Ivo Skoric on Wed, 5 Jan 2000 23:39:12 +0100 (CET)


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<nettime> (Fwd) NGO Alert No. 2


The Y2K post-Seattle globalization of social consciousness raises 
to match the globalization of corporate greed:

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------

Date sent:      	Sat,  1 Jan 2000 16:18:50 -0800 (PST)


"The relationship between the United Nations and civil society has
changed beyond all recognition... Information technology has empowered
civil society to be the true guardians of democracy and good governance
everywhere. Oppressors cannot hide inside their borders any longer. A
strong civil society, bound together across all borders with the help of
modern communications, will not let them. In a sense, it has become the
new superpower -- the peoples determined to promote better standards of
life in larger freedom."
Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General

For organizations of civil society (CSOs), the last decade of this
Century has been spectacular.  The influence and impact of CSO campaigns
has grown dramatically. Take the British Government's recent decision to
forgive $100 million in debt for the world's poorest countries.  Or CSO
demands in Seattle for transparency and accountability in international
trade, which are becoming impossible to ignore.  At the national level,
CSOs have been at the forefront of peace-building efforts in countries
as far-flung as Mali and Guatemala. The award of this year's Nobel Peace
Prize to Médecins Sans Frontieres acknowledged the contribution of all
CSOs to a better world.  The prospects for people's action are bright as
we enter a new millennium.

NetAid and CSOs

Since the launch of the NetAid website, over 3,000 CSOs have registered
to be part of the NetAid Community.  We are both heartened and
challenged to respond to this enthusiasm. A main NetAid aim is to
facilitate CSO work around the world.  We hope to do so in three ways:
through direct grants, by linking individuals and groups, and by putting
needs in touch with resources.

The NetAid Foundation has already committed $1 million in grants to be
targeted to CSOs working in Africa. Watch the site for further
developments (www.netaid.org).

An enhanced version of the NetAid site will be unveiled in the New Year.
It will contain important new functionality to put organizations in
touch with an audience of committed people who have already joined the
NetAid community. They will, we hope, be the first of many to commit to
the continuing struggle to eradicate world poverty.  Your organizations
can help educate and empower the new generation of  leaders and
decision-makers.

We are also developing NetAid "Classifieds", which will enable eligible
CSOs to advertise for in-kind donations of both goods and services tied
directly to on-going and planned projects.  Monitor www.netaid.org for
more information about this feature.
We encourage all organizations to help Southern CSOs register with
NetAid, especially those in countries with relatively limited access to
the Internet. The small grassroots organizations that are working on the
frontlines of the war on poverty are the ones that most need support to
achieve the common goal of a better world for all.

CSOs have a crucial role to play in the future development of NetAid,
both as users of the site and as a source of content and ideas.  The
challenge is to pool our resources to make NetAid a major vehicle for
social justice and human rights in the new millennium.

Please continue to send your ideas at feedback-ngo@netaid.org because,
ultimately, the success of NetAid depends on you.

What are your hopes for the millennium?  Contact us at
feedback-ngo@netaid.org to share your ideas.  We plan to start bulletin
boards and list serves to support discussion. We look forward to working
with you closely to map out the way ahead.

Thank you for your support.

The NetAid Team.
Log On. Fight Poverty.

Don't forget to Bookmark www.netaid.org !!  We will be updating the site
daily with the latest news from the international development community
and on how you can make a difference.

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