"Activities News"

From Maria Helena Pimenta de Mello
President of ANASC-BRASIL

It is with our deepest sorrow that ANASC-BRAZIL has the most unpleasant duty to inform that Sonia Ballalai Nery has passed away. She was our Vice-President and our dearest friend and collaborator. We beseech the 'Sacré-Coeur family' to join us in a prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so that Sonia may rest in eternal peace under the loving care of Mater, her greatest devotion.

From the rscj NGO office at the UN

MDG #2: Achieving Universal Primary Education
In Millennium Development Goal # 2 world leaders pledged to “ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling” by 2015. Important as this goal is, it does not address the quality of education. The following two resources might be of interest to those interested in concrete actions in relation to education (for example by subscribing to news e-alerts, participating in e-discussions and/or consultations, or joining a global action week).
Education for All
UNESCO - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - is the UN agency for education <http://www.unesco.org> and coordinates the international efforts to reach Education for All (EFA). Education for All is a global movement committed to provide quality basic education for all children, youth and adults.
For more information about EFA, see <http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46881&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html>
Each year, EFA publishes its Global Monitoring Report which assesses progress countries have made on their commitment to provide basic education for all by 2015. The 2007 Global Monitoring Report can be found at <http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=49591&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html>
Global Campaign for Education
The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) was founded in 1999 and brings together major NGOs and teachers’ unions from around the world. In addition to the GCE principles, the web site mentions what actions the international community, governments in the South, the World Bank and governments in the North, as well as civil society organizations can take locally to implement the Education for All goals and strategies. For more information about the Global Campaign for Education, see <http://www.campaignforeducation.org> Here you can also find information about the Global Action Week which is held in April of each year.

Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has launched a new global tree planting campaign called Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign. Everybody, whether an individual, a family, school, church or other local community, along with businesses, industries, governments and/or civil society organizations, is invited to plant trees for the health and future of our planet earth. The goal is to plant at least one billion trees around the world in 2007. For more information see Billion Tree Campaign where you can also enter a pledge to plant. <http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/>

Art Children
To commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17) and the First Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (1997-2006), the United Nations invites children from around the world to participate in an art competition to design a Unites Nations stamp on the theme “We can end poverty”. Children between 5-15 years are eligible. The deadline to send in designs is 30 June 2007.

For more information about the competition and its rules, see UN Children's Art Competition. <http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/art/>