[Aidwatch] Event: Where is Your Aid Money Going? Launch - 16 Nov 2010, 6pm

Wed Nov 3 19:33:24 PDT 2010

AID/WATCH E-Bulletin Thursday 4 November 2010

1.   EVENT: Where is Your Aid Money Going? 

2.   AID/WATCH in the News: Australia to cut spending on advisers in aid program to PNG and Timor Leste

3.   PUBLICATION: Reality of Aid 2010 Report  

4.   AIDWORKS - 2SER: New radio show on aid and development

5.   EVENT: Indonesian environmental activists speak out about Australia's offset schemes

6.   EVENT: No Ordinary Deal: Unmasking the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement

7.   EVENT: Responsible Mining in Papua New Guinea

8.   Donate to AID/WATCH

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1.      EVENT: Where is Your Aid Money going?

Join AID/WATCH for the launch of Where is Your Aid Money Going? - our online guide to the complex world of aid and development. Also being launched is the international report, Reality of Aid 2010. 

The launch will be a great opportunity for you to get some answers to the tough questions we all have about aid. It will be a relaxed night with some great speakers, and an opportunity to chat to people that have experienced the reality of aid first hand.

Come along and bring a friend, enjoy delicious nibbles and be surprised by what you learn about where your aid money actually goes.

When: Tuesday 16 November, 2010, 6pm

Where: Darlington Centre, 174 City Road, University of Sydney.

Speakers: Alex Oates, Policy Advisor, Australian Council for International Development; Lee Rhiannon, Greens Senator-elect and co-founder of AID/WATCH; 

Teguh Surya, Campaigns Director at WALHI (Friends of the Earth Indonesia), the largest and oldest environmental advocacy NGO in Indonesia; and Muliadi, Secretary General of ARPAG, a 7000-strong collective of peasants, fisherfolks, rattan handcrafters and rubber collectors. 

For more information click here  or contact Nishan or Gary at AID/WATCH.

Ph: 02 9557 8944; email: info at aidwatch.org.au; 

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2.   AID/WATCH in the News: Australia to cut spending on advisers in aid program to PNG and Timor Leste
In October, the Australian Government announced that it will reduce the number of advisers in the aid program to PNG and Timor Leste. Click on links below for media coverage of AID/WATCH's comments on the announcements.  

Major shakeup of Australian aid agency, AusAID, Radio Australia, 2 November

Australian aid watchdog calls for urgent debate on spending, Radio new Zealand International, 17 October

Australia to slash advisor numbers in PNG, Radio Australia, 15 October

Australia to slash advisers in PNG aid, AAP, 14 October

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3.         PUBLICATION: Reality of Aid 2010 Report  

Drawing on contributions from civil society organisations in 30 countries, Reality of Aid 2010 highlights the limitations of the aid effectiveness reform agenda and calls for a bolder approach to development cooperation. The report includes a joint chapter by AID/WATCH and Friends of the Earth Australia critiquing the use of Australian aid money to create carbon offset schemes in Indonesia.  

Click here to view press release 

Click here to download the report 

Hard copies of Reality of Aid 2010 report will be available at the Where is Your Aid Money Going? launch. 

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4.         AIDWORKS - 2SER: New radio show on aid and development

AIDWORKS goes behind the lines into the aid and development world to bring you the stories the mainstream media often refuses to tell.

Wednesdays 7.00 pm 2SER 107.3FM or streaming on www.2ser.com

Click here to download podcasts of previous episodes 

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5.         EVENT: Indonesian environmental activists speak out about Australia's offset schemes 

The Australian Government is spending aid money in Indonesia on controversial carbon offset schemes. This month, Friends of the Earth Australia is bringing three activists from Indonesia to talk about their experiences with Australia's plan for forest carbon trading. 

When: 6 - 20 November 2010
Where: Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane

Click here to find an event near you. 

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6.         EVENT: No Ordinary Deal - Unmasking the Trans-Pacific partnership Free Trade Agreement 

At a time when the global financial crisis has exposed deep flaws in the global free market, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Chile, Peru and Vietnam are negotiating a free-trade agreement which resurrects the issues raised by the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement in 2004, including higher prices for Australian medicines, less local media content and deregulation of GE food. 

Jane Kelsey and her international team of expert commentators expose the myths of yet another neo-liberal adventure.

When: Monday 15 November, 6pm for 6:30pm 

Where: Gleebooks - 49 Glebe Point Road Glebe NSW

RSVP:  Gleebooks 9660 2333

Speakers include Lori Wallach from US Global Trade Watch, Patricia Ranald Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network and Professor Jane Kelsey. 

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7.         EVENT: Responsible Mining in Papua New Guinea

This one-day conference will explore the impacts of mining in PNG, examine pathways to responsible mining and discuss whether responsible mining and profits can co-exist. Speakers are from finance institutions, civil society organisations, the mining industry and academia will present on a variety of issues relating to PNG and responsible mining.

When: Friday 26 November, 8:30am - 5:00 pm 

Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, 

2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour

Cost:   $75 to $175

Click here for more information

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8.    Donate to AID/WATCH

AID/WATCH is a community-based organisation and does not accept government or corporate funding. We need your help to continue our work as the independent monitor of Australia's aid and trade and to improve the effects of development on the planet and its people. Only through being financially self-sufficient can we have the freedom to criticise or applaud with objectivity. Together with you we can achieve change without compromise.

Click this link to give to AID/WATCH today: http://www.aidwatch.org.au/donate

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AID/WATCH

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Ph:       +61 2 95578944

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www.aidwatch.org.au

info at aidwatch.org.au

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