The author argues that European powers appear set on perpetuating their arbitrary ‘entitlement’ to the position of Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund in the wake of the controversy that precipitated the resignation earlier in May 2011 of Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Despite claims from the IMF that the selection this time around would ‘take place in an open, merit-based, and transparent manner‘ as well as a longstanding commitment to open the position to nationals of all member states, most developed country representatives had expressed clear preferences for European candidates even before nominations opened on 23 May, according to this article. Their stances raise fears among developing countries and civil society that pledges to address unrepresentative governance at the Bretton Woods institutions are mere window dressing. Developing countries and emerging economies that account for most of the world's population, over half the world's output and who are being pressed to increase their capital contributions, will have negligible influence in the decision on the Managing director unless they are willing to take a firm, collective stance behind a consensus candidate.
Governance and participation in health
"As health workers and health advocates, we are witness to the fact that unhampered economic globalization causes increasing poverty, while US-led wars of aggression maim and massacre millions of people and destroy social infrastructure and our planet Earth itself. We therefore call on the peoples of the world to junk the World Trade Organisation and regional trade agreements with a similar character. Key WTO agreements such as the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) promote the commercialization of health care and deprive the people of much needed basic health services."
This paper in Globalisation and Health assesses progress in the development of a global framework for responding to non-communicable diseases, as reflected in the policies and initiatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank and the UN. Responding to the global burden of chronic disease requires an assessment of the global processes that are likely to be most effective in generating commitment to policy change at country level. The paper assesses the merits of the Millennium Development Goals and the WHO framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), and considers that lessons might be learned for enhancing the implementation of the Global Strategy on Diet.
This video, accompanying a song by Mzikhona Mgedle from the Langa Community Action Network (CAN), captures the dynamism and energy of Cape Town Together and the Community Action Networks while highlighting the many ways in which COVID-19 has challenged South Africans to demonstrate new and better forms of solidarity. Across the geographic, economic and social barriers that are a consequence of Apartheid history, community-led COVID-response networks are forming partnerships based on trust, inter-personal connection and shared goals. The music video draws footage from a range of CAN projects, including community kitchens, medicine-delivery schemes and food gardens to demonstrate the power of collective action. As the song states, none of us are safe, until we are we are all safe
In this article, the author shares few tips on sustainability, leadership and everything that could help NPOs to sustain their development interventions Money in the bank does not necessarily mean that an organisation will be sustainable. The author argues that a strong sense of being mission-driven, measuring impact and sharing results is what leaders of charities and nonprofit organisations (NPOs) should strive to embed into the consciousness of everyone involved in the organisation, this is how an organisation can shift the status quo from fretting over money to creating future plans. Using the seven dimensions for nonprofit sustainability as a guideline, leaders can embrace these characteristics for determining board competencies and delegation of duties for oversight, good governance and quality performance that will ensure continuity. The seven dimensions encompass the following; legal good standing and compliance; organisational capacity and expertise to do the work; financial viability of the organisation; advocacy for the work undertaken that will make a difference; quality and professionalism of service provision; stable infrastructure and building of a brand that portrays a positive public image.
Social movements have been successful in beating back the tide of water privatisation that swept the world in the 1990s, forcing the retreat of water multinational companies in the poorest countries of the global South. With global temperatures rising, unions in the energy sector can learn from these struggles – many of which were worker-led – to give rise to a strong counter-movement for energy democracy. While the political economy of the energy and water sectors are different, the author argues that we can build on water justice victories and draw lessons on how to frame demands for local control over the commons. Further lessons learned include the importance of building broad coalitions with unlikely allies; and practising internal democracy in social movements. While there have been significant victories in the water sector, the author argues that community-based struggles on energy have a long way to go. The struggle for energy democracy is argued to require movements to “resist, reclaim and restructure” communities to draw on locally sourced, decentralised, alternative energy resources.
You are invited to light a virtual candle for someone who has been touched by HIV/AIDS. Visit http://www.candlelightmemorial.org/lightcandle to be a part of the fastest growing on-line AIDS Candlelight Memorial. The "On-Line AIDS Candlelight Memorial", which is part of the Global Health Council's International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Campaign, gives people from around the world the opportunity to join millions of others in remembering those who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS. Once you have lit your virtual candle, you will have the opportunity to join the world's largest grassroots AIDS event and register your community to be part of the "International AIDS Candlelight Memorial" on May 18, 2003. By organizing a Memorial for May 18, you will be lighting candles in solidarity with millions of other individuals in more than 90 countries around the world.
The aim of the “Open for Development” campaign – and the global petition – is to persuade the High-Level Panel on the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals to ensure that openness forms the basis of the next global development framework. In this petition, ONE is calling for three things: 1. Openness in the design of the post-2015 framework to ensure that the post-2015 goals reflect people’s needs and priorities. 2. Openness in the monitoring of investments and outcomes so both funding and recipient governments collect information about what they spend and what they achieve in pursuit of the goals. 3. Openness in terms of making that information widely available and accessible so citizens, parliaments and the media can use it hold governments to account. The global petition urges world leaders to make sure the plan to end extreme poverty is specific, measurable and accountable.
The Centre for Health Human Rights and Development(CEHURD) through the Coalition to Stop Maternal Mortality due to Unsafe Abortion, marked the Global Day of Action on Safe and Legal Abortion on the 28th of September 2015. The global trending hash tag on social media was #BustTheMyth that all messages on myths and facts on abortion were attached to while sending out to followers on social media. A petition was read in line with the theme; Because every woman and Girl Counts and a campaign to have 1 million signatures was launched. The campaign sought to have one million signatures to be presented to parliament and the Speaker of Uganda Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga and entire legislative council, to consider having a proper and clear law on abortion. Two social media campaigns in line with the theme were launched to boost the main campaign with the hash tags; #BustTheMyth and #LetHerSpeak: Because every woman and girl counts.
From the 9th of December 2012 to 11th January 2013, an online consultation on global health Theme in the Post-2015 UN Agenda was conducted. Researchers targeted a total of 785 institutions across partner organisations and networks and attracted participation from over 180 organisations active across 48 countries, notably community based and regional organisations in Africa, which constituted 69.5% of all participants. A number of key messages emerged. 1. There is no strong support for one health goal framed around Universal Health Care. 2. There is a very clear emphasis given to prioritising the needs of women and children. 3. There are strong calls to broaden the focus of the goals towards health systems strengthening and away from disease- and issue-specific interventions. 4. Strong support is given to the importance of a multisectoral action for health, alongside recognition of the need to address the socio-economic determinants and the rapidly evolving economic realities between countries. 5. The health-related post-2015 development goals should take into account the context in which action will be taken, and must be founded on guiding principles that are adaptable at the national level, and flexible for local implementation. They should also be based on shared, coherent understanding that enables global level solidarity and differentiated accountable action where necessary and appropriate.