UNESCO Supports Wildlife Conservation Policies in Darfur

The Radom Biosphere Reserve in Darfur, Sudan has a great variety of climate and ecosystems; each with distinct group of faunal and floral compositions, and a good representation of the African wild species. These ecosystems, -which are considered to be of great economic, scientific, recreational, biological and cultural values-, need to be protected and sustainably managed.

A number of questionnaires were developed to obtain a general idea on the socioeconomic status of the displaced people, and seek solutions to compromise their living conditions in a way that does not conflict with the conservation policy. It appears that modern weapons have replaced the old traditional primitive tools and have modified the hunting techniques of many people willing to maximize their yields of sun-fried meat. The desperate need for protein by the ever growing human populations coupled with easiness of possessing automatics triggered this grave but tragic situation whereby several species are believed to have completely migrated and abandoned the area.

On the wake of signing Naivasha peace agreement between the government of the Sudan and the southern rebels, resource depletion was in part eased when southerners started to return to their home villages. Similar scenery is anticipated for Darfur. It should be emphasized that both security and food are the ultimate needs of the people, therefore, only permanent peace can stop this misery and bring back conditions stable. This would of course necessitate public awareness program that addresses and reflects both the benefits of peace and the negative impacts of war. Nevertheless, the situation will remain catastrophic unless the warring parties agree upon efficient and sincere disarmament program, and the international community assumes a positive role towards a lasting compromise to the political conflict. The planned program should specify certain areas as weapon free zones that will serve as asylums for wild fauna under full protection by the government of the state. This would be the first step towards enabling the entire environment to recover and restore viability.

Concerned with the reduction of biodiversity loss, the improvement of livelihoods, the enhancement of social, economic, and cultural conditions for environmental sustainability, and with the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goal 7 on environmental sustainability, UNESCO has, since its early days, initiated a vast array of research programs and activities focusing on humans' impacts on biodiversity, as well as how biodiversity affects human activities. UNESCO underscores the importance of biosphere reserves and calls for the protection of the biosphere even in times of war and other human tragedies.

Read More
*Click here for full report
* Biosphere reserves
*People, Biodiversity and Ecology
*Biodiversity
*Ecosystems
* UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB)

DISCOVERING THE WORLD

UNESCO has published the Discovering the World series as a collection of compact guides aimed at making subjects accessible for a young readership (from 10 years old onwards). They are perfect for students of school or college age who need to prepare a text or presentation on any one of these subjects. Parents and teachers will also find these little books an interesting read. Many are in English, and some are in foreign languages (and they might be especially useful for those studying those languages, since they should have relatively simple vocabulary and sentence structure),

Here are some of the titles:

"Tell me about UNESCO"

All about UNESCO for the young (10-12 years old): its history, functioning, ideals, programmes and buildings. A clear and well-documented overview of the Organization working towards a better understanding of tolerance.

"Explaining The Climate"

Gathers together the scientific knowledge necessary for younger readers to understand the climate, its mechanisms and phenomena. All topics are dealt with in an understandable yet informative manner – from the effects of latitude to those of altitude, from the history of climates to the geography of great climatic regions, and from meteorologists’ instruments to the conclusions of the Kyoto conference. In addition, the book offers a broad selection of clear explanatory diagrams, text boxes of easily memorized facts, and a wide array of carefully chosen photographs. This book is an excellent introduction to climatology and will awaken curiosity in all readers keen to learn how the climate will affect our future.

"Explaining Biosphere Reserves"

A colourful and easy-to-read book that provides accessible answers to questions related to biosphere reserves, including: What is biodiversity? Why is it in peril? Why should we preserve it? What do biosphere reserves look like? How do they function? Where are they located in the world?

"Tell me about the Oceans"

Did you know that three-quarters of the globe are covered with seas and oceans? This is just one of the interesting facts that you could learn by reading this compact book about oceans, their beginnings, their role in regulating world climate and the rich resources within.

"Inventions and Trade"

Over the centuries, the exchange of technologies -from the horse's bit and the wheel to the microchip and the computer- hasinspired new developments and improvements. It is through trade that much of this exchange has taken place. This book explains how the Silk and Spice Routes across Asia played an important role in bringing together different peoples and ideas that favoured new technologies and inventions in many fields: health and medicine, alchemy and chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, spinning and weaving. glass and ceramics, metalwork and agriculture, to mention just a few.

UNESCO promotes Science and Technology Policy in Africa

Much of the following posting is excerpted from an article published by the Swazi Observer, 08/17/2006

Dr. Joe Mugabe spoke during the one-day seminar and intervened to sensitize the public on the need for a Science and Technology Policy in Africa. The event was hosted by the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) on Wednesday August 16^th, 2006.

"The Swazi Minister of Education, Constance Simelane, emphasized the role of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in the attainment of sustainable development goals and other related initiatives that require renewed political and financial commitments to the development and application of Science and Technology at national, regional and continental levels.

"Speaking during the seminar UNISWA vice-chancellor Professor Cisco Magagula challenged universities and research institutes to take the lead in creating, disseminating and promoting the application of science and technological knowledge. He said it was disappointing to note that Africa, despite the fact that it continues to be the least developed continent, continues to lose the little expertise it has.

"The Commission for Africa reports that there are more African students and engineers working in the United States than there are in Africa. This led to the Commission for Africa recommending major investment in improving Africa's capacity, starting with the systems of higher education, especially science and technology.

"Magagula said in recognition of the crucial role played by science and technology in development, UNISWA had introduced a number of science and technology-related centres of escellence with the aim of satisfying national aspirations. The centres include the Information and Communication Technology, the Swaziland Institute of Research in Traditional Medicine, Medicinal and Indigenous Food Plants, the Health Information and Counselling Centre and the University Research Centre."

Americans for UNESCO is informed by UNESCO Windhoek that UNESCO funded the seminar and subcontracted the Swaziland National Commission for UNESCO to organize this initial stakeholders’ meeting regarding the establishment of a S&T Policy for the country. The meeting is the first step towards drafting a S&T Policy for Swaziland. Its proceedings from the meeting are due in late September and will be posted on the UNESCO Windhoek Office website.

Dr. John Mugabe, the facilitator of such a meeting, is leading NEPAD’s science and technology department and is considered an authority on science and technology policy in Africa.

The United States to host Two Water Events

* September 5th-8th, 2006: The Ohio State University will host the “Floodplains, Riparian Zones, and Buffer Strips Workshop: Key Components to Aquatic Life Use Attainment and Self-Sustaining Stream Systems”. This event, centred around the theme "Celebrating 50 Years and Beyond", will include 1 day of technical tours; 1 day of presentations and panel discussions by recognized experts in the field of soil and water conservation and stream restoration; and two days for technical workshops. >> More

* September 10th-13th, 2006: The WateReuse Association, the Water Environment Federation, and the American Water Works Association organize the 21st Annual WateReuse Symposium to be held in Hollywood, California. This symposium will focus on both water reuse and desalination as alternative sources in today’s water-scarce world. Technical sessions will be devoted to diverse topics such as micropollutants, desalination, indirect potable reuse, operational issues, and global water reuse. >> More

Related
* Our Previous Posting: UNESCO coping with water scarcity
© Photo: UNESCO/ Armelle de Crepy - Everglades National Park

UNESCO, Co-organizer of the International Disaster Reduction Conference Davos 2006

August 27th - September 1st, 2006 Davos, Switzerland: Special Session on "Integrating traditional knowledge systems and concern for cultural and natural heritage into risk management strategies" on the occasion of the International Conference on Disaster Reduction (ICDR).

For more information, please visit:
*UNESCO World Heritage Center
*International Disaster Reduction Conference Davos 2006

UNESCO coping with water scarcity

UNESCO will participate in the 'Coping with Water Scarcity' UN-Water seminar in Stockholm, Sweden, scheduled for August 23^rd.

In 2003, UN-Water was endorsed as the new official United Nations mechanism for follow-up of the water-related decisions reached at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals. It will support Member States in their efforts to achieve water and sanitation goals and targets. Annually, UN-Water hosts a seminar during World Water Week focusing on specific strategic issues it has identified as priority for joint action during the decade Water for Life (2005-2015). This year's event addresses water scarcity. The seminar will illustrate the type of actions UN-Water agencies carry out with their partners.

Mr. Andras Szöllösi-Nagy, Director of the UNESCO Division of Water Sciences, will give a keynote speech on 'Decision Support Tools for Conflict Resolution' during the seminar. His address will be followed be a panel discussion on how to enhance the impact and effectiveness of the Water Scarcity Thematic Initiative at local and national level and at the level of international river basins.

Read More
*The UNESCO Water portal
* The World Water Week
* "Coping With Water Scarcity" Seminar
* Prevention and Resolution of Water-related Conflicts: the PCCP Program

UNESCO Acting With and For Youth -- More information

In a belated bow to the United Nations' International Youth Day and UNESCO's week long celebration of its six decades of service to youth, we have added a Youth page to the Americans for UNESCO website.

In addition, here are some Youth oriented events, activities, and links:

· August 14-16, 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference – Toronto, Canada. The Chasing the Dream online photo exhibit. This exhibit portrays the intersection of eight young people with Millennium Development Goals and will be on display at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, 14-16 August 2006. Link to: What Works in HIV Prevention: Engaging Young People

· Deadline: September 8th, 2006: UNICEF Voices of Youth Photo contest: Inspirational Women.

· May 1st-October 1st, 2006 2006 UNICEF/OneWorld Radio Prize contest. The theme for the 2006 contest is UNITE FOR CHILDREN. UNITE AGAINST AIDS. Entries should be about HIV and AIDS – prevention, education, the scope of the pandemic and youth action to address it. More Information on rules, regulations and entry forms

· 2007 G8 Youth Event in Germany

· September 2006- February 2007: Participate in a Kairos Future delfi survey on youth values and lifestyle! For more information, please visit

· Become a Youth Delegate to The United Nations

· More UN Youth Events

More on the UN and Youth:

· Download The MDGs Youth Action Guide on the Millennium Campaign Website

· UN Volunteers and the Millennium Development Goals.

UNESCO supports Libraries

UNESCO supports and promotes universal access to information and knowledge flows. Part of its many activities focuses on the strengthening of the institutional capacity of libraries as gateways to information. As such, UNESCO assists worldwide libraries to acquire new technologies and network resources through the UNESCO Network of Associated Libraries (UNAL). UNAL’s main objective is to encourage libraries that are open to the public to undertake activities in UNESCO’s fields such as the promotion of human rights and peace, cultural dialogue, protection of the environment, fight against illiteracy, etc. Over 500 libraries around the world are members of the Network, the Library of Congress being one of them.

UNESCO Libraries Portal currently contains over 14000 links to websites of libraries around the world, as well as to resources related to training, preservation and international co-operation in this area. A major part of this heritage is stored in libraries. The world’s documentary heritage constitutes a major part of mankind’s memory and reflects the diversity of peoples, languages and cultures. Through the Memory of the World Programme and other initiatives, UNESCO has played a leading role in preserving information and communication contents and in optimizing access to them. In particular, UNESCO encouraged the elaboration of strategies to facilitate the digitization of librarian collections; it also promoted and disseminated the International Charter for the Preservation of Digital Heritage adopted in October 2003.

From August 20th-24th, 2006, UNESCO will participate in the round-table on "Libraries: Dynamic Engines for the Knowledge and Information Society" organized by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) during its 72nd IFLA General Conference and Council to be held in Seoul, Korea. The IFLA meeting will have a UNESCO organized session on digital libraries which will include a presentation by the Library of Congress. >>More

Global Memory Net, an online image library and gateway to cultural, historical, and heritage images around the world, was launched earlier this month with a number of collections included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, and in the Library of Congress. The project was partially funded by the US National Science Foundation.>> More

Read more:
* UNESCO Libraries Portal
* Memory of the World - 8th meeting of the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Programme, Pretoria, South Africa, 11-15 June 2007. >>More
* E-Heritage
* UNESCO Archives Portal
* UNESCO/IFLA MAnifesto
* World Book and Copyright Day
* Our previous postings "World Digital Library Planned: Library of Congress Envisions Collection To Bridge Cultures"

“What UNESCO for the Future”

The Forum of Reflexion “What UNESCO for the future?” was launched by the Social and Human Sciences Sector of UNESCO on 18 November 2004, on the occasion of the Third Philosophy Day. It continued throughout 2005 as a cycle of open debates whose main objective was to stimulate creative and audacious thinking on the future direction of UNESCO among Permanent Delegations, National Commissions and the Secretariat. In inviting thinkers, philosophers, political leaders and experts from diverse parts of the world, the Forum aimed above all to stimulate our common reflexion and to provide food for thought through insightful, out-of-the box perspectives.

This new publication presents the addresses given in the course of this forum by sixteen people:

* Jacques Attali
* Robert Badinter
* Boutros Boutros-Ghali
* Souleymane Bachir Diagne
* Fatma Haddad-Chamakh
* Ping Huang
* Albert Jacquard
* Randolph Kent
* Yersu Kim
* Achille Mbembé
* Edgar Morin
* Hisashi Owada
* Miguel Rojas-Mix
* Carolina Rossetti Gallardo
* Ghassan Salamé
* Tu Weiming

UNESCO and Local Content in the Media

Source: UNESCO

The UNESCO program for Creative Content is aimed at boosting the production and dissemination of local content in both the traditional and new media in the most disadvantaged communities of the developing world by training content creators, supporting local content production and enhancing content distribution channels.

Local Content and ICT

ICT and the Internet have had a tremendous impact on content creation and distribution processes. UNESCO has launched two recent international ventures with the objective of providing marginalized communities such as indigenous peoples with access to ICTs.

* ICT4ID
* ICT@PSB

The Organization is currently producing a set of best practices in media production in topics related to the Millennium Development Goals in order to demonstrate in very concrete ways the potential of development communication in today's societies.

Producing Local Content

UNESCO provides seed funding for media content production in television, radio and new media in developing communities, such as documentary, fiction, outdoor tele-magazines and other kinds of programming within the framework of public service broadcasting.

Distributing Local Content

UNESCO participates in the distribution and exchange of local content by showcasing local productions at the international level through various fora and festivals. Through partnership with school networks and broadcasting associations worldwide, it helps to strengthen alternative distribution channels.

Why is this program important?

Radio, television, the Internet and other electronic media have enormous potential to enhance social and economic development programs. While the information infrastructure grew slowly in developing nations during most of the 20th century, the penetration of these media into even the poorest countries has grown exponentially in the last decade. Unfortunately, the growth of content has not kept pace.

While there is a great deal of media content available from the North, there is also a huge need for content in the South. That Southern content has to be specific to developing country problems, such as those of tropical medicine and tropical agriculture. It must also be in languages that the target populations understand, culturally accessible, on media to which they have access, targetted to the right messages, and in a format which will be interesting and intelligable to the target audience. The UNESCO program is setting precedents and demonstrating how to build this kind of local content.

UNESCO Jobs Available

Gene Whitney, of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has identified these current job postings from UNESCO, and is asking that they be circulated in the hope that Americans will apply for many of these important positions.

He especially encourages qualified U.S. candidates to apply for the following position (which was previously announced on this blog):

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SR PROG SPECIALIST (Science & Tech Education & Tech Capacity Bldg); UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (SC-427); Paris, France
(PhD: Basic-EnginSci; 10+yrs (5+yrs university sci-engin teach) university edu plan-mgmt-adm exp; Fr); P-5; $120K Closing date: 08/21/06

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Note that this position closes on August 21, 2006.

Applicants may apply electronically. Qualified individuals interested in competing for any of the listed vacancies should submit their applications directly to UNESCO or the international organization of interest.

U.S. citizen applicants for UNESCO and ICAO positions are requested to send an information copy of their applications to: employmentun@state.gov.

Additional information on international employment is available at this State Department web site.

Other Positions the Whitney has identified include:

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* 63 SR PROG SPECIALIST (Science & Tech Education & Tech Capacity Bldg); UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (SC-427); Paris, France
(PhD: Basic-EnginSci; 10+yrs (5+yrs university sci-engin teach) university edu plan-mgmt-adm exp; Fr); P-5; $120K Closing date: 08/21/06

* 117 PROG SPECIALIST, Hydrological Processes & Climate, Water Sciences Div; UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (SC-420); Paris, France
(AdvDeg: Civil-EnvirEngin/SoilSci/Hydrol; 4+yrs (2 yrs int’l) int’l sci coop/erosion&sediment rsrch exp; Fr); P-3; $84K Closing date: 08/27/06

* 131 ASSISTANT PROGRAM SPECIALIST (Education); UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (LA/RP/CHI/ED/0032); Santiago, Chile
(AdvDeg: Edu/Soc-HumanSci; 2+ yrs LatinAm & Carib edu field proj implmnt exp; Sp); P-1/P-2; $48/$61K Closing date: 08/30/06

* 180 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER; UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (AR/RP/PAL/BFC/0005); Ramallah, Palestine
(Deg: Pblc-BusAdm/Acct/Econ; 3 yrs adm/fin/UN sys exp; Arabic/Fr); P-1/P-2; $47/60 K Closing date: 09/04/06

* 212 CHIEF, Educational Planning & Management Div; UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (UNRWA/AR/RP/JOR/ED/0008); Amman, Jordan
(PhD: EduAdm/Evaluation; 10+ yrs nat’l-lvl edu sys mgmt/teaching/hi-lvl mgmt exp; Arabic); P-5; $ 98 K Closing date: 09/10/06

* 213 RESEARCH SCIENTIST 7/; UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Org (UNESCO); (EU/TP/ITA/SC/1051); Trieste, Italy
(PhD: Physics/GeophysSci; 5 yrs int’l Earth System Physics rsrch/teaching exp); P-3; $ 82 K Closing date: 09/10/06

* 214 RESEARCH SCIENTIST 7/; UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Org (UNESCO); (EU/TP/ITA/SC/1053); Trieste, Italy
(PhD: Physics/GeophysSci; 5 yrs int’l Earth System Physics rsrch/teaching exp); P-3; $ 82 K Closing date: 09/10/06

* 215 RESEARCH SCIENTIST 7/; UN Educational, Scientific & Cultural Org (UNESCO); (EU/TP/ITA/SC/1054); Trieste, Italy
(PhD: Physics/GeophysSci; 5 yrs int’l Earth System Physics rsrch/teaching exp); P-3; $ 82 K Closing date: 09/10/06

* 288 SR PROG SPECIALIST (Basic & Engineering Sciences); UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (AF/RP/KEN/SC/0006); Nairobi, Kenya
(PhD: Basic-EnginSci; 10+yrs sci & tech capacity bldg/ 6+yrs university Basic& EnginSci teach exp; Fr); P-5; $101K Closing date: 09/26/06

* 309 CLASSIFICATION OFFICER; UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (HRM-253); Paris, France
(AdvDeg: HRM/Bus-PblcAdm; 4+ yrs HRM & adm/job classif/org dsgn/analyt exp; Fr); P-3; $85K Closing date: 10/04/06

* 310 PROGRAM SPECIALIST (Higher Education) 11/; UN Edu, Sci & Cult Org (UNESCO); (LA/RP/VEN/ED/0003); Caracas, Venezuela
(AdvDeg:Soc-Human-EduSci; 7+yrs hi edu rsrch & tech int’l coop proj plan-coord-execute&cntrl exp; Sp); P-4; $90K Closing date: 10/04/06

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Documents for the Executive Board Meeting

Documents for the next (175th) meeting of the Executive Board of UNESCO are now available on the Executive Board's website. The meeting is to take place in the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, 26 September-12 October 2006.

The documents are:

* Report by the Director-General on implementation of the reform process: staff policy
* Report by the Director-General on the state of academic freedom and institutional autonomy within the context of the Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel (1997)
* Convening of the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI) in 2009
* Proposal for the establishment of an IHP regional centre for the scientific study on management of shared groundwater resources under the auspices of UNESCO and WMO in Tripoli, Libya
* Arts education: the follow-up to the Lisbon World Conference
* Report by the Director-General on the advisability of elaborating an International Declaration on Science Ethics to serve as a basis for an ethical code of conduct for scientists
* Jerusalem and the implementation of 33 C/Resolution 50 and 174 EX/Decision 12
* Proposal for the establishment of the International Children Centre (ARTEK) as a centre under the auspices of UNESCO (category 2)
* Report by the Director-General on the implementation of the UNESCO Evaluation Strategy
* Monitoring of the implementation of UNESCO's standard-setting instruments
* Report on the fourth meeting of the Joint Expert Group UNESCO (CR)/ECOSOC (CESCR) on the Monitoring of the Right to Education (2006)
* Dates of the 34th session of the General Conference
* Report by the Director-General on the status of contributions of Member States and of payment plans
* Report by the Director-General on the implementation of the Participation Programme and emergency assistance
* Report by the Director-General, in cooperation with the Headquarters Committee, on managing the UNESCO complex
* Relations with non-governmental organizations, foundations and similar institutions
* UNESCO's cooperation with African subregional and regional organizations
* Implementation of 33 C/Resolution 68 concerning the strengthening of cooperation with the Republic of Guinea-Bissau
* Report by the Director-General on the cultural and educational institutions in Iraq
* Report by the Governing Board of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) on the activities of the Institute
* Proposal for the establishment of the IHP International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC) in the Netherlands under the auspices of UNESCO
* Convening of the Fourth International Conference on International Education in 2007 in Ahmedabad, India

The United States is a member nation of the Executive Board. The U.S. Representative to UNESCO and her team will have a busy couple of months!

The L'Oreal - UNESCO Partnership For Women In Science Program

© Photo: GAMMA, 2006 L'ORÉAL-UNESCO Awards Laureates (left to right): Esther Orozco (Mexico, Laureate Latin America), Pamela Bjorkman (USA, Laureate North America), Jennifer Graves (Australia, Laureate Asia/Pacific), Habiba Bouhamed Chaabouni (Tunisia, Laureate Africa), Christine Van Broeckhoven (Belgium, Laureate Europe).

The following article is excerpted from a Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release, provided by CSRwire, 08/14/06

In Search Of Scientific Excellence: L’Oréal USA Announces Call for Applications for 2007 Fellowships for Women In Science Program

On August 14, 2006, L’Oréal USA announced the start of the application period for its esteemed L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program. Now in its fourth year, this national program aims to annually recognize, reward and support five women post-doctoral researchers in the U.S. who are pursuing careers in the life and physical/material sciences, as well as mathematics, engineering and computer science. As part of its commitment to further help exceptional women scientists reach their goals, L'Oréal USA has doubled the value of its fellowship grants from a current $20,000 to $40,000 for the 2007 program.

Since its inception in 2003, the L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science program has attracted a number of talented applicants from diverse scientific fields, representing some of the nation’s leading academic institutions and laboratories. A distinguished jury of nine eminent scientists – presided over by Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone, President, National Academy of Sciences - reviews the applications, and selects the L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science recipients each year.

The five beneficiaries of the 2007 L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science will be invited to attend a week of events that include an awards ceremony, professional development workshops, media training and networking opportunities. In 2007 these workshops, developed and facilitated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), will encompass job search techniques, interviewing skills and strategies for peer review publication.

Candidates may visit the L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science website to obtain more information about program eligibility and requirements. The program is open to women post-doctoral researchers only. All applications must be post marked by October 31, 2006.

The L’Oréal USA Fellowships for Women in Science compliment the international L’ORÉAL-UNESCO For Women in Science program -- which annually awards $100,000 each to five leading women career scientists, one from Europe, Asia, North America, South American and Africa – and the UNESCO-L’ORÉAL International Fellowships, which annually grant $20,000 each to 15 promising young women scientists, doctorate or post-doctorate, from around the globe. Depending on the research project of the applicant, in 2007 this grant may also be increased to a maximum of $40,000 over a two year period.

"Build The Defences Of Peace In People's Minds"

This message from Pope John Paul II was delivered in 2002, but it remains vivid and relevant today. He said:

The intuitions that prevailed at the foundation of UNESCO more than 50 years ago, stressed the importance of education for peace and solidarity, not losing sight of the fact that "if wars are born in people's minds, it is in the human spirit that the defences of peace must be built" (Constitution of UNESCO, 16 November 1945). Today these intuitions have been fully confirmed. The phenomenon of globalization has become a reality defining economics, politics and culture, bringing with it positive and negative values. They are areas that offer a challenge to our sense of responsibility so that a truly worldwide solidarity can be organized that alone can give our earth a secure future and lasting peace.

The State Department on the United Nations

The Department of State has a number of interesting documents posted on the website of its Bureau for International Organization Affairs. These include:

* "Founding of the United Nations: 'A Profound Cause of Thanksgiving'" by Gary B. Ostrower
* "The United States and the Founding of the United Nations, August 1941 - October 1945" by Office of the Historian of the U.S. Department of State and
* "U.S. Participation in the United Nations: Our Vision and Priorities" from State's Bureau of Public Affairs

While these do not deal with UNESCO specifically, they may be of interest to many UNESCO fans.

2006 U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Annual Conference

Click here to download the minutes of the meeting in a PDF file (2.4MB).

On June 1 and June 2, 2006, the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO held its annual conference in Washington, DC. The detailed minutes of the meeting are available on the NatCom website, They include a summary of the conference, including those who attended, matters discussed, and conclusions reached.

"UNESCO Chief Condemns Killing of Chinese Reporter Beaten by Officer"

Read the full article in NewsBlaze.Com (an independent, online, news aggregator headquartered in Folsom California).

Lead: "Continuing his campaign to spotlight the deplorable killing of journalists worldwide, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (<"http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=29008&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html">UNESCO) today condemned the beating death of a Chinese reporter by a police officer.

"'I condemn the killing of Xiao Guopeng,' declared Ko�chiro Matsuura in a statement released in Paris on the incident, which took place in the province of Guizhou on 18 July."

Reporters Without Borders indicated that an officer beat the 39-year old reporter outside the building of his newspaper, Anshun, and continued hitting Mr. Xiao when he was already on the ground, despite protests from a crowd of onlookers.

Welcoming the fact that the alleged perpetrator has been arrested, the Director General said: "I trust that there will be a transparent investigation and trial to help prevent the recurrence of such events in the future."

Unfortunately, attacks on reporters and on the free press are frequent in many parts of the world, and Director General Matsuura frequently issues statements and declarations condemning those responsible for specific incidents of suppression of freedom of the press.

DG's Declaration on the Crisis in the Middle East

The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, issued a declaration on the crisis in the Middle East on August 11, 2006. It includes the following:

“In my capacity as Director-General of an organization dedicated to the construction of the defenses of peace in the minds of women and men through education, science, culture and communication, and in view of the spiraling conflict in the Middle East, I wish to express my dismay at the growing loss of life, suffering, and destruction on each side, and express my fear that the grief caused by present events will jeopardize the future.

“We can only be alarmed by the impending humanitarian disaster in Lebanon that will compound the environmental disaster already unfolding before us. But an even greater threat looms: what future for a country where so many people have been displaced, lived through fire, turmoil and death omnipresent? What future for a country where so many children have seen their schools destroyed, a country whose memory is ravaged along with its rich heritage of prestigious sites that are the heritage of humanity as a whole? And what prospects can there be for the construction of a knowledge society in a country sapped by the loss of its vital energy and talent?"

Click here to read the full declaration.

Earlier, the Director-General had convened a special session of the UNESCO Middle East Task Force to discuss UNESCO’s response to the crisis in Lebanon. In his opening remarks at the meeting, the Director-General joined the United Nations Secretary-General in calling for a way out of the crisis referring to the three pillars of the UN position expressed by the Secretary-General, namely, a cessation of hostilities, a political framework which includes the deployment of an international force, and agreement on a reconstruction programme. Mr Matsuura expressed his “deep concern about the escalation of violence and the tragic loss of human life”, and urged for “preparedness to assist the Lebanese authorities in early recovery and reconstruction efforts.” Click here to read more about the Task Force.

These expressions of concern about the current situation are part of the six decade long effort of UNESCO to promote peace. See, for example, this statement made a decade ago by a former Director General of UNESCO, Federico Mayor, to the Nuclear Age Foundation, in which he said:

In 1995, the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations and UNESCO and the United Nations Year for Tolerance, we stressed that it was only through a daily effort to know others better - I am the 'other'! - and respect them that we would be able to tackle at source the problems of marginalization, indifference, resentment and hatred. This is the only way to break the vicious circle that leads from insults to confrontation and the use of force.

We must identify the roots of global problems and strive, with imagination and determination, to check conflicts in their early stages. Better still prevent them. Prevention is the victory that gives the measure of our distinctively human faculties. We must know in order to foresee. Foresee in order to prevent. We must act in a timely, decisive and courageous manner, knowing that prevention engages the attention only when it fails. Peace, health and normality do not make the news. We shall have to try to give greater prominence to these intangibles, these unheralded triumphs.

A universal renunciation of violence requires the commitment of the whole of society. These are not matters of government but matters of State; not only matters for the authorities, but for society in its entirety (including civilian, military, and religious bodies). The mobilization which is urgently needed to effect the transition within two or three years from a culture of war to a culture of peace demands co-operation from everyone. In order to change, the world needs everyone. A new approach to security is required at world, regional and national levels. The armed forces must be the guarantors of democratic stability and the protection of the citizen, because we cannot move from systems of complete security and no freedom to systems of complete freedom and no security. Ministries of war and defence must gradually be turned into ministries of peace.

Arden L. Bement on International Science

Arden L. Bement, Director of the National Science Foundation

"On the international scale, our value will be measured by our global research networks and our partnerships with fast-growing research economies. On the West Coast, you are in an excellent position to collaborate with Asian nations in biology, chemistry, physics, and materials science." Arden Bement at Harvey Mudd College, January 14, 2006.

Dr. Bement has demonstrated a strong interest in international scientific cooperation, and given that the National Science Board has a task force in operation on International Science to advise the NSF, it seems useful to consider his statements on the topic. His views are especially relevant to UNESCO since he is Arden Bement, Vice-Coordinator of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Committee of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.

Here are links to some of his recent talks on international scientific cooperation:

* "International Cooperation, The Future of Science and Engineering" (May 25, 2006, National Natural Science Foundation of China 20th Anniversary Celebration, Beijing, China)
* "Collaboration and Competition: What Can Governments Do?" (May 15, 2006, G8 Heads of Research Councils Meeting, Paris, France)
* "Crossing Borders to Advance the Frontier: NSF's Role in International Outreach" (April 22, 2006, American Physical Society Meeting, Dallas, Texas)
* "Global Connections: National Science Foundation International Programs and Activities" (June 22, 2005Remarks, Global Conference of Environment, Science, Technology and Health Officers, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC)

The United States of America and UNESCO: Building Knowledge, Bridging Cultures

"It is America's honor and gift to be a nation of nations, whose people and aspirations touch every nation on the face of the earth. From universal dreams of freedom, equality and prosperity, we became a country that melded many different cultures, ideas, perspectives, and talents — giving us a rich diversity that continues to make us strong today. With this strength comes great responsibility and a desire to engage with the international community. And words are not enough. Americans are committed to turning these visions into action." Colin L. Powell

When the United States reentered UNESCO, the State Department published this discussion of the reasons we belong in the organization. It makes good reading. It concludes:

The United States will again be the biggest financial contributor to UNESCO, paying 22 percent of the annual assessed budget, in addition to voluntary contributions. America will work to ensure that funds are spent efficiently and transparently.

With regard to science, the statement includes these sentiments:

The 21st century promises great scientific advances. Multilateral coordination through UNESCO will help maximize the effectiveness of scientific goals and projects. The United States looks forward to the opportunity to play a dynamic role with UNESCO partners to help ensure that science is used ethically to help solve the world's problems, and not to create new ones.......

UNESCO serves as an interdisciplinary and multicultural forum to examine the ethics of scientific issues. The United States looks forward to active participation in these discussions as well as meetings of UNESCO's World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge (COMEST).

In its discussion of communications and information, the statement notes:

The free flow of information is fundamental to democracy. Information can contribute to the development of a world where 80 percent of the people still lack access to basic telecommunications. Access to information is also one of the best guarantees of respect for human rights. The Internet, free of government control, is one way to keep information flowing. UNESCO has a unique mandate to promote the right to seek, receive and impart information and to foster media independence......

UNESCO has successfully demonstrated that it has recovered the vision of a free press and freedom of expression that its founders held dear.....

The United States, with its extensive experience and expertise in these areas, intends to work with UNESCO to advance the free flow of information as a major prerequisite for tolerance and political participation.

Download the entire document setting forth the rationale. (August, 2003; PDF, 1.26MB)

National Science Board Task Force on International Science

In September 2001, the U.S. National Science Board released a report entitled, Towards a More Effective Role for the U.S. Government in International Science and Engineering (NSB-01-187). Unfortunately, many of the valid recommendations from that report are largely unfulfilled. There have also been major changes in the international landscape since 2001. Now the NSB is to carefully reexamine the role of the U.S. Government in international S&E.

The Task Force held its first Hearing and Roundtable Discussion on International Science Partnerships on Thursday, May 11, 2006. A brief Task Force meeting was held on Wednesday, August 9, 2006, which I attended as an observer.

The Task Force reviewed the draft report of the March Roundtable which focused on:

The rationale for U.S. government interest in international science and engineering
* The challenges of increasing international cooperation in science and engineering
* Global engagement in science and engineering
* New modes for participation in international science and engineering

I note especially Dr. Patricia Golloway's comments in support of the importance of communication with UNESCO as part of the deliberations of the Task Force. Dr. Golloway, an engineer with long service to the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, emphasized the importance of UNESCO's role in international science and engineering.

The Task Force will complement its Roundtable Discussion on International Science Partnerships with additional meetings:

* In Singapore in late September to be held in conjunction with the 31st Meeting of the Industrial Science and Technology Working Group of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation organization.
* Informal meetings in the Middle East later this year
* A meeting in Europe in the Spring of 2007 in conjunction with a meeting of European Ministers of Science.

The Task Force is to complete its report to the President in the Summer of 2007. I expect the report to be made public, and to strongly recommend new initiatives to improve international scientific cooperation.

The Acting Executive Secretary of the Task Force is: Clara A. Englert cenglert@nsf.gov
(703) 292-7000

Science and Technology in the Era of Globalization

UNU/UNESCO International Conference
23 & 24 August 2006

One of the Co-organizers is the Asia-Pacific Cultural Center for UNESCO.

This conference provides a forum for exploring how we can better, and more directly, harness scientific and technological progress for the promotion of peace and sustainable development.

It covers such salient issues as access to knowledge and benefit-sharing, the scope of intellectual property protection, and the ethical boundaries of scientific enquiry, with the aim of delineating the parameters within which societies can utilize the processes of globalization to foster the creation and diffusion of knowledge for the benefit of all.

In the public symposium on 23 August, eminent experts from around the world review the ways in which globalization is changing science and technology, and vice-versa, and assess the opportunities that these changes offer.

In the workshop on 24 August, panellists discuss how science and technology link with, and contribute to, economic and social development in four fundamental areas — knowledge-sharing, trade and technology transfer, society and policy-making, and science and technology education for sustainable development — and how globalization is influencing these processes.

New Director for Regional Science Bureau for Asia

Professor Hubert Gijzen assumed the directorship of the UNESCO Jakarta office on 1 August 2006. The Jakarta office functions as UNESCO's Regional Science Bureau for Asia and Pacific covering more than 50 countries in the region. Prof. Gijzen will also be the UNESCO Representative to Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor Leste.

The press release announcing Prof. Gijzen's appointment states:

Hubert Gijzen is of Dutch nationality. Prior to joining UNESCO Jakarta, he was a Professor of Environmental Biotechnology and Head of Core in the UNESCO-IHE Institute of Water Education in Delft, The Netherlands. He also worked for the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for a number of universities, both in The Netherlands, as well as abroad. He has a broad science base and interest. Although he has a training background in Biology (MSc) and Biotechnology (PhD), he had the opportunity to work in a range of different disciplines during his career of 24 years, including microbiology, biotechnology, sanitary engineering, and environmental sciences. He has been involved in a number of international education, research and capacity building programmes and projects in various fields of natural sciences and engineering. He and his wife have lived and worked in different countries and regions, including Tanzania (5 years), Colombia (4 years) and Bangladesh (1.5 years).

Check out the websites:

* The UNESCO Jakarta Office
* The Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific

Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems -- LINKS

Rural and indigenous peoples possess their own knowledge, practices and representations of the natural environment, as well as their own conceptions about how human interactions with nature should be managed.

UNESCO launched the LINKS project in 2002 to heighten interdisciplinary and intersectoral action among the elements of its program.

The LINKS project seeks to promote dialogue amongst traditional knowledge holders, natural and social scientists, resource managers and decision-makers in order to enhance biodiversity conservation and secure an active and equitable role for local communities in resource governance. The survival of indigenous knowledge as a dynamic and vibrant resource within rural and indigenous communities depends upon its continuing transmission from generation to generation.

The project website includes links to publications and other resources as well as descriptions of project activities.

During the Fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City (March 2006), the project published "Water and Indigenous Peoples", based on the papers delivered at the Second and Third World Water Forums (The Hague in 2000 and Kyoto in 2003).

It brings to the fore some of the most incisive indigenous critics of international debates on water access, use and management, as well as indigenous expressions of generosity that share community knowledge and insight in order to propose remedies for the global water crisis.

To request a copy, email - links@unesco.org.

US Policy toward UNESCO Clarified

The U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO, Louise Oliver, has written to the Director General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, to clarify that the U.S. government officials "did not ask, and do not wish, to approve contacts with U.S. individuals or non-governmental organizations." As the United States resumed membership in UNESCO, and as the State Department prepared to represent the nation in UNESCO venues, State officials asked that UNESCO make them aware of its contacts with U.S. citizens and organizations. Ambassador Oliver clarified that the request was for information only, and its intent was to enable State to facilitate such contacts. Reports had come to her attention that some UNESCO staff might have misunderstood State's request and were needlessly complicating contacts with people from the United States.

With the clarification, we hope that U.S.-UNESCO linkages will continue to grow and strengthen rapidly!

New on the Americans for UNESCO website

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Claudia Cardinale

A page about the UNESCO Celebrity Advocates has been added to the Americans for UNESCO website. Check it out! It provides links to the programs that allow scientists, athletes, artists and other distinguished people to lend their support to UNESCO.

The response by the U.S. State Department to UNESCO's questionnaire about its mid-term strategy and next biennial program and budget has also been added to the AU website. Check it out!

Special session of the UNESCO Middle East Task Force to discuss UNESCO’s response to the crisis in Lebanon

On 31 July, Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, convened a Special Session of the UNESCO Task Force on the Middle East to discuss the current crisis in Lebanon. The aim of the meeting was to co-ordinate UNESCO’s response to the current situation and to prepare the Organization’s contribution to future recovery and reconstruction efforts by the Lebanese authorities.

To read more about the meeting, click here.

Americans for UNESCO in Lien/Link

Read the full April-June 2006 issue of Lien/Link (the bulletin of the Association of Former Staff Members of UNESCO).

Andre Varchaver, President of Americans for UNESCO, publishes an update on AU's activities in the most recent issue of the newsletter of the Association of Former Staff Members of UNESCO. (Andre served on the UNESCO staff from 1959 to 1981.) Here is an excerpt from the article:

AU’s Advisory Council, co-chaired by Esther Coopersmith and Dick Arndt, is composed of a number of distinguished Americans in fields directly or indirectly related to those of Unesco. A particularly distinguished one, Dr Miller Upton, died a few weeks ago at the ripe age of 88, having devoted years of energy to education, internationalism in general and Unesco in particular. Over the years, while heading Beloit College in Wisconsin, he innovated the widely admired “Beloit Plan” that featured a continuous school year and a “World Affairs” program that revitalized the college, attracted national attention and inspired other colleges, such as renowned Dartmouth, to adopt his innovations. He was greatly admired by René Maheu, with whom I visited Beloit College, and Jack Fobes who much later succeeded him at the helm of the U.S. National Commission for Unesco. Upton headed it from 1971 to 1975 and led the U.S. delegation to the eighteenth session of the General Conference where he displayed exceptional qualities of leadership and an innate sense of diplomacy. He was an early supporter of Fobes’ creation of “Americans for the Universality of Unesco”, now AU, and we mourn the loss of this exceptional man.

In cooperation with AU, the Better World Campaign, a subsidiary of the United Nations Foundation (which actively supports a number of Unesco programs, notably the World Heritage), has resumed organizing meetings of representatives of civil society as well as of the government/National Commission and the Congress, related to or interested in Unesco. AU will continue and develop its cooperation with the National Commission and looks forward to working closely with Unesco’s New York Office and its newly appointed Director Hélène Gosselin.

The New NatCom Newsletter is Out

Read the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO Newsletter (Volume 2, Issue 2, April/May/June 2006) online.

Contents:

* Comments from the Executive Director
* UNESCO National Commission Host Second Annual Meeting
* Mrs. Laura Bush Announces Global Literacy Conference
* U.S. Ambassador Hosts Reception for UNESCO Award Winning Journalist
* Newly Established U.S. National Committee for the International Hydrological Program * Conducts Inaugural Meeting on Future Objectives
* UNESCO Overall Review of Major Programs II and III
* UNESCO Prizes Information
* UNESCO Job Vacancies

UNESCO Courier Features New World Heritage Sites

The July-August 2006 issue of the UNESCO Courier headlines the 18 new sites added to the World Heritage List. The additions bring the total number of protected sites to 830. Five of the sights are the subject of Courier articles:

* Bisotun (Islamic Republic of Iran), a monument in bas-relief and cuneiform that that is located 70 meters above the ground.
* Bilbao’s ria in (Spain's Basque country), the first transporter bridge ever built in the world.
* Harar (Ethiopia), entrenched behind its encircling wall with a market and mosques pulsing with life.
* The valleys of Jalisco (Mexico) famous for their agave plantations used for making the famous Mexican liquor.
* The Giant Panda Sanctuaries in Sichuan (China).

UNESCO Resources for Those Who Wish to Study Abroad

The book, "Study Abroad", is UNESCO's international guide to higher-education study opportunities and scholarships offered by higher education institutions and international organizations in over 145 countries. It includes some 3,000 entries on courses and scholarships in different higher-education academic and professional disciplines. There is information on: addresses (including Internet sites), admission requirements, application deadlines, financial aid, fees, living expenses and other topics. Entries are presented in English, French or Spanish according to the language of the country concerned.

UNESCO's online "Study Abroad Database" contains some 3,000 opportunities for post-secondary studies in all academic and professional fields in 147 countries and territories for the years 2005 and 2006.

UNESCO International Conventions on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education

There are six regional conventions on the recognition of qualifications (Africa, Arab States, Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and two European conventions) and one interregional convention (Mediterranean Convention).

UNESCO conventions are aimed at promoting the recognition of academic qualifications for academic purposes (e.g. to continue studies in a different institution). Nevertheless, the conventions sometimes hold a ‘de facto’ and ‘de jure’ role in recognizing diplomas for professional purposes (e.g. to get a job). It is important to check with the different conventions.

Alert: Misuse of UNESCO Name by Bogus Institutions

Click here to read the full alert from UNESCO.

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of requests from individuals, recognition bodies and accrediting agencies concerning dubious providers of higher education that use UNESCO’s name or logo to give the impression that they are recognized providers of higher education.

UNESCO is an intergovernmental body. It does not have the mandate to accredit nor to recognise higher education institutions, programmes, diplomas or accrediting agencies.

Any provider of higher education or accrediting agency which claims or gives the impression of being accredited and/or recognised by UNESCO should be looked upon with caution. Such institutions or accrediting agencies may use different fraudulent modes.

The Ethics and Politics of Nanotechnology

Click here to go to the UNESCO website for the report.

The Nanotechnology and Development News has summarized this report as follows:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has released a report that advocates international action in the area of science and technology ethics in order to avoid disparate ethical standards between developed and developing countries on how nanotechnology is developed and used. The report says, 'Science and technology are often well developed and promoted in developed countries using resources from less developed countries, but the results and products generally do not return to these less developed countries.' The report says that collaboration between scientists has made nanotechnology an 'international science project' which, in combination with a lack of communication between experts and the poor in a given nation, increases the risk that inequalities of access to research will be greater within nations than between them. The report also says that developing countries without infrastructure could lack access to reliable scientific information needed to minimize potential nanotechnology hazard and exposure risks. The report says that these and other ethical issues should be identified, analyzed, and presented to the general public, specialized groups, and decision makers in order to raise their awareness. It also recommends that national governments require open-access to publicly funded research results.

The report was published as a brocure by UNESCO in 2006. (PDF, 26 pages.)

Read a critique of this report by David Berube in his NanoHype blog.

Reforms at UNESCO

According to Wikipedia:

The organization's reforms included the following measures: the number of divisions in UNESCO was cut in half, allowing a corresponding halving of the number of Directors -- from 200 to under 100, out of a total staff of approximately 2,000 worldwide. At the same time, the number of field units was cut from a high of 79 in 1999 to 52 today. Parallel management structures, including 35 Cabinet-level special advisor positions, were abolished. 209 negotiated staff departures and buy-outs took place from 1999–2003, causing the inherited $10 million staff cost deficit to disappear. The staff pyramid, which was the most top-heavy in the UN system, was cut back as the number of high-level posts was halved and the “inflation” of posts was reversed through the down-grading many positions. Open competitive recruitment, results-based appraisal of staff, training of all managers and field rotation were instituted, as well as SISTER and SAP systems for transparency in results-based programming and budgeting. In addition, the Internal Oversight Service (IOS) was established in 2001 to improve organizational performance by including the lessons learned from program evaluations into the overall reform process.

Go to Director General Koïchiro Matsuura's 2005 discussion of the reform and restructuring efforts.

Indo-UNESCO MoU on biotech centre

Read the full article on the Chennai Online News Service.

The article notes:

India and UNESCO Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish in Delhi a Regional Centre for Education and Training in Biotechnology.

The MoU was signed by UNESCO Director General Maciej Nalecz (sic) and Secretary, Department of Biotechnology M K Bhan in the presence of Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal.

In addition to education and training, the Centre will have strong research programme with an aim to develop human resources.

The key areas to be covered by the Centre include nano-biotechnology, stem cell research, biosensors, agriculture and environment biotechnology.

Editor's note: Maciej Nalecz is in fact the Director of the Division of Basic and Engineering Sciences of UNESCO.
UNESCO

Encyclopedia Entries for UNESCO

Online encyclopedias represent a great resource on the World Wide Web. Here are a couple of online encyclopedia entries on UNESCO that are chock full of information and useful links:

* Wikipendia
* Questia

The John Bolton Confirmation

The Washington Post today has an editorial opposing the confirmation of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. It states (in part):

Mr. Bolton began his tenure with an argument over the preparations for a gathering of heads of state. He demanded that the summit document omit, among other things, references to the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals, on the ground that these had been interpreted by U.N. officials to include a commitment to more foreign aid. Mr. Bolton's action alienated other U.N. ambassadors with no obvious gain; such commitments, even if accepted, are non-binding.

Mr. Bolton's handling of the new U.N. Human Rights Council was equally clumsy. He failed to show up at nearly all of the 30 or so negotiating sessions leading up to the council's creation, then waded in at the eleventh hour with a bizarre proposal that the State Department quickly repudiated. Mr. Bolton's spokesman says that the ambassador engaged in good faith throughout the process. But U.S. allies felt that Mr. Bolton did not do so.

Mr. Bolton has embarrassed himself most recently by his mishandling of U.N. management reform, a cause supported by U.N. officials and the richer member states. Mr. Bolton came up with the idea of threatening to cut U.N. funding unless the management reforms were adopted, and his spokesman insists that this brinkmanship was helpful. But South Africa's U.N. envoy called it "poison"; Germany's ambassador called it "wrong"; his British counterpart said it was a mistake to hold the budget hostage. After six months the budget threat was dropped.

WP also published a story in today's news section ("The Bolton Nomination, Act II" by Colum Lynch) detailing some of the controvery around Bolton's role in the United Nations. Notably, it quotes the distinguished international civil servant, U.N. Deputy Secretary General Mark Malloch Brown who said in a public speech on June 6:

There is currently a perception among many otherwise quite moderate countries that anything the U.S. supports must have a secret agenda aimed at either subordinating multilateral processes to Washington's ends or weakening the institutions, and therefore, put crudely, should be opposed without any real discussion of whether they make sense or not.

What Went Wrong With the Tsunami Warning System?

Photo by DIMAS ARDIAN / GETTY IMAGES via Time Asia Magazine

Read the full article in the Asia Edition of TIME (July 26, 2006).

Almost 700 people were killed, nearly 1,000 injured and some 20,000 families left homeless by the tsunami that hit Java on July 17. But last month, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared that an interim alert system was up and running. Why was the destruction so great?

TIME reports:

Patricio Bernal, executive secretary of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Committee, says the response to the Java tsunami actually represented a success for the interim warning system and in a sense, he's right. Just 17 minutes after the earthquake struck off the coast of Java, scientists at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Hawaii crunched the seismological data and sent a bulletin to colleagues in Jakarta, warning of the possibility of a local tsunami for land within 100 km of the temblor's epicenter......."The initial system did work," says Bernal. "From then on, it is the responsibility of the Indonesian system."

About 20 minutes after the quake, the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency's technical department for tsunamis received the e-mail bulletin from PTWC in Honolulu that included a warning about the risk of a local tsunami. Apparently, the

agency subsequently relayed text messages warning of the quake to about 400 Indonesian officials in disaster management, but there was little they could do: there were no alarm bells to ring on the beach, no emergency broadcasts to transmit over the radio or TV, no way to warn the people on the coast.

Clearly more needs to be done. I suggest that UNESCO does not have the resources to assist the poor Asia-Pacific nations to develop domestic tsunami warning systems, and that other donors must step up to fill the gap.

"Bolton Hopes for Vote on U.N. Nomination"

Read the full Associated Press article in The Washington Post. (Sunday, July 23, 2006.)

Last year Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee opposed Bolton's confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, leading to President Bush making a recess appointment. According to the WP:

the senator has had a change of heart, saying last week that he would not block Bolton's nomination this year because of an urgent need to ease tensions in the Middle East.

The GOP-controlled Senate Committee has scheduled a hearing for Thursday on Bolton's nomination. If confirmed by the Senate, Bolton would be expected to serve as UN Ambassador through the rest of the Bush Administration. It seems likely that the nomination will go forward to the full Senate, and that Democrats will oppose it in the Committee and on the floor of the Senate.

Since UNESCO is part of the United Nations family of organizations, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations has significant influence on U.S. policy towards UNESCO.

UNESCO Job: Senior ProgramSpecialist for Science and Technology Education and Technical Capacity Building

Purpose of post:: Promoting Natural Sciences Sector actions in Science and Technology Education & Technical Capacity building.

Main responsibilities: Under the authority of the Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences and under the supervision of the Director of the Division of Basic and Engineering Sciences, the incumbent shall, in particular:

· Foster the quality of university science and technology education in developing countries and reinforce the linkage of university education with other levels of education in science and technology.

· Promote the Organization’s clearing house functions on science and technology education for sharing information on curricula development, innovative teaching methodologies, and best practices.

· Carry out and/or develop selected activities for capacity building in engineering and technology in developing countries. Oversee and foster collaboration between divisions of the Sector for Natural Sciences and regional offices in strengthening national capacities in engineering, science and technology and science-based monitoring of the environment.

· Provide back up to cross-sectoral activities on building capacities in developing countries and mainly, least developed countries and post-conflict countries to address the goals for sustainable development specified in the UN Millennium Declaration.

· Promote extra-budgetary activity in technical capacity building and in science and technology education.

Profile:

· Advanced University Degree, preferably at Doctorate level, in one of the basic or engineering sciences.

· 10 to 15 years of progressively responsible relevant experience of which, at least 5 years’ experience in university teaching in science and/or engineering, and in the planning, management or administration of university education, and at least 5 years’ experience of regional or international activity in building up human and institutional capacity in science or engineering in developing countries. Part of this experience should be acquired at the international level.

· Demonstrated experience in science-based monitoring of the environment.

· Thorough knowledge and ability to use micro-computers (for retrieval and analysis of information and for information service to Member States and partner organizations) in particular mastering of Word; Excel, Internet, etc.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills.

· Excellent knowledge of English or French, and good knowledge of the other language.

Conditions of employment: UNESCO’s salaries are calculated in United States dollars but mainly paid in local currency. They consist of a basic salary and a post adjustment which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange rates. For this post, the annual remuneration in local currency will start at around €95,900 (€89,100 if without dependants), exempt from income tax. In addition, UNESCO offers an attractive benefits package including 30 days’ annual leave, home leave, an education grant for dependent children, a pension plan and medical insurance. The initial appointment will be for two years, with a probationary period of 12 months, and renewal of the contract is subject to satisfactory service. Wordwide mobility is required as staff members have to serve in other duty stations according to UNESCO’s job rotation policy. UNESCO is a non-smoking organization.

How to apply: Candidates should use UNESCO’s online application system at www.unesco.org/employment. Candidates without access to internet may send a paper application by completing the official UNESCO CV form (available at Headquarters, UNESCO Offices, National Commissions in Member States, or any office of a United Nations Resident Representative) in English or French to Chief, HRM/RCR, UNESCO, 7 place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France, before the closing date, quoting the post number “SC-427”. There is no application, processing or other fee at this or at any stage of the process.

New Edition of the NatCom Newsletter

U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, Volume 2, Issue 2, April/May/June 2006

In This Issue:

* Comments from the Executive Director
* UNESCO National Commission Host Second Annual Meeting
* Mrs. Laura Bush Announces Global Literacy Conference
* U.S. Ambassador Hosts Reception for UNESCO Award Winning Journalist
* Newly Established U.S. National Committee for the International Hydrological Program Conducts Inaugural Meeting on Future Objectives
* UNESCO Overall Review of Major Programs II and III
* UNESCO Prizes Information
* UNESCO Job Vacancies

Marguerite H. Sullivan To Leave the State Department

To read a biography of Ms. Sullivan, click here.

Margerite Sullivan will be leaving the Department of State on August 4, 2006 to take up a new position in the field of international media. For the last two years she has served as the Executive Director of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.

Ethics of Science and Technology

Click here to to the UNESCO Ethics of Science and Technology website.

Some key UNESCO resources on the topic:

* UNESCO Global Ethics Observatory

* Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights

* Bioethics: the ethics of genetics (New Courier, May 2002)

* Infosheet

Sid Passman provides the following set of links to resources on ethics, science and technology, which may be of interest to the UNESCO supporting community.

* Scientist's Code of Ethics
The scientist cannot demand that his collaborators or subordinates act in contradiction with the principles of scientist ethics or legislation. ...

* Open Directory - Science: Science in Society: Research Ethics
The Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science - Provides "engineers, scientists and science and engineering students with resources useful for ...

* Ethics in Science
Material for an ethics course for science majors, by Dr. Linda M. Sweeting, ... The author asks "Do scientists really need a professional code of ethics?". ...

* The Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science
The Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science mission is to provide engineers, scientists, and science and engineering students with resources for ...

* Online Ethics Center: Ethics in the Science Classroom
Assistance to teachers who wish to integrate ethics and values into their pre-college science classes.

* Ethics in Science Annotated Bibliography, Towson University
for a Course in Ethics in Science at Towson University ... A book for potential teachers of ethics in science, with bibliography and videography. ...

* Ethics and the scientist.
Ethical issues are receiving considerable attention in the scientific community just as in other are...

* ISSCR :: Scientists : Resources on the Ethics of Human Stem Cell ...
The International Society for Stem Cell Research is an independent, nonprofit organization established to promote and foster the exchange and dissemination ...

* Code of Ethics for scientists
This is a Code of Ethics For Scientists that was formulated in 1984 by a group of scientists. For a thorough background, we refer to Bengt Gustafsson, ...

* History of Science and Ethics Internet Resources
Links to museums, historical instruments galleries, electronic publications, papers, e-mail groups and books.

Women for Science

The low representation of women in science and engineering is a major hindrance to global capacity building in science and technology. This report presents recommendations and action items grouped around three themes:
* Academies advocating and promoting the education and careers of women;
* Academies acting, both individually and jointly, to engage women in global capacity building;
* Academies building inclusive institutional climates and advising governments and other principal players on specific actions toward similar ends. It is published by the InterAcademy Council, and was written by an Advisory Panel created by the Council for the purpose of this report. 2006.

The Millennium Development Goals Report 2006

Read the full report online (PDF file).

The MDGs Report of the United Nations was released on 3 July 2006. The report presents the latest assessment on how far we have come, and how far we have to go in reaching the goals, in each of the world’s regions.

Reuters AlertNet notes with respect to the report:

"With less than a decade left to meet its development targets, the United Nations said on Monday there were "staggering" obstacles to succeeding and conditions in many poor countries were actually worsening.

"The eight Millennium Development Goals include targets on health, poverty and the environment -- such as halving the number of people living on less than $1 a day and stopping the spread of AIDS and tuberculosis.

"The U.N. progress report on the goals, set in 2000, found that while global incidence of extreme poverty has declined, some 140 million more people have entered that category in sub-Saharan Africa.

"More people are also going hungry in the region, which has seen only modest improvements in child mortality and maternity rates in the past six years, according to the study."

Aksu-Dzhabagly Nature Reserve

The Aksu-Dzhabagly Nature Reserve is the oldest nature reserve in Central Asia. It also the first in the world to get status of a UNESCO biosphere preserve. For more than 70 years fauna and flora of Aksu-Dzabagly have been safe from ax, hunting and industrial pollution. The symbol of the preserve is Graid's Tulip. The Aksu Canyon - is 15 km long and 500 m deep, with a width between the canyon walls of 600-800m.

There is also a paleonthological preserve a the altitude of 3000 m above the sea level. Petroglyphs here go back to the 5-7th cc BC.

The UNESCO Free Software Portal

The UNESCO Free Software Portal gives access to documents and websites which are references for the Free Software/Open Source Technology movement. It is also a gateway to resources related to Free Software.

The UNESCO Archives Portal

The UNESCO Archives Portal gives access to websites of archival institutions around the world. It is also a gateway to resources related to records and archives management and international co-operation in this area.

The UNESCO Libraries Portal

The UNESCO Libraries Portal gives access to websites of library institutions around the world. It serves as an international gateway to information for librarians and library users and international co-operation in this area.

UNESCO Observatory on the Information Society

The Observatory on the Information Society monitors the impact of globalization on knowledge societies through the collection of pertinent information and observing trends.