NOVIDADES DA IANSA

IANSA Update 05.09.08

* Ukraine arms depot explosions, thousands evacuated
* ATT Week of Action, 13-19 September
* African governments call for strong ATT
* International Peace Day: 21 September
* Peace Angels project
* Other news: Anastasia's Law, Peacebuilding Commission reviewed; Guns
and suicide; Women and armed violence in Burundi; Catalytic Communities;
Oxfam vacancy

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On the 27 August a forest fire swept into an arms depot near Lozovaya in
eastern Ukraine leading to the evacuation of over 5000 people and
explosions lasting for several days. To date there have been no reports
of deaths of injuries. According to media reports the defence ministry
has increased security on all arms depots.
www.iansa.org/

We have now learned of more than 50 events around the world planned for
the Week of Action on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), 13-19 September. Once
again Control Arms activists are showing their commitment and enthusiasm
in their support for an ATT, and the Week of Action promises to be a
great success. If you have an event planned for the ATT Week of Action
please email bruce.millar@iansa.org.
www.iansa.org/campaigns_events/WoA2008/attwoa08.htm

Representatives from 20 African governments expressed their continuing
support for a strong Arms Trade Treaty calling for the UN General
Assembly to start negotiations on the ATT. Government ministers, experts
and NGOs met in Nairobi (Kenya) from 3-4 September to discuss how an ATT
would promote sustainable development. The meeting was hosted by the
Kenyan Government and has received extensive media coverage in the
region.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7595126.stm

21 September is International Peace Day. Each year, IANSA members
organise events to celebrate the day. This year, members of the IANSA
Women's Network will be closely involved in promoting the day. If you
have planned events, please email bruce.millar@iansa.org with details.
www.iansa.org/women/
www.internationaldayofpeace.org

The IANSA Secretariat is assisting the US Art of Peace Charitable Trust
on a proposed project to melt down surplus military police or civilian
stockpiles of arms, and create a 'peace angel' sculpture from some of
the molten materials. Destruction of surplus stockpiles is the
international best practice, preferred to resale or dumping. If your
country has publicly identified surplus stockpiles of small arms, please
contact us and we will pass the information to the Art of Peace Trust
for their project.
www.theartofpeacecharitabletrust.org/

Other news:

* 'Anastasia's Law' entered into force in the Canadian province of
Quebec on 1 September. This law prohibits guns in schools and on public
transport, and includes provisions requiring teachers, gun-club owners
and health workers to report dangerous behaviour they witness from gun
owners. The law was introduced following the shootings at Dawson College
on 13 September 2006.

* The UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has been disappointing in key
areas, according to Belgian research institute GRIP. Founded in 2005,
the PBC has worked in Burundi and Sierra Leone, but Security Sector
Reform, human rights, good governance and youth unemployment remain
challenges to implementation.
www.grip.org/bdg/pdf/g0909.pdf

* A gun in the home is a major risk factor for completed suicide,
according to researchers from Harvard University. They found that US
states with high gun possession suffer twice as many completed suicides
as those with low gun possession, due to the larger number of gun
suicides.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/359/10/989

* Honorate Nizigiyimana of Burundian member DAGROPASS gave a
presentation on women and armed violence at a regional human rights
workshop organised by Urgent Action Fund Africa in Nairobi, from 31
August to 2 September.
www.iansa.org/regions/cafrica/cafrica.htm

* Catalytic Communities is a database of community-level projects that
are being worked on by 6000 member organisations worldwide. If you would
like to add your project, follow the instructions on the website below.
The deadline is 14 September.
www.comcat.org/english/

* Oxfam International is seeking a Head of their New York Office. More
information on the IANSA Job Board:
www.iansa.org/jobs/index.htm