Church Development Service - An Association of the Protestant Churches in Germany

Human Rights Network commemorates the large number of disappeared in the Philippines

(Essen, 30.08.2010) Over 200 people were disappeared in the Phillippines between 2001 and 2010. In the majority of cases, their fates remain unclear to this day. Their families are desperately waiting for any signs of life. On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared on August 30th, the Action Network Human Rights-Philippines is raising awareness of the plight of these victims of enforced dissapearences.

The Solidarity Peace Trust urges action to avoid xenophobic violence in South Africa

(Johannesburg, 12.07.2010) The EED partner organisation Solidarity Peace Trust condemns escalating threats of violence against foreigners in South Africa as the country's successful hosting of the FIFA Soccer World Cup draws to a close.

African Union sets up Interfaith Dialogue Forum

(Addis Ababa / Abuja, 01.07.2010) The African Union (AU) has launched an Interfaith Dialogue Forum to harness the power of religious communities for the integration and development in Africa at a conference with religious leaders from 15 to 17 June 2010 in the Nigerian capital Abuja. It has established a permanent consultative structure to the AU which will meet in every two years.

New Aviation Tax Must Contribute to Climate Justice

(Bonn, 30.06.2010) The recent decisions taken by the German government in order to restore the federal budget also include a tax on air tickets to be levied from 2011. Even though only two percent of the world's population take flights at all, aviation is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. EED therefore generally welcomes the introduction of an air ticket tax by the German government as a first necessary step. However, the revenue has to benefit the people most affected by climate change: "Climate justice is not clever calculation. The revenue generated by an air ticket tax needs to feed into the UN adaptation fund", said Heinz Fuchs, director of EED's Tourism Watch desk.

Ecumenical visit to Nigeria

(Abuja/Jos, 27.05.2010) An international delegation travelling on behalf of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was welcomed to Abuja by Nigerian church leaders during an ecumenical celebration organized by the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) on 16 May 2010. It was the first stop of a four-day visit to Africa's most populous nation as living letters of solidarity. The visit was continued in Plateau state, where more than 500 people were killed in ethnic violence in the early part of 2010. Prelate Ola Makinde, head of the Methodist Church Nigeria, described the visit as an expression of the worldwide solidarity of churches with fellow Christians in Nigeria. He lamented that people in the northern part of the country have been neglected and denied basic rights.

Pastoralists demand "Livestock Keepers� Rights"

(Berlin, 18.05.2010) A delegation of pastoral peoples from Asia and Africa who visited Berlin on 18.05.2010 is demanding recognition and support from the German National Government for its role in conserving biological diversity in the International Year of Biological Diversity. It is calling for implementation of the rights that have been promised to pastoralists and pastoral peoples as the guardians of traditional knowledge and valuable genetic resources through the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Christians and Muslims Quest for Peace

(Nairobi, 16.04.2010) PROCMURA has launched a report on conflict prevention and peace building in West Africa under the title �Christians and Muslims Quest for Peace�. It recovers the documentation of an international conference held in Accra, Ghana in July 2009.

Sudan church leader says elections too flawed to be free and fair

(Nairobi, 14.04.2010) The general secretary of the Sudan Council of Churches - an Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic grouping - has said that current national elections in Africa's biggest country do not qualify as free and fair. Sudan Council of Churches is a partner organisation of EED.

CSR � Neither Magic Formula nor Charity

(Bonn, 10/03/2010) The quality of CSR in tourism needs to be debated.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the form of voluntary CSR activities has been taken up by the mainstream tourism industry. More and more tourism enterprises pro-actively showcase their social commitment. Though this may be a welcome development, there is a need to debate the quality of voluntary measures.

Nigeria: Violence destroys lives and displaces 10.000 people

(Bonn, 05.02.2010) EED mourns for the victims of the violent clashes in Jos and Bukuru after January 17, 2010. During the crisis, several lives were lost and houses burnt. Up to 10.000 people are displaced. The ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria roots in deep social and regional disparities. Violence came to an end on January 20, 2010. The Jos based Christian NGO CRUDAN advocates for continual peace dialogues among stakeholders.

EED writes to IMF in support of a global Financial Transaction Tax

(Bonn, 26.01.2010) Until the Feb. 1st, 2010 the IMF is collecting on-line opinions form Civil Society on how banks can contribute in a fair and substantial way to offset the cost of states for their bailing- out the private banks during the financial crisis 2008/2009. See EED's email to the IMF appended. If your Civil society organisation would like to send its point of view to the IMF please do so before Feb. 1st.

Cold Autumn of Development Finance

(Bonn, 18.12.2009) In 2007, even the poorest countries in Africa were on a path of economic growth. They then fell victim to the financial crisis. This paper looks back to the meetings of these global actors in the field of global finances and macro economy, the G20 the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in 2009.

Church in Society and Development

(Monrovia, 07.12.2009) The Liberian Council of Churches (LCC) and the Church Development Service (EED) have held a theological dialogue in Monrovia on December 7, 2009. The Genral Secretary of LCC Dr. Benjamin Lartey highlighted the importance of reflecting on theological implications of development. Students of the Bishop Waren Brown College of Divinity of the AME Zion University claimed for justice and a strong involvement of the churches in the Truth and Reconciliation Process in Liberia.

Religion, Conflict Prevention and Peace Buildung in Westafrica

(Accra, 24.07.2009) Sixty high ranking Muslim and Christian religious leaders have expressed their will to promote reconciliation at a international Conference, held in the capital of Ghana July 20 to 24. They urge the national governments of West Africa and the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) for reponsible governance and democracy. At the same time they reject religious expansionist policies and the politization of religion. They see the churches as agents of peace and reconciliation.

Ecumenical Solidarity Visit �Living Letters� to the Democratic Republic of Congo

(Bonn, 26.07.2009) Karin Döhne, head of EED department Africa 1 was part of the delegation from the World Council of Churches visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo in July 2009. She summarizes what the group learned on their visit to the provinces of Bas Congo and Kasai Oriental.

Signs of Hope - Development, Conflict and Religion in Northern Nigeria

(Bonn, 15.06.2009) A study analyses the position of Christian development programmes regarding relations between people of different faiths in Nigeria.

New Peace Building Network in Mano-River Region

(Monrovia / Freetown, 09.04.2009) Partners of the Civil Peace Service of the German Protestant Church Development Service (zfd/EED) operating in the Mano-River Region � Sierra Leone and Liberia, concerned about the dire need to consolidate the hard won peace in our post war societies, agreed in Freetown in May 2008 to establish a peace building network.

Poultry Unions and EED take Common Actions at the World Poultry Show in Hannover

(Hannover, 31.03.2009) Representatives from 5 African countries came by invitation from EED November 2008 to Hannover/Germany, where the World Poultry took place as part of the EUROTIER industrial fair. In several public meetings and by a common booth the African chicken producers tried to make Europe aware of the unfair trade with left over meat to Africa.

Panel discussion: Odious Debts vs. International Law

(Bonn / Washington, 02.01.2009) Video of the juridical and political essence of �The Doctrine of Odious Debts in International Law�, a panel meeting in the World Bank.

AACC asks African Union to intensify pressure on Robert Mugabe

(Geneva / Maputo, 12.12.2008) The AACC Assembly adopted a statement of concern on Thursday 11 December on the crisis in Zimbabwe, expressing displeasure that "President Mugabe is using power-sharing negotiations as a strategy for wasting time" while "acts of violence continue to be committed against those who do not support ZANU-PF", Mugabe's ruling party. The will of the Zimbabwe people as expressed in March 2008 elections has been thwarted, the Assembly said, and international leaders and churches "have failed to bring about an amicable solution".

Piracy in Somalia: "The international community should also stand to protect small scale fishers against the plundering of their livelihoods"

(Bonn, 09.12.2008) The EU resolution to send a navy mission in the region of the Horn of Africa to fight pirates ignores that one of the causes of piracy is poverty. EED and its partner organizations in Africa point out that small fishers in the region are becoming increasingly impoverished.

The people of Zimbabwe need more humanitarian assistance

(Bonn/Gaborone, 24.11.2008) The people in Zimbabwe are starving. We cannot wait for a political solution before food aid is going to be provided to the Zimbabwean people. �The world community has to help the people in Zimbabwe,� says Mrs. Claudia Warning, Director International Programmes of the Church Development Service (EED) in Germany.

The G20s first Global Financial Summit is unlikely to control the financial crisis

(Bonn, 21.11.2008) The G8 are history. This is the first result of the Global Financial Summit of the G20 on 15.11.2008 in Washington. Beyond that, the summit somehow gave all actors what they wanted, the Wall Street and the City of London got the scope for further expansion of their money trade, the Europeans got stronger regulation, the emerging market countries got the blame for the crisis unloaded on to the rich countries and a strong stake in further decision making, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund got their role strengthened. As usual the Low Income Countries got the receiving end; they received affirmative and sympathetic words.

40 years of Churches' Development Service

(Berlin, 16.10.2008) The Protestant churches in Germany have celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Churches' Development Service in commemoration of the adoption of the resolution of the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) from October 1968 that led to the foundation of the Churches' Development Service.

Making Development more Effective

(Bonn, 28.08.2008) Delegates from about 150 countries are expected to participate in the �Third High Level Forum" (HLF3) on aid effectiveness in Accra, Ghana, from 30.8.-3.9.2008 and to its Civil Society Forum. The HLF3 will elaborate on and release the "Accra Agenda for Action (AAA)". This will be another step in a global aid reform process started in 1999 and well know under the term "Paris Declaration". HLF4 is foreseen for Beijing in 2004. As part of Civil Society's response to this process, EED, the Church Development Service, an Association of the Protestant Churches in Germany in cooperation with the Institute Südwind produced the working paper "Making Development More Effective".

Demonstration at the Federal Association of German Plant Breeders

(19.05.2008) La Via Campesina, the international movement of farmers demonstrated on the first day of the UN conference on biodiversity in Bonn in front of the House of Plant Breeding against bio-piracy and patents on life. Team: U. Sprenger / S. Schrade Video Clip: German / English / Spanish

News coverage of conference on biosafety

Rural community of South Africa stands up against pelargonium-patents and biopiracy

(07.05.2008) The Alice community, living in the Eastern Cape area of South Africa, in close collaboration with the African Center for Biosafety and supported by the Berne Declaration (Switzerland), the Church Development Service (EED) and �Kein Patent auf Leben� (Germany), has challenged two European patents granted to the German company Schwabe Pharmaceuticals. Both patents are based on two pelargonium species that occur in the wild in South Africa. The Patents are seen as an illegitimate and illegal monopolisation of a genetic resource from Southern Africa and the traditional knowledge of the communities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Churches in Zimbabwe warn against a genocide

(28.04.2008) In view of the aggravating crisis three churches in Zimbabwe warn against a threatening genocide in the crisis-ridden country. In a common appeal they applied to the international community with the urgent request for assistance. This would be the only way to stop the escalation of violence and of the violation of human rights.

Call upon the government of Pakistan to withdraw all cases against lawyers and activists

(16.04.2008) The Pakistan NGO Support Group urges the new government of Pakistan to immediately withdraw all the cases against lawyers, human rights defenders and political workers, because they were targeted for peaceful protest. Especially after March 9, 2007 and again after November 3, 2007, large numbers of lawyers, judges, human rights activists, journalists and politicians of the opposition parties were illegally detained, put under house arrest, were banned or disappeared, because they took part in the movement for the restoration of democracy and against the emergency.

Caravan of Fashion Show in Togo, Benin and Ghana

(07.03.2008) CERAD International presents �CERAD Afrik Graphik Textile� (AGT) Clothes

Walter Altmann: Increasing will to seek the unity of churches

(26.02.2008) The moderator of the World Council of Churches has appealed in his visit with the Church Development Service (EED) on the 22nd February for reinforced prayer for unity of the Christians. He pledged for a differentiated dialogue with the Pentecostal and evangelical movement.

Water and Democracy

(17.07.2007) South Asia is a region with rich and diverse traditions of practices in water management. However, in recent times water management is got into crisis, not at least caused by the �Green Revolution� and by industrialization: Droughts, depletion of ground water, shortage of drinking water, displacement by dams are but a few catchwords for the increasing conflicts over water. EED partner organizations and networks in India, decided to put the issue on top of the agenda and planned a joint initiative of concerned partner organizations at national level.

"EPAs contradict national development goals and policies"

(25.04.2007) Declaration of the Consultation of Churches from Eastern and Southern Africa on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Kicking for Peace in Cape Town

(22.12.2006) On Saturday 9 December the 1st Kicking for Peace Tournament of the Sport for Peace Project took place in Langa, the oldest township in Cape Town. The Sport for Peace Project is one of the initiatives of the Western Cape Network for Community, Peace and Development, a network with 23 organizations all working in the field of youth development, women, conflict transformation and peace building. Marion Keim and Marius Blümel, two EED-seconded professionals working with South-African partner organisations, participated in the event.

EED mourns the passing away of Dr. Badal Sen Gupta

(7.12.2006) Yesterday we received the sad news of the demise of Dr. Badal Sen Gupta. He passed away while participating in a workshop in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Badal was a colleague in EED from 1972 to 2002. In his last position he headed the consultancy department of EED.

Documentation: Speeches by the Partners at the Conference

Closing the gap between our theory and practice

(10.07.2006) The Gender Strategy to promote equal opportunities for women and men through the programmes of EED and BfdW (2006 � 2010) has been released. Striving to eliminate poverty in its diverse forms and towards a fairer world entails the goal of bringing about equal opportunities for women and men.

In the Way of Righteousness is Life

(20.05.2006) Annual Report 2005 / 2006: For the churches, the Gospel and Christian faith are the sources of their commitment to human rights and development. This year, the main focus of our report is on development work by churches.

Will Human Rights in Future Determine Budgets?

(07.04.2006) Pure utopianism, many will think. So far it is thought to be outright nonsense to try and calculate the cost of say the Human Right to Food, let alone to make that right subject of budget planning. And yet 144 countries, many of them from the developing world, have ratified their determination to progressively fulfil this and other Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and 153 are party to the Civil and Political Rights. Why not therefore, try and concretise the realisation of the Human Rights, even by way of costing and budgeting them? An international workshop of 35 participants from 4.-6.4.2006 took place near Geneva in Switzerland responded in the affirmative to this question.

Brussels counts in seconds, rural areas count in seasons ...

(05.04.2006) � this was only one of the conclusions drawn during a workshop on EU funding and project management held in Nairobi/Kenya, March 20 to 24.

Prague-Workshop on Sovereign Debt in Eastern Europe- and in the Commonwealth of Independent States

(28.03.2006) The Workshop on Sovereign Debt in Eastern Europe- and in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS and CEE countries) was co-organised by Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (Church Development Service, an Association of the Protestant Churches in Germany), the Ecumenical Academy of Prague and by erlassjahr.de, the German Jubilee or debt cancellation movement, in Prague from 24.-26.3.2006.

"Together let us look forward to a more united humanity where pain and joy are shared."

Homily by Most Rev. Ignatius A. Kaigama, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Jos,(Nigeria) New Year Ecumenical Service at Bonn, Germany, on January 16th

Biopirates in the Kalahari?

How indigenous people are standing up for their rights - the experience of the San in Southern Africa - a study