Bono, singer of the the Irish rock band U2, has teamed up with Bill Gates to demand a better deal for the poor of the world in 2005. With a number of international conferences upcoming, this year offers the opportunity for the world to change the future of its poorest people for the better. Read their appeal, which was published in numerous international newspapers, here:
- English
- French
- German
- Spanish
In the aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, there were many calls for a new Marshall Plan. Among the prominent advocates for such a plan, not just for Asia but for the globe, are the British Chancellor Gordon Brown and the World Vision Australia chief executive Tim Costello. The Los Angeles Times urged the US government to implement a Marshall Plan for South-Asia.
Find a news excerpt here:
- English (pdf, 50 kB)
- German (pdf, 50 kB)
On November 26, 2004 the first meeting of the Austrian Global Marshall Plan team took place. More than 30 people came together in Vienna to discuss how they can contribute to the Global Marshall Plan both nationally and internationally. The minutes of the meeting including the results of the different working groups can be requested from muszak@oesfo.at. The next meeting will take place in Spring 2005, the date remains to be fixed.
If you are interested in joining the Austrian team, please contact the coordinator Klemens Riegler at austria@globalmarshallplan.org
The non-profit organization, Fundación Agreste agreed to take on a coordinating role for spreading the idea of the Global Marshall Plan in Latin America and is looking for other interested people and organizations to join their efforts.
Please contact them at info@fundcionagreste.org.ar
More information about the organization www.fundacionagreste.org.ar
ON December 20th, a group of Germany's most prominent and respected celebrities -- Claudia Schiffer, Franka Potente, Wim Wenders and Heike Makatsch to name a few -- sent an open letter to the German Federal Chancellor. They call upon Gerhard Schroeder to "work with other world leaders at the upcoming G7 and G8 summits to create a comprehensive programme for tackling poverty, supporting more and better aid, trade justice and debt cancellation." The letter was printed in some of Germanys most prestigious news magazines and newspapers.
This action has been supported by VENRO, the German Association of NGOs, as part of the worldwide activities being undertaken by the Global Call to Action Against Poverty in the run up to the G-8 Summit in Scotland in 2005.
- More
Read the open letter to Gerhard Schroeder in German and English.
Using the WEEP simulation model ("World Economic Equalization Program"), the research study by James A. Yunker (Western Illinois University, Macomb, USA) examines the potential impact of a very large-scale development assistance program (a global Marshall Plan) on the future development of the world economy. The model indicates that a global Marshall Plan would lead to a dramatic reduction in world economic inequality and at cost of a very minor retardation in economic growth of the rich countries.
The study can be requested from the coordination officet info@globalmarshallplan.org
The report by Oxfam, published in December 2004, provides an analysis of the current development aid situation and gives recommendations for reaching the MDGs. On pages 20/21 a reference is made to the historic Marshall Plan and the positive effects of the EU enlargement on the economies in Southern Europe.
(pdf, 1,35 MB)
- Report
The initiative "first 8" has launched this interactive website as part of an awareness campaign for the Millennium Development Goals. The powerpoint presentation on that website asks the beholder to think about their own responsibility in the world.
- http://www.first8.org
In his paper Ralf-Klemens Stappen outlines strategic options for the implementation of a (o). It is the revised version of the paper published in February.
German (pdf, 330 kB)
- Paper
Zeki Ergas promoted the Global Marshall Plan at the international conference Women Defending Peace which took place in Geneva from November 22 - 24.
"Women should play a greater role in peace processes, as they can open up new perspectives thanks in particular to their sensitivity to human rights" explained Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, who together with Suzanne Mubarak, wife of the Egyptian president, chaired this conference.
The Global Marshall Plan Initiative supports this view and invites more women to get involved.
Zeki Ergas' Report (pdf, 60 kB):
- Report
Opening speech by Micheline Calmy-Rey
- Speech
Articles in German
Fact.um, 2004/04
"Der neue Global Marshall Plan"
Der Global Marshall Plan in Österreich
Agrarische Rundschau, November 2004
"Globalisierung ist kein Automatismus"
Von Ernst Scheiber
"Das Ökosoziale Forum Europa und seine Perspektiven"
Von Josef Riegler
Article in English
Peace Journalism.com, December 2004
"Three Goals for a Better World"
By Zeki Ergas
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The editorial language of the newsletter is English. However we publish your article in the language it is received.
(o) news editors - Global Marshall Plan Initiative
Helge Bork, Maike
Sippel, Frithjof Finkbeiner (V.i.S.d.P.R.)
Global Marshall Plan
Initiative
Co-ordination Office
Rissener Landstrasse 193
22559
Hamburg
Germany
For the contents of articles written by external authors we do not take
responsibility.
The Global Marshall Plan Initiative (o) pleads for an Eco-Social Market
Economy by the means of a Global Marshall Plan.
(o) news is the official newsletter of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative
to all interested.
(o) news is published once a month, on the second Friday
of the month. The editorial deadline is the first Friday of the month.
Articles should be sent to office@globalmarshallplan.org
(o) info is the medium to inform all those active within the Global
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