Next week is Seaweek!
Kotahi Moana – Kei konei te tīmatatanga
One Ocean - It starts here
The key aim of Seaweek, 4-11 March, is to raise awareness of the coast and ocean and to encourage all New Zealanders to help look after their local marine areas. Seaweek is a time not only celebrate the sea, but also to get involved in activities that promote the health of our ocean. Check out the Seaweek website for local events, information and ideas for taking action next week and every week of the year.
International Woman's Day
While the new millennium has seen a significant change and shift in attitude towards women and their right to equality, the unfortunate fact remains that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women are not present in equal numbers in politics or business, and globally there are still major issues around violence against women , women's education, health and participation.
International Women's day is observed on 8 March to honour women's acheivements, but also to remind us of the continued need for action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
Around the country and the world many women's organisations put on breakfasts and events as a chance to connect and unite. So get out there and get amongst it! Check out the IWD website for events around the globe or get your girls together and organise something yourselves.
Make Your Own Positive Contribution to Race Relations
Race Relations Day on 21 March is an opportunity to focus on diversity and harmonious race relations in your school, your workplace, your organisation, your place of worship, or your community.
It’s a time when you can do something to celebrate, to learn, to discuss, to plan or to promote diversity in your own context and to achieve diversity goals for your own organisation. It’s an opportunity to launch new initiatives, motivate your staff, or promote existing programmes and projects.
The theme for this year is inclusion, especially for our increasingly diverse younger generation.
You are invited to arrange something within your own organisation or community to mark the day. There will also be public events that you can encourage people to attend, such as the multi-ethnic festivals being organised throughout New Zealand by the New Zealand Federation of Ethnic Councils and local government. Details of activities are available on the Human Rights Commission website.
The Ministry of Culture and Heritage will be providing classroom resources and links to general information about Race Relations Day through the Classroom. The Human Rights Commission will also have links to resources on its website, including its annual review of race relations which will be released in early March to promote discussion.
Get in touch with the Human Rights Commission if you are planning anything, so they can publicise and promote it.
You will be joining people throughout the world who mark the day every year as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
World Water Day
Coping with Water Scarcity is the theme for World Water Day 2007, which is celebrated each year on 22 March. This year's theme highlights the increasing problem of water scarcity worldwide and the need for increased cooperation to ensure sustainable, efficient and equitable management of scarce water resources, both at international and local levels.
For info on the day or to plan your own event check out the World Water Day website.
Community Facilitators wanted
We are currently looking to train five community facilitators for The Outlook For Someday Sustainability Film Challenge. Facilitators will attend a two day training in Taupo during May 2007 (all expenses covered by the competition). The ideal facilitator is a youth worker/ educator/teacher who is interested in supporting a group of young people that they work with to enter the competition, or is interested in supporting young people in general who have entered.
If you are interested in becoming a community facilitator, please contact the GEC Contact person, Gino Maresca by the 30 March 2007.
Youth Parliament 2007
The Ministry of Youth Development has announced that they are now welcoming applications for Youth MPs for Youth Parliament 2007. This is a great opportunity for young people in your community to gain a stronger understanding of the workings of Parliament and get the chance to express their views and opinions to politicians, the government and the public.
New Zealand's fifth Youth Parliament will be from 8-11 July 2007. Youth MPs will get to debate mock legislation, engage in general debate, ask oral questions of cabinet ministers and sit on select committees, with the aim of helping young people.
Applications are welcome from any young person aged between aged 16-18 years. There is no cost to the Youth MPs who are selected to participate in Youth Parliament 2007. Further information can be found on the Youth Parliament website, by sending an email to info@youthparliament.govt.nz or by calling 0508 FOR MYD (367 693).
Global Education Fund
Global Education Fund - next application round closes 31 March 2007.
The Global Education Fund (GEF) provides funding for small projects to develop awareness and understanding of global perspectives among New Zealanders, and to encourage them to become responsible global citizens. Projects must be educational. Grants are between $2,000 and $15,000 (ex GST).
GEF is a contestable pool of money allocated through New Zealand's International Aid & Development agency, NZAID Nga Hoe Tuputupu-mai-tawhiti and administered by the Development Resource Centre.
There are two funding rounds per year. The next closing date for applications is 31 March 2007.
For more information on who is eligible and how to apply, go to: www.globaleducationfund.org.nz
Tides and Tracks Training Weekend
With the aim to instill positive values, increase self esteem and to help develop visions for the future Tides and Tracks provide young people with ongoing access to a supportive community of peers, role models and mentors.
They have two 2 separate training events happening on 9-11 March.
Tracks will hold their Facilitators Training in the Tui Treefield, Wainui Bay, Golden Bay For information or registration please contact: info@tracks.net.nz
Tides holds a Training for the Tides Rites of Passage Events at Tui T'Mala, Wainui Bay For information or registration please contact: contact.tides@hotmail.com
Connections Art Event
Learn new skills and make new friends at Connection Tides and Tracks community building arts event.
When is it: Wed 21 March till Sat 31 March 2007 - Open to public Fri 23rd through till Thurs 29th
Where is it: Tui Tree field, Wainui Bay, Golden Bay
What is it: An arts based mentoring event focused on youth but available to all ages. This is part of the Tracks Trust and Tides ‘Conscious Mentoring’ initiative to encourage positive role models in young peoples lives.
Coffee is still hot
Coffee is still a HOT topic in 2007. In the last issue of GEC news we called on you to join Oxfam’s campaign to encourage Starbucks to recognise Ethiopia's rightful ownership of its coffee names – ownership which would increase Ethiopia's bargaining power in the international coffee markets and ultimately increase the income for its coffee farmers by as much as NZ$132 million a year. Since then thousands of people have taken action and the growing buzz around the film Black Gold, which had its general release in the US in January and in the UK this month, is keeping the coffee industry in the spotlight. While Europe, Canada and Japan have granted Ethiopia’s trademark applications in the US, after consulting with Starbucks, the National Coffee Association is still blocking the country’s right to own two of the coffee names, Sidamo and Harar.
Oxfam continues to push Starbucks to honour their committment to the coffee farmers. They still need people to take action now!
Visit the Oxfam website to take the actions listed below:
•Send an e-fax to the CEO of Starbucks, asking Starbucks to sign the voluntary licensing agreement.
•When you have sent the e-fax yourself, tell 10 friends to take the action too!
•Phone the Starbucks head office in Aotearoa New Zealand .
•Interested in getting more involved in the campaign? Oxfam is looking for people who would like to either coordinate or take part in regional campaigning activities in the next few weeks. Email campaigns@oxfam.org.nz for more information.
For more information visit www.oxfam.org.nz or email campaigns@oxfam.org.nz .
