Prim8 Media

GILAS

You may have read about the Ayala Foundation in the book we had distributed at Tunis from the UN Global Task Force. The foundation has a new initiative, called GILAS.

GILAS is an acronym for Gearing-up Internet Literacy and Access for students. It is a project initiated by a group of private companies, and aimed at providing an Internet lab for each of the 5,443 public high schools in the Philippines.

The Philippines spends approximately $64 per student per annum on secondary education; quite low compared to approximately $7,500 that the US spends, and $5,000 for Singapore. The Philippines ' huge budget deficit and the country's myriad of needs make it difficult for the government to increase its education spending. The lack of spending manifests itself in the lack of classrooms and teachers, poorly trained teachers, underdeveloped curricula and practically non-existent libraries.

GILAS editorial

Hungry nations demand truth about GM food aid

A compromise deal has been struck at the international biosafety meeting in Brazil on how to label GM food imports. But hunger-stricken East African countries are concerned that they still won’t be sure if food aid contains GM. Ebenezer T. Bifubyeka reports.

[Curitiba, Brazil – PANOS FEATURES] The recipients of food aid for decades, poor and hunger-stricken countries in East Africa say they will continue to reject genetically modified (GM) food aid until an effective labelling system is put in place.

Labelling GM foods, because of health and environmental risks, was the subject of heated debates at the just-concluded meeting of the international Biosafety Protocol in Curitiba before a compromise deal was finally struck on the night of March 17.

Download hungry_nations_demand_truth_about_gm_food_aid.doc

Nigeria census clashes

Six people have been killed in clashes in Nigeria in the run up to the country’s census which starts today. The deaths occurred during a boundary dispute between rival groups in the south-west Ondo state. A row erupted over whether Taribo village should be merged with its Irele neighbours for the purposes of the census. The census, the first in 15 years, is sensitive as its findings will shape future funding and politics. Questions on ethnicity and religion have been taken out of the questionnaire to prevent further clashes. Previous censuses have led to national rows about alleged fraud.

Finally, the Prim8 Evolution CD is getting the recognition it deserves. The Prim8 Fund would like to send a special thanks out to all those who have supported the album on line and grassroots from the streets of southern California. Particularly
all those beautiful people out at Venice Beach California. You folks were absolutely incredible summer 2005. We meet thousands of people who had a chance to hear one or two tracks from the CD and many pledges to the sum of  $30.00 were made towards the reproduction of Prim8 the Evolution, version 2.
MSN Music gives Jamiroquai and the Gorilla a 5 star rating!

 

Thanks! CD Baby

  We want to personally thank CD Baby for helping us get the Prim8 Evolution CD to the world.

CD Baby!

The Prim8 Fund is formed in Cameroon

Over the past three years the Prim8 Fund has been working diligently to form a field office in Cameroon. It has been an extremely tedious task which seemed like there wasn’t really

any interest to reach beyond the general mentality of most conservationist, politions and educators in the Congo Basin

and throughout Central Africa. This is a very interesting time for many of the educators at the university level as well as for those in government. The Prim8 Fund has been very fortunate to elect a Mr. Damien Mbarga as “President of Territories”. Mr. Mbarga’s function in office would be to preside over humanitarian, environmental, great ape protection and communications throughout Cameroon.This is a very challenging appointment, but we are quite confident that Mr. Mbarga will play a vital role in the success of our mission in Cameroon as well as in the Congo Basin.

Download the_prim8_fund_is_formed_in_cameroon.doc

Africans missing at key biosafety talks

By Rod Harbinson

Many Africans delegates, too poor to travel, have failed to turn up at a key international meeting in Brazil aimed at protecting our natural environment from Genetically Modified Organisms.

Experts warn that lack of participation may have grave implications for all developing countries, and their taxpayers.

Download africans_missing_at_key_biosafety_talks.doc

Common Ground? Investigating the importance of managing land

Research shows that people’s capacity to access and use land is important for economic growth, for poverty reduction, and for promoting both private investment and transparent, accountable government. But all too often, land management issues only hit the headlines when they develop into conflicts.

This is the first in a series of briefing documents for the media from the RELAY programme. The programme works with southern print and broadcast journalists to communicate the findings of academic research in an accessible way through the media.

Download relaytoolkit1.pdf

Kenya warned to observe press freedom

The World Bank has said that Kenya must accept press freedom before it lifts an aid freeze imposed in January. This condition was issued two weeks after Kenya’s government raided the offices and burned newspapers belonging to the Standard Group, the country's second largest media group. The World Bank originally suspended the aid payment of 250 million dollars in January after the eruption of a corruption scandal now known as the Anglo-Leasing affair. A leaked report suggested that hundreds of million of dollars of government contracts had been awarded to a non-existent company called Anglo-Leasing.