African democracy - 'the genie is out of the bottle' By: Michael Allen, Democracy Digest, April 30, 2009 ìDemocracy is a process, not an event,î Ambassador Johnnie Carson, nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations this week. The Obama administration will ìwork in partnership with African governments and civil society organizations to strengthen their democratic institutions and to protect the democratic gains they have made.î http://www.demdigest.net/blog/2291/2291.html
Kenya: Abstinence as a tool of nonviolence By: Africa News, April 30, 2009 Men in Kenya are in for trouble as women's activist groups in that country have slapped them with a week-long sex ban in protest over the infighting plaguing the national unity government. The campaigners are asking the wives of the Kenyan president and the prime minister to join in the embargo. They say they want to avoid a repeat of the violence which convulsed the country after the late-2007 elections. http://www.africanews.com/site/Sex_ban_in_Kenya/list_messages/24599
Zimbabwe must improve human rights to get new aid, says watchdog By: Mail & Guardian Online, April 29, 2009 Donors should not resume development aid to Zimbabwe until the power-sharing government ends human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday. "Humanitarian aid that focuses on the needs of Zimbabwe's most vulnerable should continue," said Georgette Gagnon, Africa director at the United States-based group. http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-04-29-zim-must-improve-human-rights-for-new-aid-says-watchdog
Rubber stamping the future of Chileís rivers By: Benjamin Witte, Toward Freedom, April 28, 2009 Alejandro Koehler showed up at the Regiona; Environmental Commission (COREMA) office in Valdivia last October convinced he had the legal arguments in hand to block a large-scale dam project planned for the nearby San Pedro River. He was wrong. Soon after presenting his case before the regional environmental authority, the then mayor of Panguipulli found himself ñ along with 20 other critics of the project ñ being dragged out of the government office by riot gear-clad Carabineros. By the time Koehler was released from police custody eights hours later, the deal was done. COREMA, by a vote of 16-1, had given Chilean energy company Colb˙n a green light to build Region XIVís first large-scale hydroelectric dam. http://towardfreedom.com/home/content/view/1574/1/
Africa: Constitution-building vs coup-making By: Winluck Wahiu and Paulos Tesfagiorgis, openDemocracy, April 28, 2009 The experience of creating new constitutions in Africa promises a transformation in the continent's landscape of governance that will render coups obsolete. http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/idea/africa-constitution-building-vs-coup-making
Argentina priests in drug protest By: Candace Piette, BBC News, April 28, 2009 Hundreds of priests in Argentina have highlighted their concern after two of their number received death threats. Some 353 Catholic priests in Buenos Aires signed a document in support of the men, who work with addicts in some of the city's poorest neighbourhoods. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8023928.stm
Zimbabwe: Upadate on three WOZA court appearances By: SW Radio Africa, April 28, 2009 Eight WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) members and two lawyers appeared in Harare Magistrateís Court today, 28th April. Although due to appear on trial, the State did not have its house in order for the trial to proceed so the magistrate removed the activists off remand. http://www.swradioafrica.com/pages/woza280409.htm
AMERICAS
Argentina: Water is worth more than gold! By: Fionuala Cregan, Upside Down World, April 30, 2009 Gathering in the Province of San Juan, the heart of the Argentinean mining industry, representatives of the Union of Citizens Assemblies reaffirmed their commitment to fighting an economic model which is plundering natural resources and destroying livelihoods. http://upsidedownworld.org/main/content/view/1840/32/
US: 1934 General Strike laid base for counterculture By: Fred Glass, The San Francisco Chronicle, April 29, 2009 These days, when San Franciscans of a certain age respond to the visitors' (or their grandchildren's) query, "What made San Francisco different?" they tend to think culture. Beat poets, flower power and Castro Street are instantly recognizable tropes reflecting the city's historically tolerant attitudes and liberal politics. Although one might argue that the city's identification with things progressive arrived with the Gold Rush, its modern incarnation took form 75 years ago in an event now fading from living memory: the great San Francisco General Strike. http://www.truthout.org/043009LA
Venezuela: Hugo Ch·vez opponent warns of power grab By: Christopher Toothaker, The Miami Herald, April 29, 2009 Henrique Capriles defeated an ally of President Hugo Ch·vez last year to become governor of Venezuela's second-most populous state, but he says he would no longer be its highest authority if ruling party lawmakers get their way. Capriles said in an interview Tuesday that a draft bill pending in the National Assembly would dramatically erode his authority -- along with that of other elected officials -- by subordinating state governors to regional ''vice presidents'' appointed by Ch·vez. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/AP/story/1023427.html
Dominican Republic: One killed, 20 arrested in protests By: Latin American Herald Tribune, April 28, 2009 A man was killed by gunfire, two people were wounded and about 20 were arrested during protests in connection with a general strike to demand more government-funded social projects in the northeastern city of San Francisco de Macoris. http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=333213&CategoryId=14092
Argentina priests in drug protest By: Candace Piette, BBC News, April 28, 2009 Hundreds of priests in Argentina have highlighted their concern after two of their number received death threats. Some 353 Catholic priests in Buenos Aires signed a document in support of the men, who work with addicts in some of the city's poorest neighbourhoods. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8023928.stm
Canada: Agitation through art By: Anita Krajnc, Rabble, April 28, 2009 Social change printmaker and media artist Favianna Rodriguez opened Torontoís 24th annual Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts. Rodriguezís exhibition Transformation/Agitation runs through June 6 at the Toronto Free Gallery, 1277 Bloor Street West. Rodriguez uses high-contrast, warm colours and vivid figures in her composites for social justice campaigns. http://www.rabble.ca/news/2009/04/agitation-through-art-favianna-rodriguez-kicks-mayworks
Ecuador: High stakes in case against Chevron By: Juan Forero, Washington Post, April 28, 2009 Deep in the northern Ecuadoran rain forest, next to pits filled with noxious sludge, a lawyer on his very first case argued that a U.S. oil company had deliberately fouled a swath of jungle nearly the size of Delaware during two decades of production. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042703717.html
US: Survivors say 'never again' to genocide By: OneWorld, April 28, 2009 Eight survivors of genocide -- from Armenia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Poland, Rwanda, and Sudan -- gathered recently in Washington, DC to remember past tragedies and push for an end to the Darfur crisis. "It is not time to talk. It is not time to stand by. It is time to act," said Joseph Sebarenzi, a Rwandan genocide survivor, speaking outside of the White House. http://us.oneworld.net/article/362084-survivors-say-%E2%80%98never-again%E2%80%99-genocide
US Video: Major protest planned against Arizona sheriff By: Democracy Now!, April 27, 2009 A major protest is planned against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whoís been accused of practicing discriminatory enforcement of federal immigration laws. Last month, the Justice Department opened a civil rights probe into Arpaioís immigration enforcement policies. We speak with an Arizona reporter who just won the Pulitzer Prize for his coverage of the controversial sheriff, as well as a public defender who has been at the forefront of immigrant rights for over thirty years. http://www.democracynow.org/2009/4/27/major_protest_planned_against_arizona_sheriff
US: Dr. Ahmed Shaheed to receive prestigious CSIDís ìMuslim Democrat of the Yearî award By: Faisal Kutty, April 27, 2009 The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) announced today that Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Maldives will receive its prestigious Annual ìMuslim Democrat of the Yearî award on May 5th. Dr. Shaheed will give a keynote speech during lunchtime at the 10th Annual Conference of CSID, to be held at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, in Arlington, Virginia, and will receive the award during the banquet dinner. http://faisalkutty.com/editors-picks/ress-release-dr-ahmed-shaheed-minister-of-foreign-affairs-republic-of-maldives-to-receive-prestigious-csids-muslim-democrat-of-the-year-award-on-may-5-2009/
El Salvador: LGBT movement continues the fight for human rights and dignity By: Alexandria Soleil and Maggie Von Vogt, The Narcosphere, April 26, 2009 On April 20, 2009, various organizations and individuals from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community of El Salvador rallied in front of the Legislative Assembly to protest an unwarranted attack on their civil rights. Legislative Assembly Deputy Rodolfo Parker has reignited efforts to pass an amendment that would specify that marriage only be between a man and a woman and deny same sex couples the right to adopt a child. Activists from various NGOs and LGBT networks joined to demonstrate their presence and present a counter-amendment that would expand constitutional rights in the country rather than deny them. http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/maggie-von-vogt/2009/04/despite-attacks-right-wing-el-salvadors-lgbt-movement-continues-fig
Argentina: Tiles on sidewalks honor dictatorship victims By: Latin American Herald Tribune, April 25, 2009 Retracing the steps of those who went missing during Argentinaís last military dictatorship is now possible thanks to the efforts of a Buenos Aires grassroots movement, which has been laying commemorative tiles on the capitalís streets and sidewalks in memory of the victims of state repression. http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=332788&CategoryId=14093
ASIA/ SOUTH ASIA
Forging Tibetansí future By: Temtsel Hao, openDemocracy, April 29, 2009 The attitude of the authorities in the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the Dalai Lama and exiled Tibetans is reminiscent of the response of Joseph Stalin when the Soviet dictator was advised to avoid conflict with the Catholic church: "How many divisions does the pope have?" http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/dharamsala-forging-tibetans-future
Burma: Solo demonstrator sentenced to one year By: Aye Nai, Democratic Voice of Burma, April 29, 2009 A tutor who was arrested in March for staging a solo demonstration calling for the release of political prisoners has been sentenced to a year in prison. Aung Pe was arrested on National Armed Forces day (also known as Resistance Day) on 27 March this year after protesting near the opposition party National League for Democracyís office in Twante township, Rangoon. http://english.dvb.no/news.php?id=2470
Burma: NLD sets pre-conditions for role in elections By: Mizzima, April 29, 2009 Burmaís main opposition party ñ the National League for Democracy ñ on Wednesday said it was willing to contest the forthcoming 2010 elections if the military regime releases political prisoners, and makes proper amendments to its Constitution. http://www.mizzima.com/news/election-2010/2044-nld-sets-pre-conditions-for-role-in-elections.html
Arrested Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo to receive prestigious award By: Jane Macartney, Times Online, April 28, 2009 One of the worldís most prestigious literary awards will be bestowed today on Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese dissident and writer. But the man himself will spend the day in a windowless cell, unaware of the honour. The 54-year-old writer has been in detention since December 8, when police took him from his home for questioning for his role as author of the Charter 08 appeal, made public on the same day, which calls for freedom of speech and democratic reforms in China. Mr Liu is to receive the 2009 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article6183079.ece
China: A citizen campaign to reveal the forgotten dead By: Bob Chen, Global Voices, April 28, 2009 In his blog, Li Peifeng recalled his encounter with the police in Si-chuan. No smuggling, no robbery, all he was doing is simple - he was volunteering. But his story is no less exciting and hair-raising than any thriller. He was chased by Chinese police. http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04/28/china-a-citizen-campaign-to-reveal-the-forgotten-dead-1/
Afghanistan: Corruption is the mother of insurgency By: Joshua Kucera, Eurasianet, April 28, 2009 While Afghanistanís incumbent president, Hamid Karzai, has sought to put a little distance between himself and the United States in recent months, one of his leading challengers in the upcoming presidential vote, Ashraf Ghani, thinks the best way to combat the Taliban insurgency is for Kabul to strengthen ties with Washington and to focus on economic development. While the three well known threats to Afghanistanís stability are al Qaeda, the local insurgency and drug trafficking, those threats are abetted by the poor performance of Afghanistanís Karzai administration, he said. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav042809a.shtml
Justice denied for Tibetans By: The Wall Street Journal Asia, April 27, 2009 Before dawn on the morning of May 18, 2008, the authorities cut off all forms of communications in the small rural town -- telephones, mobile phones, the Internet and even roads in and around the area. At around 6 a.m., more than 1,000 members of the People's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police and local and special police units prepared to make their assault on a small house. Around the same time, more than 4,000 soldiers and police divided up to surround and take control of two nearby nunneries. Their target? Buramna Rinpoche, a 52-year-old Living Buddha and head of Pangri and Yatseg nunneries in Kardze, a Tibetan county of Sichuan province. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124077714927756947.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Tibet: Jail sentences condemned By: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, April 27, 2009 Tibetís Government in exile has strongly condemned the latest harsh sentences being handed down by Chinese court on three young Tibetan girls in Lhasa over anti-China protests in Tibet last year [2008]. Chinese court in Tibet has sentenced a Tibetan girl to death with a two-year reprieve and two others to long jail terms for their alleged roles during the March 2008 unrest in Lhasa. Tibetan Government-in-exile, in a statement posted on its official website, said the sentences were arbitrarily meted out without open and fair trial. http://www.unpo.org/content/view/9529/69/
Leading Chinese dissident claims freedom of speech worse than before Olympics By: Peter Foster, Telegraph, April 27, 2009 He Weifang, a celebrated law professor and lead signatory to last year's Charter 08 petition calling for democratic reforms in China, said the ruling Communist Party was currently engaged in a fresh wave of repressive internet and media censorship. Even allowing for the Communist party's highly conservative approach to any kind of reform - embodied in Deng Xiaoping's famous phrase "Crossing the river by feeling for stones" ñ he said China was moving backwards on basic freedoms. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/5230707/Leading-Chinese-dissident-claims-freedom-of-speech-worse-than-before-Olympics.html
India: Tribes stage mass protest against British mining company Vedanta By: Survival International, April 25, 2009 Several hundred tribespeople today staged a protest against FTSE-100 company Vedanta, as it bids massively to expand its controversial aluminium refinery in Lanjigarh, Orissa. http://www.survival-international.org/news/4492
CENTRAL ASIA
Kyrgyz opposition unveils presidential hopeful By: Bruce Pannier, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, April 20, 2009 Leaders of Kyrgyzstan's fractious opposition have announced a persistent critic and former prime minister under President Kurmanbek Bakiev as their joint candidate to compete against Bakiev in July's early presidential election. Almazbek Atambaev, 52, is a veteran opposition figure and leader of the Social Democratic Party, the only opposition party represented in an otherwise rubber-stamp parliament. http://www.rferl.org/content/Kyrgyz_Opposition_Unveils_Presidential_Hopeful/1612338.html
EUROPE
Moldavia, the silenced revolution By: Silvia Marcu, Safe Democracy Foundation, April 30, 2009 The events that occurred a few days ago dragged Moldova - the poorest country in the continent, with its heart torn between Romania and the former Soviet Union - out onto the European stage. The recent results of the parliamentary elections in Moldova once again awarded victory to the Communist Party, which won with 49.92 percent of the votes, followed by the Liberal Party with 12.90 percent, the Democratic Liberal Party with 12.24 percent and the Our Alliance Moldova party, with 9.87 percent of the vote. http://english.safe-democracy.org/2009/04/30/moldavia-the-silenced-revolution/
Russia's NGOs: strangled by red tape By: Olga Gnezdilova, openDemocracy, April 30, 2009 Official paranoia about spy mania, orange revolutions and terrorist threats is such that Russia's post-communist NGO sector faces surreal bureaucratic ordeals in order to survive. http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/email/russias-ngos-strangled-by-red-tape
UK: Campaigners shouldn't whinge about police infiltration - it's a sign of their success By: Marcel Berlins, The Guardian, April 29, 2009 I am not in the least surprised or shocked that the police attempted to turn Matilda Gifford and others from the Plane Stupid campaign into informants. I am, though, surprised at the surprise of others that the police should be doing such things. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/29/plane-stupid-campaign-police-informants
Armenia: Turkey policy prompts government member to join opposition By: Marianna Grigoryan, Eurasianet, April 29, 2009 Armeniaís framework agreement with Turkey on the possible normalization of relations is already changing the face of politics in Armenia. Citing insurmountable disagreements with Armeniaís policy toward Turkey, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun pulled out of the governmentís ruling coalition on April 27 and announced it would join the opposition. http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav042909a.shtml
Georgian opposition insists on president's resignation By: RIA Novosti, April 29, 2009 Crowds of activists have been holding protests outside parliament in Tbilisi since April 9, accusing Saakashvili of stifling democracy and leading the country into a disastrous war with Russia last summer. Former parliamentary speaker Nino Burjanadze, who leads the Opposition Democratic Movement-United Georgia party, told reporters: "You know very well that the opposition has not refused dialogue with the authorities. The issue was set out - the president's resignation. I have said several times that I see no possibility of discussing other issues with the president." http://en.rian.ru/world/20090429/121378181.html
Belarusian authorities banned holding Europeís Day By: Charter '97, April 29, 2009 Minsk city executive committee denied a permission to hold pickets for collection of signatures in favour of Belarusí joining the European Union. The officials explained their denial by a non-existent legal norm. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2009/4/29/17739/
Russia's new perestroika? By: Andrei Piontkovsky, openDemocracy, April 29, 2009 The freeing of Khodorkovsky's lawyer Svetlana Bakhmina is among the events being seen by some as heralding a new perestroika. http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/email/russias-new-perestroika
Armenia: Ominous silence about domestic violence By: Kester Kenn Klomegah, IPS, April 22, 2009 Over a quarter of Armenian women have been hit or beaten by a family member and about two thirds have experienced psychological abuse, yet the state grossly fails to prevent, investigate and punish domestic violence, say researchers and rights activists. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46591
MIDDLE EAST/ NORTH AFRICA
Iran 'leading terrorism sponsor' By: BBC News, May 1, 2009 Iran remains the "most active state sponsor of terrorism" in the world, a report by the US state department says. It says Iran's role in the planning and financing of terror-related activities in the Middle East and Afghanistan threatens efforts to promote peace. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8028064.stm
Iran and Belarus to give new definition to a term ìhuman rightsî By: Charter '97, April 29, 2009 Head of the judicial system of Iran called on Belarus to give a new definition to terms human rights, freedom of speech, racism, discrimination, and terrorism. http://www.charter97.org/en/news/2009/4/29/17737/
Egypt's first independent union formed By: Eman Abd El Rahman, Global Voices, April 29, 2009 Egyptian activist and blogger, Hossam El Hamalawy, blogged about his initial impressions of victory after he spent a day with tax collectors, who descended on Nasr City, to lobby the Labor Ministry into recognizing their free union. He then uploaded the pictures he took for the demonstration, and also quoted Sara Carr's report - in Daily News Egypt. This is the first time real estate tax collectors have formed their first independent trade union since 1957. http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04/29/egypts-first-independant-union-formed/
UAE now condemns torture tape; may re-open royal Sheikh case By: Lara Setrakian, Vic Walter and Rehab El-Buri, ABC News, April 29, 2009 After first dismissing it as a private matter, the government of the United Arab Emirates today condemned a video tape showing a member of the royal family torturing a grain dealer, with the help of men in uniform. http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=7460298&page=1
Egypt: Blogger tries to spread 'culture of disobedience' among youths By: Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2009 Mohamed Abdel Aziz's Facebook group that opposes Mubarak's rule has drawn 76,000 followers. Though its calls for nationwide strikes have flopped, he remains determined. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-egypt-facebook29-2009apr29,0,1028057.story
Dad of U.S. hunger striker in Iran questioned By: CNN, April 29, 2009 The father of a U.S. journalist jailed for espionage in Iran said he was summoned to court Wednesday and questioned about his daughter's hunger strike. Reza Saberi said the court asked him questions about a hunger strike that his daughter, Roxana Saberi, started after being sentenced last week to eight years in prison. http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/29/iran.hunger.strike.journalist/index.html
Egypt: Mubarak sounds warning to workers over strikes in Labor Day speech By: Abdel Rahman Hussein, Daily News Egypt, April 29, 2009 President Hosni Mubarak sounded a warning to workers over ìunlawfulî strikes in a speech Wednesday to commemorate Labor Day, stating that it could hurt the economy during the current global crisis. http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=21393
Kuwait continues political arrests By: Iran News & Iranian Culture Journal, April 28, 2009 Kuwaiti authorities arrest an election candidate, the third in a lapse of a few days, for criticizing members of the ruling al-Sabah family. Khalifa al-Kharafi, who is from the same family as former parliamentary speaker Jassim al-Kharafi, was arrested at his home on Sunday, a witness and former Islamist lawmaker and parliamentary candidate Waleed al-Tabtabae said. http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_29315.shtml
What's next for Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi? By: Golnaz Esfandiari, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, April 28, 2009 Iranian politics are opaque and complicated and it's often difficult to predict future political developments. The same can be said of Roxana Saberi's case. The Iranian-American journalist's arrest and conviction in Iran on charges of espionage came as a surprise. And the future of her case could be surprising. http://www.rferl.org/content/Whats_Next_For_IranianAmerican_Journalist_Roxana_Saberi/1617760.html
Qatar: Video of unpaid workers sparks debates By: Amira Al Hussaini, Global Voices, April 27, 2009 The harsh realities facing migrant workers in Qatar was at the centre of a discussion on Qatar Living after an Al Jazeera English report highlighted their plight recently. The video zooms in on the lives of construction workers, whose livelihood was impacted by the economic crisis, some of whom haven't be paid for up to four months. http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/04/27/qatar-video-of-unpaid-workers-sparks-debate/
OCEANIA
'Sulu censors' stifle Fiji news media in regime crackdown By: David Robie, Pacific News Media, April 28, 2009 Reeling from four coups in two decades, journalists in the Pacific nation of Fiji bravely contesting draconian pressure from a military government are now taking no chances. After a flurry of creative challenges to the military backed regime as it entrenched its power in the Pacific Islands nation of Fiji, the news media are now facing the harsh reality of life after the censorship crackdown. Leading editors and journalists have opted to be cautious following the gag and threats by authorities that they will be shut down if they step out of line. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0904/S00263.htm
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
International public opinion says government should not limit internet access By: World Public Opinion, April 30, 2009 In all nations polled there is robust support for the principle that the media should be free of government control and that citizens should even have access to material from hostile countries. http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btjusticehuman_rightsra/477.php?nid=&id=&pnt=477&lb=bthr
From war to politics: Resistance/liberation movements in transition By: Craig Zelizer, Peace and Collaborative Development Network, April 28, 2009 This report represents a synthesis of the publications related to the Berghof project on ìResistance/Liberation Movements and Transition to Politicsî, dealing with the role of insurgency movements in conflict waging and transformation to peace and democracy. http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/forum/topic/show?id=780588%3ATopic%3A134302&xgs=1
NOTICES
Call for Applications: 2010 Rotary World Peace Fellowship By: Espen Malmberg, Peace and Collaborative Development Network, April 29, 2009 The Rotary Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2010 Rotary World Peace Fellowship. Receive a full scholarship to pursue a masterís degree in international studies, sustainable development, peace, and conflict resolution or professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies at one of the six Rotary Centers. http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/forum/topic/show?id=780588%3ATopic%3A134753&xgs=1
IN PAST NEWS
Press (un)freedom discussed in Turkmenistan By: Institute for War & Peace Reporting, April 13, 2009 A recent training workshop held in Turkmenistan suggests that journalists there aspire to international standards, but the complete lack of freedom in the heavily state-controlled media makes this impossible. The state news agency TDH reports that the participants, drawn from newspapers, TV and radio, learned about the basic principles of press freedom and looked at how media operate abroad. http://www.iwpr.net/?p=btm&s=b&o=351765&apc_state=henh