The Drum Beat 60 - Communication and Change News and Issues

PROGRAMMES

1. Radio1 FM - Gambia - this not-for-profit radio station has been advocating and lobbying to develop a National Communication Policy that will account for the diversity within Gambia. They have developed a telecentre as a means of supporting the radio station, offering fax machines, telephones, e-mail, and word processing. A 2nd station and telecenter are in development in a rural area where the government has gradually been abdicating responsibility for previously provided services - including registration of births, deaths, marriages, local government registrations, etc. They are seeking support and resources to further develop the capacity of their telecenters. Contact George Christensen [email protected]

2. ARTPAD: A Resource for Theatre and Participatory Development - Brazil, Peru, UK - The Centre for Applied Theatre Research (University of Manchester, UK) has a grant from the Department for International Development for research into theatre and participatory development practice which will finance the production of a training/information resource in theatre based participatory development techniques. Resource will focus on issues of gender and social inclusion, new ways of participation, and access to information and decision making. A partnership of The Federal University of Paraiba, Brazil and NGOs in Brazil and Peru to develop a manual, video and training package which will be piloted and launched in Brazil, Peru and the UK. Contact Julie McCarthy [email protected]

3. Rural Social Development Programme (RSDP) - Pakistan - a programme to increase access to social services in the rural and semi- rural communities with a focus on women. They work with 5 indigenous NGOs in Pakistan to support smaller NGOs/CBOs and projects. Main aims are capacity building, institutional strengthening, technical assistance, training, networking and collaboration with public and private sector with 5 partner NGOs and through them to smaller NGOs/CBOs and civil society organisations at grassroots level. Contact Mandy Wright [email protected]

4. CHPSS Health Communication Workshop - Nigeria - will be held 30 - 31 Aug. 2000 in Lagos, Nigeria. Entitled "Issues and Challenges in Health Communication for Social Development, Poverty Alleviation and Change - A Primer for Practitioners," some aims of the workshop are: to direct attention to sources of information and other health resources; to provide participants with tools and strategies for use in communication towards improving the health and lives of the citizenry; and, to assist in establishing life-long linkages with influential change agents active in health in Nigeria. They are seeking resource materials (e.g., publications, brochures, internet materials, etc.) for the workshop. Contact A. Odutola [email protected]

5. African Information Society Youth Network (AISYN) - Africa - a regional youth information and communication electronic network. It will address the increasing numbers of young people without employment and little hope for a productive participation in society. Through partnerships, education and training will be available. Aim is to create an integrated and interactive youth network that not only facilitates increased communication between youth, and between them and youth-serving organisations, but also makes existing global knowledge/information resources directly available. Includes linked community telecentres where youth volunteers will receive interactive training in technical and social skills. Contact Andrew Nderitu [email protected]

6. "Tobacco on Trial" Radio Broadcast - Global - an independent radio series focusing on Tobacco will be broadcast on the BBC World Service. In the first of the series, presenter Magenta Devine travels to the tobacco plantations of Malawi and interviews tobacco farmers, aid workers, and children employed on the plantations. She also questions government officials about their stance towards the WHO's framework Convention on Tobacco due to be introduced in 2003. The series will be broadcast on the English Service, with other programmes scheduled for the Arabic, Thai, Hindi, Bengali, Spanish and Africa language services. Website. Contact [email protected]

7. WETV World's Fair Project - Europe - Canadian-based producer is broadcasting twice-weekly programmes to European audiences on the ASTRA direct-to-home TV network from studios at EXPO2000. 2 half-hour programmes each week on the Fair's themes of "Humankind, Nature & Technology: A New World Arising." Details and clips at website which also features a Question of the Week, tied in to a global public opinion survey. Broadcast continues to the end of the Fair in Oct. 2000. WETV is calling for suggestions from development institutions on themes or events to be covered in connection with EXPO2000. Contact [email protected]

8. Dialogue for Health - Global - a 3-day event "Health-The Key to Human Development" held 29-31 Aug. 2000 at the EXPO 2000 site. In presentations and discussions, scientists, decision-makers and the public will be able to exchange ideas about issues such as the tobacco epidemic, HIV/AIDS and how to enable people to take control over their health. Website. Contact Georgia Gutschmidt [email protected]

9. Health Information for Development (HID) - Global - a research project to document and develop the capacity of health information resource centers throughout the world aims to compile a Global Directory of Health Information Resource Centers. 1st phase of the Information Waystations and Staging Posts project, which aims to upgrade selected resource centers into Information Waystations and create a network. Questionnaires are in English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Swahili. Contact Chris Zielinski [email protected]

STRATEGIC THINKING

10. "Lessons Learned from Social Mobilisation Campaigns" - presented at the Global Health Council Conference in June - based on 7 years of Social Mobilisation Campaign activities in Malawi, working with every cultural, tribal, and religious group. Click here for the full presentation.

EVENTS

Sept. - (15) Inviting Grassroots Opinion, UK; (20) Changing the Scene II: Theatre Building Citizenship, Brazil (21) 5th Pan African Conference of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies, Burkina Faso; (22) Inquiry as Intervention, USA; (23) Mixed Media/Medios Enteros: Broadcasting and the Internet in Latin America and The Caribbean, USA.

E-FORUMS

11. "Media Friends Association" - open discussion on issue such as gender, environmental awareness, health education, human rights and peace and media education and profession. Contact Dr. Mughees Sh. [email protected]

12. Social Enterpreneurship - discussion topic is on the synergy between the business and social sectors. To participate: Website - click on "Join the Discussion."

WEB SITES

13. EE2000 Event - The 3rd International Entertainment Education Conference for Social Change held 17-22 Sept. 2000 in Arnhem and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. A collaboration of the Netherlands Entertainment-Education Foundation, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programmes, and Ohio University's Communication and Development Studies.

14. WomenAction reports on follow-up to media efforts around Beijing + 5. Contact [email protected]

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12 New Vacancies.
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MATERIALS

15. FAO Workshop Report, June 2000 - the FAO Communication for Development Group organised a workshop on "The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Rural Development and Food Security." Consisted of 2 Working Groups which met separately to share information on the implementation of ICT-related activities and the development of working partnerships, strategies and mechanisms for co-operation between stakeholders. Contact Richard DelCastello [email protected]

16. The Southern African Democracy Barometer (SADB) Report - "Public Opinion and the Consolidation of Democracy in Southern Africa." The SADB is a regular, nationally representative survey of citizens' attitudes toward, and participation in democratic governance and the economy, and is currently conducted in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Contact Tanya Shanker [email protected]

17. "HUB - Cahiers des relations internationales" (Belgium International Relations Review) focuses on health policies developed in various countries, particularly the European Region. Includes 2 main sections: "Newsline," presenting action analyses, interviews, programmes; and, "Focus," developing a health topic tackled from the angle "advance and points of view". Produced quarterly. Free to the public. Contact Vinciane Siebrand [email protected]


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Please send items for The Drum Beat to the Editor Deborah Heimann