 |
|
 |
Community Building Meeting II |
|
|
|
|
|
Community Building Meeting II |
|
|
Plenary Dinner and Local Perspectives Thais Corral arranged a gathering of prominent local leaders for dinner and discussion on the evening of the 22nd at the home of Bebel Mendez de Almeida and Eduardo Martins, two long-time friends of Thais with a deep interest in globalization issues. The dinner guests were educated and well-informed professionals with liberal political views and a serious concern about global issues that are having a significant impact on Brazil. We caught a glimpse of several issues that would emerge the following day in the larger group discussion. One educator expressed her love of Brazil and satisfaction with the quality of her children's secondary education. She indicated, however, that she intended to send them abroad for college. Her choice of countries for higher education had changed in recent years from the United States to England because of the increase in crime in American cities and on college campuses and the apparent US disregard for quality of life in the developing world. This criticism of American lifestyles and attitudes was reflected in other conversations as well. Three themes emerged through the evening of conversation: (1) a fear that World Bank (i.e., US) policies in Argentina would lead toward the further collapse of that country's economy; that (2) the US drug policy in Columbia was a prelude to US military intervention in that country; and that (3) such policies would ultimately result in more repressive measures in Brazil with a possible economic crisis resulting from failed programs in Argentina. While these views are not yet substantiated by actual developments, they are indicators of a consistent perception that the current US policies in the southern hemisphere are primarily based on self-interest rather than a more just and equitable approach to globalization. It was clear that Thais and her staff had worked extremely hard to insure that this trip would be a success and further the development of the Commission in the region. It was effort well spent and justly rewarded.
Thais Corral has been committed to education about gender and human rights issues for most of the past two decades. She has founded several organizations, including REDEH (Rede de Desenvolvimento Humano) and CEMINA (Comunicacao Educacao e Informacao em Genero), where she serves as Executive Director, to promote these issues in her native Brazil. She recently spent a year as a Visiting Professor at Harvard University with a focus on women and education. The Secretariat is discussing with Thais how best to use her network and broadcast capacity to educate and learn about globalization throughout Latin America.
REDEH (Rede de Desenvolvimento Humano) REDEH (Rede de Desenvolvimento Humano), also know as the Human Development Network, was established in 1990 with the mission of fostering gender principles and practices in the public arena. The organization develops educational material and programs geared to strengthen and empower women's leadership roles in both government and non-government institutions. REDEH has actively participated in the discussions on conception and strategies for implementing Agenda 21, the platform of action for sustainable development. The organization has focused on the importance of strengthening women's participation in decision-making and civic engagement in sustainable development at the local level, including in the educational system. Through its Continued Teacher Training Program, REDEH has developed a kit of didactic material that introduces into the classroom themes such as gender, race, health, the environment, human rights and sexual guidance.
CEMINA (Comunicacao Educacao e Informacao em Genero) CEMINA (Comunicacao Educacao e Informacao em Genero), also known as Communication, Information and Education on Gender, is a Brazilian NGO founded in 1988 with the mission of promoting communication and information on gender issues within Brazil. To reach the most marginalized sector of the female labor force, domestic workers, CEMINA established the award winning Women's Radio Network to support women's radio programs. The network supports over 350 radio programs for women throughout Brazil and published a newsletter as well as training manuals on specific themes related to gender and radio.
|
||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
