The Drum Beat - 23 - Communication and Change News and Issues
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The email and web network from THE COMMUNICATION INITIATIVE partnership
- The Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF, USAID [HIV/AIDS, CHANGE], WHO,
BBC World Service, CIDA, Johns Hopkins University Center for
Communication Programs, The European Union, Soul City, The Panos
Institute, UNAIDS.
Information, ideas, linkages and dialogue on communication, development
and change.
PROGRAMMES
1. Study on Transmission of HIV Through Breastfeeding - Zimbabwe -
undertaken by the ZVITAMBO project, this study includes developing
an intervention to educate and counsel African women about HIV and
breastfeeding, monitoring the impact of the intervention on at least
5000 both HIV-positive and -negative mothers, and disseminating
results with guidance provided to the Government of Zimbabwe.
Contact Jean Humphrey:
zvitambo@icon.co.zw
2. Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS Awards 1999 - Global - will give
international recognition to the contribution made by businesses to
the fight against HIV/AIDS and will attempt to promote these models
as good practice. Awards given in the private sector only.
Deadline: 6 Sept. 1999:
Http://www.nat.org.uk/employers/gbcaward.html
Contact Chris Green:
chrisg@rad.net.id
*Custom SEARCH 500 plus communication programme experiences -
http://www.comminit.com/search.html
COMMUNICATION TRENDS
3. "Africa may be a late starter on the Internet but it is currently
undergoing a rapid transformation, outpacing the global average for
growth in number of host systems....From July 1998 to January 1999,
the number of Internet hosts grew at a rate of 38 percent...while
the worldwide average growth rate stood at 18 percent....One factor
driving the growth is the assistance provided by various foreign
organizations....Continent-wide, northern and southern Africa are
leading the west and east in terms of Internet development; central
Africa...is grossly lagging behind." Source:
The Industry Standard, June 18, 1999
http://www.thestandard.net/articles/display/0,1449,5214,00.html
*For other communication trends and country communication profiles
use the column on the right side of:
http://www.comminit.com/search.html
IMPACT DATA
4. "New Home, New Life" is a BBC World Service Afghan Drama that
addresses a number of issues, including the danger of mines. A new
evaluation by an independent consultant has found that listeners
are half as likely to be mine victims as non-listeners and that
there has been a steady decline in death and injury from mines
since 1993, especially since the BBC broadcasts started in 1994.
"New Home, New Life" promotes discussion and public dialogue: 'We
hear the drama in the evening and in the morning we get
together around the mosque and start talking about the episode' [45
year old farmer]. The evaluation sampled 57,287 people from all
over Afghanistan. Source: CIET International, Nov 1998, The
National Mine Awareness Evaluation. Available from UNDP/UNOCHA,
H292, Street 55, F-10/4, Islamabad, Pakistan.
*To help build your case for communication as an integral component
of development, SEARCH 100 plus evaluation summaries.
Http://www.comminit.com/search.html
WEB SITES
5. The Media Project is a collaborative effort between Advocates for
Youth and the Kaiser Family Foundation working with entertainment
industry professionals to ensure that they are presenting the most
up-to-date, socially relevant, and accurate information about
sexual health issues to the public:
Http://www.themediaproject.com
6. "The Observatory on the Information Society" aims 'to raise
awareness on the ethical, legal, and societal challenges brought
about by new [information and communication] technologies.' The
site collects and disseminates current information focusing on
Privacy and Confidentiality, Content Regulation, Multilingualism,
and Access to Public Domain Information.
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/observatory/index.html
GATHERINGS
7. The AF-AIDS Regional Email Discussion Forum is joining forces with
the 11th International Conference on AIDS and STDs in Africa
(ICASA), to be held in Lusaka, Zambia 12 - 16th Sept. 1999. This
pre-conference discussion is aimed at providing an opportunity for
many more voices to be brought into the regional agenda and
discussions on the response to HIV/AIDS.
Http://www.xi-icasa.co.zm
Contact: xi-icasa@zamnet.zm
MATERIALS
8. "Sub-Committee on Nutrition News" aims to 'provide information on
issues of importance in the field of international nutrition.'
This review is published bi-annually by the Secretariat of the UN
ACC Sub-Committee on Nutrition. Includes a review of current
agency programming, new publications and workshop announcements.
Contact Richard Jolly:
Richard.Jolly@undp.org
PEOPLE
9. Africa Alive!, an initiative to improve reproductive health and
reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS amongst youth in Africa, is seeking a
Project Director. Responsibilities include coordinating
activities, fund-raising, and management and administration of the
regional office. Will be stationed in Kampala, Uganda with
extensive travel in the region. Contact:
stralk@imul.com or swiftuganda.com
Thanks to all for their involvement and support. Please send items for
The Drum Beat to:
The Editor
Deborah Heimann
mailto:deborah@vermontel.net
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