The Global Forum for Health Research and The Lancet are holding their third joint essay competition for the under-30s on the theme: Climate change and health: research challenges for the health of vulnerable populations. The deadline for receipt of entries is 30 April 2008.

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/359/47089elec.jpgKenyan's call and solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe during this difficult moment in their history.

The People of Kenya, individually and through various civil society organizations grouped under the National Civil society Congress and Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice (KPTJ), are deeply concerned by the pace at which the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has been announcing results from the elections. We applaud the people of Zimbabwe for being patient, yet very alert and vigilant to avoid the manipulation of results. We call on them to remain united, engage the state in a constructive manner, and avoid acts that violate the rights of any fellow citizen.

Civil society leaders in Kenya, having learnt our lessons during our last election, last week delivered a message to the parties and the civil society formations in Zimbabwe, to totally seal loopholes at the command center in Harare to ensure that the vote of every Zimbabwean counts equally.

Over the past year, Kenyan civil society organizations and political parties (through the Center for Multi Party Democracy (CMD) have worked closely with the people of Zimbabwe in their tortuous search for a new, democratic, prosperous Zimbabwe - the Zimbabwe they want. Representatives of Kenyan civil society organizations have been involved in constructive discussions and advocacy aimed at guaranteeing a framework for a free, fair and credible election that was finally carried out on Saturday, March 29, 2008.

This election was expected to be epic. Not only because it is historic and supremely positioned to demarcate Zimbabwe's future from her past, but also because it was a complex and momentous exercise that had to deliver civic councillors, Members of Parliament, Senators, and a President for Zimbabwe, all through the markings of a single pen at a polling centre.

We identify with the positions and calls made yesterday April 2, 2008 by the civil society groups in Zimbabwe organized for this election under the Umbrella of the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) . We now send out the following unequivocal messages:

We regret that the SADC mediation process for Zimbabwe was so poorly handled; it did not deliver a new democratic constitutional order and establish a credible electoral process.

We regret that the people of Zimbabwe had to conduct these elections amidst an inflation rate of over 100,000%, with the rate of unemployment standing at over 80% and with nearly 5,000,000 of their nationals residing outside their country. They deserve a better country and we pledge to support them while, alongside us in Kenya, they struggle to reconstruct, reform and reconcile Zimbabwe Kenyans demand that ZEC announces the results of the Presidential vote immediately without further delay, to avoid a situation where the country may degenerate into chaos, triggered by the fear that ZEC is manipulating or tampering with the Presidential elections results.

That the international community offers the people of Zimbabwe solidarity at this moment of great need.

That SADC and the African Union take the lead in facilitating a smooth and peaceful transition in Zimbabwe They must urge Mugabe NOT to tamper with the election results.

That SADC should review their statement that concluded that elections were free and fair while closing their ears to the significance of the undemocratic practices of the ZANU-PF regime. These include the stranglehold monopoly of the media by ZANU, the criminal intimidation of the masses by the security forces, and the declaration by Robert Mugabe that votes that were to be cast for the opposition were wasted votes as he planned to retain power.

We in Kenya know too well, and indeed witnessed while on the ground in Zimbabwe, that both the political environment and the administration of the elections did not facilitate free and fair elections. The media was monopolized by ZANU-PF. Restrictive laws such as Public Order and Security Act (POSA), Access to Information and Protection to Privacy Act were applied severally.

Administratively, the voters roll was not in order. There were high counts of ghost voters on electoral rolls. Distribution of polling stations and involvement of the police officers in the polling stations contravened terms agreed at the SADC Mediation process, chaired by President Thabo Mbeki.

We demand that the security forces not interfere with the sovereign will of the people, and that African Union and SADC standards on democratic governance be applied fully. We wish to inform the security forces that as Africans, Kenyans are of the view that Zimbabwe is too important to be left to Zimbabweans alone. Our position is that "an injury to one of us is an injury to all of us"!

As we issue this statement, there is a heavy presence of (anti) riot police and army troops in the streets of Harare and Bulawayo. Combined with the delay in announcing votes, this could provoke serious civil unrest and even anarchy. We call upon Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangrai to submit to sovereign will of the people when a credible result is finally delivered by the ZEC.

We propose that the people of Zimbabwe, immediately after this nervous transition convene an African Conference on Zimbabwe. As Kenyans, we shall engage upon their invitation and urge our government to fully support the democratic re-emergence of Zimbabwe from the brink of collapse and destruction. We look forward to addressing jointly our shared agenda of reconstruction, reform and reconstruction. Kenya and Zimbabwe must regain their rightful places of leaders of the continent's struggles for democratic development and Human development.

Kenyans For Peace With Truth and Justice (KPTJ) and the National Civil Society Congress (NCSC)

April 3, 2008

For signatories click on link below.

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/359/47086SADC.jpgInordinate delay in announcing results is of grave concern to civil society:

We the undersigned Civil Society groups whose names are listed below have found it necessary to send this urgent petition to your Excellences in order to save our country from potentially sinking into complete anarchy if election results are manipulated.

On 29th March, 2008 the people of Zimbabwe voted for the national president, members of parliament and councillors.

The elections took place against the background of a serious political and economic crisis in the country, which has lasted for a decade. After brazen use of organized violence and torture of political opponents as Zimbabwe approached the 2008 election year, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitated negotiations between the government and the opposition to end Zimbabwe 's crisis so that Zimbabweans can once again live in dignity.

President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa who was mandated by SADC to lead the dialogue stated clearly that his aspiration was that the March 2008 elections needed to be held in circumstances where the outcome of such elections would not be contestable. Even though the negotiations collapsed before reaching their final conclusion, there were some changes in the electoral laws that resulted in visible changes on the ground in terms of the election management process as follows:

1. The accreditation of journalists was smoother and earlier than in previous elections even though the government erred in being selective on whom it invited to observe.  

2. There were less queues at polling stations and it looked like the majority of those who wanted to vote and whose names were on the voter's roll managed to vote without undue delays or major hassles.

3. The general environment inside the polling station and around the polling station was not hostile unlike in previous elections where cases of harassment of local observers were reported. In this election there have been few reports of intimidation or harassment of human rights defenders during the election day and the period immediately after.  

4. The counting and posting of results at the polling stations for all to see was very well received and ordinary people could be seen in numbers studying the results posted at the polling stations.

There were however some areas of concern as well. These will be enumerated in due course as various organizations do their individual and collective election reports as necessary. However the biggest concern that has emerged is the inordinate delay in the announcing of the election results. The counting was done immediately after the polls were shut generally around 7 pm on 28 March 2008 at the polling stations. The results were posted at the polling stations immediately and there is significant concern at the failure of the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) to announce these results more than 36 hours after the voting stopped. There seems to be absolutely no justification for this delay and the tokenistic announcement of results for 109 contested positions by 8am on 1 April 2008 is wholly inadequate.

We as Civil Society are concerned by the failure to announce the results timeously. This creates a founded suspicion in the minds of Zimbabweans that the authorities are trying to manipulate the results in order to get their preferred party candidates to win. This is especially so given that the opposition has already been expressing public concern at what they saw as measures that were being taken to manipulate the vote and rig the elections.

This delay, if it persist will result in the real likelihood of the outcome of the elections being contested and in the process undermining what ever small gains may have arisen from the SADC efforts. We are naturally gravely concerned that any contestation of the outcome of the elections is also likely to lead to escalation of conflict. With the weak rule of law environment that has been well documented before, the elections may trigger serious and potentially widespread violations of human rights in Zimbabwe .

We are aware that the Zimbabwean government has already deployed police, army and intelligence units into the major cities in anticipation of potential trouble. Of significant concern are the unconfirmed rumours that allegedly from the security branches of government that the incumbent is preparing to declare a state of emergency after announcing inaccurate results. This is consistent with the threats by the security chiefs before the elections that they are not prepared to accept the election results if President Mugabe and ZANU PF lose the elections.

We the Civil Society Organisations from Zimbabwe therefore implore the SADC and AU heads of State and Government to urgently

1. Exert the necessary diplomatic pressure to force President Mugabe to ensure that the elections are as free and fair as possible.  

2. Demand that President Mugabe and his government should allow the elections results to be released immediately without being tampered with.  

3. Exert the necessary diplomatic pressure to President Mugabe not to declare a state of emergency.  

4. Apply pressure on the military and intelligence in Zimbabwe not to manipulate the elections results and to accept the peoples verdict in the elections  

5. Call for SADC in conjunction with other international and domestic observers to investigate allegations of fraud, so that the ZEC announced results may be       correlated with independent tabulation processes.  

6. That SADC together with the African Union should be prepared to urgently engage in a process to assist in resolving any dispute that may arise if the results of the elections are seriously contested - particularly since the domestic electoral courts process is itself not seen as legitimate by all but the ruling party.

Dated this 1 April 2008 by the undersigned Civil Society Organisations

1. CRISIS COALITION ZIMBABWE   2. ZIMBABWE LAWYERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS   3. ZIMBABWE NATIONAL STUDENTS UNION   4. ZIMRIGHTS   5. MANICALAND LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ASSOCIATION.   6. CHURCHES IN MANICALAND   7. ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO FORUM   8. ZIMBABWE CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS   9. NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL ASSEMBLY  10. THE SAVE ZIMBABWE CAMPAIGN  11. PROGRESSIVE TEACHERS UNION OF ZIMBABWE  12. STUDENTS SOLIDARITY TRUST  13. COMBINED HARARE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION  14. ZIMBABWE STUDENTS CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT  15. ZIMBABWE COALITION ON DEBT AND DEVELOPMENT  16. MEDIA INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA ( ZIMBABWE CHAPTER)  17. MEDIA MONITORING PROJECT ZIMBABWE  18. YOUTH INITIATIVE FOR DEMOCRACY IN ZIMBABWE

A coalition of civil society organisations that on recently mobilised several thousand people to take to the streets of Ouagadougou and other towns and cities in Burkina Faso has threatened a nationwide strike if the government does not find a way to lower prices.

All charges against the Kennedy 6 have been dropped. The Kennedy 6 were arrested on a clearly trumped up murder charge on 21 March 2007 after a well known criminal died in police custody. While in custody they were assaulted and an attempt was made, by Senior Superintendent Glen Nayager, to force them to chant anti-Abahlali slogans. They refused.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has joined forces with civil society groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to launch a nationwide public awareness campaign aimed at reducing the country’s appalling levels of sexual violence.

MobileActive releases the first-ever comparison of do-it-yourself SMS campaign tools, designed especially for NGOs. The Guide helps NGOs get started in setting up a SMS campaign and includes a comparison of different SMS campaign software. Over the last several years, it’s become clear that mobile phones are becoming one of the most influential devices in our social, political, and civic lives. Savvy nonprofit organizations and NGOs are experimenting with using mobile phones as persuasive devices to recruit new supporters, organize groups, and advocate for causes.

Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine has been missing since the night of the 12th August 2007. It is believed that his kidnapping was politically motivated and someone in the Haitian government and or the UN forces in Haiti led by Brazil must know what happened to him and where he is. This petition calls for information on his whereabouts and for his release.

Less than two weeks are left on the call of proposals for the 2008 Global Development Marketplace (DM2008) competition that seeks early-stage, innovative ideas with potential for high impact in promoting Sustainable Agriculture for Development. The submission deadline of March 21, 2008 (23:00 GMT time) is fast approaching - APPLY NOW!

Violence spread to the capital, Ouagadougou, early on 28 February as demonstrators took to the streets to denounce the high price of food and fuel. Shops and petrol stations were shut down. The unrest took place throughout the day with young men burning tyres and igniting fires, using hit-and run tactics despite a heavy police presence. “The choice is to demonstrate or to die of hunger,” a demonstrator, who asked not to be named, told IRIN. “We have chosen to get our voice heard and I think we are succeeding.”

With the number of reported cases of children raped in Zimbabwe surging more than 40 per cent in the last three years, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has joined with the Government and religious groups in an awareness campaign to fight the scourge. The Zimbabwean Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the National Faith Based Council of Zimbabwe, and UNICEF have launched their Stand Up and Speak Out campaign against child abuse, aiming to reach more than six million of the African country’s citizens.

A Nigerian tribunal has dismissed both opposition petitions asking that President Umaru Yar'Adua's election last year be annulled. The panel of five judges unanimously rejected them, saying they did not contain enough evidence. Lawyers for both losing presidential candidates, Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, say they will take their cases to the Supreme Court.

A new campaign is being launched calling on the UN to push for the immediate arrest of two men accused of war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region. Some 45 organisations have signed up to the Wanted for War Crimes campaign. The International Criminal Court named Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmed Haroun and militia leader Ali Kushayb as suspects a year ago.

The 17th African Human Rights Moot Court Competition will be held at the University of Pretoria, South Africa from 30 June to 5 July 2008. Students, academics and judges from all over Africa are invited to participate. All law faculties in Africa are invited to send one faculty representative who works in the field of human rights (dean or another lecturer) who will serve as judge in the preliminary rounds, and two undergraduate students (preferably one man and one woman) who will constitute the team representing its university at the Moot Court.

Despite pleas from Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, three of Morocco's five national trade unions held a 24-hour strike on Wednesday (February 13th), paralysing the nation’s civil service. The FDT (Democratic Labour Federation), UNMT (National Union of Moroccan Labour) and USF (Civil Servants’ Union) proceeded with the strike after two meetings with El Fassi. Morocco’s two other trade unions opted out of the strike, saying that the government should be given more time to consider the union's demands for pay increases and legislative reforms.

So far 25 cities -- in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, Europe and North America -- are organizing for the International Day in Solidarity with the Haitian People on February 29th, fourth anniversary of the coup. They are planning street protests and marches, vigils, film showings and public meetings to demonstrate support for self-determination, democracy and justice for the people of Haiti.. Everywhere, new people are becoming involved.

Solidarity events are being organized in Brazil, the US and Canada -- countries that provided troops and leadership for the foreign military occupation of Haiti -- as well as in South Africa, Ireland and the Caribbean, in support of the resistance of the people in Haiti.

This is a critical moment for Haiti. Deepening poverty and the spiraling cost of living, as well as continuing human rights violations, are all part of daily life under Occupation. But the people's resistance remains strong, and our solidarity is needed.

Here is what you can do:

1. Organize an activity for Haiti on or around Friday, Febuary 29 in your city or town. [It can be during the week before, or the weekend after.]

2. Let us know now what you are planning -- date, time, location, type of activity, contact information -- so we can build the campaign. After your event, please call or email us a report immediately so we can publicize each city's protest activity while the news is still fresh.Call +1-510-847-8657 or email [email][email protected]

3. Work for the safe return of abducted Haitian human rights advocate Lovinsky Pierre-Antoine. For more information and to sign the petition, go to http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/Haiti/HaitiIndex.htm and

5. Order buttons for the '3rd International Day in Solidarity with the Haitian People' (2-inch round). Our cost is about $1 per button including shipping by US priority mail. Be sure to include your street address. Order by phone or email. Mail contributions to HAC, PO Box 2218, Berkeley CA 94702

6.. Spread the word to your friends in other cities. Circulate these documents:

a. The Call to Action: 3rd International Day in Solidarity with the Haitian People - Coordinated International Protests on Feb. 29, 2008 is posted on the Haiti Action Committee websitewww.haitisolidarity.net as well as at the news website www.haitiaction.net Contact us to receive the Call to Action in Spanish or Portuguese.

b. Collective Punishment of a People, a timely, half-sheet analysis of Haiti since the February 29, 2004 coup, can be downloaded at www.haitisolidarity.net Suitable for printing up and passing out at your event.

Thank you, brothers and sisters.

Police have started shooting people at close range in Delft. There is pandemonium and brutality. Following yesterday's ruling in the High Court which upholds Thubelisha Homes and the state's eviction order against the community, the residents decided to appeal at the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. The lawyers worked through the night doing the paperwork for this appeal.

The One Man Can Campaign supports men and boys to take action to end domestic and sexual violence and to promote healthy, equitable relationships that men and women can enjoy - passionately, respectfully and fully. The One Man Can Campaign promotes the idea that each one of us has a role to play, that each one of us can create a better, more equitable and more just world. At the same time, the campaign encourages men to work together with other men and with women to take action - to build a movement, to demand justice, to claim our rights and to change the world.

Four years after the Feb. 29, 2004 coup d’etat that overthrew the democratically-elected government of President Aristide… Four years after US Special Forces kidnapped the President at gunpoint from his home, late at night, and flew him on a military plane to exile in Africa… Four years after US Marines seized control of Haiti’s capital and installed a US-appointed coup regime…
Add your city’s name to this growing circle of solidarity, by joining this 3rd International Day in Solidarity with the Haitian People on February 29, 2008.

Yesterday, the final candidates for the next President of the United States became clear. They are Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain. The winner will decide whether the nightmare of the Bush foreign policy is reversed or continued for another 4 years.

All around the world, including in the US, people want to see the next President change course. Although only US citizens can vote in the election, we can still have a voice. Global public opinion matters to US citizens -- they know that US respect in the world has plummeted under Bush. That’s why the Avaaz global community has sprung into action. In the next few days, we can influence the candidates as they develop their campaign strategy. Click below to read and endorse the letter to the candidates. And, if we get more than 100,000 signatures, Avaaz will publish it in US newspapers and deliver it personally to the Clinton, Obama and McCain campaigns--sign and forward this email to friends right away: