Civicus 8th World Assembly

Looking ahead to Montreal

Rahul Kumar

The CIVICUS annual members meeting welcomed a new World Assembly location and a new Secretary General.

End of an era

Zarina Geloo

The departure of Kumi Naidoo from CIVICUS lays down the gauntlet for fresh blood to take the organisation into a new era.

There is always hope for freedom

Rahul Kumar

Former political prisoners Netsanet Demissie and Daniel Bekele tell how Nelson Mandela’s autobiography gave them hope.

Forcing the issue on poverty

Joyce Mulama

GCAP's new chairs Adelaide Sossah and Sylvia Borren urge world leaders to take the initiative in combating poverty.

The benefit of experience

Zarina Geloo

In an emotional closing event, the Elders open their hearts and minds to young people and tell them to make the world a better place.

TXT POWR GETNG STRNGR

Richel Langit-Dursin

It’s called the mobile revolution. That’s how Katrin Verclas, co-founder of the MobileActive.org, describes the increasing use of mobile phones for civil society campaigns and advocacy.

Rights: 60 years but still only on paper

Zoltán Dujisin..

Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park played host to a rally marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But with global poverty and human rights still major problems activists were clear in their message

Pascal Lamy on the grill

Richel Langit-Dursin

World Trade Organisation director general, Pascal Lamy was forced to defend his organisation’s policies when the spotlight switched from the role of the corporate sector to a dissection of the WTO and its objectives.

Utopian socialism in Glasgow

Rahul Kumar

It‘s hard to believe that a mill manager from the 19th century can have an impact on modern day issues.

Scotland gets new charity champion

TerraViva

Scotland’s un-sung heroes have been honoured at an award ceremony dedicated to the charity sector

Singing from the same sheet

Zoltán Dujisin..

Networks can make a dramatic difference to civil society, but only if everyone’s input is valued.

An uphill battle

Richel Langit-Dursin

Citizens with direct engagement, not governments, should be the primary watchdog of the conduct of inter-governmental organisations, ruled the plenary.

Harnessing the power of the people

Joyce Mulama

With a little help from NGOs, Africans may learn about citizenship, budgets and accountability, Carmen Malena and Ann Pekkonen say.

Curbing the impacts of climate change

Nastasia Tay

A few small steps in the right direction can start to make some big differences in tackling the issues of climate change.

Civil society and the media – coalition or clash?

Zarina Geloo

Having a media that is accessible to all is about meeting the needs of society as a whole and not always about embracing the most expensive or high tech advances.

By Zarina Geloo

A little effort can mean a big difference

Richel Langit-Dursin

The role of volunteering, citizenship and engaging in social change was the hot topic among young people.

Getting to the root of the problem

Joyce Mulama

The issue of donor aid to third world countries has been thrust under the spotlight.

Learning to live with threats

Zoltán Dujisin

Watch your phone calls and emails, and be careful when browsing the Internet - the enemies might be after you.

Welcome back!

By Richel Langit-Dursin and Zoltan Dujisin

Former Ethiopian political prisoners Daniel Bekele and Netsanet Demissie, released earlier this year after languishing behind bars for more than two years, were given a rousing reception when they made a surprise visit to the Assembly.

By Richel Langit-Dursin and Zoltan Dujisin

Challenging the concepts of accountability

Nastasya Tay

Civil society demands transparency and accountability from governments, international organisations and decision-makers. In recent years, this process has increasingly turned inwards.

Rich nations under scrutiny over MDGs

Joyce Mulama

Donor countries have been urged to honor their pledge of contributing 0.7 percent of their Gross National Income (GNI) as development assistance to poor countries to help them achieve Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Youth Steering Group unhappy with TerraViva

Janet Jobson

"We feel that the TerraViva representation did not do justice to the breadth and depth of what was accomplished," says Janet Jobson of TerraViva's coverage of the Youth Assembly.

Letter from the Publisher

Mario Lubetkin, Director General of IPS

For the third year in a row, Civicus, SCVO and IPS join forces to produce TerraViva on Scottish soil.

Youth Assembly: We will be heard

Zoltán Dujisin

If the views of civil society are ignored, it makes it harder for the younger voices to get their message through.

Kenya: Teenage Mothers denied Education

Kwamboka Oyaro/Nairobi

While Kenyan girls and boys join elementary school at similar rates, a huge number of teenage girls are forced to leave high-school due to pregnancy. In spite of the law, they are subject to stigma and discrimination.

More Food Summits, But Less to Eat

Thalif Deen/United Nations

If it were for Summit targets, hunger in the world would have been wiped out by 1984. Instead, food prices have skyrocketed in 2008, putting the survival of billions at stake. Third World nations should ignore ill advise from international financial agencies, says activist Anurdaha Mittal.