http://IYPF.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/554673
Overall, we continue to build and resource a global network of young professionals who are creating a better world for current and future generations through local and global action:
• Facilitating conversations and information sharing between young professionals that informs and inspires them to take action on important local and global issues through online communities, newsletters, blogs, publications, and presentations.
• Running projects that facilitate youth and young professional led social change, e.g. the Blueprint Project, to nurture youth entrepreneurship; the Youth Sustainable Communities project to develop young sustainability leaders
• Assisting young professionals to start and run successful community projects and local events
• Convening regular international summits of young professionals, i.e. 3rd IYPS in Manchester, UK in August 2008

In the 2007 / 2008 Financial Year the IYPF had 4 major sources of income:
1. Membership payments from young professionals
2. Interest on accounts
3. The otherWISE project
4. The Foundation for Young Australians Youth Change Maker grant

The Youth Change Maker grant was receipted and expended over the course of the financial year. The otherWISE project income and expenditure delivered a slight loss on our operations. Overall, the Foundation recorded a slight loss ($695), which was a significant improvement on the previous year (loss of $2213). Significantly, membership income increased ($803 compared to $54) and overall revenue increased from $1804 in 2007 to $15008 in 2008. The end of financial year loss reduced our equity to $6927 moving in to the new financial year.

The principal activities of the year remained focused around the Company’s objectives:
• To promote and encourage the work done by young professionals in effecting positive global change.
• To facilitate the implementation of projects developed by members to address the issues of concern in the global community, which are consistent with the objects of the company, including the raising of funds where necessary.
• To further the networks formed during the International Young Professionals Summit 2001 and provide an ongoing platform for organisation and convening of future events and Summits and projects.
• To promote recognition of, mobilise and enhance the capacity of Young Professionals internationally to provide leadership and take action on global issues
• To undertake research and advocacy in regards to issues identified by members as vital to the
creation of a preferred global future.

The IYPF continued to pursue its vision and mission:
• VISION - A global community of young professionals creating a better world for current and future generations through local and global action
• MISSION - Informing, inspiring and equipping young professionals to change their world for good.

Much of the second half of the financial year focused on organising the 3rd International Young Professionals Summit, the IYPF’s flagship international conference. This event was held in Manchester, UK, in August 2008.

Convening the International Young Professionals Summit 2008 drained all of the IYPF’s human and financial resources, as well as leading to a complete rethinking of the IYPF’s operational goals and activities.

Over the course of the 2008/2009 financial year, the IYPF will need to:
• develop a new strategy
• engage a new leadership team
• focus on significant fundraising activities to secure operational revenue

A number of developments will likely impact on operations in future years:

(a) The IYPS 2008 in the UK may have important tax and income implications for the IYPF, i.e. overseas income. The Board and executive will need to research – and possibly engage some expert opinion – in regards to the impact of these activities on income tax exemption assessments.
(b) A new focus on engaging young professionals in the Millennium Development Goals between now and 2015 will require a rethinking of strategy and a different operational emphasis
]]> Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:41:00 EST http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/554673 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/494959
To celebrate our 7th Birthday, we’ve put together 7 ‘gifts’ for you.

1. IYPS 2008 portal - http://scenta.interwise.com/etechb/Portal/IYPS

2. IYPS 2008 Declaration Communique - http://www.iypf.org/files/iyps2008/IYPS2008_Public_Communique.pdf

3. Monthly virtual meetings on the MDGs for young professionals - http://scenta.interwise.com/etechb/Portal/IYPS

4. Stand Up Against Poverty - http://www.iypf.org/?q=content/events

5. Mdgpledge.org - http://www.mdgpledge.org

6. Onedoes.org - http://www.onedoes.org

7. New IYPF.ORG - http://www.iypf.org

Click through to enjoy each gift and share these gifts with your friends and colleagues.

Cameron, Greg and the IYPF team
]]> Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:45:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/494959 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/458595
Opening Session - Tuesday 19th August

Sarah-Jo Dawson - IYPF and IYPS organisaing committee

• Delegates from over 25 countries, including Engineers, IT professionals, Journalists, Educationalists etc.
• Idea of conference is to be really interactive - use all the keys skills and experience of delegates, develop peer-to-peer culture
• Having a more specific topic for the conference was considered but was decided to keep it more open to include all the varies skill of professionals in the network
• The teams feels that the geographical and skill breadth of young professionals involved means we can offer much to help

Professor Tony Ridley - Commonwealth Engineers Council, Patron of IYPF

• The Commonwealth Engineers Council has held meetings at the same time as CHOGM since 1997, when 25 young commonwealth engineers met hosted by CEC so that young engineers had an outlet to decision makers of the world - send a declaration to the heads of government
• Important to find potential political outlets in order to achieve what you wish to achieve
• CEC continued the tradtion of hosting young enginners every years in the same city as the CHOGM, and in 2001 young commonwealth professionals met. In 2001 IYPF was created from this Brisbane meeting
• 25 engineers has morphed into a network of young professional from over 100 countries and diverse backgrounds, but retains a focus on poverty, sustainability and advocacy
• 'Never be afraid to demand to be heard'

Cameron Neil - IYPF CEO

• IYPF was launched in 2001 to carry forward the dreams, ambitions and goals of the young professionals involved in the Summits
• Aims to keep people involved in making the world a better place after they leave university and join the real world of employment and families. Realise as you get older you colleagues and peers are doing increasingly amazing things - aims to tap into these skills and resources
• Together have impact to make significant impact on the world
• Theories of change, need Awareness, Action and Association - more powerful when working in a group
• The IYPS Dream. Signed by 120 delegates in 2001 to represent the world we want to live in
• The Summit outcomes - some documents - primarily about delegates getting what they want from the summit
• The Summit is kept intimate to give everyone a chance to interact and connect - get involved

--
Compiled by Susan Long, IYPS 08 Volunteer

Edited and published by Cameron Neil]]> Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:55:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/458595 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/399641
The Ashden Awards iis known as the "Green Energy Oscars" and recognizes and rewards local communities for utilizing sustainable energy. For her win, Bhogle received £40,000.

For more details of the story check out:
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080619/world/britain_india_energy_climate_environment_1]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:05:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/399641 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/386555
How to help:

1) Visit www.saynotoviolence.org and sign the campaign’s ‘virtual’ book.


2) Add your group as a ‘Supporting Organization’ and be included on the global campaign website, receive updates and stay informed.

3) Utilize the Campaign Toolkit, which provides press releases, videos and more—most are provided in English, French and Spanish.

4) Add the campaign’s application to your Facebook profile: Log in to Facebook, click on applications, search for UNIFEM, and add “campaign” to your profile … and invite friends and colleagues to sign and pass on.

5) Send the campaign link and message to colleagues and friends.

Sign your name, spread the word, Say NO to Violence against Women.

Suggestions? Questions? Go to saynotoviolence@unifem.org.
]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:01:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/386555 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/381865 22 May, 2008

Citizens of the World welcome the Special Session of the Human Rights Council devoted to the Right to Food and the current world food crisis.

Today, cooperation is needed among the UN family of agencies, national governments, non-governmental organizations, and the millions of food producers to respond to the food crisis which has already led to destabilizing food riots. There is a need for swift, short-term measures to help people now suffering from lack of food and malnutrition due to high food prices, inadequate distribution, and situations of violence.

Such short-term action requires additional funding for the UN World Food Programme and the release of national food stocks. However, it is the longer-range and structural issues on which we must focus our attention.

The world requires a World Food Policy and a At the Rome World Food Conference in November 1974, the then US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger declared that the bold objective of the conference was that "within a decade, no child will go hungry, no family will fear for its next day´s bread, and no human being´s future and capacity will be stunted by malnutrition."

Yet in 1996, then UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali could write, "There has been little progress in reducing malnutrition. In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the number of malnourished children is actually rising. Almost a third of all children under five in developing countries are malnourished, and malnutrition still contributes to more than half the deaths of young children in these countries." Even the modest Millennium Development goal of halving hunger by 2015 is not being met. Thus, we must agree with a World Bank evaluation that, "The development community, and the world as a whole, has consistently failed to address malnutrition over the past decades."

A central theme which citizens of the world have long stressed is that there needs to be a world food policy and that a world food policy is more than the sum of national food security programs. Food security has too often been treated as a collection of national problems. Typical of this approach is the General Comment 12 on The Right to Adequate Food of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights "The Covenant clearly requires that each State party take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that everyone is free from hunger and as soon as possible can enjoy the right to adequate food. This will require the adoption of a national strategy to ensure food and nutrition security for all, based on human rights principles that define the objectives, and the formulation of policies and corresponding benchmarks."

Yet the focus on the formulation of national plans is clearly inadequate.

There is a need for a world plan of action with focused attention to the role that UN and regional institutions must play if hunger is to be sharply reduced. It is clear that certain regional bodies, such as the European Union, already play an important role in setting agricultural policy both in terms of production and export policy. There may be a time when the African Union also will play a crucial role in setting policy, monitoring and coordinating agriculture.

It is certain that attention must be given to the local and national level of food production, distribution, and food security. Attention needs to be given to cultural factors, the division of labor between women and men in agriculture and rural development, in marketing local food products, to the role of small farmers, to the role of landless agricultural labor, and land-holding patterns.

However, for the formulation of a dynamic world food policy, world economic trends and structures need to be analysed, and policy goals made clear. There are at least five areas that world citizens suggest as a focus for the Special Session: climate change, energy costs, ethanol, the food production and export policy of major agricultural production States, the role of speculation in commodities.

1) There is a need to intensify action on climate change. This year (2007-2008), there has been bad weather in key growing areas. Australia, normally the world´s second-largest wheat exporter, has been suffering from an epic drought. This may be a result of particular weather conditions this year or may be a sign of climate change. It is necessary to analyse the impact of climate change on long- term food production and see alternative strategies.

2) Higher prices for food are in part a reflection of the higher price of oil and energy costs. Much modern farming is energy-intensive for producing fertilizers, running tractors, and transporting farm products to consumers, often at long distances.
Oil prices are influenced by the violence and social breakdown in Iraq and heavy speculation on the oil markets. There is need both for short term measures to bring oil prices down to a reasonable level based on production costs and transportation as well as longer-range energy policies to free countries from oil dependence.

3) Higher prices for oil have encouraged a greater use of ethanol and other biofuels, often without consideration of the impact of the production of biofuels on land use and food production.
While biofuels are likely to be useful, their use should be limited at present so that the consequences of their use can be studied and biofuels developed from non-food sources.

4) Governmental food and agriculture policies need to be analysed and reviewed carefully. The agricultural policies of the European Union and the larger food-exporting countries - USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia - need to be reviewed along with the impact of agricultural subsidies and export encouragement.

5) There needs to be a detailed analysis ot the role of speculation in the rise of commodity prices. Banks and hedge funds, having lost money in the real estate mortgage packages, are now investing massively in commodities. For the moment, there is little governmental regulation of this speculation. There needs to be an analysis of these financial flows and their impact on the price of grains.

A world food policy for the welfare of all requires a close look at world institutions and patterns of production and trade. As Stringfellow Barr wrote in his 1952 book Citizens of the World "Since the hungry billion in the world community believe that we can all eat if we set our common house in order, they believe also that it is unjust that some men die because it is too much trouble to arrange for them to live."]]> Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:15:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/381865 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/375307
Volunteers who may not have previous health or eye care experience are welcome. You will receive all necessary training from Unite For Sight so that you are able to assist eye doctors with community eye outreach programs. Unite For Sight also welcomes volunteers to participate as photographers and filmmakers.

What is Unite For Sight's Mission?

Unite For Sight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness. Unite For Sight's work to prevent blindness and restore sight is featured weekly on CNN INTERNATIONAL from September 2007-August 2008.

No patient should remain blind due to lack of funds and Unite for Sight makes it possible. Volunteers immediately see the joy on patients' faces when their sight is restored after years of blindness. These memories last a lifetime. While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what works, and what role they can have to ensure a health system that works for everyone and that leaves no person blind in the future.

What Do Volunteers Say?:

"During my volunteering experience, I realized that Unite for Sight´s service is a campaign for the salvation of humanity that allows the light of compassion to shine through each of us. I believe it is this display of altruism and commitment that makes the organization´s service so virtuous and treasured by both volunteers and patients. After all, making a difference in the world is not so difficult if only one would care enough to sacrifice a part of oneself in order to change the world for the better. My experience as a Unite for Sight volunteer has inspired me to dedicate my future career to serving underprivileged communities around the world."-Chiwing "Jessica" Qu, Yale University Undergraduate Student, Unite For Sight Volunteer in Chennai, India

"I can honestly say that everything I learned in 3 years of medical
school paled in comparison to the 3 week experience I had done in my life. The people of Ghana are some of the friendliest and most thankful of anyone I have ever met. Overall, the experience has changed the way I view the world, my own country, and my role in the world forever. The only way to understand the way 4/5 of the world lives is to go yourself and get involved. The staff I worked with that are the heart and soul of Unite for Sight in Accra were some of the brightest and hard working individuals I have ever met. They are accomplishing feats few ever accomplish in their lives, and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with them and now call them my friends. I look forward to future work with Unite for Sight as an Ophthalmologist. The task at hand in Ghana, and I'm sure in all of Unite for Sight's locations throughout the world, is enormous. The more people that get involved, the more accessible services will be to these wonderful people. Plain and simple, the more we help, the more people can see the world they live in!"-Brian

For more information check out the link:

http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer
]]> Wed, 21 May 2008 21:53:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/375307 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/372551
www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/bali-will-be-a-test-of-leaders-resolve/2007/12/04/1196530676912.html

We have read the science. Global warming is real, and we are a prime cause. We have heard the warnings. Unless we act, now, we face serious consequences. Polar ice will melt. Sea levels will rise. A third of our plant and animal species could vanish. There will be famine in Africa and
central Asia.

Largely lost in the debate is the good news: we can do something - more easily, and at far less cost, than most of us imagine.

These are the conclusions of the latest report from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, the scientific body that recently shared the Nobel peace prize. It is sobering reading. But let's remember its optimistic bottom line as world leaders gather in Bali this week, seeking an agreement on climate change that all nations can embrace.

We do not yet know what such an accord might look like. Should it urge governments to tax greenhouse gas emissions or endorse a global carbon-trading system? Should it provide mechanisms for preventing deforestation, accounting for 20% of carbon dioxide emissions, or help
less-developed nations adapt to the inevitable effects of global warming?

The answer, of course, is some variation on all these things - and much, much more. But at Bali, the goal is simpler and more immediate. We must set an agenda - create a road map to a better future, coupled with a timeline that produces a deal by 2009.

In this, it helps to have a vision of how the future might look if we succeed. That is not merely a cleaner, healthier, more secure world for all. Handled correctly, our fight against global warming could set the stage for an eco-friendly transformation of the global economy - one that spurs growth and development rather than crimps it, as many nations fear.

We have witnessed great economic transformations in the past century. Following on from growing industrialisation came the technology revolution, then our modern era of globalisation. We stand at the threshold of another great change: the age of green economics.

The evidence is all about us, often in unexpected places. Visiting South America recently, I saw how Brazil has become one of the biggest players in green economics, drawing some 44% of its energy needs from renewable fuels. The world average is 13%. In Europe: 6.1%.

Much is made of the fact that China is poised to surpass the US as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. Less well known, however, are its more recent efforts to confront grave environmental problems. China is on track to invest $10 billion in renewable energy this year,
second only to Germany. It has become a world leader in solar and wind power. At a recent summit of east Asian leaders, China's Premier, Wen Jiabao, pledged to reduce energy consumption (per unit of gross domestic product) by 20% over five years - not far removed, in spirit, from
Europe's commitment to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

This is the way of the future. Some estimates show that growth in global energy demand could be cut in half over the next 15 years simply by deploying existing technologies yielding a return on investment of 10% or more. The IPCC report lays out the very practical ways, from tougher
standards for air-conditioners and refrigerators to improved efficiency in industry, building and transport. It estimates that overcoming serious climate change may cost as little as 0.1% of global GDP a year over the next three decades.

Growth need not suffer and, in fact, may accelerate. Research by the University of California at Berkeley indicates that the US could create 300,000 jobs if 20% of electricity needs were met by renewables.

The United Nations Environment Program estimates that global investment in zero-greenhouse energy will reach $1.9 trillion by 2020.

Already, businesses in many parts of the world are demanding public policies on climate change, regardless of what form they might take - regulation, emissions caps, efficiency guidelines.

The reason is obvious. Business needs ground rules. Helping to create them is very much the role of the UN.

Our job, in Bali and beyond, is to shape this nascent global transformation - to open the door to the age of green economics and green development.

What's missing is a global framework within which we, the world's peoples, can co-ordinate our efforts to fight climate change.

The scientists have done their job. Now it's up to the politicians. Bali is a test of their leadership.

Ban Ki-moon is UN Secretary-General.

]]> Fri, 16 May 2008 15:25:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/372551 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/372517
In her welcome speech Chairperson Atia Saleem noted that the government of Pakistan established the Ministry of Women Development to protect women’s rights and to stop the victimization of working women in public and private sectors.

She added that the main objectives of the PLF, which established a women’s wing, was to stabilize the institutional and legal protection of women and to create general awareness of such rights. Trade unions must ensure that women enjoy equal rights with men in terms of politics, economy, she emphasized.

PLF Voices speak out against poverty, discrimination against women

Prominent PLF ofiicers all voiced their concerns regarding the problems facing women and the enforcement of their rights, such as poverty unemployment and discrimination. Among those who reiterated the role of PLF in supporting such rights were Haji Muhammad Saeed, Founder and Secretary General and Waheed Ahmad, Advocate and Legal Advisor.

PLF Women’s Wing Secretary Shamila Sadiq, also said that PLF will continue its efforts to promote gender equality by its cooperation with the all NGOs. Rizwana Yasmeen Advocate Senior Vice President added that trade unions have a direct impact on improving the economy, alleviating poverty and improving the plight of women in rural areas.

(Haji Muhammad Saeed)
Secretary General
PAKISTAN LABOUR FEDERATION
OFF. 2/136- A AMAN PARK BAGHBANPURA LAHORE ,PAKISTAN
PH. # 92-42-6856984 FAX # 92-42-6844293
E.MAIL: plfpakistan@yahoo.com

]]> Fri, 16 May 2008 14:53:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/372517 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371925
"The telecentre magazine is important because it will document and analyse the rapid and exciting advances in addressing access questions," said Dr Ravi Gupta, Editor-in-Chief and Executive Director of CSDMS. "This is part of CSDMS's commitment to build thematic communities of practice, which also includes the well-received monthly i4d magazine."

"The telecentre magazine responds to a long-standing demand from practitioners, investors, researchers, policymakers, and emerging market leaders," said Dr Basheerhamad Shadrach, Senior Programme Officer - Asia, telecentre.org, "to have a source of information and real examples of innovative uses of shared-access technologies. This magazine highlights how ordinary people solve the problems most critical to their daily needs and lives. It creates a feedback loop that can provide ideas for new and better products."

Aktar Badshah, Senior Director, Global Community Affairs, Microsoft, Michael Clarke, Director, ICT4D, IDRC and Mark Surman from telecentre.org were present during the launch of the magazine.

You may download the complete version of the magazine here: http://www.telecentremagazine.net
You are invited to send feedback, editorial ideas, and contributions to editor@telecentremagazine.net

Cheers,
Vignesh
Community Content Facilitator - Asia,
telecentre.org
Based at: CSDMS, India
www.csdms.in
------

telecentre.org is a global community of people and organizations committed to increasing the social and economic impact of grassroots telecentres. Working together, we provide the resources that telecentres need to succeed: locally relevant content and services, support and learning opportunities, and networks that help telecentre activists connect to each other. With these things in hand, tens of thousands of telecentres will be in a better position to enrich the communities they serve. Our founding investors include Canada's International Development Research Centre, Microsoft, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Visit www.telecentre.org to learn more.

The Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies (CSDMS) is a non- profit organisation based in Noida, near New Delhi, India. Founded in April 1997, CSDMS is committed to advocating for and developing knowledge solutions for the under-privileged through the use of innovative and effective information and communication technologies (ICTs). Our activities include conducting ICT research, promoting the use of knowledge-sharing tools, producing print and electronic media, and building capacity through training programmes. Our multi-cultural team has expertise from a range of disciplines. To learn more visit http://www.csdms.in/.
]]> Thu, 15 May 2008 17:31:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371925 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371921
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2008 - The World Bank Group President Robert B.Zoellick
announced a package of proposals designed to help African countries address rising food and commodity prices, create new opportunities for managing wealth earned from high energy and mineral prices in a more inclusive way, and generate long-term liquidity by tapping into sovereign wealth funds.

The speech "A Challenge of Economic Statecraft" was delivered at the Center for Global Development, an independent Washington, DC think tank, ahead of next week´s Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

"There is an urgent need to counter immediate threats in response to the current global crisis," said Mr. Zoellick. "We must lay the foundations to maximize opportunity and hope for all over the longer term."

Specifically, his bold proposals call for:

o A "New Deal for Global Food Policy" to help African countries meet the challenges posed by surging food prices, and a pledge to nearly double agricultural lending for increasing farm productivity and boosting food availability across sub-Saharan Africa (currently $450 million to $800 million next year). Commenting on the importance of building local food markets and creating a new "Green Revolution" for sub-Saharan Africa, he said:
"The WorldBank Group estimates that 33 countries around the world face potential social unrest because of the acute hike in food and energy prices. For these countries, where food comprises from half to three quarters of consumption, there is no margin for survival." He also warned the time was "now or never"for breaking the Doha Round impasse and reaching a global trade deal. He urged the United States, European Union, Japan and other developed countries to provide the United Nations´ World Food Program with the $500 million it needs for emergency food supplies.

o A renewed and invigorated Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, or EITI++, to help developing countries seize the opportunities of highprices forenergy and minerals, while at the same time ensuring the benefits for resource rich countries were inclusively spread among their people. The original EITI encouraged resource rich countries to publish and verify company payments and revenues from the lucrative oil, gas, and mining sectors. The enhanced
EITI++ version will expand on that approach to include such areas as the awarding of contracts, improving economic management, and investing revenues effectively in sustainable development. Notably, of the 24 countries currently implementing EITI initiatives, 17 are in Sub-Saharan Africa.

o Creating a "One Percent Solution" for equity investment in Africa
- a continent with opportunities and the potential to become an alternative pole of growth as China, India and other countries are today. Detailing the enormous potential of this innovative approach, he said: "Today, sovereign wealth funds hold an estimated $3 trillion in assets. If the World Bank Group can help create the platforms and benchmarks, the investment of even one percent of their assets would draw $30 billion to African growth, development, and opportunity,"

In support of the EITI++ initiative, the World Bank is designing a facility to help build capacity of governments; providing quicker assistance than is possible through traditional lending operations; developing and disseminating good practices, standards, and codes, and suggesting fiscal, legal, and regulatory frameworks. An advisory committee of stakeholders will guide the process.

The Government of Guinea is planning to commence the EITI++ in May 2008, working with the World Bank and other development partners.

# # #


For more information visit the following websites:
www.eitransparency.org
www.worldbank.org/afr
www.millenniumgoals.org
]]> Thu, 15 May 2008 16:50:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371921 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371445
Dear IYPF friends and colleagues:

As I write this, many of our colleagues, friends, leaders and minds are in Bali seeking a more hopeful future for us all as the impacts of global warming begin to bight around the globe. Subsequently, this newsletter features a lot of information, stories, reports and opinions on climate change, including a statement by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, on the importance of the deliberations and decisions in Bali. This newsletter also features articles World AIDS Day, observed on 1 December.

These two themes got me thinking again about the challenges ahead of us. Global efforts to tackle HIV AIDS - like hunger and poverty - have been relatively unsuccessful to date. Just as there was some traction gained, in the form of the UN Millennium Declaration where nation states committed to the Millennium Development Goals, climate change comes along and (arguably) trumps everything. Clearly poverty and disease are related to climate change. Global warming will have a disproportionate impact on those already suffering and worsen their situations.

So how do we move forward? The UN says we have to end damaging carbon emissions in the next 7 years to avoid dangerous climate change (i.e. more than 2 degrees). Seven years is also the timetable we have left to deliver on the promise of the Millennium Development Goals. Is there enough political will to achieve both? Are we going to have to sacrifice one over the other? Are we smart and resourceful enough to achieve both simultaneously? Are rich developed nations prepared to accept responsibility for their decades of pollution and invest in climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing nations? At the heart of the matter, are we going to put the future of humanity on the planet ahead of narrowly defined self interest?

I believe we have an unprecedented opportunity in the next decade to radically transform our world. I believe we must be courageous and hopeful and seek solutions that help us avoid climate change while delivering on the promises of the Millennium Development Goals.

Yours in hope

Cameron Neil
CEO, IYPF
]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 20:01:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371445 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371325 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/12/2242023.htm?section=world

Monkombu Sambasivan Swaminathan says the latest food crisis will spark an 'evergreen revolution'.

Forty years after he helped rescue the world from growing famine and a deepening gloom over the future of food supplies, Monkombu Sambasivan
Swaminathan is once again agitating for revolution - this time a perpetual one.

The 82-year-old scientist, dubbed the father of the Green Revolution for helping develop a hybrid wheat seed that allowed Indian farmers to dramatically increase yields, says the current food crisis offers the world a chance to put farmers on the right road to unending growth.

In the 21st century's "Evergreen Revolution", as he calls it, conservation farming and green technology will bring about sustainable change that could allow India to become an even bigger supplier of food to the world.

"I'm very happy now, because in every crisis is an opportunity," he told Reuters at his government apartment in the heart of New Delhi, a perk of his membership in India's upper house.

"This time it will lead to an evergreen revolution."

That would be welcome news for the millions of impoverished people and food-importing nations who are struggling to cope with the surge in basic crop prices over the past year, caused in part by protectionist trade bans by some exporters, including India.

This year's near trebling in the price of rice - the main staple for most of the world's poor - has driven the issue home. It has triggered riots in Haiti and raised the risk of starvation for the hundreds of millions who depend on subsidised foods.

With anxiety over food supply running higher than anytime since the
1960s, the former Cambridge scholar is busier than ever, just as passionate and in high demand.

"My wife says I have a one-track mind," he said during an interview squeezed between a meeting with an analyst from Asian brokerage CLSA and a consultation with a pack of regional politicians.

His wife Mina, a women's rights campaigner who met Dr Swaminathan in
Cambridge more than 50 years ago, enforces quiet time during his daily siesta, part of a regime that helps give him the energy and focus of a man several decades his junior. A slight stoop and white hair are rare signs of his advanced age.

Back to the '60s

Today's crisis is still far from that of the 1960s, when China was engulfed in deadly famine and India barely got by on hand-to-mouth imports, reviving the grim Malthusian view that the world's population was expanding too quickly to feed itself.

Back then Dr Swaminathan, a young scientist who turned down plum positions in academia and the government to work in agriculture research, helped cross-breed wheat seeds that allowed India to more than treble its annual crop in just 15 years.

US production has risen only about a third since then.

Scientists in the Philippines had also developed a super strain of rice at the same time, and better irrigation and use of fertiliser helped pull India back from the brink of famine.

But Dr Swaminathan says some seeds of the current crisis were sown in his own revolutionary heyday.

"The Green Revolution created a sense of euphoria that we have solved our production problem," he said.

"Now we have a plateau in production and productivity. We have a problem of under investment in rural infrastructure."

With genetically advanced seeds, farmers overlooked the potential ecological damage of heavy fertiliser use, the drop in water tables due to heavier irrigation and the impact of repeated crop cycles on soil quality.

He believes we've learned from those lessons, and the next wave of improvements will have environmental considerations at their core, without the need to return to the genetics lab.

"A short-term gain will have to be a long-term disaster in agriculture," he said.

Dr Swaminathan held a series of leadership roles in world agriculture
organisations before establishing his non-profit, Chennai-based MS
Swaminathan Research Foundation 20 years ago to promote farm growth that will aid the poor, particularly women, and bio-diversity.

Opposition
But not all his ideas are popular.

Some abroad are unimpressed by his focus on India's self-sufficiency as the primary goal, and those at home question the cultivation of more easily grown foods such as courser grains rather than finer, more costly wheat or rice.

"Would you eat them?" India's food secretary T Nand Kumar asked earlier this week.

Not that Dr Swaminathan has given up on the staples.

In a world threatened by rising temperatures, he says India should grow more rice rather than wheat, the latter of which India was forced to import over the past two years.

"Wheat is a gamble in temperatures... Rice is going to be the saviour crop in the era of climate change," he said.

With a host of measures suggested to kickstart the struggling sector,
Dr Swaminathan believes farmers should be allowed to play a pivotal role in leading the change, though he regrets it took a crisis to finally shift the world's attention back to the land.

"Only when disasters come, farmers become important," he said.
]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 16:53:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371325 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371157 NEW YORK, NY -- HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today, and young people remain at the center of the epidemic in terms of infection rates and potential for change. This World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2007, members of the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS
(GYCA) organized 104 events in 34 countries to highlight the pressing need to build youth leadership and to listen to the voices of young leaders fighting HIV and AIDS in their communities.

GYCA events, organized in partnership with the World AIDS Campaign's "Take the Lead" World AIDS Day initiative, included concerts, workshops, rallies and more. In Ghana, Moses Kanduri coordinated a series of soccer matches under the theme "Kick HIV Out!" and distributed information on HIV prevention to onlookers and players.

In Venezuela, Jhon Esteban held a workshop for teenagers to get their input and involvement in the local government's planned project to fight HIV. In Macedonia, Miodraga Stefanovska and a group of young peer leaders and their parents decorated public Christmas trees with messages about HIV prevention and the importance of open communication around sexuality and health.

According to GYCA National Focal Point Yahya Poli of Tanzania, World AIDS Day events are key opportunities to increase public awareness. "Youth and the community at large need a space where they can freely share information, knowledge and experiences about HIV," he said.

GYCA National Focal Point Esther Eshiet of Nigeria, a peer educator who teaches other girls about sexuality, health and HIV, added, "Youth leadership is what we need to make actual progress! Since we are the worst hit, we have to take the lead to stamp out the virus."

Young people are particularly affected by HIV and AIDS about 40% of the
2.5 million new infections each year occur in people aged 15 to 24. Yet young leaders are also uniting to inspire others from our generation to take action against HIV and AIDS on our own terms - through street theater, care for AIDS orphans, peer education and work with young injecting drug users.

Young people must be supported with the training, funding and leadership opportunities that will enable youth to truly "Take the Lead" in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

GYCA World AIDS Day gatherings were planned for Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Eritrea, Ghana, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Macedonia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Somaliland, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, United States, Vietnam, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) is an alliance of 3,000 young leaders and adult allies in over 150 countries working on HIV and AIDS. For more information, please visit www.youthaidscoalition.org.

Latest GYCA Newsletter (October 2007):
www.youthaidscoalition.org/newsletter
]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 10:23:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371157 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371155
The IYPF was particularly excited about the quality and quantity of the Director candidates up for election to the Board at this years AGM.
Eleven outstanding young professionals from around the world nominated to join Greg, Chuma and Kate on the Board for 2008 in place of outgoing directors Sarah Jo, Tam and Mariana, who have done an awesome job leading the organisation over the last 2 years.

As mentioned, Morse, Connie and Jodie were successfully elected in what was a very close vote!

Here are the brief bios on Morse Flores, Connie Walyaro and Jodie Nelson – more board member bios to come. These bios provide a good indication of the kinds of young professionals who are part of IYPF!


MORSE FLORES, Switzerland, 29 yrs old

Technical Officer, ILO PRO 169/IP LED Programs (Program to Promote ILO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, Internatioal Labour Office, 4 Rue des Morillons, Geneva, Switzerland, 2007- present UN Representative (UN Offices in Geneva New York), International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), #2 Market Street, Oxford, United Kingdom, 2006- present UN Fellow, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Palais Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland, 2005 Member, OXFAM International Youth Parliament, 2000-2004 Member, National Youth Parliament. Republic of the Philippines, 1998-2000

As an young International Civil Servant (Technical Cooperation Officer) within the UN system, especially with the International Labour Organization, I believed I am in a very strategic position to served the IYPF in establishing its linkgaes with the various UN agencies where youth employment is paramount and sustainable development is at the core of the organization's agdenda, an agenda that IYPF puts in its pillars of work. As such, my foremost goal as a part of the IYPF Board of Directors is to enable the IYPF to be accredited with a General Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC so that IYPF members are able to participate more actively and freely within the corridors of the UN and the international community in its advocacy work, be able to work in collaboration with other organizations on specific isues of interest, present its ideas through written and oral intervention within the Human Rights Council and the various Human Rights Treaty Bodies where global standards on human rights are being made, monitored and implemented.



CONSTANCE WALYARO, Kenya, 28 yrs old

I've held several offices including my role now as President of CWF TaskForce member GYCA, whilst contributing greatly to various key development processes including: Gov. Of Kenya-UNICEF Work Plan 2004-8, NEPAD APRM, ECOSOC, WSIS Youth Caucus, WTO, IAC, UNGASS. I've excellent team building, project management, administrative and leadership skills.
At CWF I lead and managed a team of very experienced administrative and support staff, overseeing the proper operation of the development agency in accordance with its charter. My OIYP Action Plan continues to set up/enhance resource centres for community based training programmes [e.g. Gender ICTs4 Rural Dev.] in slum/rural communities that are equipping youth across Kenya with skills that they are using to address poverty and HIV/Aids. In 2005, I was selected for the OIYP Trade Justice Project.

Based on my work and experiences, IYP identified me, as an Action Partner who they believed would make a fantastic contribution, and I have!

Through CWF TJ Project we're not only increasing understanding/creating awareness about the int. trade system and int. human rights framework and how to advocate within these complicated systems; but also ensuring that people know how to effectively integrate human rights within development programs, with the aim of strengthening accountability and empowering each other as both principals and effective agents of change for their own development in the struggle for trade justice.



JODIE NELSON, Australia, 25 yrs old

I am currently a lecturer in Accounting, teaching basic accounting concepts, as well as higher level accounting theory. I have a broad range of practical experience in various accounting related roles. In these roles. I have been involved in preparing policies and procedures for using accounting systems, preparation of company tax returns, reviewing financial documentation and accounting standards for the prepartion of end of year financial reports, and book keeping responsibilties.

I was the Treasurer of the Queensland Team Handball Association for 3 years. My responsibilties included keeping QTHA's records, preparing their financial statements, and organising the audit of these records for the Annual Return requird by the Office of Fair Trading. In my time as Treasurer, I developed and implemented an accounting and record keeping system that provides the association with accurate and timely information. This sytem is also easy for non-accountants to use. Since the introduction of this system, QTHA has only received unqualified audit
reports.

To date my involvement with IYPF has been as an Interim Director and Treasurer since June 2007. I have been involved with the preparation of the financial accounts for approval by the board, as well as the audit process for the purposes of compliance with ASIC reporting requirments. I prepared IYPF's Directors' Report for the 2006/2007 financial year, and I have also been heavily involved with the preparation and oversight of IYPF's financial reports and budgets. I have attended IYPF's board meetings, both informal and formal, since I was appointed to the Board.
Currently, I am fnalising the IYPF's quarterly reporting system and the management of the IYPF's Member Funds.
]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 10:20:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371155 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371137
You may be surprised to know that Indonesia has emerged as the world's third largest emitter of carbon, following the U.S. and China. This is primarily because of land-based emissions from peatland degradation, forest fires and deforestation, complemented by some of the fastest growing energy-based emissions.

Read more and comment at:

http://eapblog.worldbank.org/content/engaging-with-the-worlds-third-largest-greenhouse-gas-emitter]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 09:38:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371137 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371135
The Team from TNEP is working closely with Professor Ernst von Weizsäcker, University of California, Santa Barbara, to develop an update of the international best selling book, “Factor 4: Doubling Wealth and Halving Resource Use,” (http://www.ima.kth.se/im/3c1395/Pdf/FactorFour.pdf). With the blessing of both Amory and Hunter Lovins, the book will focus on achievements since “Factor 4” was published in 1995, and will be called "Factor 5," (.http://www.naturaledgeproject.net/factor5.aspx).

In order to ensure that leading edge advancements are included in this important work we are inviting nominations of suitable case studies. Case studies should be crisp and should feature existing or expected improvements by roughly a factor of five of energy, water or material efficiency/productivity. We would like to have them by mid July, 2008, at the latest, so as to allow some time for peer review. We would give full credit to authors but reserve the right of stylistic editing so as to ensure consistent language and style throughout the book.

Some twenty years after the Club of Rome's 'Limits to Growth' was published, the book “Factor 4” was issued as a report to the Club of Rome, and offered an attractive response: By becoming four times more efficient, we can overcome some of the scarcities and still have much better lives, and was subsequently translated into 12 languages. “Factor 5” goes further than that. It is more ambitious; it features systemic and cascade improvements; responding to the climate challenge, it looks at synergies between efficiency and renewable energies; it has a strong focus on the dynamic economies of Asia; and it carefully considers the realities of the rebound effect (consumption growing faster than efficiency) and offers adequate long term policy instruments.

“Factor 5” is targeted at the new generation of engineers, entrepreneurs and politicians who are serious about facing the challenges of global warming, skyrocketing resource prices and other environmental issues. The book will be published in English by Earthscan for release in 2009, with 20% of the manuscript released online at time of publication. German and Chinese editions will be also published in 2009 with other languages under negotiation.

This new book will update and refocus the claim from “Factor 4” of heralding "nothing less than a new direction for technological progress" and "the beginning of a new industrial revolution in which we shall achieve dramatic increases in resource productivity." TNEP's contribution to the book has been made possible by grants from
Griffith University (http://www.griffith.edu.au/) with thanks to Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Professor Lesley Johnson, and by Conics Limited (http://www.conics.com.au/home/default.asp) with thanks to the Chairman, Jim McKnoulty. The contributions by Professor von Weizsäcker are supported by the Aachener Foundation ( http://www.aachenfoundation.org/index.php?id=1) in Germany. We are still seeking financial support (with appropriate acknowledgement in
the publication) to complete the funding requirements for this initiative - please contact the TNEP Secretariat if you are interested in contributing such support.

Download the publication brief for the Book: http://www.naturaledgeproject.net/Documents/Factor5.pdf

ABOUT THE NATURAL EDGE PROJECT (TNEP)
The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) is a partnership for research and education on sustainable development. TNEP's mission is to contribute to and succinctly communicate leading research, case studies, tools and strategies for achieving sustainable prosperity across government, business and civil society. TNEP initiatives are not-for-profit. Our main activities involve research, creating training material and producing publications, which are supported by grants, sponsorship financial) and donations. Our other activities involve delivering short courses, workshops, and working with our consulting associates as we seek to test and improve the material. All support and revenue raised is invested directly into existing project work and the development of future initiatives.

Learn more at: www.naturaledgeproject.net www.tnep.net
]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 09:27:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371135 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371133 Wed, 14 May 2008 09:12:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/371133 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/370721
For the first time, Australia’s 20 major youth organisations joined together to present a Combined Youth Statement calling for urgent and immediate action on climate change. Represented by 20 young members, the organisations presented the statement to Kate Ellis, the Minister for Youth, in Canberra, at a press conference on the eve of the 2020 Youth Summit.

Speaking with the voice of hundreds of thousands of young Australians represented by the organisations, the Statement urges the government to urgently adopt much deeper greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and make Australia a world leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Doing so, it enjoins, would not only create a safe future but also open up thousands of jobs for young Australians. The Statement was published as a quarter-page advertisement on page 4 of the Canberra Times the next day.

Also endorsing the statement were the 11 young participants selected from the 2020 Youth Summit to attend the main 2020 Summit, who also reiterated the call for all new electricity in Australia to come from renewable energy.

Organisations Represented

1. Australian Youth Affairs Council
2. National Union of Students
3. The Oaktree Foundation
4. Australian Student Environment Network
5. National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia
6. Australian Climate Change Education Network
7. United Nations Youth Association
8. Australian Medical Students Association
9. Vision Generation (World Vision youth arm)
10. Engineers Without Borders
11. Young Greens
12. Australian Young Labor
13. Law Students for a Just Community
14. Centre for Sustainability Leadership
15. The Otesha Project (Australia)
16. OzGreen
17. International Young Professionals Foundation
18. Student Organised Network for Architecture
19. Just Act (Uniting Church Youth Arm)
20. Young People and Environmental Citizenship Group of the Australian Association for Environmental Education

It was a very well-attended and successful press conference, featuring speakers from the organisations such as Anna Rose (Australian Youth Climate Coalition), Larissa Brown (Centre for Sustainabilty Leadership), Sid Chakrabati (Australian Youth Affairs Council), Toby Hansen (Oaktree Foundation) and Michael Galuzzo (National Indigenous Youth Movement of Australia)

Press coverage can be found ABC Radio, National 9 news, The Canberra Times, Local WIN news, several local stations, and news.com. A video of the event, including excerpts from the press conference, is online at news.com:
http://www.livenews.com.au/articles/2008/04/18/One_Climate_one_future__one_chance_AYCC

IMPACT AT 2020 YOUTH SUMMIT
“We have a brief opportunity to act now to safeguard and shape our future prosperity.”

Ben Kent, from the 2020 Youth Summit, made an opening speech in the climate and
sustainability stream and told delegates about the combined youth statement. Later that day, Ben
and Anna Rose (both delegates in the environment stream of the 2020 summit) distributed
printed copies of the youth statement to the sustainability and climate change groups. The final
communiqué from the climate and sustainability stream echoes the youth statement, with the
opening paragraph including the words “We have a brief opportunity to act now to safeguard and
shape our future prosperity.”

Photos
Photos of the event can be viewed via the Canberra Times website. Go to:
http://www.bicaprolab.com.au/photosales/CT_index.php and go to April -> 18 -> climate summit

We will also be posting photos on our website www.youthclimatecoalition.org and printing them to
send to each organisation who took part.

Report by Anna Rose. Further details please contact anna.rose@youthclimatecoalition.org

]]> Tue, 13 May 2008 11:46:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/370721 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/365327

If you are creative enough, picture the following:
1) Living in the United States? Imagine yourself witnessing some 600 tornadoes, not in a year but, in a month!!
2) Living in Europe? Imagine yourself seeing a newspaper headline that reads, “Death toll rises to 50,000 due to severe heat.”
3) Living in Asia? Imagine yourself in China experiencing severe snowstorms and unusual cold weather.
4) Living in ... Stop!
Thanks for your imagination.

Here are some facts:
 In 2004, the United States witnessed some 562 tornadoes in May, breaking all records.
 In 2003, a severe heat wave killed nearly 40,000 people throughout Europe.
 In 2008, the China Meteorological Administration linked recent snowstorms and extreme temperatures to La Nina and unusual weather from the west..

Ladies and gentlemen, accept that our planet is in serious peril! We are not predicting crisis; we are already in it. Many natural disasters are happening worldwide and are backed by scientific evidence; but that is not the objective of this article. It is rather to determine what and why.

Simply put, global warming is the increase in our planet's average temperature. The Fourth Assessment Report, from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reports that the global average air temperature near the Earth's surface rose 0.74 ± 0.18 degrees Celsius from 1905 to 2005. Furthermore, IPCC says that climate model projections indicate average global surface temperature will likely continue to rise from1.1 to 6.4 degrees Celsius during the twenty-first century.

Cause factors of this temperature increase include variations in earths orbit around the Sun, volcanic eruptions and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, which is the most influential factor and is a product of human behavior since the start of the industrial era. Water vapors, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) create the earth’s greenhouse effect. Since the beginning of the industrial era, in addition to the continued overuse of burning fossil fuels, CO2 and CH4 have increased by 31 percent and 149 percent respectively, completely dismantling earth’s natural recipe for sustainability.

Its’ effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: The Man-made Natural Disaster. Some include the melting of the polar ice caps, the rising of ocean levels thus causing great floods, changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in local temperatures, and so on.

Seattle, Washington witnessed tornadoes for the first time in history. This human-induced climate change is a serious issue to be considered in every nation and in every community.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report in 2001 that states, "Global temperatures in 2001 are expected to be 0.52°C (0.94°F) above the long-term (1880-2000) average, which places 2001 as the second warmest year on record. The only warmer year was 1998 in which a strong El Niño contributed to higher global temperatures. Land temperatures are projected to be 0.77°C (1.39°F) above average and ocean temperatures 0.41°C (0.74°F) above the 1880-2000 mean. This ranks them as 2nd and 3rd warmest on record respectively."

With reference to my previous article, The October War (November 2007), I want to confirm that sustainable development is one of the solutions to this disaster. I also strongly recommend you to please read Mitigation of Global Warming at Wikipedia.com to see what you can do to help make a change.

As ice formation in the Arctic declines, it won’t be long before the next generation experiences warm weather in the Arctic and surrounding areas.

Mark Twain stated, "Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." Our earth is sick and YOU are the doctor. Treat it.

My words aren’t meant to cause panic, but haven’t I provided enough reasons to panic?

Last winter, when I was in Denmark, something unusual happened. It was a winter but it only snowed a couple of days. The locals were amused. A 70-year-old man, turned to me and said, slowly but steadily, in a feeble voice, "Never have I seen, at least to my memory, our children asking us, 'when will you make me snowman?'“ I was at a loss for words.

(edited by Christina Christian)]]> Fri, 02 May 2008 15:57:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/365327 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/364009
following on from our 7 april update, we are progressing on compiling our first newsletter of 2008 (and everything else - esp the IYPS 2008!).

while we are preparing our newsletter, i wanted to send you the below and attached from The Natural Edge Project.

this was prepared for an edition of our newsletter that was supposed to come out last december, but since it didn't run, you were not sent this!

since climate change continues to be - and will continue to be for a long time - a defining issue of our lives as young professionals, i figured it valuable to get this out and put it in your hands.

so read below and see the attached resource - and link to other resources from there :)

yours for a better world for all

cameron

ceo, iypf

++++++++++++++

New TNEP Resources on Climate Change

The Natural Edge Project (TNEP) is a group of young professionals that has been an IYPF partner for 5 years. One of TNEP's main areas of work in the last 3 years has been focused on researching and communicating the most cost effective solutions to mitigate climate change. TNEP does this through a wide variety of media including consensus building documents with the business community (www.nblf.com.au), online course materials (used by universities, professional firms, business and government) and a range of succinct publications including book chapters and media articles (www.naturaledgeproject.net/TNEPArticles.aspx). Since Al Gore's film, An Inconvenient Truth, there has been a significant shift.

The Natural Edge Project in partnership with Griffith Uni and ANU created a new online Sustainable Energy Solutions to Mitigate Climate Change Portfolio. This Portfolio shows how young professionals can play their part and help their families, friends and workplace rapidly achieve cuts to greenhouse gas emissions. The Portfolio is presented as an online text book with 9 chapters with 30 lectures in total. Each lecture has a clear aim, an executive summary of key points, a list of recommended online resources and a 10-15 page overview of the topic. The structure for each online lecture is designed to enable you to quickly find what you are looking for. This package looks at energy efficiency opportunities in the home and at work, opportunities for renewable energy, sustainable transport options and also the carbon offsets. To conclude, this new package is designed to empower any young professional to empower their family, friends and work colleagues to be able to quickly see how we can all rapidly reduce our carbon footprints.

The new Sustainable Energy Solutions to Mitigate Climate Change Portfolio is available at - www.naturaledgeproject.net/Sustainable_Energy_Solutions_Portfolio.aspx

A 2-page guide to online energy and climate change resources by TNEP is available here:
http://www.takingitglobal.org/resources/toolkits/view.html?ToolkitID=1529
]]> Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:14:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/364009 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/363491
Reading quotes like this sparked in me a desire to contribute to the world, as it did in late 2003. I was working full time, studying part time, and looking for a way to use my skills for more ‘big picture stuff’. I wasn’t an engineer, I didn’t know much about environmental science, and I didn’t have any experience in providing aid to developing nations. But I did have recruitment and admin skills, and I figured there would be an organisation, somewhere, with a use for them.

So I googled the words “young professionals Australia” and stumbled upon an amazing network of young people from all over the globe working together to make positive changes for the future. I emailed, was invited to an AGM and offered a voluntary role in the Human Resources area, and it all continued from there.

One of the greatest experiences early on was attending the International Young Professionals Summit in 2004. Not only did I have the chance to meet many people whom I had been communicating with by email, but I got to hear them speak about their projects, their workplaces, the things they are passionate about and the brilliant work that they do.

The experience I gained working for the IYPF directly enhanced my employability, so that when I completed my studies in Human Resources I was able to gain paid work in this area with ease. I’ve continued to work in HR, a role that affords me the advantage of getting to know almost every person in the organisation that I work for, along with a lot of influence. I’ve used this influence to try to affect positive change wherever possible, whether it be consulting among my company’s Environmental Reference Group or writing an application which saw us achieve ‘Employer of Choice for Women’ status.

Working with IYPF reinforced my interest in sustainability issues, and I’ve continually grown my knowledge over time. When the opportunity to study a Master of Commerce focused particularly on Corporate Social Responsibility presented itself, I had to take it. Right now I’m learning about Business Sustainability (including Triple Bottom Line Reporting) and the Global Knowledge Economy. I’m finding the topics really interesting, and once again I’m connecting with people with interests similar to my own.

So as I say goodbye to the IYPF as a staff member, I feel that I haven’t really left the network, but rather stepped into a much bigger one that includes the IYPF, my workplace, my Uni, my colleagues, and many others. You all continue to be part of that chain, even as -- more importantly -- you form similar chains of your own.

All the best,

Britt
]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:55:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/363491 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/354773
Greetings!

I'm sure many of you were wondering what is happening or has been
happening with IYPF in 2008. Since the AGM last year, things have been
pretty quiet publicly - we haven't even sent out a newsletter yet!

So this is a quick e-mail to break the silence and update you on IYPF
happenings ...

We have been primarily focused on the upcoming International Young
Professionals Summit being held in Manchester, UK in August this year.
Check out www.iyps.org for more information. We are pouring a lot of
resources in to this event to make it a huge success. It is our first
Summit outside of Australia, and our 3rd overall. Organising the IYPS as
a volunteer run organisation is hard work - but our last two Summits have
been amazing events and IYPS 2008 is shaping up as the best ever.

Things are falling in to place for virtual participation in many of the
Summit activities, so we are excited that many of you will be able to
participate either in person or online. Stay tuned for more information
on this.

As you can imagine, there are many ways you can be involved with us in
organising the Summit, so if you are interested, please contact us on
iyps2008@iypf.org.

Our team is also preparing a range of information to go out to all our
members and networks (i.e. YOU!), including details on how you can help
fundraise for a delegate to attend IYPS 2008.

So look out in the near future for a member update and our first
newsletter for the year.

On that note, we are totally changing our newsletter this year. It will
come out every two to three months (rather than predominantly monthly)
and will mostly consist of short snippets with links to full articles on
our website. This is part of our move to release information on our
website and blogs as a steady stream, rather than once a month, keeping
our website content fresh and interesting. You'll have the ability to
subscribe to blogs and feeds.

We need people to join our newsletter team to assist with writing and
publishing articles online - if you are interested, get in touch via
newsletter@iypf.org.

Following the AGM, the new IYPF Directors have been meeting and gearing
up for a big year for IYPF. They are finalising their Working Groups for
the year on Strategy, Fundraising and Compliance - there will be
opportunities for some of you to get involved in that in the near future.

On the staff front, the end of 2007 and start of 2008 has seen some faces
depart and some new ones step in. It is an exciting time and we look
forward to introducing you to our new team members in the near future, as
well as publicly saying goodbye to some great servants of IYPF.

The work of our Member Projects teamc continues and, as always, they are
on the look out for young professionals with great ideas for making their
communities better. If you have a great idea, get in touch with them now
on memberprojects@iypf.org to see how they can help you get your idea
developed, funded and implemented.

Finally, IYPF is working on launching 2 new activities in 2008 - our
inaugural IYPF Member Magazine and our Member Activities Fund.

As you can see, there IS a lot happening. And many more possibilities.

We would welcome any contributions and inputs from any of you - be in
touch and I am sure we can find an opportunity that matches your skills,
experience and passions.

I encourage you all to be courageous and full of hope - and to inspire
those around you to work to make the world a better place through actions
big and small.

Yours in partnership for a better world for all

Cameron Neil
CEO
IYPF

]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:40:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/354773 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/342645
Highlights will include:

- Jeffrey Sachs on Young Professionals and the MDGs

- Dato Lee Yee Cheong on The UN Millennium Project and the subsequent report ‘Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development’

- Young Professionals Panel Session: How can young professionals support the Millennium Development Goals?
Dr. Claire Wilson, JIVE project, UK Resource Centre for Women Into Science, Engineering and Technology
Sumita Sinha, Director of Eco-Logic chartered accountants and founder Chair of Architects For Change, the Equality Forum at the Royal Institute of British Architects
Dr. Samantha Lacey, Responsible shareholding analyst, Co-operative insurance (confirmed)
Mark Turner, Deputy Chief Executive, Mersey Basin Campaign

and much much more!

download it here:
http://events.takingitglobal.org/14421/docs/

and see here for more http://www.iyps.org



]]> Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:54:00 EDT http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/342645 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667 http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/292481
Every year millions of Chinese are hitting the streets on E-bikes.
Those are battery powered contraptions that are becoming increasingly
popular as soaring fuel prices are continuing to make traditional
motorbikes and scooters expensive to drive. The bikes are getting
bigger, faster and more glamorous - and the growing size of their
batteries is soaking up increasing amounts of lead, the same amount
as one car. China produced 19 million battery driven bikes in 2006,
and that figure could rise by 30 per cent this year. "Who drives
motorbikes anymore? Fuel is too expensive and these have no emissions
so they are better for the environment - it's popular to think about
that these days." Other innovations include bikes that use lithium-
ion batteries which generally last longer and give more power for
their weight.

Check more on the topic @ www.abc.net.au/catapult/news/s2060020.htm


TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS

The Mayor of London has doubled the area of the city that is subject
to a congestion charge. Any driver who wants to take a car into the
city centre should pay a congestion charge. The success of the idea
tends to support the view that the only way to increase walking and
public transport use is to make cars more expensive and less
convenient. The idea is adopted as well in Vancouver, Canada, the
city recognised in 2006 as the world's most livable. Gordon Price
Director of Translink, the regional transportation authority in
Canada talks in this interview about how important is the question of
traffic congestion.

A full transcript of the interview is available @
www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/stories/2007/1887510.htm

SLANTING OIL PRODUCTION MAY CAUSE WAR

A German based Energy Watch Group has released a study saying global
oil production peaked in 2006 and will fall by half as soon as 2030
which may lead to wars and social breakdown. "The world soon will not
be able to produce all the oil it needs as demand is rising while
supply is falling. This is a huge problem for the world economy,"
said Hans-Josef Fell, EWG's founder and the German MP behind the
country's successful support system for renewable energy. The
report's author, Joerg Schindler, said the results are in contrast to
projections from the International Energy Agency, which says there is
little reason to worry about oil supplies at the moment. However, the
EWG study relies more on actual oil production data which, it says,
are more reliable than estimates of reserves still in the ground. The
group says official industry estimates put global reserves at an
equivalent to 42 years' supply at current consumption rates. But it
thinks the figure is only about two thirds of that. EWG also predicts
significant falls in gas, coal and uranium production as those energy
sources are used up. The report presents a bleak view of the future
unless a radically different approach is adopted.

Check the article @ www.guardian.co.uk/oil/story/0,,2196435,00.html]]> Sun, 25 Nov 2007 20:23:00 EST http://IYPF.tigblog.org/post/292481 -35.2833333 149.2166667-35.2833333149.2166667