UNESCO Ethics of Science and Technology program website:
"Science and technology today is advancing in leaps and bounds. In order to utilize this growing potential to the benefit of humanity, ethical reflection on science and technology and its applications must develop alongside. In recognition of this need, the UNESCO Ethics of Science and Technology Programme was created in 1998 with the establishment of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST) and has been a priority of UNESCO since 2002"
Saturday, April 30, 2005
World Book and Copyright Day - April 23, 2005
UNESCO World Book and Copyright Day website:
A belated happy World Book and Copyright Day - April 23, 2005
A belated happy World Book and Copyright Day - April 23, 2005
Remarks of the Director General
On the occasion of the second "Round Table on Development-Driven Public-Private Partnerships in Basic Education: Practitioners’ Solutions".
"I am very pleased with the progress being made in UNESCO’s collaboration with the business community in regard to basic education. It is an ongoing process and I would like it to develop further in the period ahead. As an outcome of the first round table on Public-Private Partnerships for Basic Education that took place last November in Brasilia, the High-Level Group on Education for All (EFA) has recognized the necessity of a more significant private sector participation in basic education. The Brasilia Statement not only calls for collaboration with the private sector in order to mobilize resources for the full EFA agenda of six major goals. In addition, it positions business leaders, and notably the World Economic Forum, at the core of the global advocacy efforts that are indispensable for ensuring that the EFA goals remain achievable. This recognition by the more traditional stakeholders in education was a further milestone in the development of a commonly shared vision on partnerships for education.......
"Finally, please allow me to express my special thanks to those steadfast allies from the USA who are providing UNESCO and the EFA community with special support in fostering private sector participation in education: Ambassador Oliver, USAID, the Committee for Economic Development, and the Center on Universal Education of the Council on Foreign Relations, represented by its Director, Mr Gene Sperling."
"I am very pleased with the progress being made in UNESCO’s collaboration with the business community in regard to basic education. It is an ongoing process and I would like it to develop further in the period ahead. As an outcome of the first round table on Public-Private Partnerships for Basic Education that took place last November in Brasilia, the High-Level Group on Education for All (EFA) has recognized the necessity of a more significant private sector participation in basic education. The Brasilia Statement not only calls for collaboration with the private sector in order to mobilize resources for the full EFA agenda of six major goals. In addition, it positions business leaders, and notably the World Economic Forum, at the core of the global advocacy efforts that are indispensable for ensuring that the EFA goals remain achievable. This recognition by the more traditional stakeholders in education was a further milestone in the development of a commonly shared vision on partnerships for education.......
"Finally, please allow me to express my special thanks to those steadfast allies from the USA who are providing UNESCO and the EFA community with special support in fostering private sector participation in education: Ambassador Oliver, USAID, the Committee for Economic Development, and the Center on Universal Education of the Council on Foreign Relations, represented by its Director, Mr Gene Sperling."
"Integrating ICTs into the Curriculum: Analytical Catalogue of Key Publications"
UNESCO Bangkok: Catalogue
Summary: "This catalogue contains a range of resources in the form of books, CD-ROMs, online publications, websites and articles from e-journals that aim to provide teachers, senior school managers, curriculum developers and administrators with guidelines and strategies for integrating ICTs effectively into teaching and learning. The catalogue is divided into a number of sections, each with a particular focus area, and the materials have been purposefully gathered from a range of sources to provide as broad a perspective on the various issues as possible. For example, websites and publications from government agencies and departments of education are featured, such as the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency and the U.S. Department of Education, as are organizations such as the International Society for Technology in Education, respected online educational journals and case studies from regional and national primary and secondary schools. Most of the resources included in this catalogue may be found online. For the print publications and CD-ROMs, publisher’s details have been included. All resources may be found in the Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) Library based at UNESCO Bangkok." Contents: Preface, Introduction, Trends and Recommendations; Section 1: General Principles and Strategies for Integrating Technology in Education and the Curriculum; Section 2: Integrating Technology into the Classroom and Developing Lesson Plans that Integrate ICTs; Section 3: Technology Integration into Specific Subjects; Section 4: Requirements for and Barriers to Effective Technology Integration; Section 5: Evaluating Effectiveness of Technology Integration; Section 6: Successful Case Studies of Technology Integration in Schools. Editors: Caroline Haddad and Luisa Rennie, UNESCO Bangkok, 2005, 110p.
Summary: "This catalogue contains a range of resources in the form of books, CD-ROMs, online publications, websites and articles from e-journals that aim to provide teachers, senior school managers, curriculum developers and administrators with guidelines and strategies for integrating ICTs effectively into teaching and learning. The catalogue is divided into a number of sections, each with a particular focus area, and the materials have been purposefully gathered from a range of sources to provide as broad a perspective on the various issues as possible. For example, websites and publications from government agencies and departments of education are featured, such as the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency and the U.S. Department of Education, as are organizations such as the International Society for Technology in Education, respected online educational journals and case studies from regional and national primary and secondary schools. Most of the resources included in this catalogue may be found online. For the print publications and CD-ROMs, publisher’s details have been included. All resources may be found in the Information and Knowledge Management (IKM) Library based at UNESCO Bangkok." Contents: Preface, Introduction, Trends and Recommendations; Section 1: General Principles and Strategies for Integrating Technology in Education and the Curriculum; Section 2: Integrating Technology into the Classroom and Developing Lesson Plans that Integrate ICTs; Section 3: Technology Integration into Specific Subjects; Section 4: Requirements for and Barriers to Effective Technology Integration; Section 5: Evaluating Effectiveness of Technology Integration; Section 6: Successful Case Studies of Technology Integration in Schools. Editors: Caroline Haddad and Luisa Rennie, UNESCO Bangkok, 2005, 110p.
Friday, April 29, 2005
The 171st session of UNESCO’s Executive Board
The 171st session of UNESCO’s Executive Board closed Thursday, April 28th following more than two weeks of debate. There are 87 of documents produced for the meeting; many may be of interest. A complete list is available on the UNESCO website.
I have linked some below that may be of special interest to the readers of this blog:
General
Intersectoral Programs
Both Education and Culture
Education
Culture
Check the UNESCO News: Sciences and Communications blog for links to other reports from the Executive Board meeting.
I have linked some below that may be of special interest to the readers of this blog:
General
Report by the Director-General on the execution of the programme adopted by the General Conference
Report by the Director-General on the follow-up of decisions and resolutions adopted by the Executive Board and the General Conference at their previous sessions
Report by the Director-General on the reform process
Jerusalem and the implementation of 32 C/Resolution and 170 EX/Decision 3.6.1.
Comments by the Director-General on the external evaluation reports submitted in the 2004-2005 biennium
Report by the Director-General on the revised and completed principles and guidelines regarding the establishment and operation of UNESCO Institutes and centres (category I) and Institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO (category II)
Report by the Director-General on the overall review of UNESCO prizes
Report by the Director-General on the implementation of the Participation Programme and Emergency Assistance
Proposals by Member States for the celebration of anniversaries in 2006-2007 with which UNESCO could be associated
Relations with international non-governmental organizations, foundations and similar institutions
Monitoring the Ratification of Conventions
Proclamation of 2007 as a United Nations International Year of Planet Earth
Report of the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations
Draft decisions recommended by the Special Committee
Report and draft decision of the Committee on International Non-Governmental Organizations
Draft decisions recommended by the Programme and External Relations Commission
Address by the Director-General on the occasion of the general debate of the 171st session of the Executive Board on items 3, 4, 5 and 20
Consideration of the Draft Programme and Budget for 2006-2007 (33 C/5) and recommendations of the Executive Board
Comments of the Director-General on items presented by Member States which may have administrative and financial implications
Address by the Director-General on the occasion of the reply to the General Debate of the 171st session of the Executive Board
Intersectoral Programs
Report by the Director-General on an intersectoral strategy on philosophy
Report by the Director-General on an overall strategy for an intersectoral programme for languages at UNESCO
UNESCO's Co-action Programme
Creation of a World Philosophy Day
Establishment of a World Philosophy Day: a feasibility study
Both Education and Culture
Implementation of 32 C/Resolution 54 and 170 EX/Decision 9.3 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories
Report by the Director-General on the cultural and educational institutions in Iraq
Education
Draft international implementation scheme for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
Report by the Director-General on the follow-up to the EFA Strategic Review and UNESCO's Srategy for the 2005-2015 period
Guidelines for the Preparation of Reports for the Seventh Consultation of Member States on the Implementation of the Convention and the Recommendation against Discrimination in Education (1960)
Report by the Director-General on cooperation between UNESCO and the OECD in drafting guidelines on Quality provision in cross-border higher education
Progress report on the preparation of the International Convention against Doping in Sport
Information on the first World Congress on Literacy (Havana, 31 January-4 February 2005)
Report by the Director-General on the follow-up to the EFA strategic review and UNESCO's strategy for the 2005-2015 period
Culture
Report by the Director-General on a strategy to facilitate the restitution of stolen or illicitly exported cultural property
Report by the Director-General on the promotion of the dialogue among peoples
Report by the Director-General on the progress towards the draft convention on the protection of the diversity of cultural contents and artistic expressions
Participation of the European Community in the intergovernmental meeting of experts (Category II) on the preliminary draft convention on the protection of the diversity of cultural contents and artistic expressions
Universal Forum of Cultures, 2007 in Monterrey, Mexico
Dialogue among peoples: Tirana and Hanoi declarations
Appendices 1 and 2 to the preliminary report by the Director-General on the Draft Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions
Check the UNESCO News: Sciences and Communications blog for links to other reports from the Executive Board meeting.
Session Of Unesco�s Executive Board Closes With Tangible Results
UNESCO News release:
"The 171st session of UNESCO�s Executive Board, chaired by Ambassador Hans-Heinrich Wrede (Germany), closed today following more than two weeks of debate devoted notably to the preparation of UNESCO's General Conference to be held next October. The session was 'very intensive', dominated by the question of how to 'turn good ideas into good strategies, and from there, into solid application and follow up' said Ambassador Wrede. 'UNESCO will be relevant,' said Ambassador Wrede in his closing speech, 'when it flexibly responds to those most in need. We must agree on the best way to move forward. We have reaffirmed the unanimous conviction: Education is the priority. Approaching the MDG deadline, the pressure is on to ensure effective and swift implementation of the 'Education for All' objectives........
"'The budget,' said Ambassador Wrede, 'sparked a most animated and substantive debate. Many members emphasized a pragmatic approach and asked for a better use of existing resources. All agreed that UNESCO should better concentrate on its areas of expertise, before additional resources are invested. Members requested special attention for LDCs, E-9 countries and Africa.'
"The 172nd session of the Executive Board will be held at UNESCO Headquarters from September 13 to 29, just ahead of the 33rd session of the General Conference, which will take place from October 3 to 21."
"The 171st session of UNESCO�s Executive Board, chaired by Ambassador Hans-Heinrich Wrede (Germany), closed today following more than two weeks of debate devoted notably to the preparation of UNESCO's General Conference to be held next October. The session was 'very intensive', dominated by the question of how to 'turn good ideas into good strategies, and from there, into solid application and follow up' said Ambassador Wrede. 'UNESCO will be relevant,' said Ambassador Wrede in his closing speech, 'when it flexibly responds to those most in need. We must agree on the best way to move forward. We have reaffirmed the unanimous conviction: Education is the priority. Approaching the MDG deadline, the pressure is on to ensure effective and swift implementation of the 'Education for All' objectives........
"'The budget,' said Ambassador Wrede, 'sparked a most animated and substantive debate. Many members emphasized a pragmatic approach and asked for a better use of existing resources. All agreed that UNESCO should better concentrate on its areas of expertise, before additional resources are invested. Members requested special attention for LDCs, E-9 countries and Africa.'
"The 172nd session of the Executive Board will be held at UNESCO Headquarters from September 13 to 29, just ahead of the 33rd session of the General Conference, which will take place from October 3 to 21."
Global Education Digest 2005
The Global Education Digest 2005, published by UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics, presents a wide range of comparable education indicators. They can be used to assess progress towards the Education for All and Millennium Development Goals. These cross-national indicators can also be used to benchmark the performance of one’s own educational system to those in other countries.
Four out of every five of the world’s children aged between 10 and 15 are today enrolled in lower secondary education, which is now considered as part of compulsory education in most countries. This year’s edition of the Digest also features a special chapter on trends in participation and gender parity in secondary education.
The Digest shows that secondary education is expanding rapidly worldwide, with enrolments increasing from 321 million in 1990 to 492 million in 2002/03. The fastest growth has occurred in South America which, along with Europe, now enjoys the world’s highest gross enrolment ratios at this level, at almost 100 percent. North America, East Asia and Oceania follow with enrolment ratios of over 90 percent. The figures drop sharply for West Asia, where lower secondary pupils represent 69 percent of the school-age population. It drops further still for Africa where, although enrolments at secondary level having been increasing by five percent annually since 1998, the lower secondary ratio is still only 45 percent.
Four out of every five of the world’s children aged between 10 and 15 are today enrolled in lower secondary education, which is now considered as part of compulsory education in most countries. This year’s edition of the Digest also features a special chapter on trends in participation and gender parity in secondary education.
The Digest shows that secondary education is expanding rapidly worldwide, with enrolments increasing from 321 million in 1990 to 492 million in 2002/03. The fastest growth has occurred in South America which, along with Europe, now enjoys the world’s highest gross enrolment ratios at this level, at almost 100 percent. North America, East Asia and Oceania follow with enrolment ratios of over 90 percent. The figures drop sharply for West Asia, where lower secondary pupils represent 69 percent of the school-age population. It drops further still for Africa where, although enrolments at secondary level having been increasing by five percent annually since 1998, the lower secondary ratio is still only 45 percent.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Opera beats kung fu for UNESCO bid
ChinaDaily news story:
"A form of opera originating in Xinjiang defeated Shaolin kung fu to become China's sole nomination for UNESCO's intangible heritage list, the Ministry of Culture announced Tuesday."
"A form of opera originating in Xinjiang defeated Shaolin kung fu to become China's sole nomination for UNESCO's intangible heritage list, the Ministry of Culture announced Tuesday."
Mrs. Laura Bush Pays Tribute to UNESCO's Education for All Week
i-Newswire.com - Press Release And News Distribution :
"Mrs. Laura Bush today paid tribute to a national commemoration of 'Education For All Week,' which began this week, the annual celebration of the United Nation's Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) initiative to make quality education and literacy universal. The celebration is a joint-effort of the U.S. Departments of State and Education."
"Mrs. Laura Bush today paid tribute to a national commemoration of 'Education For All Week,' which began this week, the annual celebration of the United Nation's Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) initiative to make quality education and literacy universal. The celebration is a joint-effort of the U.S. Departments of State and Education."
Saturday, April 23, 2005
EFA Week 2005
UNESCO EFA Week 2005 webpage:
"EFA Week is intended to remind governments and the international community to keep their promise to achieve Education for All by 2015.
"This year children and adults in over 100 countries will deliver an urgent message to world governments: education is the key to end poverty.
"UNESCO supports this year�s Global Campaign for Education�s mobilization Send my Friend to School."
"EFA Week is intended to remind governments and the international community to keep their promise to achieve Education for All by 2015.
"This year children and adults in over 100 countries will deliver an urgent message to world governments: education is the key to end poverty.
"UNESCO supports this year�s Global Campaign for Education�s mobilization Send my Friend to School."
Safeguarding the Transmission of Local & Indigenous Knowledge of Nature
Draft Working Document
A UNESCO Experts Meeting Exploring linkages between Cultural Diversity and Biological Diversity.
A UNESCO Experts Meeting Exploring linkages between Cultural Diversity and Biological Diversity.
Roles for National Academies in Building Worldwide Scientific Capacity—a symposium in honor of Bruce Alberts
142nd NAS Annual Meeting: April 30-May 3, 2005: (This seminar is to be held May 2, 2005.)
"Bruce Alberts will conclude his term as Academy President on June 30. In recognition of Bruce Alberts' inspired leadership, this symposium will reflect on his role in creating new organizations and relationships in international science. Many of the issues facing the world--such as emerging infectious diseases, global climate change, energy sources, human migration, and the problems of megacities and environmental sustainability--are fundamentally international and do not respect national borders. Confronting these problems requires organizing the world's science, health, and technology communities as a source of global science policy advice. Academies are an essential element of such an organization because in many countries, academies form a vital link between governments and the science community. A global network of academies can thus identify critical issues and communicate these issues to policy makers both in national governments and international organizations such as the United Nations. Under Bruce Alberts' leadership, the InterAcademy Council (IAC), a global analog of our National Research Council has been successfully launched and has achieved a remarkable level of global influence. The symposium will include international science leaders who have worked to realize the vision of an effective source of international science policy advice and will conclude with a roundtable discussion addressing future directions in international science policy."
"Bruce Alberts will conclude his term as Academy President on June 30. In recognition of Bruce Alberts' inspired leadership, this symposium will reflect on his role in creating new organizations and relationships in international science. Many of the issues facing the world--such as emerging infectious diseases, global climate change, energy sources, human migration, and the problems of megacities and environmental sustainability--are fundamentally international and do not respect national borders. Confronting these problems requires organizing the world's science, health, and technology communities as a source of global science policy advice. Academies are an essential element of such an organization because in many countries, academies form a vital link between governments and the science community. A global network of academies can thus identify critical issues and communicate these issues to policy makers both in national governments and international organizations such as the United Nations. Under Bruce Alberts' leadership, the InterAcademy Council (IAC), a global analog of our National Research Council has been successfully launched and has achieved a remarkable level of global influence. The symposium will include international science leaders who have worked to realize the vision of an effective source of international science policy advice and will conclude with a roundtable discussion addressing future directions in international science policy."
Former child soldier describes lost childhood
The Daily Campus (The University of Connecticut) story:
"China Keitetsi, a former child soldier, spoke about her life experiences and efforts to end the practice of children in the army worldwide to a group of students and faculty in the Student Union Thursday afternoon.
"The event was sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair in Comparative Human Rights as part of a commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda."
"China Keitetsi, a former child soldier, spoke about her life experiences and efforts to end the practice of children in the army worldwide to a group of students and faculty in the Student Union Thursday afternoon.
"The event was sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair in Comparative Human Rights as part of a commemoration of the genocide in Rwanda."
Friday, April 22, 2005
Cultural Diversity in Knowledge Societies: UNESCO-CI
UNESCO Meetomg webage.:
"UNESCO is organizing a three-day expert meeting on 'Cultural Diversity in Knowledge Societies' in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, from 17 to 19 May 2005. The event takes place in the framework of the conference 'UNESCO between the two phases of the World Summit on the Information Society' organized by the Russian authorities."
"UNESCO is organizing a three-day expert meeting on 'Cultural Diversity in Knowledge Societies' in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, from 17 to 19 May 2005. The event takes place in the framework of the conference 'UNESCO between the two phases of the World Summit on the Information Society' organized by the Russian authorities."
Happy Earth Day
Try celebrating with the Second Annual Chevy Chase Earth Day Auction. The auction will raise funds and awareness for The Center for Environmental Education Online. Included in the auction are a "VIP Today Show Tour with Katie Couric", "Daily Show VIP seats for four and handshake with host Jon Stewart", "Lunch with Paul Simon and Chevy Chase", and "Visit Glenn Close on the set of "The Shield" and meet with her for lunch during a break in the day".
From The Tale of The Two Earth Days
Earth Day -- on The Vernal Equinox -- was first proposed by John McConnell in early October 1969 to a few members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and other community leaders especially interested in caring for and improving our natural environment. On November 25, 1969, the final day of the UNESCO National Conference, "Man, and His Environment," Cynthia Wayburn, one of the youth leaders on Mr. McConnell's Earth Day Committee, presented the idea and showed the Earth Flag during this presentation at the luncheon. On March 21, 1970. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology.
First Day of Spring, March 21, 1970 was designate Earth Day. Sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations, it is observed each year. The Vernal Equinox is the moment when night and day are equal throughout the Earth -- reminding us of Earth's beautiful systems of balance which humanity has partially upset and must restore. From Humanity's earliest history people of many cultures have celebrated this day as the beginning of spring - symbolizing renewal of life.
Earth Day -- April 22 -- In Seattle in September 1969, Gaylord Nelson announced there would be a national environmental teach-in in the Spring of 1970. In January 1970, the Environmental Teach-In, decided to call their one-off event on 22 April Earth Day. Check out EPA's website celebrating the 35th Earth Day, today!
From The Tale of The Two Earth Days
Earth Day -- on The Vernal Equinox -- was first proposed by John McConnell in early October 1969 to a few members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and other community leaders especially interested in caring for and improving our natural environment. On November 25, 1969, the final day of the UNESCO National Conference, "Man, and His Environment," Cynthia Wayburn, one of the youth leaders on Mr. McConnell's Earth Day Committee, presented the idea and showed the Earth Flag during this presentation at the luncheon. On March 21, 1970. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology.
First Day of Spring, March 21, 1970 was designate Earth Day. Sanctioned in a Proclamation signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations, it is observed each year. The Vernal Equinox is the moment when night and day are equal throughout the Earth -- reminding us of Earth's beautiful systems of balance which humanity has partially upset and must restore. From Humanity's earliest history people of many cultures have celebrated this day as the beginning of spring - symbolizing renewal of life.
Earth Day -- April 22 -- In Seattle in September 1969, Gaylord Nelson announced there would be a national environmental teach-in in the Spring of 1970. In January 1970, the Environmental Teach-In, decided to call their one-off event on 22 April Earth Day. Check out EPA's website celebrating the 35th Earth Day, today!
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
UNESCO Institute for Education > Publications
UNESCO Institute for Education Publications website
A large number of publications of the UNESCO Institute of Education can be downloaded free from this webpage. Many are also available on paper, and links are provided to their webpages.
A large number of publications of the UNESCO Institute of Education can be downloaded free from this webpage. Many are also available on paper, and links are provided to their webpages.
World Book and Copyright Day - April 23, 2005
World Book and Copyright Day UNESCO website:
"By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright."
"By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright."
Obelisk arrives in Ethiopia
Bangkok Post article:
"Thousands of Ethiopians cheered and cried joyously as Italy yesterday returned the first piece of the Axum obelisk, an ancient national treasure that Rome's fascist regime plundered 68 years ago."
"Thousands of Ethiopians cheered and cried joyously as Italy yesterday returned the first piece of the Axum obelisk, an ancient national treasure that Rome's fascist regime plundered 68 years ago."
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