Interact Autumn 2008 Contents
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issue 021 12/9/08 17:05 Page 1 interact The magazine of The future for development Also in this issue: Zimbabwe behind the headlines Speaking out for East Timor Water rights in El Salvador ISSN 1816-045X Autumn 2008 issue 021 12/9/08 17:06 Page 2 interact Autumn 2008 Contents editorial 4 3 first person: rising to the challenge The future for 4 agenda: foundation stones development Words don’t have fixed meanings. Like travellers, insight: the future for development they pick up baggage on their journeys, and are changed by what they see and experience in the places they visit. The courage of our convictions Development is one such word. Packed into 6 The world needs a new vision of development this one word is a continent of meanings that even a full issue of Interact magazine can only Ending poverty in a carbon-constrained world begin to explore. 8 Development must be in the name of social justice The word ‘development’ has always made me uncomfortable. It speaks too much from a Hungry for change Northern perspective: we talk about ‘developing 11 A new model of agricultural production is essential countries’ as if they are a bit slow on the uptake, but if we help them out with a bit of aid and voices instruction, they can be just like us – developed. But if we are stuck with this word, we need to reclaim its meaning. Because the development What does development mean to you? that Progressio aspires to is not about telling 13 Fresh thoughts on development people which way to go, but supporting them in the direction they wish to travel. viewpoint Uncharted territories in early maps of the world were inscribed with the legend: ‘Here be monsters’. Now we find that the monster we have Opening up our vision created – the monster of perpetual economic 14 Participants in the People’s Summit 15 growth, which enriches the rich and impoverishes show the way the poor – is everywhere. As Andrew Simms and others argue in this Interact, we have become Helping the grass grow preoccupied with feeding this monster – not 15 Soil and water conservation in Somaliland ourselves. Ultimately, the voices in this Interact are calling for one thing: a vision of development that puts poor people first. One that refuses to accept a 18 16 analysis: Zimbabwe: between hope and fear journey that leaves so many people behind. Let’s draw a new map together. 17 viewpoint: Zimbabwe: behind the headlines 18 action: East Timor: who cares? 20 viewpoint: Thirsting for change in El Salvador Cover picture: Children in Aileu, East Timor. Photo: Nick Sireau/Progressio Published September 2008 by Progressio Progressio Ireland Editor Alastair Whitson Unit 3, Canonbury Yard c/o CORI, Bloomfield Avenue Executive Director Christine Allen 190a New North Road Off Morehampton Road Design Twenty-Five Educational London N1 7BJ Donnybrook, Dublin 4, Ireland Printing APG (ISO 14001 accreditation for tel +44 (0)20 7354 0883 tel +353 (0)1 6144966 international environmental standards). fax +44 (0)20 7359 0017 e-mail [email protected] Printed on REVIVE 100% chlorine free e-mail [email protected] Charity reg. in Ireland no. CHY 14451 recycled paper. website www.progressio.org.uk Company reg. no. 385465 Recycle this magazine! Progressio is the working name of the Catholic Institute for International Relations Charity reg. in the UK no. 294329 Company reg. no. 2002500 The views and opinions in Interact are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect Progressio policy. issue 021 12/9/08 17:06 Page 3 first person David Tanner/Progressio Progressio development workers and colleagues from partner organisations discussing strategies for tackling HIV and AIDS in Yemen (August 2008). [awareness-raising workshop] participants satisfactorily without referring to the trainer [Progressio Rising to development worker Silvester Kasozi]. Previously the development worker gave me a lot of guidance, but now he leaves me some parts of the challenge the training to do by myself to boost my confidence and to help me to be N THE BEGINNING I was very afraid and and a goal to fulfill and no-one will more skilled in doing that job. hesitant to be part of a HIV and be satisfied with themselves unless I feel very satisfied with the work IAIDS programme. [Rasha works on they feel that they have fulfilled that has been done so far because a HIV and AIDS awareness project run their duty to the very best. from the comments of the people by the Women’s Forum for Research And what more worthwhile or that we have trained it is clear that and Training in Yemen, assisted by sacred mission can there be than to they appreciate the knowledge and Progressio development worker help someone or to save the life of a skills they have acquired. The large Silvester Kasozi.] I felt that it was not human being? I felt that this is the number of people that we have going to be easy because of the way core of our work in the Women’s managed to reach in the short time people feel about this sensitive issue Forum for Research and Training and since we started the programme is – and because I am a woman. in this particular programme, so testimony to the fact that our efforts But then I felt maybe this is the I decided to do it no matter how are paying off too. chance I have been looking for to difficult it was. prove myself. I am not the type of So I am very proud of myself and person that likes to do ordinary my work. It was hard for me in the work. I like to do something which is beginning during the early different, something that for others workshops, but later on things has always seemed difficult, became easier. Right now I feel that I something that others look at as a have gained a lot of knowledge challenge. I felt ready to take that about HIV and AIDS and the differing chance. skills of interacting with others – Moreover I felt that it was a great with new people from different Rasha Mohammed Abdulwahab responsibility, because I believe that spheres with different perceptions – works for Progressio partner everyone should be committed to and of coordinating different organisation the Women’s Forum for the work that he or she does. It is activities, taking care of all the small Research and Training. She works not just a matter of doing your work details. alongside Progressio development but rather a duty. I believe that there I feel confident in what I am worker Silvester Kasozi, who is are no extra pieces in the universe, doing, so that I am able to facilitate training her to run HIV and AIDS everyone on this earth has a mission and answer the questions of the awareness workshops in Yemen. Autumn 2008 interact 3 issue 021 12/9/08 17:06 Page 4 agenda ‘Everyday human interdependence tightens and spreads by degrees Progressio’s vision of development draws on over the whole world. As a result the social teaching of the Catholic Church the common good, that is, the sum and the Gospel message, but can be shared of those conditions of social life by all, writes Christine Allen agenda which allow social groups and their individual members relatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfilment, today takes on an Foundation increasingly universal complexion and consequently involves rights and duties with respect to the stones whole human race. Every social group must take account of the ROGRESSIO WAS FOUNDED IN 1940 – as the right to education, to needs and legitimate aspirations of the Sword of the Spirit – by lay employment, to a good other groups, and even of the PCatholics concerned at the Catholic reputation, to respect, to general welfare of the entire Church’s failure to respond to the rise of appropriate information, to human family.’ (Gaudium et Spes fascism. From the start, the organisation activity in accord with the upright 1965) was inclusive in its ethos and approach, norm of one’s own conscience, to but over the years, alongside the ideas of protection of privacy and to For Progressio, the common good is both the people who work with and support rightful freedom, even in matters what we seek and the way we seek to us, we have continued to draw religious.’ (Gaudium et Spes 1965) bring it about. The common good tells us inspiration from our Catholic heritage that progress or development is and particularly Catholic Social Teaching. ‘Development must be directed meaningless unless it benefits all, and the This edition of Interact looks at and judged by the extent to which poorest in particular. We work with all people’s visions and hopes for the future it benefits human beings in the people of goodwill, whatever their belief of development. In exploring what we totality of their being.’ (Sollicitudo system, inspired by a vision of a better mean by development, we look here at Rei Socialis 1987, para 29) world for all. Development is a shared some of the themes of Catholic Social task with those who are poor, and we are Teaching that are reflected in our work. For Progressio, the person-centred privileged to play a part whether this be The ethos and values are inspired by the approach is enshrined in the use of with partner organisations which are Gospel message, but will resonate with development workers: people who share involved in advocating change or through anyone with a concern for and interest in their skills and knowledge with others, our development workers.