Michelle Bachelet: International Day of Rural Women 2012

International Day of Rural Women - October 15

As the world celebrates the International Day of Rural Women, UN Women with the World Food Programme, Food and Agricultural Organization and International Fund for Agricultural Development are launching a joint programme in Rome to empower poor rural women through economic integration and food security initiatives. In this video message, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet emphasizes how the economic empowerment of rural women will help lift them out of poverty and bolster food security.

Sustainable Energy for All

Fact Sheet: The World Bank Group & Sustainable Energy for All

A summary of the World Bank’s contributions to the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, both planned and underway. GOAL #1: Achieving universal access to energy The International Energy Agency estimates that achieving universal access to modern energy services by 2030 will cost $48 billion a year. The World Bank Group is providing more than $1 billion a year to over 60 countries that is directly focused on expanding access, both by extending the grid and through off-grid solutions for remote areas. The Bank Group’s financial instruments, such as partial risk guarantees, reduce risk associated with energy projects to leverage private investment for access, while its policy and strategic guidance help governments create conditions that attract companies that bring new business models, innovative finance, or new energy and energy efficiency technologies. Since Rio+20, 61 countries have opted in to the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, and businesses, investors, and donors have committed $50 billion to it. The 61 countries, 25 of them in Africa, account for about 80% of global population without access to electricity. The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), administered by the World Bank, has completed six of a total of 40 “rapid assessment” country studies undertaken by all SEFA partners (others supporting these assessments are the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, InterAmerican Development Bank, European Commission, and the United Nations Development Programme) each of which reviews a specific country’s electricity and household fuels’ access gaps, as well as their status on renewable energy development and energy efficiency practice. ESMAP will deliver a technical assistance program for energy access in five developing countries. GOALS #2 & #3: Doubling renewable energy share & improvement rate of energy efficiency The Bank Group’s two major financing vehicles, IBRD for middle-income and IDA for low-income countries, contributed about two-thirds of the Bank Group’s total $49.2 billion in financing for energy projects and programs between 2007-12. Of total Bank Group energy financing during this period, 43% was for renewable energy and energy efficiency, while a large part of the remainder went to transmission, distribution and policy reform. This finance usually produces matching volumes of investment from public and private sectors, as well as from multilateral and bilateral donors. The goal is to double the current leveraging of this lending, raising it from $1 to $2 for every $1 of Bank financing. The Bank’s ESMAP, which helps low and middle-income countries develop and implement sustainable energy policies, is developing a Global Geothermal Development Plan with several partners to explore and develop geothermal potential in developing countries. This will include Africa’s Rift Valley, where geothermal power could potentially deliver clean electricity access in up to 13 countries. ESMAP will also bring its Energy Efficient Cities Initiative to urban policymakers to help them implement building standards, transport and traffic regulations, as well as municipal tax incentives that scale-up energy efficiency efforts in cities, where over 70% of the world’s population will live by 2050. The International Finance Corporation’s clean energy investments have increased substantially since 2007, with renewable energy now accounting for over 70% of its power business. IFC is working with other parts of the Bank Group to provide guidance to countries on policy incentives such as feed-in tariffs, renewable portfolio standards, and reverse electricity auctions to help renewable energy companies become competitive. It also encourages countries to abandon costly subsidies to power producers relying on fossil fuels. The Bank and IFC are among 10 partners in the Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership, or Global LEAP. This collaboration aims to replicate the success of Lighting Africa by catalyzing markets for off-grid lighting across Asia. Meanwhile, successful Lighting Africa pilot programs will be extended to new markets in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Senegal, and Mali, with the goal of reaching 250 million people with off-grid lighting products by 2030. Flaring of gas associated with oil production has dropped by 20% worldwide, from 172 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2005 to 140 bcm in 2011. This has reduced CO2 emissions by 85 million tons, roughly the equivalent of emissions from 16 million cars. The Bank and its partners in the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR) will step up flaring reduction efforts over the next four years through activities to develop gas infrastructure and markets. A major goal is to increase use of previously flared gas to expand access to electricity and cleaner household fuels.The Bank is working through the Africa Clean Cooking Initiative and the Clean Cooking Initiative in East Asia to raise awareness on clean cooking issues and to help governments design programs to scale up the dissemination of clean cooking stoves and modern fuels. Bank financing has connected millions of households to biogas and natural gas in China, Nepal, Colombia, and Armenia, while facilitating transitions to more efficient household fuels in Cambodia, Laos, and nine African countries. The Bank Group and four regional multilateral development banks manage the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs), which include the Clean Technology Fund and Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Program for Low-Income Countries, and the Strategic Climate Fund. About $5 billion, or 75% of total capitalization of the CIFs, is supporting projects targeting the Sustainable Energy for All goals. CIF investments include development of concentrated solar power in the Middle East and North Africa, South Africa, China, and India; geothermal energy in Indonesia and East Africa; access expansion using sustainable energy in Honduras, Nepal, Kenya, Liberia, Tanzania, Mali, and Ethiopia; and financing energy efficiency and smart grid technologies in Mexico, Turkey, Vietnam, and Ukraine.

Ban Ki-moon Message on the International Day of Rural Women 2012

Secretary-General's Message for the International Day of Rural Women2012

 

Rural women produce much of the world’s food, care for the environment and help reduce the risk of disaster in their communities. Yet they continue to face disadvantages and discrimination that prevent them from realizing their potential. For too many rural women, their daily reality is one in which they do not own the land they farm, are denied the financial services that could lift them out of poverty, and live without the guarantee of basic nutrition, health services and amenities such as clean water and sanitation. Unpaid care work imposes a heavy burden and prevents their access to decent wage employment.

Empowering rural women is crucial for ending hunger and poverty. By denying women rights and opportunities, we deny their children and societies a better future. This is why the United Nations recently launched a programme to empower rural women and enhance food security. The joint programme of the three Rome-based food and agricultural organizations and UN Women will work with rural women to remove the barriers they face, and to boost their skills as producers, leaders and entrepreneurs
When food and nutrition security are improved, rural women have more opportunities to find decent work and provide for the education and health of their children. With equal access to land, credit and productive resources, rural women can increase their productivity and sell their goods. As equal members of society, rural women can raise their voices as decision-makers and propel sustainable development.

The world has increasingly recognized the vital role that women play in building peace, justice and democracy. As we approach the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals, it is time to invest more in rural women, protect their rights, and improve their status. On this International Day, I call on all partners to support rural women, listen to their voices and ideas, and ensure that policies respond to their needs and demands. Let us do everything we can to enable them to reach their potential for the benefit of all.

Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon Message on the International Day for Natural Disater Reduction 2012

Secretary-General's Message for 2012

 This year’s observance of the International Day for Disaster Reduction seeks to highlight the need for women and girls to be at the forefront of reducing risk and managing the world’s response to natural hazards. Across the world, women and girls are using their roles within families and communities to strengthen risk reduction. In Bangladesh, women organized themselves to prepare for and respond to floods by teaching other women how to build portable clay ovens and elevate houses.

 In South Africa, marginalized adolescent girls have been empowered to help design plans to reduce the impact of drought and severe wind storms.


 In the Bolivian altiplano, indigenous women have consolidated traditional agricultural and climatic knowledge, which resulted in significant reduction of crop losses from hail, frost and flooding.

 In Viet Nam, villagers have been introduced to disaster reduction issues through customized radio soap operas that incorporate real-life examples and stories from local women.

And following the tsunami and earthquake in Fukushima, Japan, women played a central role in re-establishing income opportunities, with a special focus on single mothers. Such efforts advance understanding of how communities can benefit from encouraging women to take leadership roles in disaster risk reduction, and will only become more valuable as climate change intensifies and as the world struggles to cope with extreme weather and disasters that affect an average of more than 200 million people annually

. On this International Day for Disaster Reduction, let us recognize that, as the theme of this year’s observance declares, women and girls are the “[in]Visible Force of Resilience”.

 Ban Ki-moon

International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction 2012: Women and Girls - the [in]Visible Force of Resilience

Theme for 2012: Women and Girls - the [in]Visible Force of Resilience

 

By resolution 44/236 (22 December 1989), the General Assembly designated the second Wednesday of October International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. The International Day was to be observed annually during the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, 1990-1999.
By resolution 64/200 of 21 December 2009 the General Assembly decided to designate 13 October as the date to commemorate the Day and to change the Day's name to International Day for Disaster Reduction. The objective of the observance is to raise awareness of how people are taking action to reduce their risk to disasters.
The theme of the 2012 International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) is "Women and Girls - the [in]Visible Force of Resilience".
Women and girls are empowered to fully contribute to sustainable development through disaster risk reduction, particularly in the areas of environmental and natural resource management; governance; and urban and land use planning and social and economic planning - the key drivers of disaster risk.
Resolution 64/200. - International Strategy for Disaster Reduction International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction

Here are some essential steps that you can take to prepare for disasters

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Preparing for Disaster

Image from UNOCHA and UNDP's "Act now, save later" clip. Watch it here: www.actnowsavelater.org

Here are some essential steps that you can take to prepare for disasters:

1. Build an Emergency Supply Kit and include non-perishable food, water, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries, sanitary items, shoes and clothing as well as other items you might need. 
2. Make a Family Emergency Plan. Agree how you will contact one another, how you will find each other and what you will do in case of an emergency.
3. Volunteer to support disaster efforts in your community, be part of the community planning process.
   
4. Join or start a preparedness project. Serve your community by improving the preparedness of your friends, colleagues and neighbors.
5. Support major disasters by donating cash or goods that are needed.
   
6. Duplicate your important documents and keep an extra copy offsite either in a safety deposit box or with someone you trust. Examples of these documents are: passport, driver's license, social security card, will, deeds, financial statements, prescriptions, personal items, etc. Include an inventory of your valuables, in writing and with photographs or video.
   
7. Get the latest information from your local news stations and follow instructions given by local emergency management officials.
8. Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone.
   
9. Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate
10. Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage during a severe thunderstorm.
11. If you are a tourist, familiarize yourself with local tsunami evacuation protocols. You may be able to safely evacuate to the 3rd floor and higher.
    
12. Prepare for landslides by following proper land-use procedures.
13. In mudflow areas, build channels or deflection walls to direct the flow around buildings.
    
14. Use fire-resistant or noncombustible materials on the roof and exterior structure of your house.
     

Latest News from our efforts to prevent crisis worldwide

• 13 Oct: International Day for Disaster Reduction
• 09 Oct: Asian women peace activists honored for their work in the frontlines of conflict
• 01 Oct: Brazil to host the 10th edition of the Match Against Poverty, featuring Ronaldo, Zidane and other football stars
• 28 Sep: United Nations and partners commit to building disaster resilience
• 27 Sep: Continued democratic reforms, international support key to Kyrgyzstan’s future
• 24 Sep: Haitian Prime Minister and NGO representatives, including Sean Penn, outline a new roadmap for Haiti

read more

 

World Disaster Reduction Campaign

Get involved:

 Showcase what women and girls are doing to contribute to disaster resilience.

 Organize public events to increase understanding of gender concerns in DRR processes.

Lobby national and local governments as well as community leaders and decision makers, academia, and international organizations to 'Step Up'.

Mobilize the public at large to demand changes to the socio-cultural/political framework that exacerbates the exclusion of women and their vulnerabilities.

Encourage men and boys to get involved.

Think Big - Gender equality and risk reduction principles must guide all aspects of disaster mitigation, response and reconstruction.

Get The Facts - Gender analysis is needed to direct aid and plan for full and equitable recovery. Nothing in disaster work is "gender neutral."

Work With Women - Women's community organizations have insight, information, experience, networks, and resources vital to increasing disaster resilience.

 Resist Stereotypes -
Base all initiatives on knowledge of difference and specific cultural, economic, political, and sexual contexts, not on false generalities.

 Respect and develop the capacities of women and girls.

World Sight Day - October 11

World Sight Day (11 October) [WHO]

World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness to focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment and rehabilitation of the visually impaired held on the second Thursday in October.
World Sight Day is observed around the world by all partners involved in preventing visual impairment or restoring sight. It is also the main advocacy event for the prevention of blindness and for "Vision 2020: The Right to Sight", a global effort to prevent blindness created by WHO and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

Related links

• WHO programme on prevention of blindness and visual impairment
• More about blindness and visual impairment