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CONGO e-Update • 2 October 2007

We have the pleasure to present you with the online versions of the reports issued for the African Civil Society Forum 2007 (22-24 March, Addis Ababa ) and the Civil Society Development Forum 2007 (28-30 June, Geneva ). Print versions are available at the CONGO Office in Geneva . We thank once again all our partners, members, co-organizers and friends who made this civil society gatherings possible and wish you happy reading.

Civil Society and Outer Space, 8-9 October, Vienna

Being held forty years after the Outer Space Treaty entered into force, the Civil Society and Outer Space Forum should provide as comprehensive an overview as possible of the current situation, pertaining to the use of outer space, in particular those applications responding to a large variety of societal needs. The Forum will grant members of the civil society community an opportunity to acquaint themselves with, and assess their potential contribution to, the application of space technology in selected fields of the peaceful use of outer space and security and conduct of space activities. Check here the Invitation Letter, the Forum Programme, the Registration Form and much more.....

The General Assembly decided to hold in the afternoon of 4 October 2007 an informal interactive hearing with representatives of civil society, including representatives of non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to be chaired by the President of the General Assembly. Read here the provisional programme, the speakers, respondents, invited guests and moderators, the Concept Note on the Informal Interactive Hearings with Civil Society. Read more....

The NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief: “Freedom of Conscience as the Foundation for Peace”, 4 October, 1:15-2:30 p.m., Conference Room 7, UN Headquarters

The NGO Committee on Human Rights: “A Dialogue with Louise Arbour High Commissioner for Human Rights”, Friday, October 5, 2007, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Church Center for the UN

18 Days left – Time to act – Call to Eradicate Poverty, 17 October

On October 17, millions of people worldwide are gearing up for 24 hours of mobilisation against poverty. Join GCAP, the Global call to Action against Poverty, and see how you can contribute by rallying friends, colleagues, families and partners to Stand Up and Speak Out.

Events

You can join an existing event by checking out what is happening in your country www.whiteband.org or create your own event. Find an event near to where you live. Engage! And YES! You too can make a difference.

This week we draw your attention to ATD Quart Monde and their planned actions on 17 Oct at the UNHQ in New York :

1:00 - 1:30 pm
The UN Department of Public Information and the UN Millennium Campaign invite you to STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT against poverty, and join in breaking the Guinness World Record set in 2006, when over 23 million people participated worldwide.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is expected to participate and international guests will highlight the daily efforts of people living in poverty throughout the world.

1:30 - 2:45 pm
COMMEMORATION including personal testimonies of extreme poverty and a musical performance by Edward Ware: "The Collective Testifies.”

4:15 - 5:45 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: "We Can End Poverty: Children as Agents of Change." Children and young people will speak of their efforts to fight poverty. The location is: Church Center, 777 First Avenue, NY 10017 . All welcome.

If you have not signed yet the Call for Action, you can still do it by clicking here http://www.oct17.org/Why-the-Call-to-Action.html and thus join tens of thousands of like-minded people. The Call for Action will be presented to the United Nations this October 17 in Paris , France.

Check here below the main websites and see how you can act!
http://www.oct17.org/en
www.whiteband.org
www.standagainstpoverty.org
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/intldays/IntlDay

4th Web for Development Conference, UN Habitat, 28-30 November, Nairobi , Kenya

Web4Dev, to be held 28 through 30 November in Nairobi under the theme “Driving economic and social development with the Internet” will explore, a.o., Internet solutions for youth, the biggest group of Internet users and focus on helping developing countries bridge the digital divide. Check here the provisional programme, speakers, registration form, travel and visa information, background information and more......

UNRISD: Business, Social Policy and Corporate Political Influence in Developing Countries, 12-13 November, Geneva

Spanning national and international issues, the UNRISD conference aims at bringing key findings and debates within academia to the attention of United Nations agencies, governments, business and civil society organizations, and the international development research community. Admission is free but online registration is required. Read more......

Recycling computers, UNESCO

UNESCO together with ADEME, the French Environment and Energy Management Agency, Emmaus (French association fighting exclusion), Les Ateliers du Bocage, Hewlett Packard and TIC ETHIC, is producing two guides to encourage the development of sustainable computer recycling plants. The project aims at supporting local stakeholders, in particular in developing countries, to manage computer equipment waste, making it a business opportunity while securing healthy and environmentally friendly processes. They advocate the need to share and spread knowledge and know-how on computer dismantlement, which respects the principles of sustainable development and protects health, and on the opportunity it represents in terms of local development to create "clean" and quality businesses. Read more.....

Other Upcoming Events:

1-11 October 2007: 54th Session UNCTAD Trade and Development Board, Geneva http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=4146&lang=1

5 October 2007: World’s Teachers’ Day

http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=53201&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

16 October 2007: World Food Day
http://www.fao.org/wfd2007/index_wfd2007

17 October 2007: International Day Against Poverty
www.whiteband.org or ww.standagainstpoverty.org or
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/intldays/IntlDay

8-9 October 2007: NGO Forum: Civil Society and Outer Space, UN/VIC, Vienna
Invitation Letter - Provisional Agenda - Registration Form - Aide mémoire

10-13 October 2007: IFS international "Living Together in a Multicultural Society, Oradea , Romania
http://www.ifsnetwork.org

12-15 November 2007: 2nd meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, Rio de Janeiro ( Brazil )
www.intgovforum.org