FYI, I thought might be of interest to some of you on the list.
regards,
Momodou Camara
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Copyright 1999 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.
*** 02-Dec-99 ***
Title: DEVELOPMENT: Global Campaign To Eradicate Poverty
By Nana Rosine Ngangoue
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, Dec 2 (IPS) - When scientists, government
officials and activist meet in Hanover, Germany, for the Universal
Exposition next year, they will propose new and innovative
approaches to eliminate poverty and inequality.
Expo 2000 will revolve around global dialogues, a series of 10
conferences which will discuss the creation of durable bond
between Man, Nature and Technology.
Africa, the majority of whose 750 million people live below the
poverty line, will take an active part in the forum.
Globally, there are approximately 1.3 billion people who still
live on less than one dollar a day. More than 840 million are
malnourished. And the combined assets of the world's 200 richest
people constitute more wealth than the income of 41 percent of the
world's population.
''Poverty is a prime concern for international financial
institutions, governments, and social movements. However, while
there may be a consensus on the need to eliminate poverty, the
world does not agree on how to accomplish it'', states Marta
Gutierrez of the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ).
The goal of Global Dialogue 4, which will take place from July
25-27, 2000 in Hanover, will be to develop the innovative social
approaches necessary to eradicate poverty and reduce various forms
of social inequality based on gender, race, ethnic group,
nationality, and social class.
According to GTZ, social innovation can be found in some
projects initiated by various segments of society, such as
activists, the private sector, and governments, who offer new
possibilities to open up markets for poor people which use their
knowledge, talents, and abilities in to further development.
There are several examples of social innovation in the world.
In Africa, for example, the most cited one is that of the Women's
Budget Initiative in South Africa through which the government and
civil society decided to examine the problem of gender in fiscal
policy. This approach has been adopted by other countries in
Africa and Latin America.
At Expo 2000, more than 800 innovative social projects in the
fight against poverty, many of which were carried out in Africa,
will be discussed.
These projects involve poor people as participants in their own
right, not as a vulnerable group who receives subsidies and other
hand-outs from the government and others.
The regional conference, held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis
Ababa in November to prepare Africa's participation in the world
dialogue has made vital proposals which are in the spirit of Expo
2000's themes.
In the process of ensuring the poor with food, medical care,
and housing for the poor, the participants will also focus on the
necessity of respecting Africa's many cultures and creative
diversity.
''Several failures and catastrophes on the road to development,
which especially affect the poor, have at their root inadequate
recognition of cultural and ethnic complexities. Minorities and
indigenous people are generally among the poorest of the poor'', a
document prepared by GTZ presenting Global 4's dialogue says.
Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika from the Federations of African
Women's Networks for Peace (FERFAP) says the question of culture
and tribe has long had negative connotations in Africa. In fact,
culture is dynamic and always changing. ''Africa should evolve
according to its own rhythms and values'', she adds.
Strengthening power and influence among the poor was also
presented as an important element in the fight against poverty.
The poor should have considerable influence and be included in
important negotiations, since they represent the majority of
electors in their countries, says Yemataworke Haile of the Agency
for Economic and Cultural Promotion in Ethiopia.
Haile denounces the practice of one-person-one-vote system
adopted in the World Trade Organization's negotiations.
''These negotiations cannot take into account what poor people
think. This one person-one vote approach is just a way to not look
reality in the face, since poor people constitute a minority in
most negotiations'', Haile laments.
''The poor do not get information about anything. Reality is
dressed up in order to fool the poor. In reality, they are not
involved because they have no influence.'', she adds.
The formation of alliances and coalitions to promote peace and
human rights constitutes yet another strategy to eradicate
poverty. The question of transferring technology to the rural
world was emphasised by participants.
Florence Wanbungu of Kenya encourages African farmers to use
new agricultural techniques to increase production and ensure
nutritional self-sufficiency in Africa. She also suggests the use
of bio-genetic practices which protect crops against disease.
''Biotechnical engineering allows one to grow good crops
without the use of pesticides. Africa needs to produce more. It
could do so with these new agricultural technologies'', she says.
Other observers, however, have recommended a more critical
attitude before embarking upon the use of advanced agricultural
technologies.
The participants encourage social responsibility in finance,
commerce, and investing. Institutions and international accords
have established new globalised rules which do not take into
account the interests of poor people.
The democratisation of finance, trade and investment present
options which can contribute to negotiating a place for poor
people at the economic and political table.
The African non-governmental organisations (ngos) say that
increased collaboration between governments, civil society, the
private sector, and the media is necessary if poverty is to be
eradicated.
The GTZ is the Global Dialogue's main organiser. It has
organised Regional Dialogues on the fight against poverty in Asia,
Latin America, and Africa. FEMNET, a network of ngos, was
designated to mobilise and coordinate the participation of African
NGOs in the Global Dialogue 4.
The German government has committed itself to funding Third
World representatives at the Hanover conference.
(END/IPS/nrn/sz/mn/99)
Origin: Harare/DEVELOPMENT/
----
[c] 1999, InterPress Third World News Agency (IPS)
All rights reserved
May not be reproduced, reprinted or posted to any system or
service outside of the APC networks, without specific
permission from IPS.
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