Cartagena Dialogue Provides a Breath of Fresh Air via It's Getting Hot In Here
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Fighting Corruption with Tattoos via CIPE Development Blog
Photo (c) RIA Novosti. Sergei Venyavsky.
A bit of interesting news – The Russian Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) is getting medieval on corrupt officials. The party just submitted a draft law in the Russian parliament that would brand public officials with a K (the first letter in a Russian word for corruption) on their hand for giving or receiving bribes. In addition to this, the proposal calls for banning public officials convicted of corruption from holding positions susceptible to bribery. The idea is that branding people for corruption would create a social disincentive to engage in bribery.
Do you think this would work?
The proposal got me thinking, however – what other unconventional anti-corruption efforts have been proposed or implemented? For instance…
India: A... Disability and Displacement via Forced Migration Current Awareness Blog
Forced Migration Review's latest issue focuses on "Disability and Displacement." Included are 27 articles that "show why disabled people who are displaced need particular consideration and highlight some of the initiatives taken (locally and at the global level) to change thinking and practices so that their vulnerability is recognised, their voices heard – and responses made inclusive."In addition, the issue showcases a mini-feature on Brazil and five general articles. Readers can either access the complete PDF text of FMR 35 or browse individual articles from the contents list. Microsoft Word versions and audio files are also available for the first time.Forced Migration Online (FMO) has compiled a related resource summary to complement the focus of this FMR issue.And on a separate...
Another look at Brazil’s Bolsa Familia via Poverty News Blog
Bolsa Familia is a highly regarded conditional cash transfer program in Brazil. Conditional because it places certain conditions on families that they have to fulfill in order to receive the money. The conditions include keeping the children in school or getting them to doctor or dentist checkups regularly. Despite the successes of Bolsa Familia, there is some debate within Brazil if the program prevents the parents from going out to look for a job.From the Global Post, writer Seth Kugel profiles one Bolsa Familia family and looks into it's effect on work.On a typical night, Janaina Alves da Silva and Jose Cicero dos Santos serve their six school-age children a dinner of cuscuz, a traditional corn porridge from the Brazilian northeast, along with fried eggs and coffee to wash it down. All...
Refuge: Focus on Refugee Status Determination (RSD) via Forced Migration Current Awareness Blog
Another issue of Refuge is now available online in full-text. The theme of vol. 25, no. 2 (2008) is "Building a Better Refugee Status Determination System." A number of the articles were first presented at the 2008 conference, "Best Practices for Refugee Status Determination." The editorial provides an overview of the current status of RSD and an introduction to the articles.Contents include:Building the Infrastructure for the Observance of Refugee Rights in the Global South Refugee Status Determination in Brazil: A Tripartite Enterprise A Foot in the Door: Access to Asylum in South Africa An Evaluation of South Africa's Application of the OAU Refugee Definition Responsibility Sharing or Shifting? "Safe" Third Countries and International Law Canada's Refugee Status Determination...
Brazil: Reject ‘Fetal Rights’ Bill via
(New York) - Brazil's Congress should protect women's dignity and human rights by rejecting a bill that confers extensive rights to fertilized ova, Human Rights Watch said today. The measure would give the rights of the fertilized ovum "absolute priority" under Brazilian law.
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Some examples of Bolsa Familia helping people in Brazil via Poverty News Blog
A Brazilian program that is getting a lot of attention worldwide is "Bolsa Familia," or the Family Grant, as it's known in English. Bolsa Familia is a conditional cash transfer program, meaning that poor residents of Brazil will receive some money from the government as long as their children stay in school and are kept in good health. From the BBC, writer Gary Duffy gives us a couple of examples of people benefiting from Bolsa Familia."I think it is good and it helps a lot," says Francineide."When the money comes it is always better because there are many families in Brazil that depend on it, and even though it is a small amount, it makes a big difference."Continue reading the main story Ruti CunhaThe new baby is Francineide's second child, and the monthly assistance she receives from...
Africa now has less say in World Bank decisions via Poverty News Blog
Voting power in the World Bank has changed to reflect the GDP of individual countries. The World Bank says that emerging nations now have more voting power and influence in Bank decisions. This is great for countries like China, India and Brazil, but Sub-Saharan Africa has lost some of it's voting power.From the IPS, writer Hilaire Avril has this summary of the changes. Eighteen sub-Saharan countries have thus lost a measure of their already modest influence in the institution’s decision-making process. Nigeria and South Africa are hardest hit, their voting powers having been decreased by about 10 percent.Only oil-rich Sudan - whose president has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on suspicion of war crimes - has seen its share of votes increase.The World Bank,...
“My Home, My Life” housing program in Brazil via Poverty News Blog
Brazil has begun an ambitious plan to give decent housing to all of the country's slum dwellers. The program called "My Home, My Life" subsidizes the cost of a new home for the homeless and those that live in slums. The new housing will be built on the outskirts of major cities using private contractors. Brazil is starting with the slums that under threat of mudslides first. The "My Home, My Life" plan has drawn the attention of leaders from other countries who hope to replicate the housing program. From this Associated Press article that we found at KSAW, writer Marco Sibaja tells us how the program works. "This is undoubtedly a model that could be used in other countries," said Demostenes Moraes, director of Habitat-Brazil, the Brazilian branch of an international nonprofit devoted to...
Brazil condemns slum houses after rainy season via Poverty News Blog
The recent rainy season in Brazil caused major flooding in the slums of Rio De Janero. The Brazilian government used the flooding as an opportunity to condemn some of the shacks within the slums. Poverty advices theorize it is the governments attempt to clean up the city before it hosts upcoming World Cups and Olympic games. From the United Arab Emirates The National writer Sharmila Devi talks about the conflict the rainy season created.A single colour determines the fate of thousands of residents in Rio de Janeiro’s shantytowns, or favelas, after floods killed about 230 people this month.With a stroke of paint on the side of a shack or house, city officials assessing the damage from record rainfall are deciding who can stay and who must abandon their home. Blue paint means the house is...
An experiment that probably has not changed lives via Poverty News Blog
A few years ago, New York City began a conditional cash transfer program for residents at or below the poverty line. "Conditional" because it only gave money to reward good behavior like seeing the doctor or getting good grades in school. The program was modeled after very successful programs in Brazil and Mexico. However, a new study conducted by the same group that designed New York's program says that it hasn't been life changing. From this Associated Press story that we found at Google News, writer Sara Kugler tells us more about the study. The first analysis of New York's effort was released Tuesday by a nonprofit social policy research group called MDRC that also helped design the program. Researchers are also tracking a control group of another 2,400 families that do not receive...
Simpósio de Geotecnologias no Pantanal via AgInfo News from IAALD
Estão entre os temas de interesse a avaliação e a aplicação de dados de sistemas sensores e geotecnologias em estudos do bioma Pantanal e sua bacia hidrográfica, como agropecuária, aplicações computacionais, cartografia e bancos de dados geográficos, educação ambiental, recursos hídricos, zoneamento e planejamento ambiental etc.Mais informações...
Brasil: Serviço de Respostas Técnicas quer ampliar acessosResultado de parceria entre Sebrae, MCT e várias outras instituições, ferramenta oferece a via AgInfo News from IAALD
Serviço Brasileiro de Respostas Técnicas (SBRT), em que especialistas respondem gratuitamente a perguntas de qualquer natureza enviadas por pessoas físicas ou jurídicas. A diversificação, ampliação do número de acessos e divulgação desse site de informação.O último levantamento mostrou que 80% das perguntas dizem respeito ao agronegócio e à alimentação. Na reunião, técnicos de diversas áreas do Sebrae discutiram estratégias para que as dúvidas mais frequentes alimentem o banco de dados de forma contínua. Sofisticar o sistema de busca e aumentar o número de dossiês técnicos são algumas das propostas para divulgar e aprimorar este serviço.O serviço pode ser acessado pelo endereço http://www.respostatecnica.org.br....
Olympics: Don’t Skate Over Rights Violations via
(New York) - The Olympic Movement urgently needs to focus on human rights reform, Human Rights Watch said today as the 2010 Winter Olympics opened in Vancouver.
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Video: Giving technology to the slums of Brazil via Poverty News Blog
This video profiles the work of social entrepreneur Rodrigo Baggio. His project is create computer schools for the poor children of Brazil. We found the video at the social business site Take Part....
Stitching high fashion from a shantytown via Poverty News Blog
A social entrepreneur has helped bring women from a shantytown in Rio De Janeiro into worldwide fashion recognition. Maria Teresa Leal has helped women work out of poverty by sewing and stitching clothing for famous brands such as Carlos Miele, and Lacoste.From the Christian Science Monitor, writer Andrew Downie profiles Leal and her work.Coopa-Roca is the Rocinha Seamstress and Craftwork Cooperative Ltd. Leal started it in 1987 after noticing how women in the favela loved fashion. Leal had gone to Rocinha to help with a program that recycled trash, like tin or paper, into children’s toys. But when the women were given scraps of cloth, they used it to make clothes and accessories. Leal decided to organize these gifted women.The seamstresses’ work has focused on customizing garments....
Poverty levels and equality in Argentina and Brazil via Poverty News Blog
A story about equality for young people in Argentina and Brazil gives us some facts and figures about poverty in those countries. The United Nations Development Programme commissioned a report that asks if young people think that they have an equal chance to succeed. In the report, Argentina youth felt that things were unequal, which is a blow to the county's vision of an equitable society. Meanwhile, youth in Brazil had good hope for equality. For our snippet, we focus on the figures on poverty levels from the two countries. From the IPS, writer Marcela Valente presented the poverty levels and how those can impact the lives of young people.Argentina is highlighted as having the lowest poverty rate in the Mercosur bloc, along with Uruguay. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the...
Brasil: Sistema Agrodatamine permitirá visualização de cenários futuros do clima via AgInfo News from IAALD
Um conjunto de técnicas e ferramentas para auxiliar na análise e visualização de dados metereológicos e de modelos de cenários futuros de mudanças climáticas vem sendo desenvolvido.O projeto AgroDataMine: Desenvolvimento de Métodos e Técnicas de Mineração de Dados para apoiar Pesquisas em Mudanças Climáticas com Ênfase em Agrometeorologia acaba de ser aprovado numa chamada pública do Instituto Microsoft Research e da Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Fapesp) de pesquisas em...
Brasil: Software INOVA-Tec avalia impactos de inovações tecnológicas via AgInfo News from IAALD
A Embrapa Meio Ambiente disponibilizou em seu site a nova versão do software INOVA-Tec, que permite a avaliação dos impactos de inovações tecnológicas, fornecendo informações organizadas de acordo com critérios e indicadores nas diversas dimensões onde os impactos da tecnologia podem ser percebidos."O software consiste em um sistema que permite a análise do cenário no qual a tecnologia será introduzida e do desempenho da inovação, pela análise dos indicadores de impacto por meio de pesos e índices", explica a pesquisadora.O produtor terá a possibilidade de monitorar quais são os indicadores que podem causar problemas e, consequentemente, agir de maneira adequada para cada caso, sem afetar o meio ambiente e a saúde humana.O software INOVA-Te versão 2.0, está...
Acesso a internet e celulares dispara no Brasil via AgInfo News from IAALD
Cada vez mais brasileiros estão acessando a internet e utilizando telefones celulares, de acordo com dados divulgados pelo IBGE. O número de brasileiros com dez anos ou mais que acessaram a internet pelo menos uma vez cresceu 75,3% entre 2005 e 2008, fazendo com que mais de um terço da população nesta idade (34,8%) tenha acessado a rede ao menos uma vez até o ano passado. Embora o acesso à internet entre as pessoas com baixa escolaridade tenha registrado um crescimento mais intenso no período, os usuários da rede no Brasil continuam tendo mais anos de estudo do que aqueles que não a utilizam.ler o artigo na íntegra...
Brazil: Curb Police Violence in Rio, São Paulo via
(Rio de Janeiro) - Police officers in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo routinely resort to lethal force, often committing extrajudicial executions and exacerbating violence in both states, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
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Brasil: Embrapa transforma jovens ribeirinhos em comunicadores científicos via AgInfo News from IAALD
“Desenvolver atividades de educomunicação para a divulgação científica que proporcionem aos jovens rurais o protagonismo de ações, que internalizem conceitos, discutam e divulguem junto à comunidade ‘o que a ciência faz’ e ‘o que a sociedade pode fazer’ em relação aos impactos ambientais da atividade agropecuária”. Com essas palavras, a comunicóloga e pesquisadora da Embrapa-Rondônia, Vânia Beatriz de Oliveira, define os objetivos do “Programa de educomunicação científica para a inclusão social de jovens ribeirinhos do rio Madeira”.O trabalho da pesquisadora na comunidade Cujubim Grande começou com o projeto “Comunicação para a gestão de recursos naturais”, da Embrapa, em 2004, que atende pequenos produtores da região. Ela conta que o projeto...
YouthConnect launched in China to connect rural and urban schools via AgInfo News from IAALD
Dell YouthConnect, a global program designed to support education and digital inclusion initiatives for underserved youth, was launched in Beijing. Dell awarded $2 million in cash and in-kind grants of products to the China Education Development Foundation (CEDF) and the China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF).The program will connect rural and urban schools through technology and create an interactive education network that can realize resources sharing between rural and urban areas. As a result, the education quality in rural areas can be improved while nurturing collaboration, information sharing, and creativity.Prior to the launch of the Dell YouthConnect Program, Dell has donated over $740,000 to set up 25 Dell Learning Centers in 15 cities across China since 2006. Dell...
Brasil: Geotecnologias estão presentes em pesquisas do Pantanal via AgInfo News from IAALD
A aplicação e a difusão das geotecnologias estão cada vez mais presentes nos estudos sobre o ecossistema Pantanal. Cerca de 250 pesquisadores, estudantes e especialistas apresentaram trabalhos científicos durante o 2° Simpósio de Geotecnologias do Pantanal - GeoPantanal realizado em Corumbá, MS, de 7 a 11 de novembro de 2009.Imagens de satélite podem ser adquiridas gratuitamente pela internet e estão disponíveis aos cidadãos facilitando as pesquisas e o ensino. Tecnologias de sensoriamento remoto, sistemas de informações geográficas, banco de dados georreferenciados e GPS (sistema de posicionamento global) vêm se popularizando nas universidades e instituições públicas.Pesquisadores do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (Inpe) querem capacitar mais professores,...
Brasil: Edital seleciona projetos inovadores em ensino e extensão rural via AgInfo News from IAALD
A falta de informação especializada é um dos gargalos enfrentados pelos pequenos produtores rurais. Com o objetivo de minimizar essa questão, o Ministério do Desenvolvimento Agrário (MDA) juntamente com parceiros abriu inscrições para seleção de projetos inovadores no ensino e aprendizagem em extensão rural, por meio do edital MCT/CNPq/MDA/SAF/Dater Nº 033/2009.Também serão contemplados a geração de pesquisas voltadas para a construção e disponibilização de conhecimentos em tecnologias apropriadas para a agricultura familiar e na qualificação de técnicos extensionistas. Estão previstos R$13,5 milhões em milhões em recursos financeiros para a execução dos projetos.De acordo com o coordenador da carteira de Apicultura do Sebrae, Reginaldo Rezende, os projetos...
Inventor del Web busca mejorar las condiciones de vida (en zonas rurales) via AgInfo News from IAALD
El artículo en ComputerWorld reporta sobre dos proyectos que Berners-Lee, el inventor de la Web, anunciará el domingo en el Internet Governance Forum 2009 en Egipto. Estos se centrarán en aprovechar la tecnología Web para mejorar la agricultura en África y enseñar a los más jóvenes cómo crear contenidos online.El primer proyecto, realizado en colaboración con la Universidad de Amsterdam, tiene como objetivo encontrar desarrolladores locales para crear una plataforma online para los agricultores de las zonas desérticas de Burkina Faso, Malí y otros lugares. La idea es ayudar a estos agricultores a comunicarse mejor, compartir información y aprender y mejorar sus técnicas agrícolas.El segundo proyecto, ejecutado junto al Centro para la inclusión digital de Brasil, pretende...
Web’s Inventor Wants the Web to Improve Life of rural people via AgInfo News from IAALD
An article in PCWorld says that the World Wide Web Foundation, Tim Berners-Lee's latest brainchild, is now officially open for business and involved with two initial projects, as it embarks on using the Web to empower people worldwide and bring about positive socio-economic change. Berners-Lee, the Web's inventor and founder of the World Wide Web Foundation, will make the announcement.The formation of the group was announced last year. It is opening its doors with two programs respectively focused on leveraging Web technology to improve farming in Africa and teaching low-income young people how to create online content. The first project seeks to enlist local developers to build a Web-based platform for farmers in desert areas in Burkina Faso, Mali and other places. The idea is to... Brasil: Portal de Periódicos da Capes via AgInfo News from IAALD
Pesquisadores, alunos de graduação e pós-graduação, usuários do conteúdo do Portal de Periódicos da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes), vão ter ao alcance das mãos muito mais facilidade, rapidez e interatividade sempre que precisarem de informação científica.A ferramenta, submetida a um processo de modernização durante um ano inteiro, garantirá acesso simplificado e conteúdo expandido no novo portal, atendendo assim às variadas áreas do conhecimento, superando, inclusive alguns dos principais portais científicos dos países mais desenvolvidos do mundoA coordenadora do Sistema Embrapa de Bibliotecas (SEB), Rosângela Galon, já experimentou e aprova a novidade. "O portal ficou realmente muito mais fácil. Por meio da busca integrada,...
Premiação do concurso das Minibibliotecas é entregue pela Embrapa em Brasília via AgInfo News from IAALD
O resultado dessa busca pelo conhecimento lhe rendeu o primeiro lugar no IV Concurso das Minibibliotecas, categoria Redação ensino fundamental. Nesta quinta-feira (22/10) ela esteve em Brasília (DF) para receber a premiação: certificado e um computador.“O projeto das Minibibliotecas ajuda muito a gente. Os livros são úteis para ajudar na agricultura”, afirmou a menina.A escola vencedora foi a de Santa Catarina, que usou as Minibibliotecas para melhorar a segurança alimentar da comunidade indígena da região. “A nossa proposta foi melhorar seus hábitos alimentares”, explicou o professor Dirceu Mengale, responsável pelo projeto.Minibibliotecas - O projeto Minibibliotecas da Embrapa foi criado em 2003, dentro das ações do Fome Zero. Inicialmente, foram implantadas...
Portal Embrapa é o segundo mais acessado no Brasil e um dos preferidos no ranking científico internacional via AgInfo News from IAALD
Pesquisa do Cybermetrics Lab, maior organismo público de investigação da Espanha, pertencente ao Conselho Superior de Investigações Científicas (CSIC), acaba de ser divulgada e aponta a Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) entre as instituições de pesquisa mais acessadas na internet em todo o mundo.De acordo com a analista de sistemas, Karla Corvino, da equipe responsável pelo projeto, o portal foi planejado com o objetivo de atender aos diversos públicos. “A Embrapa é referência...