OMA and Urbanus Win Shenzhen Crystal Island Competition

The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA), in collaboration with Shenzhen-based architects Urbanus, has been awarded first prize in the design competition for a major new cultural center, transport hub, and public landmark in the heart of the city of Shenzhen, southern China. The design, led by OMA partner Ole Scheeren, was selected from 32 entries by an international jury.

The scheme builds on Shenzhen’s newly acquired status of “City of Design”, awarded by UNESCO in 2008, and proposes for the city’s Crystal Island project the formation of “Shenzhen Creative Center”: a focal point for the city’s creative industries in front of Shenzhen’s iconic city hall.

Above ground, Shenzhen Creative Center consists of a 20-hectare landscape of parks and gardens, populated by clusters of pavilions and small buildings – “Design Villages” – that form a vibrant micro-urbanism of public activity. The site is encompassed by an elevated pedestrian “Ring Connector”, an urban walkway joining its multiple elements and infrastructures.

Below ground, a system of “Shortcut Connectors” link existing and future train and subway stations and provide access to buses, taxis, shopping areas, city hall, and the Creative Center, while accommodating diverse design-related display and activity zones.

At the heart of these two systems is the “Shenzhen Eye”, a new landmark for the city. Instead of an object, it is a spherical void and symbolic “Space of Imagination” – open, unoccupied, a zone of creativity that concentrates Shenzhen’s energy and vision for the future.

Shenzhen Creative Center introduces a space that fosters urbanity without density and supports aggregation through interconnected activities. Previously dispersed creative industries will be joined through connective infrastructure and cultivated in a landscape of multiplicity, permeability, and openness towards creative activity.

The collaboration of OMA and Urbanus includes Ole Scheeren, Rem Koolhaas and Urbanus partner Meng Yan, together with a team lead by OMA Associates Dongmei Yao and Anu Leinonen.

http://www.bustler.net/index.php/article/oma_and_urbanus_win_shenzhen_crystal_island_competition/

Kenya slum gets digital centre

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 19 - Thousands of Nairobi children will cross the digital divide and access a global network of opportunity courtesy of a state-of-the art community centre launched at Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum. The community centre was custom-designed for Slums Information Development Resource Centre (SIDAREC) and the needs of Nairobi youth, including access to the Internet, computer and technology training, health clinic services, early childhood development programs, and a community theatre. An assistant minister in the office of the Prime Minister Alfred Khangati said: "The Government recently launched the Sh50million Kazi Kwa Vijana initiative which is geared towards creating 300,000 jobs for the youth in the next six months.  I urge the 50x15 Foundation and other such organisations to work with the government in ensuring the success of this noble venture." Dan Shine, the President of the 50x15 Foundation observed;  "Our global goal is to provide affordable Internet access and computing capability to 50 percent of world's population by 2015. This project is aimed at creating a path to individual and community empowerment within the community and Nairobi city at large."   The centre was financed by the 50x15 Foundation and Architecture for Humanity.   "We are trying to improve the livelihoods of young people and their families by encouraging them to participate in and benefit from the life services offered by this centre which include healthcare information, financial services, job hunting, education and communication, accessible by the Internet," added Dan Shine.

The SIDAREC community centre's design expresses the community's own vision for itself. The design team worked closely with local youth and leaders to identify needs of the community.  "We were given an opportunity by our partners to expand the resources of our existing efforts with a brand-new community and technology centre that will incubate our youths' potential to improve their lives and living conditions. It is in this regard, we are developing a strategic plan with 50x15 and Architecture for Humanity to ensure the community centre is sustainable," the executive director of SIDAREC Lucy Maathai said.   


The SIDAREC partnership with 50x15 and Architecture for Humanity plays a key role in a new feature documentary, "One Peace at a Time," which had its Nairobi premiere on the same day. The film's director, Turk Pipkin, was on hand to discuss the film and its focus on the achievable goal of providing basic rights to every child on earth. Pipkin is the founder of the global education nonprofit, The Nobelity Project, and worked closely with Nobel Peace laureate Wangari Maathai on his previous film. The 50x15 Foundation's mission is to accelerate worldwide digital inclusion rates to 50 percent of the world's population by 2015, 15 years faster than the current growth rate.  


It seeks to enable affordable, sustainable and accessible Internet connectivity and computing capability in high-growth markets provides communities with the means to participate in and benefit from the global network of commercial and educational opportunity.  To date, the 50x15 Foundation, in collaboration with its ecosystem of public and private partners, has launched more than 30 technology centres in more than a dozen countries around the world.

http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Local/Kenya-slum-gets-digital-centre-4815.html

Week of sabils in the City of Damascus

The Syrian-German Technical Cooperation's Urban Development Project, Restoration of the Old City of Damascus Project -- in collaboration with the Governorate of Damascus, Department of Antiquities, French Institute for Near East Studies (IFPO - Atelier du Vieux Damas), and Syrian Environmental Association -- cordially invite you to celebrate the Week of Sabils in the Old City of Damascus. The weeklong series of events include : Inaugurations of renovated sabils with musical performances, architectural presentations, and more; Art exhibitions; Historical tours of the Old City and the historical area of Souq Sarouja; Tour of Beit Al-Aqqad (traditional Arab house); Academic Lectures.

Sabils, or public water fountains, are a distinctive element in the fabric of Old Damascus. For over 500 years, they provided water to the public and served as important landmarks throughout the city, and today we are proud to be a part of their restoration.

Program

• Tuesday June 9th 6pm : Inauguration of Sabil Maktab Anbar with traditional music and a lecture about the water situation in Damascus - Palace of Culture (Maktab Anbar)  
• Wednesday June 10th 1pm - Case Studies on Groundwater Expertise in Arid Countries - Rida Said, Lecture Hall  
• Thursday to Saturday June 11th – 13th 10am to 5pm : Art exhibition on the theme of Sabils and Water in Old Damascus - Gallery of Mustafa Ali  
• Friday June 12th 10am : Guided Tour among several Sabils - Start: Al Nasser Street, Justice Palace

• Saturday June 13th 6pm : Inauguration of Sabil Taht al-Qanater and Tour of the Mahsiniye School - Mahsiniye School  
• Sunday June 14th 6pm : Tour of Beit al ‘Aqqad and Sabil Khazne - The Danish Institute  
• Monday June 15th 6pm : Inauguration of Sabil al-Ward with a tour and historical presentation of Souq Saruja and featuring a performance of the traditional music group Arada - French Cultural Center

Le site de Urban Development Program - Syria avec toutes les informations.

Programme (pdf) des manifestation en anglais et en arabe, ainsi que les plans de localisation.

http://www.ifporient.org/node/442

Saving Paradise

Tällberg Conversation - Saving Paradise
The Maldives has been described as Paradise on Earth – and nature has so far been very kind to the small island state. In a text published in the International Herald Tribune last year, the Maldives President and 2009 Anna Lindh Prize winner, Mohamed Nasheed paints the picture of “Crusoe islands of swaying palms and snow-soft sand, encircled by turquoise lagoons and coral reefs teeming with all the exuberance of life.” And yet, the islands are now threatened by steadily increasing climate change. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts sea level rise of over half a meter during this century. More current calculations tell us the IPCC are likely to have underestimated the sea level rise, which could reach 2 meters. The Maldives has an average height above sea level of merely 1.4 meters.
The case of the Maldives makes brutally clear the catastrophic scenarios that climate change may bring in many areas around the world.

It also raises many important issues regarding our common responsibility for climate change. If our actions in the developed world knowingly undermine the human rights of people in places like the Maldives, what ethical questions does this raise? Is international cooperation to effectively address climate change a legal obligation under human rights law? What are the rights of a people whose land disappears due to climate change? What are the rights of people living on land plagued by droughts or floods, making escape the only solution?
The Anna Lindh Memorial Fund awards President Mohamed Nasheed the 2009 Anna Lindh Prize for the Maldives’ great efforts to put people and their human rights at the heart of the debate on climate change. He is also awarded for his role in the Maldives’ peaceful transition to democracy.
The newly elected President of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, declared on the eve of his inauguration in November 2008 that, because of global warming, he may, if the world does not act to arrest dangerous climate interference, have to try to find a new homeland for Maldivians “somewhere else in the world, on higher ground.”

Welcome to a lecture on climate change, human rights, and the story of a young President fighting for his people.


Following the lecture by the 2009 Anna Lindh Prize winner President Mohamed Nasheed, a discussion will follow on the repercussions of climate change on fundamental human rights around the world as well as on the current climate change challenges and opportunities, particularly in view of Sweden’s impending EU Presidency and COP15 in Copenhagen.
Monday 15 June, 16.00 – 18.00 at Lava, Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg Program:

• Introduction Jan Eliasson, Chairman, Anna Lindh Memorial Fund
• Saving Paradise Mohamed Nasheed, President of the Maldives
• Discussion with: Ahmed Shaheed, Foreign Minister of the Maldives, Emma Lindberg, Naturskyddsföreningen and Rolf A Vestvik, Director, Norwegian Refugee Council.
• Closing remark by Bo Ekman, Chairman, Tällberg Foundation

The discussion will be moderated by Niclas Ihrén, Tällberg Foundation and Charlotta Åsell, Anna Lindh Memorial Fund. The seminar is co-sponsored by Tällberg Foundation and Anna Lindh Memorial Fund.

Registration:
There is no cost for this event but we kindly ask you to register here.  The deadline for registration is 14 June.

http://www.tallbergfoundation.org/TÄLLBERGINITIATIVES/WorkshopsandConversations/SavingParadise/tabid/651/Default.aspx

Feminist theory, practices and actions can lead to innovative solutions on internet governance

Feminist theory, practices and actions can lead to innovative solutions on internet governance Tuesday 14 Aug 2007, Flavia Fascendini Civil society entities, academic figures and government officials met in Sao Paulo during the first few days of July to participate in the first seminar of the preparatory process for the meeting of the Internet Governance Forum, with the aim of developing proposals to take to that forum next November. Amongst the presentations, the talk “Internet governance and issues of gender” by gender and ICT expert Magaly Pazello stood out. Gender IT.org interviewed her about the political challenges women face regarding access to ICT infrastructure, as well as the coming landscape as the IGF meeting in November approaches. The first seminar of the preparatory process for the meeting of the Internet Governance Forum was held in Sao Paulo with civil society entities, researchers and government officials to develop proposals for the Forum meeting, to be held November 12-15 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The preparatory seminar was organized by the Research, Study and Learning Center of the Information Network for the Third Sector. The next seminar will be held in September and will address topics such as “rights and freedom on the internet”, “physical infrastructure, network neutrality and connection costs”, “infrastructure logic” and “privacy”. During this first event the topics addressed included “possible governance models”, “open patterns” and “access to knowledge”. Discussions around gender were not absent: the panel “Internet governance and issues of gender” was led by gender and ICT expert Magaly Pazello (1), representing the women’s networking support programme of APC and, it is worth noting, the only Brazilian woman who participated in the comprehensive process of the world summit on the information society (WSIS). Flavia Fascendini: From a gender perspective, what are the primary challenges in terms of access, with an emphasis on infrastructure, in the region of Latin America? Magaly Pazello: There are several ways into that question, given that the infrastructure has several layers, each with its own regulations and specific challenges. From a gender perspective we can ask how the processes for citizen participation in the elaboration of public policies for full access, and for development strategies in the sector, have been carried out. A gender perspective allows us to ask about relations of power and how the interests involved impact the lives of people (especially low-income people). Though, mind you, gender is not a synonym for women, during the entire WSIS we kept facing a regression in thinking and language in which gender was indeed reduced to women. This is a discursive move with the intent, and result, of weakening actions for gender equality and women’s rights. Coming back to the issue of infrastructure, the main challenge is obviously to provide access to all and guarantee that the infrastructure be developed such that it reaches people in all areas, including those that live in isolated areas (islands, rural areas, jungle, towns, desert areas and less privileged urban areas) at an accessible cost. That is the mantra we have been preaching for quite some time now. Let me tell you about something interesting that happened during the WSIS process. I participated in the meetings organized by Brazil’s telecommunications regulatory agency (ANATEL). In one meeting scheduled as a debate of the proposals put forward by the “construction” sector (as the Telecoms were called) one of the representatives of the private sector, in the middle of the debate, asked the people in the room: “what would this debate about access be like if citizens demanded of Telecoms and the big U.S. corporations, who have the power to establish connection costs, and examination of the entire system using the lens of the strategies and arguments put forward by HIV/AIDS groups to guarantee universal access to treatment and medications?” The man who put this question on the table did so based on a comparison between the two situations. This is quite interesting for several reasons. First of all, because the struggle to face HIV/AIDS became a frame of reference for the debate regarding cost/access/citizenship/rights. Secondly, because there is, in a way, a pattern. That is to say, the poorest countries pay the highest connectivity fees, as happens with medications. The negotiating power of small and isolated countries is completely unequal to that of countries with a strong consumer market. So too, people’s access to the rights and material and immaterial goods in society is unequal. Thirdly, because if even a high level administrator in a Telecom is capable of asking this question in a public meeting convened by the regulatory agency – emphasizing that this is a value that should inform the entire debate – well there is something interesting there that we should explore more carefully. What is the understanding of the “gender dimension” that is at work here, in terms of infrastructure as much as access? In the planning of infrastructure there are different levels, from oceanic cables, satellites, to the cooperatives and small and medium-sized businesses that provide internet access services and VOIP. Instead of considering access to be simply a matter of infrastructure I suggest that we focus equally on the different services related to the matter. That is to say, I think I prefer to respond to part of these questions by focusing on services. Flavia Fascendini: What level of participation have women had in the design of infrastructure and technology? Are there women in this field? In what roles? Magaly Pazello: I have no idea what the level of participation by women, for example of women engineers in the Telecoms or the technology development firms in the sector. I would have to look at the statistics, and even so, this is another problem because there are not statistics gathered in the field which could provide much information on the topic of women and gender inequality in the sectors related to information technologies, internet Telecoms, etc… Surely there are some good number that begin their studies in this field, few that continue on in the profession, and fewer still who rise to decision-making roles - because this is the situation that we face everyday: widening women’s participation. We know that the number of women in computer science has gone down a few percentage points. Flavia Fascendini: What needs to be done for women to gain real access to ICTs? Magaly Pazello: We need to increase the number of young women interested in the sector and guarantee that there is no discrimination based on gender. Guarantee the existence of mechanisms that promote gender equality in the private and public sector so that women can reach the highest positions. Improve the quality of teaching, especially in mathematics, sciences, languages and literature. They need to be capable of both carrying out mathematical operations and dreaming, flying on the wings of the imagination. Understand the technology as part of the everyday, and not as an auratic object. Stimulate best practices through technology with a special focus on non-sexist practices. And keep an eye out for video games that are very violent in terms of gender-based violence and violence towards women and children. Flavia Fascendini: As far as the Internet Governance Forum to be held in Rio de Janeiro this year, 2007 … Magaly Pazello: This will be an even more important meeting than the one in Athens. In 2006 the IGF made its debut, which was like a touch-base meeting where the issues that were not resolved at the WSIS were put back on the table. For Rio de Janeiro there is an attempt to widen the topics of debate as well as to have discussions about establishing accords. It is important to understand what the mandate of the IGF forum is, because it seems that is still a source of confusion and leads to quite different expectations. Amongst the aspects most important to civil society are the guarantee that the principle of multisectoriality be fully observed and implemented, insuring mechanisms for effective participation by civil society, especially from the economic south, through internet resources as much as face to face meetings. As far as clashes from the perspective of women and of feminists, we see that the number of conservative actors is on the increase – several coming from fundamentalist Christian sectors – in debates regarding internet governance. Feminist theory, practices and actions in can lead to new perspectives and innovative solutions in the governance field. To do so we would have to establish and create a permanent feminist dialogue forum, studies and proposals regarding the topic of internet governance. This interest by conservative and fundamentalist sectors is nothing new. A more significant presence by these groups results in the capture of the debate regarding pornography, child pornography, and pedophilia by moralist and controlling positions against rights to information and freedom of expression. By discursively operating “in favour of” the child victims of cybercrimes, in reality they are advocating for an agenda of limiting rights, a strategy that should be monitored and disarmed. In Brazil now there is a debate regarding proposed legislation that would control all persons access to the internet, be it to access their own email or to navigate to any website. The proposal, according to analysts, does not contain any mention of human rights. Quite to the contrary, it proposes tremendous limitations for internet navigation. It even proposes that each person give personal information before accessing any site, a proposal completely disconnected from reality and the best practices in the field. To restrict all people by assuming that we are all potentially dangerous is not going to “clean” the network of the criminal actions of pedophiles. This is simply one example of the type of discourse that we find when we begin to analyze and understand what forces and interests are at play. This article is translated from the original version written in Spanish GenderIT.org http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?apc=a--e95409-1&x=95409

Security and Climate Change

Security and Climate Change: Together at Last!

Just an hour ago we got a dispatch from our partners who have been working hard to get a resolution passed by the UN Security Council. It's a resolution that draws the link--strongly--between climate and international security issues. Here's the dispatch from Tekau Frere (small island advocate and French Polynesian) about the latest developments:

Sea level rise, increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme events, destruction of coral reefs, soil erosion, salinization of soils and fresh water reserves, changes in precipitation patterns, spread of vector-borne diseases, etc, are some of the current and projected impacts used by scientists, community members, governments, or organizations to demonstrate the reality of climate on small islands. Yet, despite the numerous graphic images, reports, or documentaries, the alarmist bell has been rung in vacuum. The fate of many island nations, especially atoll nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, or the Maldives, has been used as a matter of sensational news. The international climate change negotiations never truly discussed how climate change would impact the existence, thus security of these nations.

For small island nations, climate change is an existential threat. Representatives of these countries have been seeking the help of the international community for years. Despite their multiple and repetitive shout out for assistance, they never received a concrete echo. Tired of waiting and thriving to get their plight heard, a group of 12 island nations at the United Nations, the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), decided to act and move the international community.

The PSIDS drafted a resolution which is now strong of more than 80 co-sponsors. Entitled “the possible implications of climate change on security”, this ground breaking resolution urges all relevant organs of the UN to intensify their efforts in dealing with climate change and its consequences. It also asks the Secretary General to submit a report to the general assembly on the security implications of climate change.

Although no blue helmet will be sent to small islands to stop the waters from rising, the text demonstrates the commitment of the international community to recognize that climate change is not just a development issue. It recognizes that this global and multi-sector challenge needs to be dealt with the entire spectrum of UN organs and, thus, opens the door to more climate related actions.

Small islands contribute the least to climate change, yet they suffer the most. Their small sizes and small economies may not make them focal international actors, but their passion, perseverance, and legitimacy in this matter have inscribed them as protagonists in the issue of climate change. Although the negotiation process was certainly challenging, they succeeded in sharing their plight and overcoming national interests. Thanks to the support and strong assistance from their initial co-sponsors, they achieve a significant and admirable victory. This resolution proves that with a little political will and willingness to communicate, there is hope in climate negotiations.

http://www.350.org/about/blogs/security-and-climate-change-together-last

e n v i r o n m e n t

It's world's environment day 05 06 2009 .. and Damascus 's celebrating it by positive initiatives by Youth organizations in Syria Shams [shabab muthaqaf souri] and Sydra for syria and it was posted by SYDRA for Syria, the group is also participating in .. ( Improving the Environment of Damascus city)

• World environment day ( 5-6-2009) • An exhibition of children (on the environment and climatic changes-it will be held in the garden of the Syrian association of environment- next to the castle of Damascus) (24-6-2009) • The international day to volunteer (5-10-2009) • International Exhibition for Environment (10-10-2009) • Awareness lectures in schools (in both theoretical and practical sides).