The Drum Beat 65 - Communication and Change News and Issues

PROGRAMMES

1. Rruga me Pisha (Pine Street) - Albania - jointly produced by the BBC World Service Trust and Radio Tirana, this radio soap opera aims to promote tolerance and understanding and has become known for addressing issues such as blood feuds, domestic violence and corruption. Results from a nationwide survey show that 65% of the country listen (48% every week) and in the north of the country this figures is as high as 90%. 97% of respondents found the drama good or very good, 92% found it informative and educational and 71% said they regularly debated and discussed the issues raised. Website. Contact Ann Cropper ann.cropper@bbc.co.uk

2. AIDS: Men Make a Difference - World AIDS Campaign - the 1st part of a 2yr campaign focusing on the role of men in the AIDS epidemic. In 2000, the Campaign has 3 goals: raise awareness of the relationship between men's behaviour and HIV; encourage men and adolescent boys to make a strong commitment to preventing the spread of HIV and caring for those affected; and, promote programmes that respond to the needs of both men and women. Framework document at Website. Send information about projects relevant to the theme to Andrew Doupe doupea@unaids.org

3. Exchange - Global - a 3yr project of Healthlink Worldwide to strengthen health communications. Will facilitate the development of a UK health communications sector working in partnership with Southern organisations to encourage collaboration, strategic action and sharing of good practice. Exchange will focus on collaboration, advocacy, and help match health communications needs to available resources. Contact Andrew Chetley chetley21@btinternet.com

4. Young Men & HIV: Culture, Poverty & Sexual Risk - Global - for World AIDS Day, the Panos Institute is running a series of information activities on Young Men (aged 10 - 24) and HIV. Website. Seeking information from organisations that run care or prevention activities targeting young men. What work is being done and what are the main problems faced? Also interested in hearing from other experts who might be able to provide information on local or regional issues relating to young men and HIV.

5. STARH (Sustaining Technical Achievements in Reproductive Health/Family Planning) - Indonesia - will focus on developing the capacity to provide high-quality family planning and reproductive health services with special attention to the newly decentralized Indonesian health care delivery system. The Consortium, partnered with local institutions, will train health providers in family planning counseling, standards of quality, logistics management, policy development, advocacy and data analysis. Contact Timothy Cline press@jhuccp.org

6. OKOA Anti-Smoking Campaign - Tanzania - working in collaboration with SoliderMed, this campaign addresses the daily "compulsory smoking" of women and children in households through cooking activities. OKOA has taken steps to promote the use of fuel-efficient stoves and is redesigning its original rice husk stoves so that much of the smoke is diverted away from the cooking site. Seeking support to promote the use of appropriate technologies and innovative research results as interventions. Contact okoa_societ2000@hotmail.com

7. Civil Society Consultative Group on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CiSCGHAN) Presentation - Nigeria - made to the Joint Mission of the World Bank/UNAIDS/NACA/Stakeholders workshop on 13 Sep 2000. 74 organizations representing civil society actors working on HIV/AIDS issues in Nigeria explored the role of Civil Society in the national response to HIV/AIDS. 3 key outcomes: Articulation of issues of concern and priorities, from a civil society viewpoint, in the national response; Input and comment on the draft Interim Action Plan which NACA presented; and, Formation of a civil society coalition to enhance the articulation, co-ordination, facilitation and advocacy of HIV/AIDS issues. Contact Dr Ibrahim Attah ciscghan@hotmail.com

 

The most recent issue of THE MEDIA BEAT is available. Articles include: Illiteracy Eradication Activities - Yemen; Net Infrastructure in Schools - Korea; Community Caregivers Refuse to Give Up - Zambia; Poverty - Thailand.

 

8. World Rural Women's Day - Global - annual global awareness campaign to increase knowledge and empowerment, focusing on "Celebrating Biodiversity", held 15 Oct 2000. Encourages women to value farming heritage and biological diversity and fight for its preservation. Website is being updated with information. Contact wwsf@iprolink.ch

9. "We, the People" - Sri Lanka - Worldview International Foundation (WIF) is developing a global TV magasine programme on sustainable development issues. Produced in collaboration with The United Nations and International NGOs, it will showcase the contributions young people have made towards meeting the challenges posed by problems related to gender, food security, education and culture, environment, human rights, poverty alleviation, health and AIDS information, unemployment, etc. 12 youth who have made a recognized contribution to sustainable human development will host 4 weekly programmes, produced by Young Asia TV. To nominate youth, contact mihiri@wifoundation.org

10. Community Radio Petition - South Africa - to call on the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to prioritise the licensing of community radio. Issued by the National Community Radio Forum and the Freedom of Expression Institute and supported by the Open Society Foundation. For a copy or information, contact Jean Fairbairn jean@ct.osf.org.za

11. Soap Opera Summit - USA - PCI's 5th Summit will be 13 & 14 Oct 2000. The Summit brings together the writers, producers and network executives who are responsible for the content of 10 daily soap operas. "Research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [shows] that health messages received through these dramas are taken seriously - and acted on - by their viewers," said Sonny Fox, PCI. Contact Diana Buckhantz DCBMEDIA@aol.com

ISSUE TRENDS

12. Gender & Development - Countries that adopt specific measures to protect women's rights and increase their access to resources and schooling have less corruption and achieve faster economic growth than countries that do not, according to a World Bank research report.

MATERIALS

13. Call for Papers - In 2001, Health Education Research: Theory & Practice will publish a special issue on Health Education & the Internet. Seeking papers on results from process and outcome evaluations of Internet-based health education interventions. More details at Website. Deadline 19 Jan 2001. Contact Jay M. Bernhardt jaybird@coe.uga.edu

WEB SITES

14. Media/Materials Clearinghouse - redesigned. Easier access to more health communication materials: a searchable database; networking of organizations; photographs for use in presentations; a catalog of videos; and, access to the resources of CDC's National Prevention Information Network.

15. The AIDS Channel - features a live component - a "window" into the day to day life of a person living with HIV/AIDS, and his family, as they cope with the challenges of HIV/AIDS - coupled with links, support information, chat room, and resources for both adults and children. Focus is on awareness, education and prevention.

16. "Partners for Safe Motherhood" - a network of research, advocacy, technical assistance, and funding organisations active in the field of safe motherhood.

TRAINING

17. Distance Learning Course on Strategic Communication for Development Projects - Using strategic communication to support lending operations, 14 Nov - 12 Dec 2000. Launched by The World Bank's External Affairs Department and the World Bank Institute, this 6-wk course involves weekly 3hr videoconferences. Sessions focus on "global best practice." Contact cverzosa@worldbank.org

EVENTS

OCT. - (9) 2nd Global Forum on Human Development - Rio de Janeiro; 11) Radios Building Bridges - Hungary; (24) Sexuality & Peace Culture - Peru; (30) Networks for People 2000 - USA; STDs/AIDS Diploma Course - Bangkok.

NOV. - (2) The Power of Dialogue - USA; (12) Advances in Development Communication - Lebanon; (13) Social Marketing Workshop - South Africa; STDs/AIDS Diploma Course - Hat Yai.

PEOPLE

18. Seeking journalists in France & Spain for a seminar on Children, Media & Violence - The Press Wise pilot project Children, Media, Violence in an Expanding Europe is designed to develop guidelines, training materials and techniques for media professionals. Contact webmaster@presswise.org.uk

VACANCIES

UNIFEM - Consultant for Process Documentation Training. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation - Program Associate & Online Outreach Assistant.

 

Please send items for The Drum Beat to the Editor Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com