Please find Global Marshall Plan news 07/2005 also online.

- zur deutschen Version

After two months of preparation, we have been able to reach 45.000 readers with the “Blue Book” in the last four weeks. For many people it is hard to believe that this book was completed in record time on a completely voluntary basis, was fuly finaced by June 30th 2005 and was completed without large funding by a third party. The finances of this project speak for themselves: expenses €38.700 (print €32.000, postage €5.500, presence at the Kirchentag €1.200), revenues €40.000 (donations €15.000 - 260 single donations between €3 and €1000), €5.000 GTZ, €25.000 (1.700 book orderings). We would like to thank all donors, all the buyers of the book, all experts who volunteered their time, all authors for their support and especially the German Protestant Kirchentag, who made it possible for us to distribute the book in the globalisation-themed hall. That fact that we were in a position to successfully complete a project like this should give us hope that together we will be able to accomplish much more. With this book we contributed a little to creating awareness among readers. One day, when our global network is several hundred thousand strong, it should also be possible to replace the current global order, which is heading in the wrong direction, with another that will bring our world back into balance.

- If you would like to order the book, please visit our bookshop on the website.

On June 17th, the European Union agreed to double the budget devoted to development aid to €66 billion by 2010 and to more than €90 billion by 2015. This increase is part of the EU Commission's package to fulfill the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals.

On 11 June the G8 finance ministers made a historical step and struck a deal to relieve the debts of the poorest 18 nations in the world. However, some believe more countries should have benefited from this deal or pointed out the provision on privatisation that was enclosed in the finance ministers' agreement.

At the end of May the former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres was chosen as the new U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The new director can refer to his governing experience and his involvement in conflict resolution in places like in East Timor. In an interview in January with TerraViva online, Guterres promoted a Marshall Plan for Africa, "one that isn't paternalistic or dictated by the international institutions or the richest countries."
Article about Guterres' nomination
Interview with TerraViva

The following people have joined the Global Marshall Plan Initiative:

AIESEC Austria

COPA (Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations of the EU, including 80 member organisations in all 25 Member States)

Hafsat Abiola, Nigeria, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND)

Dr. Martin Almada, Alternative Nobel Prize laureate and president of the foundation "Celestina Perez de Almada"

Yuejun Qian, China/Germany, Gesellschaft der Chinesischen Studenten und Wissenschaftler in Deutschland e.V., editor-in-chief Chinese European Post

The work group on the "effective use of funds in development cooperation" is planning to publish a book with best practice examples. A number of articles have already been collected, but more input on effective methods and examples is desired. All experts with practical experience in development cooperation are invited to contribute their knowledge and experience. If you are interested in contributing to this book, please contact Dr. Petra Gruber and Peter Hesse.

Dr. Josef Riegler prepared a paper in which the line of reasoning for a Global Marshall Plan is presented in a concise way. This paper could prove useful for everyone planning to present the Global Marshall Plan. (pdf, 100 kB)

Prof. Radermacher presents his view on this year's political events and how these affect the Global Marshall Plan. (pdf, 60 kB)

On 11 June, at the conference Berlin 05, supporters of the Global Marshall Plan Initiative met with a representative of the African Youth Forum to initiate future cooperation. Andreas May wrote a report of this encounter. (pdf, 860 kB)

On 11 June, the Millennium Solidarity - Geneva Group organized a rally in support of the UN's Millennium Campaign, The Global Call for Action Against Poverty (GCAP) and The Global Marshall Plan Initiative. Around 200 activists from a variety of organizations participated.
- Press coverage

Please send us your comments on this newsletter, our website or the Initiative itself:
www.globalmarshallplan.org
office@globalmarshallplan.org


We do not take responsibility for the articles written by external authors.

Global Marshall Plan news editors - Global Marshall Plan Initiative
Helge Bork, Maike Sippel, Frithjof Finkbeiner (V.i.S.d.P.R.)
Global Marshall Plan Initiative
Coordinations Office
Rissener Landstrasse 193
22559 Hamburg
Germany

The Global Marshall Plan Initiative pleads for an Eco-Social Market Economy by the means of a Global Marshall Plan.

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