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PRESS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THE COMMUNITY COMMONS: GLOBAL GRASSROOTS GROUPS MEET THIS WEEK ON MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 
NEW YORK, NY, June 16, 2005 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- The Community Commons - a global meeting of grassroots groups working on poverty and sustainable development issues - opens today at Fordham University in New York City. The event, which runs from 16-18 June, will be one of the few opportunities for local people to voice their concerns, hopes and perspectives on the state of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the aspirations of the Millennium Declaration. It will also be an important input to the Civil Society Hearings process (23-24 June) on the Millennium Review Summit, where recommendations from the community participants will be delivered.
The Community Commons will include deliberations on key themes of direct relevance to September's Millennium Review Summit - including HIV/AIDS, food security, conservation, gender, and conflict and disaster response - and will generate a consensus statement that reflects community positions on the MDGs and the Millennium Review Summit process. Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said of the meeting, "Communities are where lessons for real progress will be found and where the greatest gains must be made. The Community Commons helps to drive this point home and is a vital showcase for what works on the ground. The successful community practices and experiences at the core of the Commons will help chart a course towards the MDG target date of 2015." The Talamanca Initiative from Costa is one of the more than 100 communities - drawn from 43 nations - that will participate in the Community Commons and which have pioneered effective strategies to increase incomes, improve health, and protect the natural environment. Through organic agriculture, the Talamanca Initiative has effectively increased village incomes up to six-fold in the poorest area of Costa Rica. Three public events have been planned. Media are invited to each of these events and may also attend the Community Commons at any time by arrangement. Friday, 17 June 2005 - Local-Global Leaders' Dialogue: A Conversation with Community and Global Leaders 3:30 p.m., Fordham University Rose Hill Campus, The Bronx, New York Speakers include - · Shoji Nishimoto, UNDP Assistant Administrator · John Robinson, Director, International Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society · Representative of the Government of Zimbabwe · John Tognino, Fordham Board of Trustees and CEO of Pepper Financial Group Friday, 17 June 2005 - Reception: Dinner, Drinks and a Viewing of Zoo Exhibits 6:30 p.m., Bronx Zoo, The Bronx, New York Monday, 20 June 2005 - Press Conference: 'Local Perspectives on the Millennium Review Summit' 11:15 a.m., United Nations Press Briefing Room, Room S-226, New York City Speakers include - · Benson Venegas (Talamanca Initiative, Costa Rica) · Gladman Chibememe (CHIEHA, Zimbabawe) · Donato Bumacas (Kalinga Mission, Philippines) · Representatives of UNDP and Community Commons partners Contact and RSVP Information: Reservations are needed to attend the Community Commons. Special arrangements are being made for members of the media who wish to attend. Please Contact: Michael Hooper Email: michael.hooper@undp.org Tel: (212) 457-1077 Fax: (212) 457-1370 The Community Commons is supported by UNDP, the Equator Initiative, Fordham University, the Government of Canada, Conservation International, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, GROOTS, IRDC, IUCN, The Nature Conservancy, Television Trust for the Environment, Tribal Link Foundation, the United Nations Foundation, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. |
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