ecocide

UNOG Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East

Dear Representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) accredited at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG),

The United Nations Information Service in Geneva has the honour to invite you to the forthcoming 2022 United Nations International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East. This annual seminar will be held in room XXVI at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland, on 3 and 4 November 2022, in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Over two days, participants will discuss a range of issues, such as how to protect journalists covering the conflict, how political news are eclipsing the coverage of economic challenges, and which are the opportunities and challenges for young journalists in the region. For over two decades, the media seminar has created a platform to enhance dialogue and understanding between Palestinian and Israeli media practitioners and to foster and encourage their contribution in support of peace efforts.

Participants will include His Excellency Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations in New York, and His Excellency Mr. Cheikh Niang, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations in New York and Chair of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, as well as several respected journalists, academics and UN representatives.

Ms. Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications and Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, will open the seminar, together with His Excellency Ambassador Wolfgang Amadeus Brülhart, Swiss Envoy for the Middle East and North Africa.

Registration for this event is now open under this link https://indico.un.org/event/1002079/.

With best regards,

NGO Liaison Unit

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Language and Languages, please email the co-chairs at tonkin@hartford.edu or fmhult@umbc.edu. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP.

Ending impunity for severe housing rights violations – should domicide be recognized as an international crime?

Virtual side event – 77th session of the UN General Assembly 27 October 2022, 13:15-14:30 EST 

Massive violations of the right to adequate housing continue in unprecedented fashion during and after violent conflict. The attacking, bombing and shelling of civilian targets and the destruction of entire cities and villages – displacing millions into homelessness – have continued unabated despite the development of modern human rights and humanitarian law. While international law outlaws all forms of arbitrary destruction of housing, arbitrary displacement, forced evictions and other serious and large-scale violations of the right to adequate housing, there is an alarming continuity of gross violations of the right to adequate housing in times of conflict. Those severe human rights violations have been largely met with impunity.

In his report to the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Mr. Balakrishnan Rajagopal (A/77/190) argues to recognize systematic or widespread violations of the right to adequate housing as domicide, a crime against humanity of its own standing. The Special Rapporteur urges the international community to enhance its efforts to prevent and respond to such egregious human rights violations. Gross violations of the right to adequate housing should be investigated and prosecuted with similar effort as any other systematic or widespread human rights violation irrespectively where they take place. Similarly, Mr. Rajagopal suggested to ban the use explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas through a binding international treaty.

This side event provides will discuss his recommendations to prevent domicide and explore opportunities for ending impunity of severe housing rights violations.

Register here!

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Family, please visit ngofamilyny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit ngocdps.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP.

Towards Environmental Justice: The Role of the Legally Binding Instrument for Business Accountability in Combatting the Triple Planetary Crisis

On Oct. 25, please join Franciscans International for this side event during the 8th session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and human rights.

Panelists will discuss specific local cases and recent developments such as the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment to explore how the current draft text of the legally binding instrument may serve to mitigate the triple planetary crisis and hold corporations accountable.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K0bBCBYjRHylqmFKzQIPDg

Speakers:

  • Erika Mendes (Justiça Ambiental / Friends of the Earth Mozambique) on gas projects in Cabo Delgado
  • Viviana Tacha (Centro Sociojurídico para la Defensa Territorial) on the La Colosa Mine in Colombia
  • Layla Hughes (Lawyer and Consultant) on the impact of oil and gas industries in the United States
  • Debbie Stothard (ALTSEAN – Burma)
  • David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment

Interpretation available in English, Español, and Português.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com

NGO Briefing by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights & Office for Disarmament Affairs

Dear Colleagues,
On Thursday October 27th our NGO Committee on Human Rights and the NGO Committee on Disarmament will be meeting from 1 pm to 4 pm in the Church Center’s 10th floor.
During this meeting the Director of the UN NY Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Craig Mokhiber, will be available to respond to specific concerns and/or questions. Please send these to bobbinassar@yahoo.om by Friday, October 21st.
Senior Political Affairs Officer, Christopher King, from the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs will join us. Additional speakers focusing on challenges of migration and displacement will be announced shortly.
Our last half hour will focus on plans for both the NGO Committee on Human Rights and the NGO Committee on Disarmament.
All are welcome!

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@yahoo.com or bknotts@uua.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace, and Security, please visit  ngocdps.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Children’s Rights/NY, please visit childrightsny.org. For more information on NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, please email the vice chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com.

SPSSI’s 75th Anniversary Celebration

Program will include remarks from:
  • Ambassador Maritza Chan, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations 
  • Mr. Rio Hada, Chief of the Equality, Development, and Rule of Law Section, UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights – NYC  
  • Lily Gray, Senior Liaison Officer, UNESCO  
  • Daniel Seymour, UN Women 
  • Levi Bautista, President, CoNGO  
  • Patrick Sciarratta, President, Global NGO Executive Committee 
  • Houry Geudelekian, NGO Committee on the Status of Women
This is an invitation-only event. If you plan to bring a guest, please ask them to RSVP to this invitation as well so that they will be on the guest list (or RSVP for them separately after you submit your own RSVP).

Please RSVP here by the end of the day on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN. For more information on the NGO Committee on Mental Health, please visit ngomentalhealth.org.

Science, Spirituality, Solidarity: Weaving Interconnections for Change

On Oct. 20, you are invited to join the Temple of Understanding – in collaboration with Marble Collegiate Church – for FORUM2022!

FORUM2022 is a call to action on the global crisis facing humanity and all life on planet Earth. Connecting the variable causes of the climate crisis, our speakers bring together ancient wisdom and modern science to address this time of severe destruction with positive and effective solutions.

Program

Distinguished 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, will open FORUM2022 with traditional Native American Sioux prayers.

“Earth Democracy: Sustainability and Justice” Keynote dialogue between Bill McKibben and Dr. Vandana Shiva will expound upon the era of unrestricted capitalism and inspire us to embrace a moral and spiritual perspective for restoring our bio-system.

Prayers will be offered for the global ecological crisis by several world religious leaders:

  • The Rev. Sally Bingham, Canon for the Environment for the Diocese of California, or you can use founder and President Emerita, Interfaith Power and Light. (Christian)
  • Imam Saffet Catovic, Director, Interfaith, Community Alliances, and Government Relations, Islamic Society of North America, Washington, D.C.(Muslim)
  • Rabbi David Rosen, KSG CBE, International Director of Interreligious Affairs, American Jewish Committee (Jewish)
  • Pandit Shukla Ji, Hindu Priest, Hindu Samaj Mandir Mahwah, New Jersey (Hindu)

“Sacred Soil & Sacred Forests” panelists examine the relationship between ancient knowledge and current scientific thinking and present practical solutions for the climate crisis. Ray Archuleta, an American soil scientist, is joined by Irish botanist and author Diana Beresford-Kroeger and Patricia Kombo, passionate environmentalist, founder of the PaTree Initiative, and she is a United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Land Hero, to discuss the crucial importance of healthy soil and vibrant forests for life on our planet, balancing the climate, harnessing water and sustaining food supplies.

A short video will introduce Jerusalem artist Beverly Barkat’s “Earth Poetica,” a phenomenal sculpture constructed from plastic waste collected from around the world, which will be exhibited at New York City’s World Trade Center complex next year.

Panelists on “Caring for our Endangered Oceans and Waterways” analyze the many ways to address the trashing of our oceans, create an international water policy, and tackle ocean warming. Dave Ford, founder of the Ocean Plastics Leadership Network, USA, an activist to industry organization, is joined by David Helvarg, executive director of Blue Frontier, and Dr. Kelsey Leonard, a citizen of the Shinnecock Nation, who is a water scientist, legal scholar, policy expert, writer, and assistant professor, University of Waterloo, Canada.

Co-sponsors 

Interfaith Center of New York, Interfaith Power and Light, Islamic Society of North America, Parliament of the World’s Religions, World Interfaith Network

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bknotts@uua.org or bobbinassar@yahoo.com. 

Smart Solutions for Better Business: Is Your Enterprise Future-Ready?

CACCI is pleased to invite members and friends to join the webinar on “Smart Solutions for Better Business: Is Your Enterprise Future-Ready?” which will be held on October 4, 2022 at 2:00 PM Taipei time (GMT+8).

To register, please visit bit.ly/SmartBizSolutions.

The webinar aims to introduce successful cases of smart solutions in various fields of business. Experts will be invited to present various smart solutions applicable to business and provide the opportunity to discuss potential collaboration among businessmen in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 90-minute session will be moderated by Herman Sameisky, the International Director of Taiwan Smart Solutions Association. Mr. Samiesky is a technical communicator and data analyst who has previously worked for Google and Amazon.

(1) James Chiao, Chairman of the Asian ICT Council at CACCI and the Smart Cities Committee at CIECA-Taiwan; Founding President of Taiwan Smart Solutions Association; and CEO of Smart Cities Consulting, Ltd, Co.  will talk about the COVID-19 Pandemic’s impact on and opportunities for businesses. In particular, he will discuss the digital transformation of businesses, how smart solutions can optimize them, and how glocalization is a win-win business model for international partnerships.

The session will then delve into case studies of smart solutions for businesses.

(2) Joni Kuo, Chairman of Softfoundry International Pte Ltd., will introduce FacePro  “5G+AR Remote Xpert” Smart Service,” which enables experts to remotely guide on-site personnel with 4K ultra-high-definition video from the first perspective and conduct troubleshooting and maintenance, which not only improves maintenance efficiency and ensures safety, but also results in a sharing of expertise and technology.

(3) Shao-Jen Weng, CEO of Healthcare Systems Consortium (HSC), will focus on how hospitals and health systems are positioning their organizations for the future in a post-pandemic world, and the top 10 healthcare industry trends and innovations that impact healthcare companies worldwide.

(4) Bruce King, Marketing Director of GoodLinker Co., Ltd., will look into the two common barriers manufacturing SMEs face in reaching digital transformation to be smarter and more efficient. He will also tackle the benefits of Industry Internet of Thing (IIoT), and the service model with glocalization eco-system. Examples of different industry application cases will also be presented.

(5) The session will conclude with a Q&A.

Please note that registrants will also receive a link to the webinar’s video and presentation documents after the session.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/New York, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Social Development, please visit ngosocdev.org

Gender and Environment Data Alliance [launch event]

Dear colleagues, 

Writing to share an updated invitation to the launch event of the Gender and Environment Data Alliance (GEDA) at our on the margins of the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week! This 1 hour, 15 minute hybrid session will feature speakers from several of GEDA’s co-founding members, including UNFCCC, UNFPA, UN Women, Data2X, and the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO).
Governments, feminist organizations, and other interested attendees will be invited to contribute to the discussion and to collectively identify areas for further research and collaboration at the gender-environment data nexus. 
Kindly note that the event itself will be held in English, but the recording will be shared as a GEDA resource, with subtitles in Spanish and French. More details can be found in the concept note, available here
Co-Conveners: UNFCCC, UNFPA, UN Women, WEDO, and Data2X on behalf of GEDA
Details: Thursday, 22 September, 11am-12:15pm ET (Convert to your time zone here) UNFPA, 605 3rd Ave, between 39th and 40th Streets, Conference Room 5D
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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/NY, please visit ngocsw.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/Vienna, please visit ngocswvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women/Geneva, please visit ngocsw-geneva.ch. For more information on the Committee of Religious NGOs at the United Nations, please visit rngos.wordpress.com. For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Human Rights, please email the co-chairs at bobbinassar@yahoo.com or bknotts@uua.org. 

‘BUILD’ a Better Future: The Intersection of Blockchain and Climate

Polygon believes blockchain sustainability is about more than operating responsibly. They see blockchain as a technology that has the potential to support and scale lasting positive impact on the world. In this session, Sustainability Lead Stefan Renton, will share Polygon’s plans to become a vehicle for climate solutions and its wider net-positive mission.

Register here!

This event is being held as part of The Nest Summit Campus 2022. Partnering with industry leaders to create an inspired, central destination for climate action is at the core of what we do. The Nest Summit Campus, official event partner of Climate Week NYC, brings together like-minded organizations and individuals to educate, inspire, drive change, and spark climate action among businesses, government officials, academia, NGOs, and consumers.

It’s all happening at the Javits Center during Climate Week NYC (September 19 – 23, 2022).

For the full agenda and schedule of events of The Nest Summit Campus, visit here.

Organizers: When like-minded organizations join forces with similar goals and desires – great results happen. This how The Nest Summit was born. Created to advance sustainability, The Nest was founded in 2019 by supporting organizations The Javits Center, NYC & Company, and the Climate Group. The inaugural event attracted many organizations eager to share their important research and proved to be a successful networking center during Climate Week NYC. The Nest Summit is now a proud event partner of Climate Week NYC and is honored to contribute to the mission of expanding climate action here in the U.S.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP. For more information on the NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity, please email the vice chair at susanneseperson@gmail.com.

Climate Action Project

The Climate Action Project will be launched on September 26, 2022 for the sixth consecutive year!

Imagine a world in which youngsters across 6 continents connect virtually and solve one of the world’s most pressing challenges: Climate Change. The Climate Action Project is a free 6-week project allowing teachers and students ages 3-21 to collaborate on environmental topics. Over the course of the project, classrooms will explore causes and effects of climate change and will have the opportunity to develop solutions and take action.

Our project unites teachers and students across 149 countries. The Climate Action Project aims to offer opportunities to both teachers and students, allowing them to learn in authentic ways. This project is supported by Dr. Jane Goodall, Queen Elizabeth II, world leaders and Ministries of Education across 16 countries. During the past years the project was featured by media across 45 countries including National Geographic, BBC and CNN.

Teachers will become part of a global community and receive badges and certificate. The Climate Action Project involves a global tree planting PlantED. Our app allows students and teachers to keep track of their impact. The project aims to change students’ behavior and societies’ mindset concerning climate change and environmental threats through education.

To learn more, register, and/or download the curriculum, please visit climate-action.info.

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CoNGO Notes: For more information on the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, please visit ngosonffd.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Education, Learning, and Literacy, please visit facebook.com/NGOCELLatUN. For more information on the NGO Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, please visit facebook.com/NGOCoRIP. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/Vienna, please visit ngocsdvienna.org. For more information on the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development/NY, please visit ngocsd-ny.org.

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