From rverzola at phil.gn.apc.org Fri Nov 21 00:09:35 1997 From: rverzola at phil.gn.apc.org (rverzola) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 07:09:35 -0800 Subject: [asia-apec 412] First General Assembly of the Philippine Greens on Nov. 29-30 Message-ID: <3e5_9711200853@phil.gn.apc.org> PHILIPPINE GREENS' FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON NOV. 29-30 The Philippine Greens are glad to announce their First General Assembly on November 29-30, 1997, in Quezon City. The assembly will discuss and approve the vision, framework of analysis, program of action and constitution of the Philippine Greens. This is a historic moment, because it marks the rise in the Philippines of a new political formation that combines socio-ecological advocacy, political activism, a comprehensive program, and the Green worldview. The Philippine Greens have actually begun their activities months before this First General Assembly. Throughout the first half of 1997, they held a series of study workshops for prospective members. On July 9, about 100 members and supporters picketed a conference of mining executives held at the World Trade Center in Manila. Last September 19-21, the Greens held a three-day fast at the Shrine for Heroes, to recall the 25th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines, and to honor those who died fighting the Marcos dictatorship. This November 24, the Greens will be spearheading a rally in Baguio City, the urban heart of the Philippines' northern indigenous region, to support the struggle of indigenous tribes against mining within their ancestral lands. Another rally will follow in Manila on November 26, in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the government office that has been granting mining permits to foreign companies. The Philippine Greens will welcome messages of greetings or support, on the occasion of their First General Assembly, from like-minded groups. Please address your message to: greenfm@phil.gn.apc.org. Thank you very much. Roberto Verzola Organizing Committee First General Assembly of the Philippine Greens From dete at nusa.or.id Fri Nov 21 03:24:26 1997 From: dete at nusa.or.id (Siti D. Aliyah) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 1997 11:24:26 -0700 (GMT+7) Subject: [asia-apec 413] AI - APEC Summit Message-ID: To: apakabar@clark.net Date: Tue, 18 Nov 1997 11:26:10 -0500 From: Amnesty International Subject: APEC Summit: Economics and human rights converge (AI INDEX: IOR * News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * AI INDEX: IOR 30/09/97 13 NOVEMBER 1997 APEC Summit: Economics and human rights converge OTTAWA APEC will only foster genuine, sustainable development if government leaders gathering in Vancouver next week for the fifth APEC summit improve adherence to the rule of law, transparency and accountability, Amnesty International said today. Amnesty International's Secretary General Pierre Sane[/] will lead a delegation to the summit to highlight the relationship between human rights and development, and to warn that economic crisis in the region could lead to human rights violations as governments crackdown on opponents in their struggle to maintain growth rates. "Recent economic shocks and environmental crisis in the region are a reminder that development is about more than just markets," Mr Sane[/] said. "Genuine, sustainable development depends on the rule of law, government accountability and transparency -- the same factors that guarantee human rights." "Businesses need to be sure that their investments are protected by a strong legal framework which is not open to abuse by corrupt officials. Investors need freedom of information and openness on the part of governments rather than secrecy and unaccountability." "But across the APEC region, governments are jailing, torturing and sometimes killing those people who are standing up and denouncing corruption or illegal activities, or working to defend the rule of law and human rights. Their work deserves support from the corporations and governments gathered in Vancouver -- not silence." In a report released for the summit, Amnesty International details examples of development being pursued at the expense of, rather than in pursuit of human rights. According to Mr Sane[/], the emerging problems in many regional economies are likely to exacerbate these pressures. Recently, the Malaysian government has reportedly banned academics from making statements about the country's haze problem, and Prime Minister Mahathir has threatened to use the repressive Internal Security Act against currency speculators. In China, journalists have been jailed under restrictive state secrets legislation for reporting on financial policies and structural changes to the civil service. "APEC should recognise that human rights are at the heart of development," Mr Sane[/] said. "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights embodies issues at the cutting edge of globalization, from protection for intellectual property rights to freedom of expression, movement and ideas." Amnesty International is calling on APEC leaders to ensure the forum's principles and action agendas affirm the place of human rights in development and promote international human rights standards, including core International Labour Organization conventions. The organization is also urging APEC to step up cooperation and consultation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), reflecting the central role of civil society in building an Asia-Pacific community. Amnesty International is inviting business leaders gathered at APEC to work with NGOs on how to promote and support human rights in their operations, to develop codes of conduct incorporating human rights principles and to promote human rights concerns in their contact with governments and other businesses. Among the cases highlighted in Amnesty International's report are: Irene Fernadez who runs Tenaganita, a women's non-governmental organization in Malaysia, published in August 1995 a report alleging medical negligence and abuse in detention camps for illegal migrant workers who had been attracted by the country's labour shortages. The government used restrictive defamation legislation to bring her to court, where she faces a jail term of up to three years. South Korea's rapid industrialization has been supported by repressive measures against legitimate independent trade union activity. Teachers and public servants are not allowed to form independent trade unions and face arrest for peaceful protests against these measures. In Indonesia, trade unionists have been killed and tortured and their meetings violently broken up by the police. Muchtar Pakpahan, leader of the Indonesian Prosperous Workers' Union (SBSI) union has been charged with subversion which carries a possible death sentence. In Mexico, environmental activist Leticia Moctezuma Vargas opposes a government-sponsored golf course proposed to be built on land sacred to the Tepoztlan community. As a result of her peaceful protest she has received death threats, while other members of her community, including old women and children, have been brutally beaten by the police. From rverzola at phil.gn.apc.org Fri Nov 28 10:14:47 1997 From: rverzola at phil.gn.apc.org (rverzola) Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 17:14:47 -0800 Subject: [asia-apec 414] announcement Message-ID: <396_9711271651@phil.gn.apc.org> PHILIPPINE GREENS' FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON NOV. 29-30 The Philippine Greens are glad to announce their First General Assembly on November 29-30, 1997, in Quezon City. The assembly will discuss and approve the vision, framework of analysis, program of action and constitution of the Philippine Greens. This is a historic moment, because it marks the rise in the Philippines of a new political formation that combines socio-ecological advocacy, political activism, a comprehensive program, and the Green worldview. The Philippine Greens have actually begun their activities months before this First General Assembly. They held their first discussions in July 1996, and issued the document "A Manifesto of Philippine Greens" on November 30, 1996. Throughout the first half of 1997, they held a series of study workshops for prospective members. On July 9, about 100 members and supporters picketed an international conference of mining executives held at the World Trade Center in Manila. Last September 19-21, the Greens held a three-day fast at the Shrine for Heroes, to recall the 25th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the Philippines, and to honor those who died fighting the Marcos dictatorship. On November 24, the Greens co-organized with their local counterpart, the Community Volunteers Movement (CVM), a rally in Baguio City, the urban heart of the Philippines' northern indigenous region, to support the struggle of indigenous tribes against mining within their ancestral lands. This was quickly followed by another rally on November 26, together with the newly-formed Mine Watch Philippines, in front of the main office in Manila of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the government office that has been granting mining permits to foreign companies. Mine Watch Philippines is a coalition of indigenous groups, farmers, fisherfolk, and support organizations who are campaigning against corporate mining in the Philippines. The Philippine Greens will welcome messages of greetings or support, on the occasion of their First General Assembly, from like-minded groups and individuals. Please address your message to greenfm@phil.gn.apc.org or fax it to (63-2) 922-4397. Thank you very much. Roberto Verzola Organizing Committee First General Assembly of the Philippine Greens From bogus@does.not.exist.com Fri Nov 28 10:14:47 1997 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 17:14:47 -0800 Subject: ***no article*** Message-ID: ***no article*** From bogus@does.not.exist.com Fri Nov 28 10:14:47 1997 From: bogus@does.not.exist.com () Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 17:14:47 -0800 Subject: ***no article*** Message-ID: ***no article***