VOICE has been participating in the 2010 Amar Ekushey Book Fair held in Bangla Academy, Dhaka that ended on February 28th after month long book fair. In the book fair VOICE participated with a number of 50 items of its publications  including books, reports, newsletters, posters and other publications. It also keeps books and reports from national and international organizations whom VOICE has been closely working with. The participation of VOICE in the Book Fair helped disseminating information valued by VOICE, more specifically around the issues of globalization, trade, aid effectiveness, ICTs and information rights, climate change, IFIs, food and agriculture and of politics. Participating in the book fair, VOICE takes the opportunity for  building wider constituency and raising critical awareness among the stakeholders including teachers, students, politicians, researchers, citizen actors, NGOs, activists, researchers etc, around the issues.

Speakers in a discussion meeting yesterday stressed the need for ensuring transparency among NGOs to make effective use of the foreign aid which they felt was necessary for equity based development.
They also suggested for the disclosure of NGOs activities including amount of aids they received and the mode of expenditures.
They were addressing the discussion 'Role of the Civil Society on Aid Effectiveness' jointly organised by Voice (Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment) and Aid Accountability Group at National Press Club in the city.
Addressing the discussion, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh Dr. Iftekharuzzaman told that not only government but activities of NGOs should be transparent. The work and expenditure of NGO bosses should also be brought under inspection.
He said NGOs should ensure their own commitment to reduce poverty and ensure equality and human rights. He stressed on working collectively carrying forward the agenda of aid effectiveness and build up a national movement.
In his address, European Union (EU) ambassador in Dhaka Dr Stefan Frowein has urged the civil society members to find a way to work together to elaborate common positions and lobby effectively to contribute in the development and progress.

European Union (EU) ambassador in Dhaka Dr Stefan Frowein has urged the civil society members to find a way to work together to elaborate common positions and lobby effectively to contribute to development and progress to make aid more effective, reports UNB.
"This is especially true in Bangladesh… where civil society plays a crucial role as partner of the government improving the living conditions of thousands and thousands of people," he said while addressing a discussion at the National Press Club (Tuesday).
Voice (Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment) and Aid Accountability Group jointly organized the discussion titled ''Role of the Civil Society on Aid Effectiveness''.

Chaired by Voice executive director Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, the discussion was addressed, among others, by deputy Danish Charge de Affairs Jan Moller Hansen, executive director of the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) Dr Iftekharuzzman and coordinator of Nijera Kori Khusi Kabir.
DFID advisor for Aid Effectiveness Bo Sundstrom presented at the session a keynote paper on ''How to work more effectively together to deliver real development outcome''.

The European Union ambassador in Dhaka, Stefan Frowein, has urged the civil society members to find a way to work together to elaborate common positions and lobby effectively to contribute in development and progress to make aid more effective.
   ‘This is especially true in Bangladesh… where civil society plays a crucial role as partner of the government improving the living conditions of thousands and thousands of people,’ he said while addressing a discussion at the National Press Club Tuesday morning.
   Voice (Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment) and Aid Accountability Group jointly organised the discussion titled ‘Role of the Civil Society on Aid Effectiveness’.
   Chaired by Voice executive director Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, the discussion was addressed, among others, by deputy Danish charge d’affaires Jan Moller Hansen, executive director of the Transparency International, Bangladesh Iftekharuzzman and coordinator of Nijera Kori Khusi Kabir.
   DFID adviser for Aid Effectiveness Bo Sundstrom presented at the session the keynote paper on ‘How to work more effectively together to deliver real development outcome’.

VOICE and the Aid Accountability Group (AAG), Bangladesh are going to organize a Consultation on the 'Role of Civil Society on Aid Effectiveness'.

Date : 26 January 2010

Time : 10.00 am. to 1.00 pm.

Objectives: The objective of this consultation is to discuss the effectiveness of aid in the context of Paris Declaration of Aid Effectiveness and Accra Action Agenda (AAA). This national consultation helps promoting discussions, enhancing information exchange and consensus building and presenting opportunities for wider coordination and collaboration among CSOs. The consultation will also discuss on a sharper focus on how the civil society organizations can play a better role for the effective use of aid for development results as well as the role of government and donor communities. 

Venue : Conference Room, National Press Club

Speakers : Excellencies EU Ambassador Mr. Stefan Frowein and Danish Charge de Affairs (Deputy) Mr. Jan Moller Hansen have kindly consented to speak at the occasion as Guests of Honour. Among others, Mr. Bo Sundstrom, Advisor, Aid Effectiveness from DFID will speak as a panelist. 

You are coordially invited.

Regards,

Ahmed Swapan

[16 December 2009, Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, writes from Copenhagen] There was snow, cold and wind in Copenhagen. But the warmth of Reclaiming People’s Power lead a few thousand activists from around the world to gather in different blocks and rally towards the Bella Centre where world leaders are in mock climate negotiations.

14 December 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark – Protesters from Asia, Latin America, Africa and other regions of the world staged a lively demonstration in front of the Bella Center today to demand reparations from highly-industrialized countries for their climate debt and for the World Bank and its sister institutions to stay out of climate finance. 

While parties were struggling to reach an agreement at the Bella Centre in central Copenhagen before the high-level segment of climate talks, environmental activists from across the globe staged demonstrations yesterday with a call for 'Climate Justice'.

The environmental activists were demanding a 350ppm limit on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and no more than a 1.5 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures for the sake of survival of the most vulnerable countries like Bangladesh, small islanders and African nations.

Meanwhile, global civil society groups demanded a legal and institutional framework for protecting and rehabilitating 'climate refugees' who are being displaced due to climate change.

Global civil society groups demanded a leagal institutional framework for climate refugees

 [Copenhagen, Friday 11 December 2009] While the countries split wide open on combating climate change, the civil soiceity groups have launched `International Campaign on Climate Refugees’ Rights’ (ICCR) at Copenhagen. The social movement groups from Asia, Africa and Latin/Central America joined hands together to demand the rights of millions of people being displaced by the climate change.

Opening the launching of the campaign, Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, convenor of the ICCR said, "global civil society groups should come forward to build a wider constituency to claim the justice and rights of the climate induced refugees".

The climate talks began already, and many of the members of `International Campaign on Climate Refugees' Right (ICCR)' are now in Copenhagen including Secretariat colleagues from VOICE, Bangladesh. We are preparing for holding the launching meeting of ICCR including other events. The launching event will be held on Friday, 11 December, from 1pm to 03 pm at Venue A-yellow, klimaforum. The experts and practitioners from the global south will be speaking at the meeting.

You will get useful information including a number of publications on issues around displacement and climate refugees.

Please book your time. You are cordially invited to the event. Your support and solidarity will be highly appreciated.

In case of contact over phone, please note down the cell number of Ahmed Swapan: 50492643.