21 January 2012
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR ALL - 2012
Energy is central to nearly every major challenge, and opportunity the world faces today. Be it jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes , access to sustainable energy for all is essential for strengthening economies, protecting ecosystems and achieving equity.
In fact, more than 1.4 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, and 1 billion more only have intermittent access. Some 2.5 billion people – almost half of humanity – rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made sustainable energy one of his five priorities that will guide his second 5-year term. Specifically, he will direct the United Nations to extend energy’s reach in order to combat endemic poverty. Universal access to energy, improved efficiency and enhanced deployment of renewable sources are ambitious goals, and the Secretary-General is leading a Sustainable Energy for All initiative to make them achievable.
This initiative will call for private sector and national commitments and attract global attention to the importance of energy for development and poverty alleviation. The goal is to meet three objectives by 2030:
• Ensuring universal access to modern energy services.
• Doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
• Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
In recognition of the importance of energy access for sustainable economic development and supporting achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
In fact, more than 1.4 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, and 1 billion more only have intermittent access. Some 2.5 billion people – almost half of humanity – rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon made sustainable energy one of his five priorities that will guide his second 5-year term. Specifically, he will direct the United Nations to extend energy’s reach in order to combat endemic poverty. Universal access to energy, improved efficiency and enhanced deployment of renewable sources are ambitious goals, and the Secretary-General is leading a Sustainable Energy for All initiative to make them achievable.
This initiative will call for private sector and national commitments and attract global attention to the importance of energy for development and poverty alleviation. The goal is to meet three objectives by 2030:
• Ensuring universal access to modern energy services.
• Doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
• Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
In recognition of the importance of energy access for sustainable economic development and supporting achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All
WORLD SOCIAL JUSTICE DAY FEB 20th
Italian Jesuit priest Luigi Tapparelli d’Azeglio, (1793-1862) is generally acknowledged as the person with whom the concept of social justice originated.
Taparelli wrote frequently about social problems arising from the Industrial Revolution seeking a middle path between laissez faire capitalism and extreme forms of socialism, and his influence was significant. Pope Leo XIII’s social encyclical Rerum Novarum, published in 1891 and recognized as the foundation for the social doctrine of the Catholic church, drew on insights from his former teacher, Taparelli.
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being.
The United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February annually, starting in 2009, as the World Day of Social Justice a day recognizing the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment.
Taparelli wrote frequently about social problems arising from the Industrial Revolution seeking a middle path between laissez faire capitalism and extreme forms of socialism, and his influence was significant. Pope Leo XIII’s social encyclical Rerum Novarum, published in 1891 and recognized as the foundation for the social doctrine of the Catholic church, drew on insights from his former teacher, Taparelli.
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being.
The United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe 20 February annually, starting in 2009, as the World Day of Social Justice a day recognizing the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment.
20 January 2012
THE RIGHT TO WATER AND SANITATION - AN UNMET GLOBAL NEED
More than 4000 children die each day from severe diarrhea, which is spread through poor sanitation and hygiene.
In a world population of 7 billion, 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation and 884 million do not have access to clean water, this despite the UN Human Rights Council affirming that water and sanitation are human rights.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces some of the worst deficits - 330 million people in the region lack access to clean water and 565 million lack access to proper sanitation facilities. People living in rural areas continue to be disproportionately underserved, as seven out of ten users of unimproved sanitation facilities live in rural areas.
As with many challenges in development, women and girls are disproportionately impacted by scarcities of clean water and adequate sanitation. Women are more than twice as likely as men to be responsible for water collection. On average, women in the developing world walk six kilometers each day to collect water, time which could be spent in school or at work. And studies show that more than half of girls who drop out of primary school in sub-Saharan Africa do so because of a lack of separate toilets and easy access to safe water. The effects of lack of access to water and sanitation have a macroeconomic impact as well. In total, the World Health Organization estimates that 40 billion working hours are spent collecting water each year in Africa - comparable to a year's labour for the entire workforce of France.
Even though water and sanitation scarcities will be exacerbated as new challenges such as climate change and urbanization emerge, the One.org website describes some encouraging signs of progress. The solutions to the problem are known and cost-effective
During the 18th Session of the Human Rights Council in Sep 2011, Franciscans International and WaterLex also delivered a joint oral statement on the Annual Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, in which they called upon States to use the human rights–based planning developed by the Special Rapporteur to articulate the implementation of all their water related international legal obligations through a human rights-based water governance.
In a world population of 7 billion, 2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation and 884 million do not have access to clean water, this despite the UN Human Rights Council affirming that water and sanitation are human rights.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces some of the worst deficits - 330 million people in the region lack access to clean water and 565 million lack access to proper sanitation facilities. People living in rural areas continue to be disproportionately underserved, as seven out of ten users of unimproved sanitation facilities live in rural areas.
As with many challenges in development, women and girls are disproportionately impacted by scarcities of clean water and adequate sanitation. Women are more than twice as likely as men to be responsible for water collection. On average, women in the developing world walk six kilometers each day to collect water, time which could be spent in school or at work. And studies show that more than half of girls who drop out of primary school in sub-Saharan Africa do so because of a lack of separate toilets and easy access to safe water. The effects of lack of access to water and sanitation have a macroeconomic impact as well. In total, the World Health Organization estimates that 40 billion working hours are spent collecting water each year in Africa - comparable to a year's labour for the entire workforce of France.
Even though water and sanitation scarcities will be exacerbated as new challenges such as climate change and urbanization emerge, the One.org website describes some encouraging signs of progress. The solutions to the problem are known and cost-effective
During the 18th Session of the Human Rights Council in Sep 2011, Franciscans International and WaterLex also delivered a joint oral statement on the Annual Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, in which they called upon States to use the human rights–based planning developed by the Special Rapporteur to articulate the implementation of all their water related international legal obligations through a human rights-based water governance.
CONCERNS AS AUSTRALIA BACKS AWAY FROM GAMBLING REFORM
Australians lose over $12 billion every year on poker machines, and problem gamblers can lose over $1000 in a single hour.
The Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce which includes representatives of all major churches and their welfare agencies, have supported the proposals initially put forward by the government to address the issue of problem gambling.
However a key feature of the proposed legislation, the introduction of a national mandatory pre-commitment scheme that requires gamblers in all electronic gaming venues to set spending limits on high impact (high loss) poker machines, now appears in danger of being discarded in the face of a multi-million dollar campaign mounted by Clubs Australia and supported by the major Opposition party, opposing the legislation.
Get-Up, a member organisation of the Stop the Loss coalition, which also includes Catholic Social Services, has included an online petition on their website urging support for the original legislation.
The Australian Churches Gambling Taskforce which includes representatives of all major churches and their welfare agencies, have supported the proposals initially put forward by the government to address the issue of problem gambling.
However a key feature of the proposed legislation, the introduction of a national mandatory pre-commitment scheme that requires gamblers in all electronic gaming venues to set spending limits on high impact (high loss) poker machines, now appears in danger of being discarded in the face of a multi-million dollar campaign mounted by Clubs Australia and supported by the major Opposition party, opposing the legislation.
Get-Up, a member organisation of the Stop the Loss coalition, which also includes Catholic Social Services, has included an online petition on their website urging support for the original legislation.
19 December 2011
HISTORIC OUTCOME OR EMPTY WORDS? - DURBAN CLIMATE CONFERENCE
Once again opinions vary in regard to the success or otherwise of the recently concluded UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa.
Optimists point out that the Durban Package set up by the conference will, for the first time, bring all greenhouse-gas emitting countries in the world into a common legal regime under UN jurisdiction in 2015, that would force them to cut emissions no later than 2020.
Defying expectations, the Kyoto Protocol has also been extended until 2017, which will "bear in mind different circumstances of developed and developing countries".
The new global legal framework will be decided by 2015 and come into force by 2020. Called the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, it will "raise levels of ambition" in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
But the world's most poor and low-lying states say that the accords still leave them vulnerable and the targets agreed are not sufficiently aggressive to slow the pace of global warming, which threatens them most.
The agreement does, however, importantly acknowledge that there is a gap between the aggregate level of reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases to be achieved through global mitigation efforts and what is needed to avert dangerous climate change.
To reach the 2deg C target that scientists consider the maximum for containing global warming within manageable limits, emissions, which are currently rocketing, must begin to fall by 8.5% by 2020 compared with 2010.
At the request of the EU and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), the delegates agreed to launch a work plan to identify options for closing this gap.
Others are more forthright in expressing their disappointment. Those at 350.org described it as being better than "the worst" possible outcome, but it's still a cowardly, unacceptable delay on global climate action -- and a recipe for climate disasters.
"It's certainly not the deal the planet needs - such a deal would have delivered much greater ambition on both emissions reductions and finance," said Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists. He went on to say that "the atmosphere responds to one thing, and one thing only—emissions. The world’s collective level of ambition on emissions reductions must be substantially increased, and soon."
It remains to be seen whether or not the rhetoric, speeches and carefully worded resolutions from Durban will be translated into effective action.
Optimists point out that the Durban Package set up by the conference will, for the first time, bring all greenhouse-gas emitting countries in the world into a common legal regime under UN jurisdiction in 2015, that would force them to cut emissions no later than 2020.
Defying expectations, the Kyoto Protocol has also been extended until 2017, which will "bear in mind different circumstances of developed and developing countries".
The new global legal framework will be decided by 2015 and come into force by 2020. Called the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, it will "raise levels of ambition" in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
But the world's most poor and low-lying states say that the accords still leave them vulnerable and the targets agreed are not sufficiently aggressive to slow the pace of global warming, which threatens them most.
The agreement does, however, importantly acknowledge that there is a gap between the aggregate level of reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases to be achieved through global mitigation efforts and what is needed to avert dangerous climate change.
To reach the 2deg C target that scientists consider the maximum for containing global warming within manageable limits, emissions, which are currently rocketing, must begin to fall by 8.5% by 2020 compared with 2010.
At the request of the EU and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), the delegates agreed to launch a work plan to identify options for closing this gap.
Others are more forthright in expressing their disappointment. Those at 350.org described it as being better than "the worst" possible outcome, but it's still a cowardly, unacceptable delay on global climate action -- and a recipe for climate disasters.
"It's certainly not the deal the planet needs - such a deal would have delivered much greater ambition on both emissions reductions and finance," said Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists. He went on to say that "the atmosphere responds to one thing, and one thing only—emissions. The world’s collective level of ambition on emissions reductions must be substantially increased, and soon."
It remains to be seen whether or not the rhetoric, speeches and carefully worded resolutions from Durban will be translated into effective action.
CAMPAIGN TO HALT SPECULATORS PREYING ON THE POOR
The Democratic Republic of the Congo should be one of Africa's richest countries. It has a mineral wealth estimated to be around $24-trillion (£15-tn). There are huge deposits of cobalt, diamonds, gold, copper, oil and 80 per cent of the world's supplies of coltan ore — a valuable mineral used in computers and mobile phones.
Yet 100 women a week are still dying in childbirth and 16,000 children under the age of five die every year. One in three children in the DRC will never get anything more than primary education.
One of the reasons the country has been unable to recover is that it is being pursued by international debt speculators, known as Vulture funds.
It has been 16 years since most of the world began writing off the debts of the poorest countries, but the vulture funds, a club of between 26 and 35 speculators, have done almost everything to ensure that these countries do not have a chance to get back on their feet.
Vulture funds operate by buying up a country's debt when it is in a state of chaos. When the country has stabilised, vulture funds return to demand millions of dollars in interest repayments and fees on the original debt.
The DRC is a heavily indebted poor country (HIPC). It had finally completed the long and tough process required to receive debt relief. Congo’s debt was due to be cut by over $7,000 million. The IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank had agreed to cancel 100 per cent of pre-2004 debts. Other creditors like the UK having committed to do the same.
But a Vulture Fund had been circling the DRC. Just as it reached HIPC completion point, FG Hemisphere swooped. Having bought one of the African nation’s debts cheaply on the secondary market, it refused to participate in the debt relief scheme, and instead began pursuing repayment of $100 million for this debt – $80 million more than the country would have been expected to pay for the debt under the HIPC process.
Recently, the NSW Supreme Court ruled in favour of FG Hemisphere Associates and said the Democratic Republic of Congo must hand over $30 million.
FG Hemisphere has now gone to Jersey to claim $100-m from the DRC because a legal loophole means that the island remains free of anti-vulture laws that were passed in the UK last year.
So far, according to the World Bank, the top 26 vultures have managed to collect $1-bn from the world's poorest countries and still have a further $1.3-bn to collect. Gordon Brown, the former British Prime Minister and long-time Finance Minister in Tony Blair's administrations, has described the payouts as ‘morally outrageous.’
In Australia you can take action by sending a message to the Australian Attorney General Nicola Roxon urging the introduction of legislation to prohibit vulture funds from accessing Australian courts
Yet 100 women a week are still dying in childbirth and 16,000 children under the age of five die every year. One in three children in the DRC will never get anything more than primary education.
One of the reasons the country has been unable to recover is that it is being pursued by international debt speculators, known as Vulture funds.
It has been 16 years since most of the world began writing off the debts of the poorest countries, but the vulture funds, a club of between 26 and 35 speculators, have done almost everything to ensure that these countries do not have a chance to get back on their feet.
Vulture funds operate by buying up a country's debt when it is in a state of chaos. When the country has stabilised, vulture funds return to demand millions of dollars in interest repayments and fees on the original debt.
The DRC is a heavily indebted poor country (HIPC). It had finally completed the long and tough process required to receive debt relief. Congo’s debt was due to be cut by over $7,000 million. The IMF, World Bank and African Development Bank had agreed to cancel 100 per cent of pre-2004 debts. Other creditors like the UK having committed to do the same.
But a Vulture Fund had been circling the DRC. Just as it reached HIPC completion point, FG Hemisphere swooped. Having bought one of the African nation’s debts cheaply on the secondary market, it refused to participate in the debt relief scheme, and instead began pursuing repayment of $100 million for this debt – $80 million more than the country would have been expected to pay for the debt under the HIPC process.
Recently, the NSW Supreme Court ruled in favour of FG Hemisphere Associates and said the Democratic Republic of Congo must hand over $30 million.
FG Hemisphere has now gone to Jersey to claim $100-m from the DRC because a legal loophole means that the island remains free of anti-vulture laws that were passed in the UK last year.
So far, according to the World Bank, the top 26 vultures have managed to collect $1-bn from the world's poorest countries and still have a further $1.3-bn to collect. Gordon Brown, the former British Prime Minister and long-time Finance Minister in Tony Blair's administrations, has described the payouts as ‘morally outrageous.’
In Australia you can take action by sending a message to the Australian Attorney General Nicola Roxon urging the introduction of legislation to prohibit vulture funds from accessing Australian courts
TRAFFICKING IN HUMANS – NOW THE SECOND MOST LUCRATIVE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN THE WORLD
Trafficking in humans is now estimated to be the second most lucrative criminal activity in the world after the illegal arms trade. That means it is even more lucrative than the illegal drug trade.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 2.4 million people (including 1.2 million children, are trafficked globally, generating profits of around $32 billion. A UN study has found that 79% of trafficking is for sexual exploitation while 18% was for forced labour.
Stop the Traffick has developed materials to raise awareness about the issue of trafficking and to help concerned members of the public recognise the signs that someone may be a victim of trafficking. The travel and hospitality industries in particular have been targeted so that those working in the industry, guests, travellers and those vulnerable to trafficking know what human trafficking is, the signs to look out for and how to take appropriate action to prevent the trafficking of men, women and children.
At the conclusion of her recent visit to Australia, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, urged the Australian Government to devote greater attention to the rights and needs of the victims of human trafficking, especially children, while praising the authorities for their commitment to fighting trafficking regionally and domestically.
For information about trafficking in Australia, visit the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) website.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that 2.4 million people (including 1.2 million children, are trafficked globally, generating profits of around $32 billion. A UN study has found that 79% of trafficking is for sexual exploitation while 18% was for forced labour.
Stop the Traffick has developed materials to raise awareness about the issue of trafficking and to help concerned members of the public recognise the signs that someone may be a victim of trafficking. The travel and hospitality industries in particular have been targeted so that those working in the industry, guests, travellers and those vulnerable to trafficking know what human trafficking is, the signs to look out for and how to take appropriate action to prevent the trafficking of men, women and children.
At the conclusion of her recent visit to Australia, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, urged the Australian Government to devote greater attention to the rights and needs of the victims of human trafficking, especially children, while praising the authorities for their commitment to fighting trafficking regionally and domestically.
For information about trafficking in Australia, visit the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) website.
‘COTTON ON’ PLEDGES ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CHILD LABOUR
In a letter in response to the campaign by Stop the Traffick (Australia) to end harvesting of cotton in Uzbekistan using forced labour of schoolchildren, (featured in this bulletin in August), a spokesperson for the Cotton On company stressed that its Supplier Agreements stipulate zero tolerance for child labour.
The letter reiterates the company’s commitment to its corporate social responsibilities and acceptable working conditions and trade practices. The letter also outlines the steps the company has taken to ensure its Supplier Agreements and Vendor Ethical Code of Conduct are adhered to; this includes the recruitment of Ethical Compliance Auditors and the engagement of third party auditors in countries of production where they do not have dedicated resources.
This response gives encouragement that our advocacy efforts can be effective.
You may like to consider sending a brief note of congratulation to Cotton On acknowledging their stance on this issue.
The letter reiterates the company’s commitment to its corporate social responsibilities and acceptable working conditions and trade practices. The letter also outlines the steps the company has taken to ensure its Supplier Agreements and Vendor Ethical Code of Conduct are adhered to; this includes the recruitment of Ethical Compliance Auditors and the engagement of third party auditors in countries of production where they do not have dedicated resources.
This response gives encouragement that our advocacy efforts can be effective.
You may like to consider sending a brief note of congratulation to Cotton On acknowledging their stance on this issue.
