Ricky Martin Lobbies Congress Against Trafficing in Children

Ricky Martin at the UNESCO signing ceremony.

Read "Pop Star Puts Spotlight On Human Trafficking" by Elizabeth Williamson in The Washington Post of September 26, 2006.

We previously reported that Ricky Martin had joined forces with UNESCO on a global initiative aimed at safeguarding children against exploitation and abuse.

Today he was to carry his campaign to the Congress, testifying before the House Committee on International Relations.

Comment: It is great to see Martin use his celebrity in such a good cause! JAD

Ricky Martin Lobbies Congress Against Trafficing in Children

Ricky Martin at the UNESCO signing ceremony.

Read "Pop Star Puts Spotlight On Human Trafficking" by Elizabeth Williamson in The Washington Post of September 26, 2006.

We previously reported that Ricky Martin had joined forces with UNESCO on a global initiative aimed at safeguarding children against exploitation and abuse.

Today he was to carry his campaign to the Congress, testifying before the House Committee on International Relations.

Comment: It is great to see Martin use his celebrity in such a good cause! JAD

+6 Chinese sites to UNESCO’s list of World Geoparks

Mount Tai in Shandong, Mount Wangwu and Nanyang Funiushan in Henan, Fangshan in Beijing, Leiqiong Geoparks (Volcanic Geoparks) in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan, and Jingbo Lake in Heilongjiang have recently been added to the UNESCO list of World Geoparks.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources announced that his country would make great efforts to protect and develop the 18 World Geoparks and 138 national geographic parks that China has, as these reflect the Earth’s geological evolution over 4.6 billions of years.

Since 1999, UNESCO has been promoting a global network of geosites having special geological feature. The organization supports Geological heritage initiatives through the World Heritage Convention and bi-lateral cooperation through its Division of Earth Science.

Related
China's National Forest Parks

Mount Tai© Martin Gray/Magic Planet

+6 Chinese sites to UNESCO’s list of World Geoparks

Mount Tai in Shandong, Mount Wangwu and Nanyang Funiushan in Henan, Fangshan in Beijing, Leiqiong Geoparks (Volcanic Geoparks) in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan, and Jingbo Lake in Heilongjiang have recently been added to the UNESCO list of World Geoparks.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources announced that his country would make great efforts to protect and develop the 18 World Geoparks and 138 national geographic parks that China has, as these reflect the Earth’s geological evolution over 4.6 billions of years.

Since 1999, UNESCO has been promoting a global network of geosites having special geological feature. The organization supports Geological heritage initiatives through the World Heritage Convention and bi-lateral cooperation through its Division of Earth Science.

Related
China's National Forest Parks

Mount Tai© Martin Gray/Magic Planet

"UNESCO to Organize Regional Global Literacy Conferences"

Read the full article on EuropeWorld (September 22, 2006).

"Building on a United States-hosted conference on global literacy this week, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will organize a series of high-level regional conferences during 2007 and 2008." UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said:

These conferences will address specific regional challenges in literacy with the aim of building cooperation among stakeholders and mobilizing resources for concrete interventions at country level,

"UNESCO to Organize Regional Global Literacy Conferences"

Read the full article on EuropeWorld (September 22, 2006).

"Building on a United States-hosted conference on global literacy this week, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will organize a series of high-level regional conferences during 2007 and 2008." UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said:

These conferences will address specific regional challenges in literacy with the aim of building cooperation among stakeholders and mobilizing resources for concrete interventions at country level,

"Education in the Information Society"

Download the entire document. (PDF file, 84 pages.)

Cynthia Guttman, UNESCO Publications for the World Summit on the Information Society, UNESCO, 2003.

This report was intended to bring to the attention of a broad audience the potential of ICTs to expand and improve teaching and learning in a wide variety of contexts. It has a specific focus on developing regions and UNESCO’s initiatives. The report seeks to draw attention to issues that have arisen in the context of globalisation, involving cultural diversity, ownership of knowledge and equity. Finally, it is underpinned by UNESCO’s core mission “to promote the free exchange of ideas and knowledge,” and the Organization’s renewed focus on upholding education as a fundamental human right, improving educational quality, encouraging innovation, enhancing capacities and acting as a catalyst for international co-operation.

The report begins by summarizing commitments of the world community of nations, such as Education for All and the Millennium Development Goals. It considers the implications of those commitments in the context of the discussions of the World Summit on the Information Society. The author notes that "The relationship between ICTs and education "is a complex one, confronting policymakers, educators and the international community with a new spectrum of ethical and legal issues."

The Chapters in this book are:

1. Introduction: Global Commitments
2. Towards Knowledge Societies
3. ICTs as Catalysts for Innovation
4. Principles of success
5. Conclusion: A Shared Vision