Arthur E. Shears's Blog, page 4
November 5, 2024
Discussion with John Smith Thang – Burmese Activist
My last post was about Aung San Suu Kyi and her whereabouts. In that post, I referenced a discussion I had with John Smith Thang. Mr. Thang has since posted a recording of that discussion. It is available here:
Since the discussion with Mr. Thang, I have written a letter to Canada’s Foreign Minister and Canada’s Ambassador to the UN sharing Mr. Thang’s and my concern. You will note as well in my previous post that I followed up on my pledge to check current UN activity in Burma/Myanmar. There is quite a lot going on there.
We continue to hope and pray for positive change in Burma.
October 19, 2024
Where is Aung San Suu Kyi?
This post was supposed to be about Ghana or Guyana but after watching a recent BBC Hard Talk interview with Suu Kyi’s son, Kim Aris, and speaking to Burmese activist John Smith Thang, I decided on a Burma/Myanmar focus. You might remember that I completed a consulting assignment in Burma in 2016 for two international NGO’s and described my experiences in the second last chapter of my book “Overseas Adventures – From Afghanistan to Zambia and Points In-Between”. It was my Burma work that focused on promoting training and employment opportunities for refugee returnees that was part of my discussion with Mr. Thang, a Burmese national promoting democracy and development in Burma from his current base in South Korea.
During my stint in Burma, Ms. Suu Kyi was Chief Government Counsellor (and de facto head of state) and there were hopes that democracy would be firmly established even though the Army held 25% of all the seats in Parliament according to the revised constitution. Hopes were dashed when at the next election, which Suu Kyi’s party won, the Army called foul and conducted a coup the night before the winning party members were to take their seats. Since then, Ms. Suu Kyi and most other members of her government have been in prison.
Her son, Kim Aris, appealed on the BBC for his mother to be released and in the interim for her to be allowed visitors and medical treatment which she has been denied. Kim was worried that he didn’t know where she is currently being held in prison but has learned the conditions are hard.
Since the coup, there has been bloody civil strife in Burma with various opposition and ethnic groups fighting with the military and reports of serious human rights violations by the military against civilians. A 5-Point Plan for resolution of the conflict put forward by the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) put forward in 2021 has been largely ignored by the military junta in Burma and atrocities continue. So too does fighting by the various opposition groups which has enabled them to take control over some territory from the junta.
Pro-Democracy Group Activities
Kyoto Review of South-East Asia has a detailed article about the pro-democracy movement in the country.
Myanmar’s Pro-Democracy Movement – Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia
John Smith Thang who I spoke to earlier this week has chosen to support Burmese democracy from outside the country. His organization Liberal Democracy Movement of Burma publishes magazines and has contacted foreign leaders including the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) seeking support to solve the crisis in his home country. John has also held several discussions on YouTube to highlight issues in Myanmar and proposals on the way forward. He may be contacted at gbdigest@gmail.com to get web addresses for his podcasts and other information.
Canada’s Relations with Burma/Myanmar
Canada maintains an Embassy but at lower than Ambassador level, has stopped some major development projects but still has a small grants program for Burmese NGOs and other non-state actors. The Government has in place numerous sanctions against the military junta in Myanmar and is a signatory to a recent multi-country statement about Myanmar.
Embassy of Canada to Myanmar, in Yangon (international.gc.ca)
Canada-Myanmar relations (international.gc.ca)
Joint Statement on the Situation In Myanmar
United Nations and Myanmar
UN Humanitarian Support
The United Nations continues to provide humanitarian support to Myanmar in addition to targeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through more than a dozen specialized UN agencies such as UNESCO, FAO. UNAIDS and UNWomen.
Our Team | United Nations in Myanmar
Now what?
There are many things we can do to help Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma. First, write to your Member of Parliament asking the Government to act on her release. Second, consider contributing to reputable organizations such as the United Nations specialized agencies and international NGOs such as Save the Children which are doing humanitarian work in Burma now. I hope you will find a way to help including through prayer.
Detailed Wikipedia Article
October 13, 2024
UPDATE on TIMOR-LESTE
Why Timor-Leste?
Recently, I was reading and seeing information about the oil bonanza currently happening in Guyana and the challenges the country faces with using that oil money to good effect. Guyana also has to worry about highly disputed claims on its territory by neighboring Venezuela. In reading about oil and Guyana I recall two other countries where I worked that did not have oil and gas revenues until recently, these countries are Timor-Leste and Ghana. You might recall that I wrote about my work in Timor-Leste in Chapter 13 of my book – Overseas Adventures – From Afghanistan tom Zambia and Points In-Between. To update my information about these three countries I decided to do some research with a focus on oil and its impact on each state. Today’s post is about Timor-Leste.
An excellent source of information I found is a 2021 article by Charles Sheiner published in the Wiley Online Library.
In the article, Sheiner observes:
“Petroleum revenues have drastically declined, and other reserves will probably not produce revenues comparable to the US$20 billion already received. This heightens Timor-Leste’s major challenges: import dependency, unemployment, lack of economic diversification, poverty, inequality, inadequate public services and COVID-19.“
“Thousands of young Timorese go overseas to work, mostly in the United Kingdom but also in government-organized programs in Australia and South Korea. They send home about $100 million per year in remittances, a significant amount though a smaller fraction of GDP than in 57 other countries. Overseas workers acquire knowledge and work habits from their exposure to the larger world, while improving the living standards of their families. However, some people (including this author) believe that Timor-Leste would be better served if these workers came home after a few years and used their skills to develop Timor-Leste’s own society and economy, rather than just sending part of the wages they get for supporting overseas businesses. This would require them to create or find jobs… employment opportunities with private companies have been falling in recent years.”
One way the Government of Timor-Leste can support this initiative is to arrange for mutual recognition agreements for qualifications between the sending and recipient countries. Bangladesh and the European Union recently launched an initiative assisted by the International Labour Organization to facilitate legal migration of skilled workers to European countries with an assurance that workers have the skills in demand. Ensuring that new skills learned during work in destination countries are duly assessed and recognized through certification processes would be one way to help re-integrate workers back into their home country.
In a 2021 post-COVID economic development strategy, the T-L Government stated:
“For Timor-Leste to grow continuously in an inclusive and sustainable way, more and better ways must be found to strengthen its production capacity and diversify its economy outside the oil sector … [T]he message is simple: we must rely less on our natural resources and rely more on what we can produce with our own sweat, creativity and imagination, which would imply more resources devoted to tourism, agriculture and manufacturing.”
Sheiner fully agrees with this initiative and goes further to say:
“An essential first step is strengthening the country’s most precious resource—its people. Investing in nutrition, education and health care will lay the foundation for whatever paths are followed in the future. Although more than half of Timor-Leste’s petroleum-fuelled period has passed, a few years remain to prepare for the next phase of the country’s history.”
As described in my book chapter on Timor-Leste, I hope the apprenticeship system I piloted there in 2007 contributed in some way to strengthening the country’s people and their skill base.
Development Partners
There continues to be a United Nations presence in the country, one of the most important being the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). For details on its activities, see this website:
Timor Leste | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)
For vacancies available on various projects, see here:
https://unjobs.org/duty_stations/timor-leste
Australian Volunteers has a useful website that describes volunteering there.
Volunteer in Timor-Leste | The Australian Volunteers Program
The next post on my blog will look at Guyana.
August 14, 2024
Looking for a Meaningful Job – What about the Canadian Forces?
PAnother path for doing good
For those of you who read my memoir “Overseas Adventures – From Afghanistan to Zambia and Points In-Between”, you will know I was in army cadets during high school and joined the army reserves during university. Both were avenues to learn about leadership, team work, and to acquire other skills. After university, I considered joining the Forces but, in the end, pursued international development work in education and skills development.
I was reminded recently about those school/college experiences during a trip to my home town when a former high school chum was relating his time in army cadets. After a few reminiscences, we discussed the difficulties the Canadian Forces are having with recruitment. And judging by the news, it’s not just Canada. The United Kingdom are having to retire some naval ships for lack of crew!
Neither of us understood why this challenge exists especially with many young persons out of work and not able to find a job. Perhaps, it’s because many if not most Canadians have outdated ideas about what the Canadian Forces have to offer by way of careers. Indeed, I was amazed when I checked their recruitment site.
There is everything from plumbers to pilots, nurses to musicians, and technicians to engineers. The recruitment site is worth a visit just to see how much technology is now in play!
As an international development specialist of many years, I was also pleased to see on-line some important information about how Canada is supporting security abroad. Without security it’s difficult to contribute to local development.
Peacebuilding, stability and security
See Government website here:
The website describes five major action areas:
Peace and Stabilization Operations Program
Conflict prevention, dialogue, mediation, stabilization, peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.
Security capacity-building programs
How Canada helps countries improve their ability to counter terrorism and transnational organized crime.
International policing and peacekeeping
Learn how Canadian and foreign law enforcement agencies work together in the fight against global criminal activity to ensure the safety and security of Canadians at home and abroad.
Learn about Canada’s leadership in developing, applying and testing a combination of approaches to increase women’s meaningful participation in peace operations.
Learn about Canada’s leadership in developing and implementing the Vancouver Principles, a set of pledges aimed at preventing the recruitment and use of child soldiers in the context of UN peace operations.
How to Engage?
Canada is making important contributions to peacekeeping, stability and security as well as international development efforts. You could become an international volunteer through agencies like CUSO, WUSC and Catalyste+ or you might also consider joining the Canadian Forces where there are a multitude of careers available.
It is another avenue to do good for your country, for yourself and for others.
July 17, 2024
Want to learn about volunteering abroad? Here’s your chance!
As those who read my BLOG will know, I was a CUSO volunteer teacher in Nigeria in the early 1970s and a CUSO Field Staff Officer in Ghana in the mid-70s. Those were exciting days and life-changing experiences. I am pleased to share with you news from CUSO International about an upcoming VIRTUAL Town Hall where you can learn about volunteering with CUSO.
See the rest of the announcement from CUSO International below, especially the date, time and link to join the conversation and ask questions. I highly recommend the virtual town hall to you.
Imagine yourself immersed in vibrant cultures, working side-by-side with local communities to create lasting change. Picture the friendships you’ll forge, the skills you’ll develop, and the unforgettable memories you’ll create. This is your chance to turn that dream into a reality!
At our upcoming event, you’ll:
Discover how your unique skills can transform lives across the globe Hear inspiring stories from a past volunteer who’s returned with a renewed sense of purpose Learn about the incredible support Cuso International provides, ensuring your journey is safe, rewarding, and impactful Get insider tips on how to make the most of your volunteer experienceDon’t let this opportunity pass you by! Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking for a new challenge or a recent graduate eager to make your mark, Cuso International has a place for you.
Our expert panel will guide you through every step of the volunteer journey, from application to return. You’ll have the chance to ask questions and discover how you can be part of a global movement for positive change.
Ready to take the leap? Join us and unlock a world of possibilities. Your adventure awaits – and the impact you’ll make will last a lifetime!
Register now and take the first step towards an extraordinary experience that will not only change the lives of others but transform your own in ways you never imagined.
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4Hs0I8oxSKybYZ5mVW9igg
Date: Wednesday July 31, 2024
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST
July 11, 2024
July 15 is World Youth Skills Day
Below are excerpts from an email I shared with a local newspaper The Coast that introduces the celebration to them and provides links to relevant resources. I trust they will do a story. Is your institution, city, province or state doing something for World Youth Skills Day?
Given the shortage of trades persons in Nova Scotia, with a similar situation in many other parts of the world, you might want to do a story about World Youth Skills Day.
UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre from Germany:
Reminder: 15 July is World Youth Skills Day (WYSD), the UN day for TVET
You can find information related to this day on UNESCO-UNEVOC’s WYSD page, https://unevoc.unesco.org/wysd/
and on the UN page:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-youth-skills-day
For readers of my BLOG, here is what UNESCO/UNEVOC says about WYSD.
“In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development.
The theme for World Youth Skills Day 2024 is Youth Skills for Peace and Development. It highlights the crucial role that young people play in peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts.
The world faces a multitude of challenges today, many of which affect the youth. Violent conflicts disrupting education and stability, a polarized online environment fostering negativity, and persistent economic inequality limits opportunities. These issues threaten not only individual futures but also the overall stability of societies. It is crucial to equip youth with the necessary skills for fostering a culture of peace, nurturing responsible global citizens, and promoting sustainable development to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.
On World Youth Skills Day, let us unite in recognizing the potential of young people as agents of peace and commit to providing them with the skills and opportunities to address challenges and contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future.”
WELL SAID.
May 8, 2024
Tackling Plastics Pollution
At home and abroad
Picture credit – UNIDO
During my work in Malawi, one of the more observable effects of plastic pollution was the number of small blue plastic bags littering the environment – stuck in bushes, littering river banks, and beside sidewalks and roads. These bags were used by retailers of all kinds to package their goods. The Government eventually passed a law to make production and sale of these bags illegal. To see the prevalence of plastic containers one only need look in our refrigerators – mustard and relish, tomato ketchup, mayonnaise and peanut butter now come in plastic bottles. However, change is happening. In the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, the sale of soft drinks in plastic bottles was made illegal, and recently I saw on television that major soft drink companies are advertising the use of recyclable plastic bottles. My regular petrol station now has a place where drivers can fill up empty windshield wiper fluid bottles. Of course, still more needs to be done.
The United National Environment Program (UNEP) has in recent years been engaged in international discussions on plastics and resultant pollution.
https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution
In March 2022, at the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), a historic resolution was adopted to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.The resolution (5/14) requested the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop “the instrument,” which is to be based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal. According to its website, several meetings of the INC have been held, most recently in Ottawa in March 2024. The next will be held in Busan, Korea when they hope to finalize agreement on the wording of an international binding treaty on plastic.
During a recent mission to Bangladesh, I spoke to the head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) country office about a project they are doing on plastics pollution. Funding for the project comes from Norway. Dr. Zaki U. Zaman indicated “UNIDO is implementing a USD 4.10 million project in Bangladesh. A dedicated team is already on board. We are working on i) policy, ii) consumer awareness, iii) capacity building of manufacturers on resource efficiency and cleaner production (RECP) and design for environment, and iv) recycling and circularity. Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) and Bangladesh Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (BIPET) are partners in this project.” UNIDO is working with both the Department of Environment and the Ministry of Industries. Information on UNIDO’s global efforts on plastics pollution is provided on their website.
https://www.unido.org/Marine-plastic-litter
What you can do?
At a national level monitor your country’s views and approval of the proposed plastics treaty and provide your support to its adoption. At a personal level, find ways to reduce, recycle and reuse plastics.
February 15, 2024
Opportunities for Atlantic Canada Youth (18-30 years)
My friends at ACIC recently posted this opportunity on their website and I repost it here for my readers and to pass it on to anyone who might be interested. I especially recommend that you check the link (near the bottom) showing the location of the international internships.
You might also want to check out the other work that ACIC does to promote the understanding of international development issues. https://www.acic-caci.org/
We are thrilled to announce that we are now receiving applications for Cohort 1, which runs from May to October, 2024. Applications are open from now until February 29th.
The International Youth Internship Program is a federally-funded program that offers youth the opportunity to gain valuable international work experience through internship placements with partner organizations in the Caribbean, the Asia-Pacific, Central America, and Africa. IYIP is a 5-month commitment that involves: 1 month of pre-departure training (3 weeks virtually, 1 week in person), a 4-month international internship placement with a local organization, and 3 days of post-internship debriefing. The program costs are covered (including airfare, transportation costs, visa and passport fees, health insurance, pre-departure and post-internship training etc.) and interns will receive a living stipend while abroad.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this program, you must be:
18-30 years old, at the start date of the internshipA Canadian citizen or permanent residentsPlease note that there are no educational or employment requirements to be eligible and successful in this program. We are looking for youth who are open-minded, curious and adaptable.
If you’d like to learn more about the IYIP Program, the application and selection process, and placement opportunities for Cohort 1, just us for an Information Session by registering below:
February 15th, 2024 @ 11:30am AST/ 12pm NSTFebruary 20th, 2024 @ 12pm AST / 12:30pm NSTFebruary 21, 2024 @ 8pm AST / 8:30pm NSTTo see the list of internship placement opportunities, click here.
Contact Information
Questions? Concerns? Unsure if this is the right program for you? We want to chat!
ACIC: Indigo Christ
Marine Institute: Mica McCurdy
January 31, 2024
Training Courses and Programs Available at the ILO’s International Training Center (ITC), Turin
Way back in 2015, I had the opportunity to attend a one-week residential program on project evaluation at the ITC. It was a well organised and delivered program with lots of interaction amongst the participants from a dozen or more countries in attendance. Since then the number of courses and programs have expanded and now include up to diploma and even masters level. The masters level programs are often offered in conjunction with a European university.
There is also a variety of delivery modes including face-to-face (residential in Turin), e-learning (online), and blended learning (a combination of both). Why not check out the list of programs and courses here.
https://www.itcilo.org/courses
If you scan the list, you’ll find some of them to be free of charge. You can’t beat that price.
If you happen to be working for a development agency, share the program or course information with them. They may be able to fund the training for you if it aligns with their institutional priorities. GOOD LUCK!
January 16, 2024
CUSO Postings – March 2024 Start
A friend sent me this summary. Have a look and check any that match your skills and interest. See the link at the bottom to see the full list of vacancies.
Cuso International Volunteer Placements6-12 months (March Start)
English RequiredEnglish Language Advisor – Asosa, EthiopiaIT Advisor – Asosa, EthiopiaGender Advisor – Asosa, EthiopiaResource Mobilization Advisor – Asosa, EthiopiaCounselling Advisor – Asosa, EthiopiaMonitoring & Evaluation Advisor – St. George’s, GrenadaBusiness Advisor – Iringa, TanzaniaCommunications Advisor – Kingston, JamaicaBusiness Marketing Advisor – Addis Ababa, EthiopiaBusiness Development Advisor – Iringa, TanzaniaMonitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor – Iringa, TanzaniaCommunications Advisor – Georgetown, GrenadaAssistant Music Instructor – Kingston, JamaicaGender Advisor – Castries, St. LuciaMachinist Engineer Advisor (CNC) – Iringa, TanzaniaResource Mobilization Advisor– Iringa, TanzaniaSpanish RequiredEmployment and Business Advisor – Lima, PeruCommunications Advisor – Lima, PeruGender Advisor – Tegucigalpa, HondurasCoffee Value Chain Advisor – Tegucigalpa, HondurasAgriculture Advisor – Lima, PeruCommunity Development Advisor – Lima, PeruFundraising Advisor – Tegucigalpa, HondurasEnglish Teacher – Santa Marta, ColombiaOrganizational Development Advisor – Tulua, ColombiaProposal Development and Resource Mobilization Advisor – Santa Marta, ColombiaFrench RequiredConseiller(ère) en gestion de projet – Yaoundé, CamerounConseiller(ère) en genre et inclusion sociale – Yaoundé, CamerounConseiller(ère) en communication, marketing et médias – Parakou, BéninConseiller(ère) en technologies de l’information – Yaoundé, CamerounConseiller(ère) en entrepreneuriat – Yaoundé, CamerounConseiller(ère) en développement de programmes – Yaoundé, CamerounConseiller(ère) en suivi et évaluation – Kinshasa, République démocratique du CongoConseiller(ère) en mobilisation des fonds et développement – Kinshasa, République démocratique du Congo
