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.more
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.more
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.more
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.more
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.more
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).more
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.more
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.more
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.more
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.more
