The HEAL Africa hospital in Goma Democratic Republic of Congo is not just a hospital - H is for Health care but the E is for Education of both health care workers and the patients - so women who have had surgery to repair the damage done by rape are given the opportunity to learn to read and write or to learn to sew so that they can earn a living as in the Healing Arts program pictured here But some women despite numreous operations cannot be healed - and they have no home to return to either because of... Full article »

Tags: Africa, charity, environment, health

With around 15% of Global GNP given over to organized crime, it is clear that while crime is global, policing is still often local. This book looks at how a global approach to law enforcement can be achieved and highlights role that transnational moral entrepreneurs are playing in pushing new legislation through across international borders. Issues such as the treatment of animals, women's rights, racial equality and the treatment of minors are all given as examples of how we as global citizens are moving towards a point of convergence in law making albeit at differing rates. The books authors are... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 10:28 PM Comment

Tags: health, law, religion, sociology

We are lucky enough to be able to share with you some of the wonderful success stories coming out of Africa. The charity African Action on Aids is committed to improving the lives of African's touched by this disease, to support their children and families and to bring hope in times of need. This week we share in the story of how AAA is encouraging orphan girls to study nursing and why a good education can be a lifesaver. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Why do we encourage girl orphans who wish to pursue nursing studies? Because there is a shortage of 1.5 million health... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 10:04 AM Comment

Tags: Africa, charity, education, health

Rating:

• Currently 5

Whether you are looking to tackle a mamouth load of ironing this weekend or climb mount Everest, a little motivational pep talk is always welcome. We found this video doing the rounds on You Tube and wanted to share it with you. Some words of wisdom to see us on our way!... Full article »

Tags: business, health, media

  Reader Barbara Ferguson shares with us her pictures from the "Train The Trainers" councelling program she is establishing in the DRC. Barbara recently returned from the Congo and is lobbying the Australian government in hope of increasing our aid to this beautiful region. Barbara's train the trainer program will provide support and assistance for those women and young girls tortured and raped during the decade long war. If you can help please contact us and we will put you in touch with Barbara's organisation. Demonstrating Councelling Techiques.    Celebration Time.         Listening. Sunday School.... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 1:28 PM Comment

Tags: Africa, charity, conflict, health

Below is the latest update from the charity African Action against Aids. The theme of this news brief that celebrates the African Woman's Day is Fighting Spirit & Resiliency - The capacity to bounce back no matter how life treats you. A fighting spirit is needed in the struggle against AIDS. It is essential to a healthy/happy life. On 31st July 2009, the African Woman's Day was celebrated in Cameroon where AIDS definitely has a woman's face - 61% of the 500,209 people living with AIDS here are women! At the same time, women are the main caregivers for people... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 12:31 AM Comment

Tags: Africa, health

Back on 17th July we visited Barbara on the set of her training DVD  as she prepared for her DRC trip to "Train the Trainers." This program  has been set up by Barbara  to address the Social-psychological conseling needs of survivors of war and torture in the Congo. We join Barbara on her return to Australia after her first training trip. I arrived home yesterday pm - still processing my experiences in the DRC at HEALAfrica - the faith and courage of the people was inspiring - they sing like angels - my favourite moment was on the first day at... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 12:14 AM Comment

Tags: Africa, charity, conflict, health

The International Commission of Jurists Australia and the Community Justice Coalition are hosting a seminar on 5 September 2009. The seminar "Our Prisons - Human Rights, Mental Health & Privatisation" will take place in the elegant surroundings of the State Library of NSW. This is the first of a series of seminars on the custodial system for adults and juveniles. The Hon John Roberston MLC, Minister for Corrective Services will open the seminar with Mr Victor Dominello MP who is speaking on behalf of Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith SC MP. Featured speakers also include Dr Eileen Baldry, Associate Dean... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 12:25 AM Comment

Tags: health, law, sociology

HIV/ Aids: The Impact of Narcotic Drugs. Submitted by Ruth Bamela Engo, President AAA. Just like AAA sees health as an all-encompassing concept, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs has started looking at the inter-relationship between illicit drug use and HIV/AIDS. The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is now mandated to share regularly relevant decisions of the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS with the Commission's members. When the Commission met in March 2009 - a session attended by over 1,400 participants representing Governments and civil society... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 1:24 AM Comment

Tags: Africa, health

Life is made up of many disasters that we should have seen coming. From slipping over on wet bathroom tiles and falling out of a tree to the Chernobyl disaster and the devastating flooding of New Orleans. However, why, when it seems so obvious that a problem is looming do we allow them to happen? This book pinpoints three of the key reasons for the occurrence of these predictable surprises. The first, cognitive failure where the authorities fail to understand the consequences of their inaction. Secondly is organizational failure where the stakeholders may very well understand the size of the... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 12:09 AM Comment

Tags: business, health, media, reviews

Global Insights reader and long term friend and work collegue of Dr Suter, Barbara Ferguson talked to us about her motivation for setting up the "Train the Counselor" program in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We caught up with her on the set of her training DVD as she prepares to head back to Africa later this year.  The Keith Suter blog team wish Barbara and her team all the best for the coming months and look forward to sharing her updates with you via the blog. Barbara Ferguson taking a break from making her training DVD in Sydney earlier... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 12:24 AM Comment

Tags: Africa, charity, conflict, health, sociology

                          Evelyn passed away on June 28 2009. I was invited to speak at a "Celebration of Her Life" event on July 12 2009 at the Dalton Gardens Retirement Village, Ryde, NSW (where she had spent her final years). The crowded event drew together both the three generations of her extensive family and her wider "family" of peace and social justice activists and members of the United Nations Association (where she was a Life Member). Tragically she passed away only weeks before Fairfield Council is due to commemorate... Full article »

Posted by: Webeditor at 12:21 AM Comment

Tags: health, peace

                    In rugby league circles a sobering thought has been gaining momentum. Players are getting suspended, fined and fired for consuming the products of on-air TV sponsors which they are supposed to promote. In a non-descript bar in inner Sydney the audacity of hope has once again come to the rescue. One of the game's leading thinkers was forced to pause mid-schooner as he reeled from the shockwaves of not one but two flashes of pure genius. Rugby league and grog he realised were inseparable and what's more if it's ok... Full article »

Posted by: Roger Pugh at 10:23 AM Comment

Tags: entertainment, health, sociology, sport

                  From those wonderful people who brought you the mexican wave and mariachi music comes swine flu which is just as catchy. The NSW Government was potentially well-equipped to deal with swine flu through applying measures similar to those developed for equine flu such as quarantining pigs and pig farmers and suspending pig racing. Kevin took a commendable initiative on swine flu by advising the nation to wash their hands thoroughly and often. The NSW Government took him at his word and washed their hands of the whole thing. As a... Full article »

Tags: Australasia, entertainment, health, sociology

Today's drive back down the mountain from Wentworth Falls was a little different to normal. On a cold and wet Blue Mountains day it is unusual to see more than just a handful of people about - bedraggled dog walkers making their way back home or sorry looking commuters queuing for the bus. This morning however, was different! Coming around the bend after Lawson I was surprised to see a band of yellow making its way proficiently down the grassy bank that doubles up as a pavement. Getting closer I could see through the mist that these were indeed people... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 1:04 PM Comment

Tags: Australasia, charity, health, science

On May 27 2009 I went back to school - as a principal. This is a bit of exaggeration as I was only a “Principal for a Day”. The community partnership scheme saw over 50 “Principals for a Day” shadow the principal in a primary, special or secondary government school in metropolitan Sydney and rural NSW. This is part of a global programme with sister events being held in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Auckland. The Principals for a day are business and community leaders representing a range of fields and all are interested in education and youth. It... Full article »

Tags: Australasia, education, environment, health

Rating:

• Currently 5

James Hardie is a name that has become synonymous with Asbestos - an association that is still making headlines today, over twenty years since the company stopped producing the building material. Following world war two Australia was re-built on Asbestos with questions over the products safety not hitting the mainstream until the late 1960's. Courtesy of the Royal Commision doccuments, Gideon Haigh traces the evolution of the growing concern about the health effects of aspestos and gets behind the scenes of this still successful global building products company. The book is a must read for any company or charity director... Full review »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 11:40 PM Comment

Tags: Australasia, health, media, reviews

More than twenty five years after the world first became aware of AIDS, it is clear that AIDS is still a threat in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its debilitating cycle definitely impedes on many aspects of the continent's development. Unfortunately, the death toll has been so heavy and overwhelming that official policies and strategies have tended to place more emphasis on treatment rather than prevention. On the other hand, community responses throughout Africa have mirrored their social base and have generally adapted their initiatives to local needs and available resources. In so doing they have focused mostly on prevention and mitigation. Prevention,... Full article »

Tags: Africa, charity, health, sociology

                    African Action on AIDS is a non- for -profit organization working with Africa's women and youth whose lives have been affected by AIDS. We educate women and youth with the knowledge that they need to stay alive and teach them to share the knowledge with their peers. AAA has consultative status with the United Nations and has been working in this field since 1991. One big lesson we learned during all these years is that no amount of drugs can cure people who live in unclean environment with little... Full article »

Posted by: Amanda Foxon-Hill at 1:04 AM Comment

Tags: Africa, charity, health

Rating:

• Currently 4

If you have ever wondered why some people are success magnets while others seem to repel it at every turn then this book is for you. The "art" or rather "Science" of persuasion can be practiced and learned by working on the ten skills laid out in the pages of this book. Kurt Mortensen founded the persuasion institute in 2001 after working in the area of persuasion and influence for over fifteen years. The book works on the principal that if you push they will resist and offers the reader some seemingly passive yet powerful ways of getting your audience... Full review »

Posted by: Webeditor at 11:10 PM Comment

Tags: health, media, reviews, security