calendar service. The web calendar lets people store appointments, receive reminders and share schedules with others. It is tied in to Google's e-mail service, Gmail, automatically offering to add the date information in a message to the calendar.

I really appreciated Stephen Marks' article on China in Africa recently (See I think this is a very important topic we as Africans should be discussing. Keep up the great work with Pambazuka, it is a fantastic service!