UNESCO implementing Mauritius Strategy

In January 2005, a high-level United Nations (UN) meeting was convened in Mauritius to review the implementation of and refine the 1994 Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The principal negotiated outputs of the meeting are a strategy document and a political declaration. The Mauritius Strategy builds on and reassesses the original BPoA areas. But it also highlights several new priorities and emerging issues now considered important dimensions of sustainable development in SIDS. The twenty chapters of the Mauritius Strategy call for action in many fields related to UNESCO’s concerns, programmes and priorities. Particular attention is being given to often marginalized dimensions such as culture, youth and outer islands. This website is intended to provide information on UNESCO's contribution to the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy. NEWS/EVENTS/ACTIVITIES_________________ 2008 The Ocean in a high CO2 world: Symposium in Monaco (6-9 October) Since the industrial revolution began, the acidity of the ocean has increased by 30%. What are the long-term implications of this rapid change known as ocean acidification? The "Second Symposium on the Ocean in a High CO2 World", to be held 6-9 October at the Oceanography Museum in Monaco, will bring together invited speakers from 16 countries, including Bermuda, to explore this increasingly urgent question. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise) and IV (Coastal and Marine Resources). UNESCO conference on adult learning, equity and sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region (6-8 October) A UNESCO conference on “Building Equitable and Sustainable Societies in Asia and Pacific: the Challenge of Adult Learning” will take place in Seoul from 6 to 8 October 2008. Hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Conference will bring together ministers of education and other representatives of governments and multilateral partners, regional NGOs, experts and stakeholders from the private sector, universities and the media. Trends and practices in adult learning will be explored, with a focus on participation and inclusion; improving quality, literacy and key competencies; as well as delivery mechanisms, assessment and accreditation. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development). UNESCO signs memorandum of understanding with the Inter-American Development Bank (06 October) On 6 October 2008, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a strategic partnership with Mr Luis Alberto Moreno, President of the Inter-American Development Bank. The purpose of this MOU is to formalize a framework of cooperation in the areas of education, the sciences, culture and communication in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean that are members of both parties. [More] Mauritius Strategy: General. Acceptance by Barbados of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2 October) On 2 October 2008, Barbados deposited with UNESCO its instrument of ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which will enter into force on 2 January 2009. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters XVI (National and regional enabling environments) and XIX (Culture). On the Frontlines of Climate Change: A forum for indigenous peoples, small islands and vulnerable communities (24 September) The current online article for discussion is: "Coping with Climate Change: Adapting old strategies to face new challenges", lead article for the topic 'Adapting'. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and II (Natural and environmental disasters). Accession by Palau to the International Convention against Doping in Sport (23 September) 23 September 2008, Palau deposited with the Director-General its instrument of ratification of the International Convention against Doping in Sport. In accordance with Article 37, the Convention will enter into force with respect to Palau on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date of deposit of this instrument of ratification, that is to say on 1 November 2008. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters XVII (Health) and XIX (Culture). Energy technologies: what ethics in Asia and the Pacific? (Sept-Dec 2008) While the issue of renewable energies is becoming a hot topic, several working groups (academics, government representatives, industry and civil society actors) will meet during the second semester of 2008, in different cities of Asia and the Pacific, to help policy-makers and scientists formulate ethical energy policies. A report on the ethical dimension of energy choices in Asia and the Pacific will be produced at the end of the lectures. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters VII (Energy resources ), X (Transport and Communication), XI (Science and technology) and XVI (National and regional enabling environments). Pacific Islands Marine Data and Observations Training Workshop (22-25 September) A number of major regional partners will come together in Nadi, Fiji, from 22-25 September 2008 to support a technical training workshop on marine data and observations, the first of its kind in the region. This workshop will allow fisheries, environment, meteorological, and climate professionals working in Pacific Island governments to become more aware and make full use of some of the important environmental data being generating by the observing programmes operating in their waters. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change), II (Natural disasters), XI (Science and technology), XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development) and XVI (National and regional enabling environments). Musician Juan Luis Guerra of the Dominican Republic designated UNESCO Artist for Peace (15 September) On 15 September 2008, UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura has designated the Dominican song writer and performer Juan Luis Guerra UNESCO Artist for Peace, "in recognition of his efforts for the benefit of children with disabilities and children in need, and his dedication to the ideals and aims of the Organization". [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIX (Culture). Jamaican athletes Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown designated UNESCO Champions for Sport (13 September) On the occasion of the opening of an International Congress on Sport for Development and Peace Whilst in Kingston (Jamaica) on 13 September, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, has decided to designate the Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown UNESCO Champions for Sport in recognition of their commitment to the values of peace and tolerance, as well as equity and equality between men and women in sport. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters XVI (National and regional enabling environments) and XVII (Health). Ratification by Papua New Guinea of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (12 September) On 12 September 2008, Papua New Guinea deposited with UNESCO its instrument of ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which will enter into force on 12 December 2008. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters XVI (National and regional enabling environments) and XIX (Culture). Strategy framework for promoting ICT literacy in the Asia-Pacific region (2008) The situational analysis of this publication seeks to determine how countries in Asia and the Pacific are poised to experience ICT’s great potential in creating, constructing, capturing, managing, and sharing information and knowledge. Conscious attempts were made to assure comparability of data across countries; hence, only reliable published data sources were consulted for this analysis. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication), XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development), XVI (National and regional enabling environments) and XVIII (Knowledge management and information for decision-making). Accession by Bahrain to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (11 September) On 26 August 2008, Bahrain deposited with UNESCO its instrument of accession to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its two Protocols. In accordance with the terms of Article 33(2) of the Convention, Article 10(b) of its First Protocol and Article 43(2) of its Second Protocol, the Convention and its two Protocols will enter into force with respect to Bahrain three months after the deposit of these instruments, that is to say on 26 November 2008. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters XVI (National and regional enabling environments) and XIX (Culture). UNESCO conference to review literacy and adult education challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean (10-13 September) Literacy and youth and adult education in Latin America and the Caribbean are the focus of a UNESCO conference (Mexico City, 10-13 September 2008) organized with the National Institute for Adult Education (INEA), bringing together ministers of education and other representatives of governments and multilateral partners, regional NGOs, experts and stakeholders from the private sector, universities and the media. Four roundtables on key issues of the region will be featured: Policies, Strategies, Financing, Monitoring and Evaluation of Literacy and Youth and Adult Education; The Costs of Illiteracy; Assessment and Measurement of Literacy and Youth and Adult Education; and Literacy and Youth and Adult Education in Multi-Cultural and Multi-Lingual Contexts. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development) and XVIII (Knowledge management). Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Conference on “Media, Education and Culture in Human Rights” (9-11 September) Organized by the Colombian Government, with UNESCO’s support, the Conference (9 to 11 September 2008, in Cartagena, Colombia) explored the link between the media and education as well as their contribution to a culture of human rights in the context of Latin America and the Caribbean. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and Communication), XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development), XVI (National and regional enabling environments) and XIX (Culture). Fiji EFA Mid-Decade Assessment Report: Quality of education a top concern (08 September) Fiji has made significant progress towards providing access to basic education, including addressing the issues of gender parity and equality. However, Fiji’s Education for All (EFA) Mid-Decade Assessment Report highlights quality of education as a growing concern and an area that must be improved. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development). Legal Experts Meeting for Global Ethics Observatory, Database 4 (GEObs-4) (28-29 August) GEObs is a database dedicated to Ethics Related Legislation and Guidelines, with worldwide coverage in bioethics and other areas of applied ethics in science and technology such as environmental ethics, science ethics, and technology ethics. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XVI (National and regional enabling environments), XVIII (Knowledge management and information for decision-making) and XIX (Culture). Upgrading Caribbean Media Capacity to Report on the Region’s Justice System (25 August) TV Court in association with UNESCO will organize from 3-5 September 2008 a series of workshops on the Media and the Caribbean Justice System in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication) and XVI (Enabling Environments). International information literacy logo contest: a new logo selected! (25 August) During the UNESCO session of the World Library and Information Congress held in Quebec, Canada, in August 2008, UNESCO awarded the winner of the international Information Literacy Logo Contest, Mr Edgar Luy Perez, a young Cuban designer from Havana. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication), XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development) and XVI (Enabling Environments). "Youth Speaking to Youths" (21 August) UNESCO has partnered with Caribbean Vizion, Violence Prevention Alliance, Ministry of Education of Jamaica and other stakeholders to pilot a programme to promote a culture of peace and inspire positive behaviour change in youths using music, drama and multimedia. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication), XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development), XVI (Enabling Environments), XVII (Health) and XIX (Culture). On the Frontlines of Climate Change: A forum for indigenous peoples, small islands and vulnerable communities (13 August) The current online article for discussion is: "Weathering Winds of Change", under the topic 'Early Impacts'. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and II (Natural and environmental disasters). South-East Asian countries unite to reach the unreached (05 August) Participants from 11 South-East Asian countries, including Timor Leste, will meet to discuss the theme, “Reaching the Unreached to Achieve the Education For All (EFA) Goals Together”. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development) and XVI (Enabling Environments). On the Frontlines of Climate Change: A forum for indigenous peoples, small islands and vulnerable communities (23 July) The current online article for discussion is: “Early flowers, new fish - late berries, few whales”, under the topic 'Early Impacts'. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and II (Natural and environmental disasters). Camagüey inscribed on World Heritage List (8 July) The birthplace of Cuba’s national poet, Nicolás Guillén, has just been inscribed on the World Heritage List. With its red tiles, neoclassical façades with their louver-boards and pilasters, windows and carved screens, the city of Camagüey offers its visitors a haughty and legendary beauty. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIX (Culture). New inscriptions on the UNESCO World Heritage List (7 July) Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu were among the countries to have sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for the first time this year. - The Chief Roi Mata's Domain (Vanuatu) consists of three early 17th century AD sites on the islands of Efate, Lelepa and Artok associated with the life and death of the last paramount chief, or Roi Mata, of what is now Central Vanuatu. - The Kuk Early Agricultural Site (Papua New Guinea) consists of 116 ha of swamps in the southern highlands of New Guinea 1,500 metres above sea-level. It is an excellent example of transformation of agricultural practices over time. The UNESCO’s World Heritage List now numbers a total of 878 sites, 679 cultural and 174 natural sites and 25 mixed in 145 countries. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIX (Culture). Le Morne (Mauritius) inscribed on World Heritage List (5 July) “Morning, Oppression, Reverie…”. With these words, Mauritian poet Édouard J. Maunick begins to write “Le Morne”, a name charged with emotion, a mountain laden with memory, a sacred place in the history of the maroon - runaway slaves - of Mauritius, and now a World Heritage site. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIX (Culture). On the Frontlines of Climate Change: A forum for indigenous peoples, small islands and vulnerable communities (2 July) The online article discussed between 2-22 July is "Changing Climate - Shifting Seasons", under the topic 'Early Impacts'. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and II (Natural and environmental disasters). Accession by Seychelles to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (20 June) On 20 June 2008, Seychelles deposited with the Director-General its instrument of accession to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. In accordance with the terms of its Article 29, the aforementioned Convention will enter into force with respect to Seychelles three months after the date of the deposit of its instrument, that is to say on 20 September 2008. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIX (Culture). On the Frontlines of Climate Change: A forum for indigenous peoples, small islands and vulnerable communities (launch 12 June) This internet-based forum aims to encourage indigenous peoples, small island communities, and other peoples living in vulnerable environments to share their observations and experiences of climate change impacts, and their efforts to cope and adapt to sea level rise, climate variability, the increased intensity and frequency of extreme climatic events, accelerated melting of circumpolar or high altitude snow and ice, and other climate change related events. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and II (Natural and environmental disasters). Ratification by Cape Verde of the International Convention against Doping in Sport (5 June 2008) On 5 June 2008, Cape Verde deposited with the Director-General its instrument of ratification of the International Convention against Doping in Sport. In accordance with Article 37, the Convention will enter into force with respect to Cape Verde on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date of deposit of this instrument of ratification, that is to say on 1 August 2008. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters XVII (Health) and XIX (Culture). Information literacy training-the-trainers workshop starts in the Caribbean (30 May - 1 June 2008)   UNESCO and the University of West Indies organize information literacy training-the-trainers workshop in the Caribbean entitled "Developing Information Literacy Skills and Programmes". The workshop will take place from 30 May to 1 June 2008 at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. 20 participants from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Kitts and Nevis will be introduced to issues involved in developing information literacy training programmes.. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication) and XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development). Young Caribbean journalists benefit from ACM/UNESCO projects (23-24 May)   Ten young Caribbean journalists (from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago) are benefiting from the skills and experience of leading regional practitioners under a mentoring programme being executed by the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), under the umbrella of the Caribbean Network of Young Journalists (CNYJ). The journalists were 'paired' at an orientation workshop hosted by the ACM in Trinidad from 23 to 24 May 2008. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). UNESCO supported JET FM 88.7 goes on-air (23 May)   JET FM 88.7: The voice from the Hills of St. Mary, Jamaica’s newest and first community radio to be owned and operated by a farming community, will officially launch its programming on Tuesday, 27 May 2008. JET FM is also the first community multimedia centre in the Caribbean to pilot the use of the radio-in-a-box, a compact, robust and low cost radio system that was designed and developed by the Asia Broadcasting Union with the support of UNESCO. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication. UNESCO supported children’s media literacy project completes its initial stage (16 May)   The initial pilot stage of a project launched in 2007 by Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica and UNESCO to train children in media literacy has now been completed. Testing of the project material involved 910 students in 10 schools. The results of the findings and lessons learnt will soon be made available on the Caribbean Network of Information/Media Literacy Clubs website. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication) and XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development). Media Archives in the Caribbean Receive Boost through IPDC Support (25 April)   Four media archives in Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis are now undergoing face-lifts with the implementation of digitisation and preservation projects supported by UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). The projects involve the training of media professionals and workers and upgrading of equipment. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). UNESCO/IPDC and the Container Project create the first Mobile CMC in the Caribbean (24 April)   The Mobile CMC called iSt. Lab, which is abbreviation for “High Street Laboratory”, is a mini high-tech mobile unit configured in a garbage disposal wheeled bin consisting of laptop computers, radio transmitter, electronic community newspaper, wireless Internet access and other peripherals. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). Caribbean projects receive support from IPDC (23-25 April) Five media-related projects for the Caribbean were approved at the 52nd meeting of the Bureau of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) (23-25 April 2008, UNESCO-Paris, France): Caribbean Internet Radio Portal: Expanding the reach and impact of Community Radio Stations for the Caribbean (regional); Media and the Caribbean Justice System: Increased Regional Media Capacity to Report on the Region’s Justice System (regional); Radio COB: College of the Bahamas (Bahamas); Training Media Professionals in Research and Production of Cultural & Community Oriented Programmes (Guyana); and Training of Journalists in Online Journalism (St. Vincent and the Grenadines). A call for proposal is now opened for the 53rd Bureau meeting in 2009. The deadline for submitting proposals is 31 July 2008. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). Indian Ocean: Towards a Network of Regional Tsunami Watch Providers (8-12 April) Evaluating progress and challenges in such areas as seismic detection, sea-level measurement, risk assessment, and mitigation, preparedness and response were among the discussion items at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, which met in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and II (Natural and environmental disasters). Fourth Global Forum Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands (8-11 April) ‘Oceans, Climate and SIDS’ was among the plenary panels at the multi-institutional Global Forum Conference, held in Hanoi (Viet Nam) around the theme of ‘Advancing ecosystem management and integrated coastal and ocean management by 2010 in the context of climate change’. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and IV (Marine and coastal resources). UNESCO promotes use of free software in Latin America and the Caribbean (8 April)   UNESCO Office in Montevideo, Uruguay, in cooperation with the network of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) in Latin America and the Caribbean, published the Guía práctica sobre software libre: su selección y aplicación local en América Latina y el Caribe (Guidelines on free software: how to choose it and apply it locally in Latin America and the Caribbean). [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). Eastern Caribbean: Protecting the Underwater Cultural Heritage (27-28 March) Castries (St Lucia) provided the venue for a subregional conference on the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters IV (Coastal and marine resources) and XIX (Culture). UNESCO supports annual Caribbean Media and Communication Conference (25 March)   UNESCO, in cooperation with regional media organisations, is organising the tenth annual Caribbean Media and Communication Conference (CMCC), from 1 to 3 May 2008 in Georgetown, Guyana. The three-day conference will coincide with World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) on 3 May. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). VII International Congress on Cultural Heritage Havana 2008 (17-21 March) UNESCO Chair in sciences of the conservation of cultural goods , Centro Nacional de Conservación, Restauración y Museología (Cuba). Call for papers. The aims of the 7th International Congress on Cultural Heritage are to share sessions with other specialists and experts from worldwide and to exchange experiences referred to the wide framework of activities involved in the protection of cultural heritage. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development. Globalization : To leave half of humanity living in poverty is expensive and will be more and more as time passes (17-19 March) A seminar held in Kingston (Jamaica), in March 2008, has led outstanding Latin American researchers to review the multiple costs of poverty in the Caribbean, and more especially to present options available to the international community to cope with a phenomenon that affects nearly one in two people around the world. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XVIII (Knowledge management). Consolidating Community Multimedia Centres in Jamaica (12-14 March ) ‘Igniting and Sustaining Community Development in the 21st Century’ was the title of a national conference in Kingston, aimed at consolidating fragmented community-based ICT projects being implemented across the island. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). Caribbean: Towards a Warning System for Tsunamis and Other Coastal Hazards (12-14 March) Plans for a real-time data-sharing systems between major seismic monitoring networks was among the agenda items of the third session of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, held in Panama. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and II (Natural and environmental disasters). First Regional Conference for the Asia and Pacific Region on the Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society (12-14 March) About 70 participants (including representatives of Government bodies, National Commissions for UNESCO, civil society, private sector) have attended the First Regional Conference for the Asia Pacific on the Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society from 12-14 March 2008, in Hanoi, Vietnam. A set of priorities has been agreed on for the region regarding universal access to information, freedom of expression and lastly privacy and personal protection. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). UNESCO/L’Oréal Women in Science (6 March) Phytochemist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim – Professor of Organic Chemistry and pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Mauritius – was one of the previous laureates who featured in events to mark the tenth anniversary of the UNESCO/L’Oréal Awards for Women in Science. Among the events was an exhibit of 52 posters of laureates from 1998 to 2008, displayed outside UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XI (Science and technology). 2nd Regional Forum of Ministers of Social Development from South Asia (5-6 March) The Ministers of Social Development of South Asian countries (from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) will participate in the 2nd Regional Forum to be held from 5-6 March 2008 in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi,India. Participants will discuss the social sciences research policy linkage and in particular the contribution that social sciences can provide to the policy-making process, within the framework of the theme selected for the Second Forum on "Transparency, Right to information and Social development". [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XVIII (Knowledge management). Workshop for monitoring the Education for All goals (25 February)   Caribbean countries will participate in a Regional Education Statistics Workshop, 26- 28 February in Barbados, to improve monitoring of the Education for All (EFA) goals. The workshop will bring together 34 statisticians and educational planners. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development). Director-General’s Visit to Eight Pacific Nations (20-29 February) Teacher training and adult literacy, endangered languages and the intangible cultural heritage, groundwater monitoring and marine resources, indigenous knowledge and natural disaster preparedness, World Heritage and biosphere reserves, media development and digitizing of research archives,…. these were among a wide range of issues and concerns addressed during a ten-day programme of visits by Mr Koїchiro Matsuura to the South Pacific. Summaries of the discussions and events are given in a set of ‘Flash Info’ overviews issued by the Office of the Spokeswoman. Papua New Guinea Vanuatu Cook Islands Niue Kiribati Tuvalu Nauru Solomon Islands Mauritius Strategy: General. Caribbean E-Librarianship Workshop (20-22 February) Reviewing contemporary ICT concepts, platforms and their applications in the library system was a major focus of a regional workshop held in Belize. Products included a wiki and a blog to facilitate collaboration and communication. Thirty-two participants included librarians and information professionals from Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis and St Lucia. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication), XIV Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development) and XVIII (Knowledge management and information for decision-making). New Cultural Heritage Laws Database (14 February)   UNESCO has launched a new online database of cultural heritage laws around the world. Relevant legislations are available for consultation in their original language and in official English translations. To date, 757 legislations from 113 UNESCO Member States, including SIDS, have been published online on the website of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Laws Database. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIX (Culture). Latin America-Caribbean: Second Ministerial Conference on the Information Society (6-8 February) A new Regional Plan of Action for the Information Society, called the San Salvador Commitment, comprises six chapters and 83 specific goals. The aim is to facilitate access to and use of ICT in education and training, information and access, health, public administration and e-government, e-business and the productive sector, as well as policy and development tools. Trinidad & Tobago was elected as Caribbean representative in the follow-up mechanism, with Cuba responsible for thematic coordination in the education field. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication), XIV Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development) and XVIII (Knowledge management and information for decision-making). 'Status of Caribbean Coral Reefs following Bleaching and Hurricanes in 2005' (4 February)   In 2005, abnormally high sea surface temperatures resulted in severe coral beaching and mortality in the Wider Caribbean region. The year also saw record hurricane activity, including some particularly damaging storms. The impacts of the warming and storms have been documented by 80 coral reef scientists and managers in a 148-page report of the multi-institutional Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network. Presentations of the principal findings have included a book launch at UNESCO House organized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters I (Climate change and sea-level rise) and II (Natural and environmental disasters).   On-line Workshop on Museums and Intangible Heritage (7 January-3 February) Improving training in museology and museography, and exploring the challenges posed for museums by intangible heritage and cultural diversity, were the aims of an on-line workshop organized by the UNESCO Office in Havana and the Instituto Latinamericano de Museos. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters X (Transport and communication) and XIX (Culture). Kirabati declares the World’s Largest Marine Protected Area (28 January)   The Government of Kiribati has announced the expansion of the boundaries of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area -- making it the world’s largest declared marine protected area. The PIPA is managed by the Phoenix Islands Conservation Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from several governmental and non-governmental agencies. UNESCO support is being channelled through the World Heritage Centre and the Office for Pacific States in Apia, with recent progress and future plans discussed at a World Heritage meeting held in Tarawa in December. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapters IV (Coastal and marine resources), IX (Biodiversity resources and XIX (Culture). Asia and Pacific countries meet in Dhaka to accelerate literacy (21-24 January)   Nine countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Papua New Guinea, are participating in a regional meeting on UNESCO’s Literacy Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE) from 21 to 24 January in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A ten-year initiative within the United Nations Literacy Decade, LIFE aims to accelerate literacy efforts 35 selected countries by 2015. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter XIV (Sustainable capacity development and education for sustainable development). Boosting the Caribbean Network of Young Journalists (8 January) Pairing ten carefully selected young journalists with ten outstanding media mentors is among the training activities envisaged in 2008 as part of a joint programme with the Association of Caribbean Media Workers. [More] Mauritius Strategy: Chapter X (Transport and communication). CLICK HERE TO VIEW NEWS, EVENTS & ACTIVITIES ARCHIVE