The November 2011 edition of AEFJN's Forum for Action is now online. It contains articles on the ethical responsibility of the Church on the climate issue, on the clean up of the Ogoniland oil spills, which will take decades, on the spread of Libyan arms in the Sahel, on the production of medicines in Africa and on the EU's attempt to force African countries to sign EPAs.
The national election campaign officially started the 28th October in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), exactly one month ahead of historic presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for November 28 2011. 41 humanitarian and human rights organizations, among them AEFJN, have expressed concern about the high political tension and deteriorating security situation. They have called upon all Congolese and international actors involved to take urgent measures to prevent electoral violence, better protect civilians and ensure credible, free and fair elections.MDG - EU takes position
The EC has proposed on April 21 a 12 actions points plan for the MDGs. Some points made by NGOs have been taken into account in this plan of action of the EC.
(For more details, read reviews of APRODEV on
communication framework and annual plan development in EU NEWS-3 May:
http://www.aprodev.net/main/Files/EU_News/2010/EU%20NEWS%203-May%202010-final.pdf)
The Committee on Development of European Parliament has adopted an
initiative report on the MDGs. This report was headed by MEP Michael
Cashman (S & D, UK). It contains articles of interest on food
security and decent work. It also notes ‘the" land grabbing "for
biofuels.’ By cons, it is regrettable that it "calls on the Commission
to promote land ownership as a tool for reducing poverty and
guaranteeing food security, by strengthening property rights". Indeed, a
private appropriation of land undermines the African system of
collective management of land use. This EP initiative must be put in
relation with the current plan of the EU Member States to issue a code
of conduct for land acquisition.
The European Council of 17 June adopted the conclusions of the EU
Development Ministers meeting of 14 June laying down the EU's position
towards the UN Summit on 22-24 September in New York where the MDGs will
be reviewed. They also approved the action plan on gender equality and
empower women in development.
At the UN Summit, the EU will be represented by Commissioner on
development, Mr. Piebalgs, and perhaps President Barroso too.
From the UN side, a committee of representatives of Member States has
been set up to prepare the UN Summit on MDGs in September 2010. His
first objective is to determine the nature of the outcome of this
summit: is it a plan of action or a mere political statement? It remains
only five years to achieve the MDGs.
1 More details on EP Report (PE 440.025v02-00) on :
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A7-2010-0165+0+DOC+XML+V0//FR&language=FR