The Institute for Domestic and International Affairs
Non-Governmental Organizations Corps Background Information Rutgers Model United Nations 16-19 November 2006
Director: Kimberly Dickstein
Š 2006 Institute for Domestic & International Affairs, Inc. (IDIA) This document is solely for use in preparation for Rutgers Model United Nations 2006. Use for other purposes is not permitted without the express written consent of IDIA. For more information, please write us at idiainfo@idia.net
Introduction to Non-Governmental Organizations __________________________________ 1 NGOs and Funding ___________________________________________________________ 2 Components of International Aid ____________________________________________________ 3 NGOs and the Global Anti-Trade Movement __________________________________________ 7
NGO Case Studies ____________________________________________________________ 9 Africare _________________________________________________________________________ 9 Amnesty International ____________________________________________________________ 10 CARE International ______________________________________________________________ 14 Earth Council Alliance____________________________________________________________ 15 Global Education Associates _______________________________________________________ 16 Greenpeace International _________________________________________________________ 17 Human Rights Watch_____________________________________________________________ 18 International Committee of the Red Cross ___________________________________________ 21 International Institute for Sustainable Development ___________________________________ 24 Norwegian Refugee Council _______________________________________________________ 25 Oxfam International______________________________________________________________ 26 Third World Network ____________________________________________________________ 28 World Conservation Union ________________________________________________________ 30 World Economic Forum __________________________________________________________ 31 World Wildlife Fund International__________________________________________________ 32
Works Cited ________________________________________________________________ 34
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Introduction to Non-Governmental Organizations Now more than ever, civil society uses non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as their means to influence policy-making at the United Nations and in individual countries. Through struggle and tireless effort on the part of individuals who advocated for change in representation, non-governmental organizations have become a distinct part of social movements.1 They are a means for individuals to come together, address a concern, and bring to the world’s attention. Therefore, NGOs do not work for the goals of a few, but for the countless number of people who have no means to address their grievances. The growing number of NGO and not-for-profit groups has led many in the UN to complain about their meddlesome behavior throughout UN procedures. They say that the influence of so many outside groups slows down the diplomatic process because policy makers try to appease every group. Yet, the fact that NGOs are even acknowledged and regarded with such influential power shows how far NGOs have come in their hard batter for representation. Not only do UN delegates listen to these groups, they often turn to them for answers to difficult problems and aid in times of need. NGOs do not only provide information for the current world agenda, they also influence the docket itself, bringing attention to overlooked causes and emerging issues. This close relationship shows how interrelated politics and public opinion have become and how the role of the NGO within the UN is going to become even more necessary and more complex as years pass. What is a non-governmental organization? This question is easier asked than answered. “There is no generally accepted definition of an NGO and the term carries different connotations in different circumstances.”2 By pulling from different sources, one can define it generally. An NGO is any, not-for- profit, group that is organized on a local, national or international level and has come together for non-violent and non1
Willets, Peter. “What is a Non-Governmental Organization?” Research Project on Civil Society Networks in Global Governance. (Jan. 2002) City University: London. 23 June 2003. 2 Ibid.
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criminal purposes for a voluntary purpose.3 Yet, even this description is vague, for the sheer amount of unique NGOs cannot be described adequately. What is true for all of them is that these groups all work towards a purpose. They bring others together in order to fulfill a particular goal, usually in a variety of ways. NGOs have the ability to perform different services and humanitarian efforts, bringing citizen concerns and ideas to governments, monitoring policies and encouraging political participation on all levels, from the community to international.4 The World Bank defines an NGO as a, “private organization that pursues activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development.”5 This idea not only illustrates the humanitarian nature of NGOs but also gives parameters to better define what an NGO can do. It is central to the mission of an NGO to take a particular issue or idea and find ways to make civil society not only see why it is important, but also why it is essential to address it the way the NGO thinks is appropriate. The sheer number of NGOs has grown dramatically over the last 50 years, and with this explosion has come a plethora of new subgroups. These titles help weed through the immense amount of NGOs that work to influence the UN. They are also helpful in creating alliances and coordinated campaigns, and earmarking individual groups who may wish to align with another group but may not champion the same issue.
NGOs and Funding The United Nations system is the most extensive network in the world for the distribution of funds related to development and relief. Since the tenures of former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and current Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the
3
“NGOs and The United Nations Department of Public Information,” United Nations Department of Public Information, www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/brochure.htm, Accessed 23 June 2003. 4 Ibid. 5 Shreve, C. “Categorizing NGOs: World Bank Criteria” Non-Governmental Organizations Research Guide, Duke University Public Documents, http://docs.lib.duke.edu/igo/guides/ngo/define.htm, 13 February 2003.
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number of UN peacekeeping missions has grown exponentially.6 The global mentality towards conflict regions changed since the end of the Cold War. Now more than ever, humanitarian relief to victims of civil wars and conflict regions is prioritized. In addition to the burgeoning costs of the social aspects of peacekeeping, the UN has other development-related expenses, including billions of dollars for economic relief, and social programs relating to health and education. The need for programs that can be provided by the United Nations is growing faster than the organization’s budget.7 The latter half of the twentieth century has seen great changes in the nature of warfare. Low intensity conflicts and ongoing civil strife replaced the great clashes between nations of previous eras.
In these new situations, it is unclear which
governments are responsible to provide aid to people adversely affected by warfare. Furthermore, many governments in regions with heavy civil strife lack the means to provide support. Advents in technology have made the world’s citizens more aware of the humanitarian aspects of warfare. The combination of these factors helps to explain why the responsibility for social support and aid has increasingly fallen on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). 8 The budgetary crisis of the United Nations only increases necessity for other sources of funding. The growth of UN membership to encompass 191 member states only augments the breadth and variation of UN programs, while a growing world consciousness finds endless problems to solve. The financing of these non-peacekeeping programs can be facilitated by NGOs as well, due to their access to various sources of funding, including the private sector.9
Components of International Aid Humanitarian aid is distributed to its intended destinations through a variety of governmental and non-governmental sources. Civil society is the origin of finances for 6
McDermott, Anthony, The New Politics of Funding the UN, St. Martin’s Press, Inc.: 2000, New York, New York, 13. 7 Ibid, 15. 8 Ibid, 15. 9 Ibid, 19.
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aid. Money enters the system either through taxes, which become part of governmental aid, or as donations to charities and foundations. The UN’s most visible supporters are the approximately forty actors, athletes, and other celebrities who volunteer to travel the world and support the UN as Goodwill Ambassadors, Peace Ambassadors, and Peace Messengers.10 Some international donors are very influential and make large donations, which comprise a significant proportion of non-governmentally channeled aid.11 Governmental aid has two primary forms: bilateral and multilateral. The latter is aid which goes directly into the UN system; the former refers to donor countries that aid specific regions. Governmental aid goes to the national governments deemed in need of aid and is disbursed to local governments, ministries, and public agencies. These groups return the money to civil society through direct aid to households or as community programs.12 Both domestic and international NGOs receive aid money in the form of grants from foundations and charities.
Countries can also act as donors of non-governmental
aid, blurring the line between the means of financing international relief. These NGOs distribute the money to community-based organizations, or administer their own programs.13 From this perspective, theoretically, there are considerably less overhead costs associated with non-governmental funds, which is one of the reasons they are such a popular alternative and supplement to UN-funded programs. In practice, the funding of humanitarian programs is a complex, interconnected web, where both governmental and non-governmental aid intertwine. Due to the growing demand for programs, NGOs utilize alternate funding sources. For example, in Canada, NGOs use the private sector to procure money for both domestic and internationally based projects. These partnerships are mutually beneficial: industries need assistance with sustainable development issues, and NGOs face increasingly 10
Fasulo, Linda. An Insider’s Guide to the UN, Yale University Press, 2004. Fowler, Alan, “Civil Society, NGOs and Social Development: Changing the Rules of the Game,” UNRISD, Geneva 2000 Occasional Paper No. 1, January, 2000, 4. 12 Ibid. 13 Ibid. 11
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constrained budgets and an amplified demand for programs.
NGOs that began as
grassroots movements are finding their organizational models are financially unsound.14 Problems with corporate and private sector funding for NGOs include the question of independent decision-making. Generally, the issue comes down to what percentage of NGO budget is corporate-controlled.
Two Canadian NGOs, the Canadian Nature
Federation (CNF) and Pollution Probe have 5 per cent and 25 per cent corporate funding John Negroponte, Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN “NGOs play a more and more important role not only in the policy debates but equally important, maybe even more important are critical, in implementing many of these policies. A lot of the aid and emergency humanitarian assistance, like food distribution by the World Food Program, is done through the NGOs. There really is a public-private partnership, or a public NGO partnership, that is very important. NGOs are effective, and part of the reason is they are private and they are accountable, they watch their pennies. People have a choice as to whom to give their money.”
in their budgets respectively. The director
of
Pollution
Probe
maintains that twenty five per cent is
not
a
controlling
interest
because the organization’s budget is diversified. CNF believes that an
increase
in
its
corporate
funding will curtail its independence as an organization. These differing viewpoints illustrate the controversy in the NGO community about corporate funding.
NGOs
become connected with corporations in other ways as well, with more and more corporate business leaders serving on NGO director boards.15 As NGOs receive more funding from corporate entities, questions develop regarding the intentions and execution of efforts, and may undermine the successful implementation of their mission. Recent trends indicate that NGO donors become increasingly active when their money is involved. Nearly 93 per cent of official humanitarian aid comes from the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and about one-third of this aid comes from the U.S. The trend of increased donor involvement is relatively recent. A study by the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) in January 2003 analyzed the change in donor involvement with regard to aid, and the checks and balances in place on the donors. A primary finding of the report 14
“Working with NGOs: Funding Issues,” BSDGlobal, 6 May 2003, http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/fund/2003/0506issues.htm, Accessed: 23 February 2004. 15 Ibid.
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was an increase in earmarking of funds and a focus on well publicized crisis situations, like Afghanistan. While focusing on newsworthy events is notable and noble, the result is that less notorious issues, often those of greater social impact, are becoming overlooked. The study also noted that donors were becoming more involved with NGOs in the field.16 During the 1990s, spending on humanitarian aid more than doubled, reaching USD $5.9 billion as of 2000. However, the form of aid also changed during this time. Originally, donor countries simply gave NGOs grants with virtually no stipulations regarding how to disburse the funds. Now aid contracts, a mechanism which allows donor countries to establish many more guidelines and controls, are more popular. Some NGOs, like Oxfam Great Britain, see this as a positive adjustment. Oxfam Great Britain believes that aid contracts create a culture of accountability and that NGOs see both perspectives when dealing with money. Since they often act as intermediaries, NGOs have the same set of problems with the smaller community organizations that they fund as donor countries have with large international NGOs. The potential shortcomings of this system are that the recipients of the aid have the least influence over the money and what is done with it. Overall, the bureaucracy of NGO-funding sometimes impedes the goal of assisting the members of civil society.
Another major problem is the
increasingly politicized world climate. Some NGOs fear that they will become the ones to execute the political agendas of their donor states if stipulations and involvements continue to increase.17 Donors and NGOs are mutually dependent. Although NGOs need donors to carry out their operations, donors gain from their NGO investments. Many rely on their sponsorship of NGOs to bolster their reputations. By investing in NGO programs, these organizations and corporations portray themselves as socially concerned global citizens.
16
Gidley, Ruth, “Donor Input into Aid Operations Growing,� Alertnet, 24 January 2003, http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/fund/0124donor.htm, Accessed: 23 February 2004. 17 Ibid.
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Thus, there is a complex multi-faceted relationship between NGO and donor which provide large portions of NGO budgets.
NGOs and the Global Anti-Trade Movement Globalization has been a focal point on the agendas of almost all large, international NGOs. Emerging as a buzzword following the Second World War, its proponents suggest that globalization is the integration of national markets into a global system which will increase the world’s prosperity. When a multinational corporation brings a factory to a new country, they are providing jobs and opportunity where there was none before, and in turn, they are providing for lower prices for their consumers. Those involved in resistance movements to globalization believe that despite the theoretical advantages to free trade, it perpetuates and systemizes the current political power structure, leaving millions of the world’s citizens underrepresented and in poverty. Opponents to this economic regime argue that even if globalization does increase prosperity, it perpetuates and augments inequality. The results of this marginalization of the third world are multifaceted. Poverty is linked to a chain reaction of negative effects on healthcare and education. Another aspect of the argument against globalization is the element of cultural hegemony.
The unification of world markets into one system
amounts to the imposition of the Western system, spearheaded by the United States, on economies of different countries all over the world.18 Comparative Advantage: The ability of one country to produce some given quantity of a good or service at a lower opportunity cost than another country, taking into account the fact that resources used in the production of one good or service are no longer available for use in the production of other goods and services. Source: www.agtrade.org/defs.cfm
18
A key element of globalization is the concept of free trade.
Rooted in the economic concept of
comparative advantage, free trade suggests that countries should specialize in what they are best in relative to other people, firms, and countries – that is, they should work in the field where they have comparative advantage. This idea is different from
Opel, Andy and Donnalyn Pompper, Eds. Representing Resistance: Media, Civil Disobedience, and the Global Justice Movement. Praeger Publishers: 2003, Westport, Connecticut, ix-xi.
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absolute advantage, which refers to the person, firm, or country who is the best producer out of the entire pool. Economists generally agree with the principle that free trade works to the advantage of all parties involved.19 Barriers to free trade include protective tariffs, which make foreign goods more
tariffs in other countries so that its exports will
Tariff: A duty (or tax) levied upon goods transported from one customs area to another. Tariffs raise the prices of imported goods, thus making them less competitive within the market of the importing country.
produce greater profits. Theoretically, free trade,
www.yale.edu/transportation/glossary.htm
expensive and encourage consumers to buy domestic goods. Ideally, each country wants tariffs to protect its domestic industries, but a lack of
which means no tariffs, is a fair solution for everyone, but in practice, countries that have greater political power in the global arena tend to secure the deals most beneficial for themselves. The reality of the situation is far more complex than either side portrays it to be. However, globalization, free trade, and the related issues of development are a primary focus point for the advocacy campaigns of many NGOs.20 The protests revolving around globalization reached a visible peak at the Seattle meeting of the World Trade Organization Ministerial body in December 1999. Representatives from labor unions around the world along with the leadership of the AFL-CIO marched and protested against this WTO meeting to demand what they feel are their basic rights as laborers. Protesters locked their arms to pipes, creating human roadblocks at intersections throughout Seattle. The effect on the ministerial meeting was marked. Ultimately the talks failed, and though the leader of the meeting did not list the protest as a direct cause, the influence was unmistakable. Police even kept high-level American delegates confined to their hotel rooms at times. The Seattle protest was an example of NGOs working with domestic groups and grassroots community organizations to create social change, and is a prime example of the strong link between NGOs and civil society. 19 20
Sandbrook, Richard, Ed., Civilizing Globalization: A Survival Guide, SUNY Press: 2003, Albany, New York, 3. Ibid, 3.
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NGO Case Studies The remainder of this brief is made up of analyses regarding the mission and financial status of various non-governmental organizations. In addition to the summaries listed here, it is important to perform additional research on each of these groups so as to gain a better understanding of their successes and failures, and the impact that they have on their target population or issue area. The efforts of any group are up to interpretation; mere agreement with an NGO’s mission does not reflect success. Rather, assess their operations in relation to their stated mission. Review their annual reports and see from where their funding is coming and determine if those relationships had any impact on their operations or project load. For unbiased information based on each group’s tax reporting, visit websites such as Guidestar or Charity Navigator.
While it is very
important that you visit the group’s individual website, remember that such presentations serve as advertisements of their efforts to potential funders and may not accurately reflect their impact.
Africare Since its founding in 1970, Africare has developed into the leading private, charitable U.S. organization
assisting
African
families
and
communities in twenty six countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.21 Africare’s initial goal to alleviate the effects of severe drought and hunger evolved to development programs in specific areas, including food security, agriculture, health, and HIV/AIDS. In addition to these principal areas, Africare supports water resource development, environmental management, basic education, microenterprise development, governance initiatives and emergency humanitarian aid.22 Over the past twenty six years, Africare provided over $540 million in humanitarian and development assistance to directly benefit over 100 million Africans in 21 22
“About Africare,” Africare, http://www.africare.org/about/about.html Accessed: 10 May 2006. Ibid.
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need.23 In 2004, total revenue and support for Africare approached $50 million indicating that 92 per cent of its revenue directly funded projects in Africa.24 Africare spent 35 per cent of its revenue on food security, relief, and refugee assistance, 26 per cent on agriculture and small scale irrigation, 22 per cent on health services, 12 per cent on integrated rural development, 4 per cent general aid, and 1 per cent on water resources development.25 Africare tackles
Budget Breakdown: Africare (2004 totals) 12%
4%
the pressing issues affecting Africa by effectively planning and spending in the principal areas. In order to be the most comprehensive service provider in Africa, Africare built a network of NGOs, private businesses, U.S. and foreign governments,
35% 26% 1%
22%
General Food security, relief, and refugee assistance Health Water resources developm ent Agriculture and sm all scale irrigation Integrated rural developm ent
domestic donors, and indigenous peoples. Africare currently promotes more than 150 assistance projects in Africa that focus on issues such as the digital divide in South Africa to food relief in featured countries. 26 By solving development issues in specific African regions, Africare believes that NGOs play an important role in promoting democratic ideals in unstable African democracies. At the grassroots level, Africare and the people in Africa can work for sustainable development and democratic education. The concept of a democracy NGO promotes the general initiatives of Africare and the organization’s hope to aid the people of Africa.
Amnesty International The
goal
of
Amnesty
International is to help create a 23
“2005 Annual Report in Brief,” Africare, http://www.africare.org/about/annualreport/2005/index.html Accessed:10 May 2006 24 Ibid. 25 “Program Spending by Sector,” Africare, http://www.africare.org/about/annualreport/2005/Workbook2.jpg Accessed: 10 May 2006 26 “Africare at Work,” Africare, http://www.africare.org/at_work/at_work.html Accessed: 10 May 2006
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world where all people can exercise the rights delineated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The preamble of this seminal document states that the, “… recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”27 This belief that human rights are the baseline of freedom is what drives the organization. Amnesty International is independent of all governments, political ideologies, religions, or economic interests. By virtue of this independence, Amnesty hopes to represent all people who suffer human rights abuses.28 Amnesty
International
does
accept
not
government
any
Budget Breakdown: Amnesty International
funding.
Local volunteer groups and
national
sections
solicit
funds
directly
from
civil
society.
Through
these
local
outreaches, there are over 1.5 million people who are affiliated in some
18%
12% 10%
15%
12% 7%
26%
Membership Support Publishing
Campaign Activities Research and Direct Action
Office Overhead Overhead
Program Support
way with Amnesty International.29 In 2002, the Amnesty budget was approximately USD $43 million, with funds divided as depicted in the pie chart.30 By making the organization’s budget public, Amnesty International shows its accountability to civil society, and not to a specific group.
27
“Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” United Nations General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III), 10 December 1948, http://web.amnesty.org/pages/aboutai-udhr-eng, Accessed: 5 April 2004. 28 “About Amnesty International,” Amnesty International, http://web.amnesty.org/pages/aboutai-index-eng, Accessed: 18 March 2004. 29 Ibid. 30 “Facts and Figures: The Work of Amnesty International,” Amnesty International, http:// web.amnesty.org/pages/aboutai-facts-eng, Accessed: 18 March 2004.
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The mission of Amnesty International is to end human rights abuses associated with the right to physical and mental integrity, to provide for the freedoms of conscience and expression, and for the right to live without discrimination. Some of the primary policies that Amnesty targets and lobbies against include: arbitrary killings, torture of prisoners, and the capture of hostages. Another initiative of Amnesty is assisting persons who are seeking asylum from their homelands because they are likely to fall victim to human rights abuses if they return. Amnesty has campaigns that aim to increase awareness about human rights abuses, especially in military, police, and security forces worldwide.
Amnesty
implements its programs both in terms of advocacy with the United Nations, and collaboration with NGOs and other regional organizations. Mechanisms of pressuring governments include protests and demonstrations, letter writing and educational campaigns, and benefit concerts.
Lobbying is pursued from the level of local
municipalities through the international level of the UN system to ensure that every leader hears Amnesty’s message. Some recent campaigns include “Justice for All,” a campaign for human rights in the Russian Federation. The goal of this campaign is to bring to light some discrepancies between the perception of the human rights that citizens of the Russian Federation enjoy, and the actual situation for many citizens. By using education and a petition to Russian president Vladimir Putin, Amnesty hopes to bring Russia’s rhetoric in line with its reality.31 Another major drive of Amnesty’s campaigning, are urgent action calls, which are appeals to the organization’s membership constituency to vocally support an individual or group. The calls are for specific people whom the organization feels are in grave danger of human rights abuses. The Urgent Action network allows Amnesty Activists to
31
Ibid.
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write letters and emails to the relevant authorities to help people realize their human rights.32 Amnesty International also has several networks of specialists that deal with human rights abuses in specific fields as listed at right. For example, the International Lawyers Network has developed the program “Justice
Amnesty International Advocacy Networks: Business and Economic Relation Network Children’s Network Health Professions Network International Lawyers Network Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Network. Military and Security Police Network Women’s Network
without Fear” which aims to help lawyers in Guatemala represent the victims of human rights violations in litigation without the fear of repercussions to their personal security. The Military Security and Police Network deals with establishing accountability for businesses that build weapons and the governments who distribute them. This network also supports weapons collection and destruction programs in conflict regions.33 A major campaign of Amnesty International deals with establishing a system of international justice. Amnesty believes in ending impunity for war crimes and other human rights offenses. While the decades since the Second World War have been classified as a time of international peace, they have also seen some of the most outrageous crimes against humanity, with offenses such as genocide, torture, forced disappearances, and extra-judicial executions. Most of these crimes were committed with the perpetrators believing that it was highly unlikely they would ever face consequences for their actions. The fact that the offenders were in power when the crimes were committed precluded them from being accountable to international standards of justice. Amnesty International is working to end impunity by strengthening existing bodies, such as the International Criminal Court, and creating an international system of justice and responsibility which will make international laws and standards more enforceable.34 The programs of Amnesty International are diverse and multifaceted.
The
organization has programs dealing with almost every imaginable human rights concern in 32
Ibid. Ibid. 34 “Establishing a system of International Justice to End Impunity,” Amnesty International, http://web.amnesty.org/pages/int_jus, Accessed: 5 April 2004. 33
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all parts of the globe. With varied projects, Amnesty hopes to achieve its goals of universal human rights.
CARE International CARE
(Cooperative
Assistance
and
Relief
Everywhere, Inc.) International is a leading humanitarian organization battling global poverty that places special emphasis on the role of poor women in the community. Equipping poor women with the proper resources enables individuals to help whole families and entire communities to escape poverty. CARE’s community based initiatives to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources work alongside the aim of empowering women.35 In order to fight global poverty, CARE’s comprehensive strategy addresses three primary areas: health, children, and hunger. Current campaigns to build a better future include: Crisis Response Team, World Hunger Campaign, Education, HIV/AIDS, Victories Over Poverty, CARE for the Child.36 Upon its foundation in 1945, CARE provided relief to survivors of World War II. At the organization’s inception, thousands of Americans working for 22 organizations contributed to CARE package delivery.37 The scope of the organization changed over the years to address the world’s most threatening problems. Between the 1950s and 1970s, CARE expanded into emerging nations to feed the hungry and responded to massive famines in Africa with both emergency relief and long-term projects. In 2005, CARE began creating sustainable solutions to hunger to more than 21 million people that 35
“About CARE,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/about/index.asp, Accessed: 9 May 2006 “Campaigns,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/campaigns/index.asp Accessed: 9 May 2006 37 “CARE History,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/about/history.asp Accessed: 9 May 2006 36
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received training and resources to improve their crops and protect natural resources. Another highlight of CARE’s work in 2005 includes the 10.5 million people that received emergency assistance during times of crisis.38 At present, the CARE staff exceeds 12,000 citizens from countries where CARE establishes different projects to help strengthen communities through various programs that create feasible and lasting solutions to the root causes of poverty.39 CARE’s work is successful due to its financial efficiency and accountability. More than 90 per cent of CARE’s expended CARE's Programs By Activity 2005
resources support poverty-fighting campaigns.40 With less than 10 per cent spent on administrative
29%
and fund-raising costs, CARE tackles the underlying causes of poverty through soundly funded programs.
71%
In the fiscal year 2005, CARE provided aid to 48
Community Development Emergency and Rehabilitation
million people through 875 projects in 70 countries.
CARE USA contributed $514 million in 2005 to support the fight against poverty.41 In addition, the annual contributions of funds or services from 32 corporate partners make CARE International among the most influential of all philanthropic organizations.
Earth Council Alliance In 1992, the Earth Council Alliance established itself as an international NGO to promote and advance the implementation of the Earth Summit agreements.
The
Earth Summit established sustainable development in terms of the relationship between the environment and economy. As a result of the Earth Summit, the Rio Declaration created a comprehensive program of action designed to effect development and environmental 38
“CARE USA 2005 Annual Report,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/newsroom/publications/annualreports/ Accessed: 9 May 2005 39 Ibid. 40 “Financial Information,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/about/990.asp, Accessed: 9 May 2006 41 Ibid.
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principles, or Agenda 21. The mission of the Earth Council is “The convening of and facilitating of cooperation among key leaders of the sustainable development movement, particularly those operating at the community and grassroots level, providing support through information, establishment of communication networks, and new and organizational models to help them achieve their sustainability goals.”42 It is a collection of regional Earth Councils in operation in individual countries, and works to share information regarding best practices and areas in which collaboration can help promote sustainable development. To advance the implementation of the Earth Summit Agreements, the Earth Council developed programs focused on sustainable development through the empowerment of civil society.
The Earth Council Alliance promotes two central
initiatives that it believes will have considerable and lasting environmental effects throughout the world.
The first, World Environment Day, is designed to bring
considerable public attention to the declining quality of the environment. It developed the Green Cities Guide as a means through which cities throughout the world can become more environmentally conscious, and promotes the good efforts of cities. The ECA China Initiative is designed to ensure that as China continues to become a world trading power and consumes more energy, that it focuses on renewable and sustainable energy sources. While China is expected to bring a new coal burning energy production facility online for the foreseeable future, the ECA is working to promote the use of less damaging energy sources, to ensure that China’s economic development is not at the detriment of countries throughout the world.
Global Education Associates Since its foundation in 1973, Global Education Associates (GEA) has conducted more than 2,600 workshops, institutes, and symposia on global interdependence and
42
“Earth Council Alliance: About.” http://www.earthcouncilalliance.org/en/about/index.html Accessed: 10 May 2006
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world order issues in over ninety countries.43 In order to promote global advancement, GEA focuses on the perspective of poor and marginalized people of diverse cultural and religious traditions. By gathering information from leaders and key stake holders from diverse cultures to develop common strategies, GEA educates and initiates projects as a catalyst for global advancement. Through GEA affiliate programs such as the Philippine Council for Peace and Global Education, GEA mobilize citizen movements through organized teacher and global awareness training.44
Greenpeace International Since 1971, Greenpeace international campaigns against environmental degradation in forty countries throughout Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. Greenpeace International is a global non-profit organization that works to stop climate change, protect ancient forests, save the oceans, stop whaling, end genetic engineering, stop nuclear threat, eliminate toxic chemicals, and encourage sustainable trade. 45 In order to reach these goals, Greenpeace uses research, lobbying, and quiet diplomacy to include environmental issues in debate on the international community’s environmental choices. Greenpeace receives donations from individual supporters and foundation grants to maintain independence from government and private sector influence. Over 2.8 million financial supporters are responsible for the ships and campaigns that use nonviolent, creative campaigns to expose global environmental problems.46 Greenpeace International monitors Greenpeace national and regional offices, oversees development of ships, coordinates planning and implementation of global campaigns, and monitors compliance with core policies.47 Greenpeace International in
43 44
“About GEA,” Global Education Associates http://www.globaleduc.org/About2.shtml Accessed 12 May 2006
“Affiliates and Partnerships: Philippine Council for Peace and Global Education,” Global Education Associates, http://www.globaleduc.org/Affiliates4.shtml Accessed: 12 May 2006. 45 “About Greenpeace,” Greenpeace International, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about Accessed: 20 July 2006. 46 Ibid. 47 “Questions About Greenpeace in General,” Greenpeace International, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about/faq/questions-about-greenpeace-in 20 July 2006.
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Amsterdam oversees twenty seven national and regional offices staffed by activists and volunteers that participate in international campaigns.
Human Rights Watch Human Rights Watch prides itself on being the largest human rights organization in the United States. Founded in 1978 as Helsinki Watch, the original purpose was to monitor Soviet bloc countries for violations of the Helsinki accords. Other “Watch” groups with similar agendas, such as Americas Watch, were established in the 1980s. Finally, in 1988, all of these groups were united to form Human Rights Watch, or HRW. The organization’s headquarters is in New York, but it has satellite offices both domestically and abroad, from Los Angeles to Moscow.48 The essential activity of HRW is reporting.
Human Rights Watch sends
researchers all over the world to conduct investigations and statistical analysis about human rights abuses. The results of these investigations are then published in books and reports, with the intent of generating in depth coverage in the local and global media. By publicizing human rights violations, HRW hopes to embarrass governments perpetuating them and hold these governments accountable to their citizens and the world. HRW professionals conduct meetings with national governments and through the United Nations system to press for concrete changes. In cases of extreme conflagrations, HRW provides detailed reports of the situation, and collects the accounts of refugees and other persons affected by these conflicts. By creating awareness of human rights violations, the organization hopes to eradicate them.49 The organization prides itself on the impartiality of its reporting. HRW reports the abuses of both governments and rebels, and even on violations of human rights, regardless of the nation in question. The organization believes that international human rights standards are relevant to all of the world’s citizens, with no group being exempt. 48
“About Human Rights Watch,” Human Rights Watch, www.hrw.org/about/whoweare.html, Accessed: 18 March 2004. 49 Ibid.
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A touchstone of HRW’s accurate reporting is the organizations independence. Financial support comes from the donations of ordinary citizens and private foundations alone. HRW does not accept any money from governments or government funded agencies. The core belief of Human Rights Watch is that certain basic rights are accorded to all people, and these rights apply to all people equally. Through awareness of human rights abuses, HRW believes that they can be stopped before they escalate, and the tragedies of the 20th Century will not become those of the 21st Century. A campaign that Human Rights Watch has lead successfully is the establishment of an international coalition which pressed for a treaty prohibiting children from serving as soldiers. At the time, based on the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the minimum age for child soldiers was fifteen. Based largely upon HRW’s efforts, the Optional Protocol of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child has increased this age to eighteen. HRW, along with international partners, won the Noble Peace Prize in 1997 for their efforts in the international movement to ban landmines. Testimony and reports collected by HRW has helped capture and in some cases, indict, human rights violators ranging from former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, to former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, to perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda to justice.50 In its briefing to the 60th Session of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights (UNHCHR), HRW focused on the need to defend human rights even in the age of the war against terror. HRW believes that the War on Terror creates a threat to the Commission’s credibility. Many countries around the world have cracked down on the civil liberties of their citizens as part of counter terrorist measures. HRW also criticizes the Security Council for failing to address human rights concerns in its counter-terrorism resolutions. HRW urges the Commission on Human Rights to appoint a monitor for the safeguarding of human rights in counter-terrorist measures. HRW is also lobbying for the Commission on Human Rights to develop a resolution codifying the relevance of international human rights law to counter-terrorism 50
Ibid.
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measures.51 By reporting to the UNCHR, HRW fulfills its goals of creating awareness of human rights abuses world wide.
51
“Briefing to the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights,� HRW, http://hrw.org/un/unchr60.htm, Accessed: 12 April 2004.
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International Committee of the Red Cross The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an organization that strives for neutral and impartial humanitarian intervention.
From its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the
ICRC has the mandate of the international community to act as the defender of international humanitarian law. The ICRC is in a sense the parent organization of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies throughout the world. The Committee works with states to achieve mutual goals but maintains that its independence is necessary to truly help the victims of armed conflict.52 Despite the era of “peace” that has followed the Second World War, armed conflict remains a prominent aspect of human events. The ICRC was founded in 1863, and the stated goal of the organization is to “preserve a measure of humanity in the midst of war” because “even in war there are limits.”53 According to their website, “The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.”54
Fundamental principles of the ICRC include: impartiality, neutrality,
independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.55 The organizational reach of the ICRC broad: there is a staff of 1,200, including operational delegations that help people in the field, as well as 100 million members and volunteers that are a part of the International Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement.56 The Red Cross is further represented by countless regional organizations that have undertaken
52
“About the ICRC: Discover the ICRC,” ICRC, http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/section_discover_the_icrc?OpenDocument, Accessed: 20 March 2004. 53 Discover the ICR, ICRC Productions, March 2001, http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/p0790/$File/ICRC_002_0790.PDF!Open, Accessed: 20 March 2004, 2. 54 Ibid, 13. 55 Ibid, 9. 56 Ibid, 8.
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the mission of the global organization. It is often these smaller bodies that respond to smaller humanitarian crises, including fires and natural disasters. How does the ICRC define a conflict? An international armed conflict involves the armed forces of at least two States. A non-international armed conflict is a confrontation within the territory of one State between the regular armed forces and identifiable armed groups, or between armed groups. Internal disturbances occur when the State uses armed force to restore and maintain order, without there being a fully fledged armed conflict.
The Geneva Conventions form the baseline for the ICRC’s mandate for action. The status of the organization is delineated in both the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Additional
Protocols
Conventions of 1977.
to
the
Geneva
These international
documents give the ICRC immunity from legal proceedings and freedom of action from the Swiss government. Immunity is necessary for
Internal tension occurs when, in the absence of internal disturbances, force is used as a preventive measure to maintain law and order.
the ICRC to fulfill its mission because the
http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/html all/p0790/$File/ICRC_002_0790.PDF
the political beliefs or ethnic creed of victims of
ICRC provides humanitarian aid regardless of armed conflict:
the ICRC will provide
humanitarian assistance to groups in opposition of their governments, if necessary. Legal immunity protects ICRC workers from governments who may wish to stifle such efforts. The International Committee for the Red Cross works very closely with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), a global confederation of humanitarian organizations that promotes the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The movement share similar missions and goals, but it should be noted that regional Red Cross and Red Crescent societies are members of the the IFRC and not of the ICRC. What distinguishes the ICRC from the rest of the movement is the role as an impartial source of humanitarian aid in armed conflicts, as opposed to social and health based programs.57 The Red Cross emblem originated as the reverse of the Swiss flag. However, the emblem serves an important role in the ICRC’s mission. Since the emblem is so widely 57
Ibid, 10.
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recognizable, it can be used as both a protective and indicative device. Misuse of the emblem is a great problem from the ICRC because it undermines the effectiveness of its mission.58 International Humanitarian Law is codified in the Geneva Conventions. Humanitarian Law differs from Human Rights Law in that it deals with the way armed conflict is conducted, and seeks to mitigate its effects.59 International Humanitarian Law, according to the ICRC, can be summarized in that civilians in the region of an armed conflict, as well as injured or captured combatants must be treated with all due care.60 The ICRC has a scale for defining the severity of armed conflicts, as listed at right.61 When the ICRC observes a violation of International Humanitarian Law, the first step taken is to alert the relative authorities in a confidential manner. Abuses are to be made public only if it is believed that general awareness will directly help the victims of the infraction. Such a step is considered extreme, and very rare.62 The ICRC is not a reporting organization; the way the ICRC deals with violations of humanitarian law highlights the differences between human rights law and humanitarian law, and consequently a human rights organization, and an organization that deals with the implementation of international law. One of the major tasks of the ICRC is the protection of civilians in times of war, often by communicating with relevant governments and non-governmental authorities to reduce the dangers to which civilians are exposed.
The ICRC seeks to be the
representative of the rights of the victims of armed conflicts, so the organization maintains a physical presence wherever it feels that civilians are at risk. Humanitarian Law focuses on the immunity of the civilian population, yet innocent people are often the victims of massacres, sexual violence, and expulsion.63 Assistance to conflict victims needs to be multi-faceted to meet the needs of a new era. The ICRC works on providing 58
Ibid, 12. Ibid, 17. 60 Ibid, 14. 61 Ibid, 15. 62 Ibid, 17. 63 Ibid, 20. 59
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economic security, access to safe living conditions and clean water, as well as basic health services. The ICRC is the administrator of many funds for international humanitarian purposes, such as the Paul Reuter Fund, the French Fund Maurice de Madre, and the Empress Shoken Fund. The Paul Reuter Fund supports the development of publications discussing international humanitarian law. The French Fund helps families of the ICRC who are in difficult circumstances, and the Empress Fund sustains humanitarian relief in peace time.64 Funding for the ICRC comes from states who have signed the Geneva Conventions, national societies, and other private and public sources. There are no dues to the ICRC; all funding is completely voluntary. When immediate action is needed, the ICRC operates in a conflict region, relying on further contributions to cover the extra cost of the emergency. The budget of the ICRC in 2003 was USD $111 million. Of this amount, 62.44 per cent is demarked for field support and 26.54 per cent is for the endorsement of international humanitarian law. About forty per cent of the field budget is used for programs in Africa.65 By operating with a large budget in a wide variety of geographical arenas, the ICRC works to fulfill its mandate as the global guardian of International Humanitarian Law.
International Institute for Sustainable Development International Institute for Sustainable Development contributes to sustainable development by advancing policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change, measurement and assessment and natural resource management. Since the Institutes’ founding in 1990, decision makers in government, business, NGOs and other sectors continue to develop innovative ways to
64
“About the ICRC: Funds and Medals,” ICRC, http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/funds_medals?OpenDocument, Accessed: 8 April 2004. 65 “About the ICRC: Financing and Budget,” ICRC, http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/section_finances_and_budget?OpenDocument, Accessed: 8 April 2004.
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promote sustainable development.66Although a Canadian based organization, funding for IISD is increasingly international and financed through grants for specific projects. By dividing the institute to work in five strategic objective areas, IISD engages decision makers in a variety of areas. IISD continues research in Climate Change and Energy; Measurement and Indicators; Trade and Investment; Natural Resources Management; and Economic Policy. The two strategic functions of IISD are Reporting Services and Knowledge Communications. These teams cover international negotiations and research on sustainable development.67
Norwegian Refugee Council Since 1946 the Norwegian Refugee Council, a private foundation, has worked t o protect refugee and displaced people. They recognize that aid strategies and international protection need improvement, and make efforts through distribution, legal aid, shelter, and education.68 NRC tries to use local labor to rebuild houses, hospitals, and schools to try to stabilize societies plagued by war. The NRC was originally created as Help for Europe, an organization focusing on the refugee problems in postWorld War Two Europe.
NRC later focused on Africa,
helping the continent normalizes after de-colonization and the resulting wars.69The Council continued to work wherever help was needed, including with refugees from Tibet, the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Latin America. Part of their contribution was working with other organizations and UN agencies to improve camps for refugees and displaced persons.70 The Global IDP Project was established by NRC in 1996 to assist in improving the conditions for internally displaced people. The Project provides training to aid agencies, 66
“About IISD, ” IISD, http://www.iisd.org/about/ Accessed: 22 July 2006. Ibid. 68 “Norwegian Refugee Council: How We Work,” Norwegian Refugee Council, http://www.nrc.no/NRC/eng/frames/info.htm, Accessed: 20 August 2005. 69 “NRC History,” Norwegian Refugee Council, http://www.nrc.no/NRC/eng/frames/history.htm, Accessed: 21 August 2005. 70 Ibid. 67
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security forces, local authorities, and the IDP community in order to organize the efforts to address internal displacement.71 The NRC recognized the information gap regarding displaced people, and in 1998 conducted the first global survey of internal displacement to assess the needs of IDPs in different regions. The Global IDP Project was developed and created an online information system to serve as a database on internal displacement.72
Oxfam International Oxfam International is a confederation of twelve regional organizations that believes that the causes of poverty are global in nature, and therefore require a global solution. Oxfam programs include lobbying for policy changes, humanitarian responses to conflict areas, and implementation of development assistance. The organization prides itself on its “Tri-fold Approach” as explained below.73 “United for a More Equitable World” is the title of Oxfam’s 2002 annual report, which gives a sketch of all of the programs in which Oxfam is involved, and what the organization believes to be its greatest successes. Oxfam’s mission is to place economic and social justice at the top of the global agenda. Priorities in this field include the ability for all people to earn a sustainable livelihood, access basic social services, have security in their homes, persons, and property. Oxfam strives to give marginalized people a voice, and to achieve equal rights for women and religious and ethnic minorities.74 Oxfam works to help shape and take part in the emerging global citizen’s movement. Using the internet as a tool to bring people together and spread awareness about a variety of geographically diverse issues, Oxfam has pioneered the “e-action” and 71
“The Global IDP Project,” The Global IDP Project, http://www.idpproject.org/about_the_project.htm, Accessed: 21 August 2005. 72 Ibid. 73 “About Us,” Oxfam International, http://www.oxfam.org/eng/about.htm, Accessed: 18 March 2004. 74 “United for a More Equitable World: Annual Report 2002,” Oxfam International, 2, http://www.oxfam.org/eng/pdfs/annual_report_2002.pdf, Accessed: 18 March 2004.
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“e-campaign” fronts, allowing quick dissemination of its message, and broad penetration for its announcements. In 2002, Oxfam was also working on improving quality within its own organization, and to increase transparency.75 One of Oxfam’s most effective campaigns has been the Make Trade Fair initiative, launched in April 2002. A cornerstone of the campaign has been the report, “Rigged Rules and Double Standards,” which focuses on the trade policies of wealthy nations especially in relation to agriculture.
Oxfam
Oxfam International’s Tri-Fold Approach 1) work with poor people to help them create changes in their local communities; 2) to influence people in positions of power, by lobbying for policy changes on an international level; and 3) to “join hands with all people’ by working with civil society to raise awareness about poverty, inspire positive change and create a sense of global citizenship.
believes that free trade is little more than a tool
http://www.oxfam.org/eng/about.htm
occur, it needs to be demanded by both the rich
and the poor.
for wealthy nations to manipulate the economic policies of smaller countries. While the tenets of free trade include breaking down protectionist barriers, rich nations often implement those policies
against
smaller
nations.
The
organization believes that for change to actually
The hallmark of the Make Trade Fair campaign is the website
“www.maketradefair.com,” which Oxfam describes as a “multi-lingual, interactive” website.76 Oxfam believes that trade is a powerful force that unites people all over the world, and moreover has a tremendous ability to alleviate poverty. Oxfam differs from other poverty relief organizations in that it believes in fair trade. The organization maintains that trade is not inherently working against the needs of the poor, only the rules that govern trade. For example, according to Oxfam, the protective tariffs encountered by developing countries when they export to rich countries are four times as high as the tariffs developed countries face when they export goods to poor countries.77 Oxfam has 75
Ibid, 3. Ibid, 4. 77 “Introduction,” Rigged Rules and Double Standards: Trade, Globalization and the Fight Against Poverty, Oxfam International, http://www.maketradefair.com/en/index.php?file=03042002121618.htm&cat=2&subcat=6&select=1, Accessed: 31 March 2004. 76
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coined the term, “ethical globalization” and hopes to unleash the forces of trade and globalization to improve a worldwide standard of living. A keystone of Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign is the “BIG NOISE” petition, described as a “unique collection of sounds and signatures.” So far, they have collected almost five million signatures. Another e-Action campaign that took place in 2002 allowed 40,000 people to act against the Nestle Corporation in their USD $6 million compensation claim against the Ethiopian government. Nestle reduced its demand to USD $1.5 million which it promised to invest in famine relief in Ethiopia.78 With offices in both New York and Geneva, Oxfam has a lot of potential for global outreach, with access to both the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Oxfam works in partnership with local agencies to help individuals at the grassroots level. One such program was for flood rehabilitation in Cambodia. By working directly with a local agency, relief funds were received by the people who needed them the most, and local activists had the benefit of all of Oxfam’s resources.
Third World Network The Third World Network is concerned with issues relating to development and disparities between the North and the South. The terms North and South are often used by the global NGO community to describe the divide between industrialized rich nations in the North, and developing, rural nations in the South. It should be noted that for example Australia, located in the South, is considered part of the North. The Third World Network (TWN) is an independent not-for-profit organization that networks with regional groups and agencies, and is primarily a research organization. This research serves as the basis for a platform to represent the perspective of the South at UN conferences and international forums.79
78 79
“Annual Report,” 6. “Intoduction,” Third World Network, http://www.twnside.org.sg/twnintro.htm, Accessed: 12 April 2004.
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TWN has an international secretariat based in Penang, Malaysia, but also has satellite offices in a variety of locations such as Delhi, India, Montevideo, Uruguay, Accra, Ghana, and Geneva, Switzerland. Related organizations are located in a wide variety of Southern countries, such as Thailand, Peru, the Philippines, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Senegal, as well as many others. Although the organization attempts to represent an authentic Southern voice, it also has cooperative relations with several Northern organizations. 80 The primary publications of TWN are Third World Resurgence, Third World Economics, SUNS Bulletin, and the TWN Features Service. Resurgence is a monthly publication running the gamut of issues relating to North-South relations and development, Economics focuses on events at the World Bank and the WTO and how they intersect with third world issues. The Bulletin is a daily briefing on development issues published in Switzerland, and Features provides weekly updates to the media.81 One of the major campaigns of TWN is a letter titled “WE THE PEOPLES [sic] Believe Another World is Possible.” The emphasis on the phrase “we the peoples” is an allusion to the United Nations Charter of 1945. This founding document of the UN buttresses the equality of all people in all countries, regardless of size. The organizers of the campaign believe that the emphasis on people as the mandate of the United Nations and international conferences has been forgotten in the wake of corporate globalization. TWN disagrees with the declining influence of the United Nations while global economic institutions, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization gain influence in the global arena.82 TWN cites the “financial ransom” of the United Nations secretariat as part of the problem. They believe that it is inappropriate to ask polluters to develop dialogue about
80
Ibid. Ibid. 82 “WE THE PEOPLES Believe Another World is Possible,” Third World Network, http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/people.htm, Accessed: 12 April 2004. 81
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environmentally friendly growth, and that doing so undermines states’ abilities to effectively represent the needs and interests of their citizens.83 TWN believes in “citizens’ sustainable development,” a concept defined by a respect for local culture, indigenous knowledge, true balance with nature, and goals and outcomes that assist local communities. The message that a better world is possible is reaffirmed; by transforming corporate globalization, TWN wants to return global institutions and the ecosystem of this planet to the peoples of the earth. The goals enumerated in this effort include: changing the course of corporate driven globalization, rejecting technologies that endanger nature, disavowing the fact that nature can be patented, reaffirming the rights of indigenous communities, and re-appropriating national governments and the United Nations from corporate takeover.84 TWN cites examples of the sustainable livelihood initiatives that have emerged throughout the third world, in countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The Network believes in the power of people to democratically organize initiatives of positive change.85 TWN also researches many global issues as they relate to the third world, such as human rights, environmental perspectives, women’s issues, peace and security, and the global financial crisis.
World Conservation Union The World Conservation Union is also known as IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The World Conservation Union works with the World Heritage Centre, part of UNESCO. The World Heritage Centre was established to identify sites of world heritage and culture that are in need of protection. These sites hold “tangible” culture, which includes art, architecture, and even environmental landscapes. The World Conservation Union has its 83
Ibid. Ibid. 85 “We the Peoples: Related Article,” Third World Network, http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/twr139j.htm, Accessed: 12 April 2004. 84
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headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, but works with 82 states, 111 government agencies, and 800 NGOs to influence and encourage the conservation of nature.86 The Union and its partners believe that natural resources need to be conserved to maintain ecological stability, wildlife diversity, and sustainable supply.87 The Union’s program includes protecting species and ecosystems, preventing climate change, and working with the law and social policy to further its mission of conservation.88 Most recently, the Union has given policy advice to the UN organizations and international conventions. Additionally, the World Conservation Union monitors a list of endangered species. Part of the commitment to prevent climate change is promoting the enforcement of the Kyoto Protocol. The Union pressures governments that ratify the Kyoto Protocol to implement it effectively, which is only the first step to reducing climate change. The Union recognizes that further cuts in emissions are necessary to have a significant change on the environment’s deterioration.89
World Economic Forum The self-defined purpose of World Economic Forum is that the organization is “committed to improving the state of the world.” Klaus Schwab, WEF’s founder and Executive Chairman, said, “Today, no one government or company or group, working alone, can solve a major issue. They all have to work together.”90 By recognizing that cooperation is the only way to achieve goals, the WEF works to foster such cooperation in order to properly shape global and regional economic agendas.
Since the
organization’s inception in 1971 in Geneva, Switzerland, the WEF serves as a catalyst for shaping the global agenda, regional agendas, and industry agendas. 86
“IUCN overview,” IUCN- World Conservation Union, http://www.iucn.org/en/about, Accessed: 18 August 2005. Ibid. 88 Ibid. 89 “Reducing Emissions,” World Conservation Union, http://www.iucn.org/themes/climate/reducing-emissions.htm, Accessed: 20 August 2005. 90 “About WEF,” World Economic Forum, http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf, Accessed: 15 August 2005. 87
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WEF is committed to sustainable development that is based on the cyclical relationship between economic progress and social development, maintaining the belief that neither is possible or stable without the other. The Forum cites education as a primary means toward their goals. Those most knowledgeable about a subject should have a rigorous and continuous dialogue in order to successfully shape solutions to economic problems.
WEF deals with a vast array of issues, including creating better
and more accessible health care, expanding the use and availability of information technology, and the preservation of clean water resources. Although economics and economic concerns are at the core of the organization, these diverse projects exhibit how many problems and solutions may be interconnected.
Business partnerships will
accelerate the progress of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals of 2015. At the Annual Meeting 2006, participants detailed new projects in disaster relief, hunger, anticorruption, financing for the development and public-private partnerships.91
World Wildlife Fund International The World Wildlife Fund celebrated 40 years of environmental preservation and conservation in 2001. In 1960, British biologist Sir Julian Huxley was shocked to find formerly inhabited parts of Africa barren of wildlife, which prompted him to demand attention toward the plummeting animal population.
Together with businessmen,
government, and other organizations, fundraising took place to create the WWF. The objective of WWF has always been to save species, but the approach has changed over the years. In the beginning, efforts were more localized and dealt with a single species, while today technology allows them to work on a more global scale. Dr. Claude Martin, the Director General of WWF International, best explains how the goals of the organization 91
“WEF Annual Meeting 2006” World Economic Forum, http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Annual+Meeting+2006 Accessed: 8 May 2006.
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“Our objectives have never been
clearer—slow climate change, reduce toxins in the environment, protect our oceans and fresh waters, stop deforestation, and save species,” she said. The first four tactics are part of the measures to enforce
33 Partners of WWF--Multilateral Agencies • European Union • The Global Environment Facility • The World Bank • United Nations Development Program • The Asian Development Bank
the last, saving species. WWF has defined those priorities to achieve its goals, and the organization is present in every continent, including the Arctic. In August 2005 WWF partnered with Epson, a global imaging product company, to start a research and education program on conservation of China’s Pearl River.92 Other recent projects include protection of the forests and wildlife in Indonesia, bringing attention to the condition of the Baltic Sea, and preserving the cork trees of Portugal.93 WWF and its goals of conservation and preservation tie into a states’ or region’s economic interests. For example, Portugal is the largest producer of cork, 70 per cent of which is used for the world’s cork stoppers for wine and champagne. Climate change has led to desertification, causing many farmers to leave their land. The abandoned property and its neighbors are susceptible to fires and the expensive resulting damage. WWF has partnered with other groups to replant cork trees and create methods for growing successful crops with less water in order to combat the negative effects of climate change.94
92
“WWF and Epson Launch Program to Protect China’s Pearl River,” WWF Newsroom, http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/news.cfm?uNewsID=22491, Accessed: 17 August 2005. 93 “Environmental News,” WWF Newsroom, http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm, Accessed 17 August 2005. 94 “Preserving Portugal’s Cork Heritage for the Next Generation,” WWF Newsroom, http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/opinions/news.cfm?uNewsID=22370, 17 August 2005.
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Works Cited “2005 Annual Report in Brief.” Africare. http://www.africare.org/about/annualreport/2005/index.html Accessed:10 May 2006 “25 Years: Serving the Cause of Understanding.” Legacy International. http://www.legacyintl.org/aboutus.htm Accessed: 20 July 2006. “About Africare.” Africare. http://www.africare.org/about/about.html Accessed: 10 May 2006. “About Amnesty International.” Amnesty International. http://web.amnesty.org/pages/aboutai-index-eng. Accessed: 8 May 2006. “About CARE.” CARE International. http://www.care.org/about/index.asp Accessed: 9 May 2006. “About GEA.” Global Education Associates. http://www.globaleduc.org/About2.shtml Accessed: 12 May 2006. “About GPF.” GPF. http://www.globalpolicy.org/visitctr/about.htm. Accessed: 26 April 2004. “About Greenpeace,” Greenpeace International, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about Accessed: 20 July 2006. “About Human Rights Watch.” Human Rights Watch. www.hrw.org/about/whoweare.html. Accessed: 18 March 2004. “About the Earth Council,” The Earth Council, http://www.ecouncil.ac.cr/about/ Accessed: 10 May 2006 “About the ICRC: Discover the ICRC.” ICRC. http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/section_discover_the_icrc?Ope nDocument. Accessed: 20 March 2004. “About the ICRC: Financing and Budget.” ICRC. http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/section_finances_and_budget? OpenDocument. Accessed: 8 April 2004.
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“About the ICRC: Funds and Medals.” ICRC. http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/funds_medals?OpenDocument. Accessed: 8 April 2004. “About IPPNW.” International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. http://www.ippnw.org/IPPNWBackground.html. Accessed: 20 August 2005. “About Us.” Oxfam International. http://www.oxfam.org/eng/about.htm. Accessed: 18 March 2004. “About WEF.” World Economic Forum. http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf. Accessed: 15 August 2005. “Affiliates and Partnerships: Philippine Council for Peace and Global Education.” Global Education Associates. http://www.globaleduc.org/Affiliates4.shtml Accessed: 12 May 2006. “Africare at Work.” Africare. http://www.africare.org/at_work/at_work.html Accessed: 10 May 2006 “Background and History,” The Earth Council, http://www.ecouncil.ac.cr/about/backgrnd.htm Accessed: 10 May 2006 “Briefing to the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.” HRW. http://hrw.org/un/unchr60.htm. Accessed: 12 April 2004. “Campaigns,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/campaigns/index.asp Accessed: 9 May 2006 “CARE History,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/about/history.asp Accessed: 9 May 2006 “CARE USA 2005 Annual Report,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/newsroom/publications/annualreports/ Accessed: 9 May 2005 Discover the ICR. ICRC Productions. March 2001. http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/p0790/$File/ICRC_002_0790.P DF!Open. Accessed: 20 March 2004. “Environmental News.” WWF Newsroom. http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/index.cfm. Accessed 17 August 2005.
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“Establishing a system of International Justice to End Impunity.” Amnesty International. http://web.amnesty.org/pages/int_jus. Accessed: 5 April 2004. “Facts and Figures: The Work of Amnesty International.” Amnesty International, http:// web.amnesty.org/pages/aboutai-facts-eng. Accessed: 18 March 2004. Fasulo, Linda. An Insider’s Guide to the UN. Yale University Press, 2004. “Financial Information,” CARE International, http://www.care.org/about/990.asp, Accessed: 9 May 2006 Fowler, Alan. “Civil Society. NGOs and Social Development: Changing the Rules of the Game.” UNRISD. Geneva 2000 Occasional Paper No. 1. January 2000. 4. “Frequently Asked Questions.” GPF. http://www.globalpolicy.org/visitctr/about/faq.htm. Accessed: 26 April 2004. Gidley, Ruth. “Donor Input into Aid Operations Growing.” Alertnet. 24 January 2003. http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/fund/0124donor.htm. Accessed: 23 February 2004 “Global Policy Forum Publications.” GPF. http://www.globalpolicy.org/resource/pubs/index.htm. Accessed: 26 April 2004. “Intoduction.” Third World Network. http://www.twnside.org.sg/twnintro.htm. Accessed: 12 April 2004. “Introduction.” Rigged Rules and Double Standards: Trade. Globalization and the Fight Against Poverty. Oxfam International. http://www.maketradefair.com/en/index.php?file=03042002121618.htm&cat=2&s ubcat=6&select=1. Accessed: 31 March 2004. “IUCN overview.” IUCN- World Conservation Union. http://www.iucn.org/en/about. Accessed: 18 August 2005. McDermott, Anthony. The New Politics of Funding the UN. St. Martin’s Press. Inc.: 2000. New York. New York. “Norwegian Refugee Council: How We Work.” Norwegian Refugee Council. http://www.nrc.no/NRC/eng/frames/info.htm. Accessed: 20 August 2005.
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“NRC History.” Norwegian Refugee Council. http://www.nrc.no/NRC/eng/frames/history.htm. Accessed: 21 August 2005. Opel, Andy and Donnalyn Pompper, Eds. Representing Resistance: Media, Civil Disobedience, and the Global Justice Movement. Praeger Publishers: 2003. Westport, Connecticut. Pastore. John O. “A Nuke-Free World is Within Reach.” International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. http://www.ippnw.org/IPPNWNewsRel.html#NMDOpEd. Accessed: 20 August 2005. Pastore. John O. “Beware the ‘Bunker Buster’ Reality.” International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War. http://www.ippnw.org/IPPNWNewsRel.html#DealertPost. Accessed: 20 August 2005. “Preserving Portugal’s Cork Heritage for the Next Generation.” WWF Newsroom. http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/opinions/news.cfm?uNewsID=22370 . Accessed: 17 August 2005. “Program Spending by Sector.” Africare. http://www.africare.org/about/annualreport/2005/Workbook2.jpg Accessed: 10 May 2006 “Questions About Greenpeace in General,” Greenpeace International, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about/faq/questions-about-greenpeace-in Accessed: 20 July 2006. “Reducing Emissions.” World Conservation Union. http://www.iucn.org/themes/climate/reducing-emissions.htm. Accessed: 20 August 2005. Sandbrook, Richard, Ed. Civilizing Globalization: A Survival Guide. SUNY Press: 2003. Albany, New York. “The Global IDP Project.” The Global IDP Project. http://www.idpproject.org/about_the_project.htm. Accessed: 21 August 2005.
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“Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” United Nations General Assembly Resolution 217 A (III). 10 December 1948, http://web.amnesty.org/pages/aboutai-udhr-eng. Accessed: 5 April 2004. “United for a More Equitable World: Annual Report 2002.” Oxfam International. http://www.oxfam.org/eng/pdfs/annual_report_2002.pdf. Accessed: 18 March 2004. “WE THE PEOPLES Believe Another World is Possible.” Third World Network. http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/people.htm. Accessed: 12 April 2004. “We the Peoples: Related Article.” Third World Network. http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/twr139j.htm. Accessed: 12 April 2004. “WEF Annual Meeting 2006” World Economic Forum, http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Annual+Meeting+2006 Accessed: 8 May 2006. “What is the CTBT?” BBC News. 5 January 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/1102500.stm. Accessed: 16 August 2005. “Working with NGOs: Funding Issues,” BSDGlobal, 6 May 2003, http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/fund/2003/0506issues.htm, Accessed: 23 February 2004. “WWF and Epson Launch Program to Protect China’s Pearl River.” WWF Newsroom. http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/news.cfm?uNewsID=22491. Accessed: 17 August 2005.