Listen to this 20-minute segment from CBC radio program The Current on the growing call for vaccine equity. Pauline Worsfold, a registered nurse and a member of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, explains how waiving patent protections would help ramp up vaccine production. Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Global CEO of Amref Health Africa and Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, epidemiologist, explain what needs to be done now to address the current inequities in global vaccine distribution.
This World AIDS Day, UNAIDS is highlighting the need to end the inequalities that drive AIDS and other pandemics around the world. Economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be ended as a matter of urgency if we are to end AIDS by 2030. Read the UNAIDS call to action here.
The United Nations is marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence from 25 November to 10 December 2021 under the global theme set by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign: Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now! Follow this link to find out more about the issue and to read inspiring stories of change from around the world.
“The project that doesn’t involve the community is doomed to failure.” -- Diegane Ndiaye, SOS Sahel
Only 4% of Africa’s Great Green Wall’s original goal has been met, and an estimated $43 billion would be needed to achieve the rest. Organizers have shifted their focus from planting a wall of trees to trying a mosaic of smaller, more durable projects to stop desertification, including community-based efforts designed to improve lives and help the most vulnerable agriculture. Read more here.
Leading Canadian climate activists and organizations have responded with disappointment to the outcomes of COP26.
A recent study of large-scale interventions to improve girls’ education worldwide identifies four successful strategies:
- Make school cheaper.
- Make schools more accessible.
- Teach better.
- Explicitly address gender barriers.
Click here to read more.
Since the pharmaceutical company Moderna is unwilling to share its “recipe”, the World Health Organization has hired a start-up company in South Africa to figure out how to make an mRNA vaccine against COVID that is as close as possible to Moderna’s version. Click here to read more.
"For centuries, malaria has stalked sub-Saharan Africa, causing immense personal suffering,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “We have long hoped for an effective malaria vaccine and now for the first time ever, we have such a vaccine recommended for widespread use. Today’s recommendation offers a glimmer of hope for the continent which shoulders the heaviest burden of the disease and we expect many more African children to be protected from malaria and grow into healthy adults.”
Click here for more details about what this vaccine will mean for children in sub-Saharan Africa.
October 1st of every year marks the International Day of Older Persons. It is an occasion to celebrate older persons’ contributions to society. It is also an opportunity to educate ourselves on issues of concern such as the impact of ageism seen during the pandemic and, going forward, the need for digital equity for all ages so that no one is left behind.
GRAN invites you to reflect on and celebrate your own contributions to your family and your community. May we also suggest watching the 11-minute video, Change The Way You Think About Age or perhaps attending an online event such as the UN’s Digital Equity for All Ages webinar. You may also wish to learn what you can do to join the global community in the fight against ageism.
However you mark this day, we wish you a happy International Day of Older Persons!
Congratulations to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) on a successful replenishment at the Global Education Summit last week. US$4 billion was pledged, putting the GPE firmly on the path to achieving its target of raising at least US$5 billion over the next five years.
GRAN would like to thank all who supported our GPE campaign with your letter writing, phone calls, Letters to the Editor and raising awareness through conversations and on social media. Thank you for lifting your voices for young girls and women to access quality education, giving them hope for a better future.
We are disappointed that Canada did not increase its pledge of CAN$300 million made earlier this year at the G7 summit, but we realize that this has been a particularly difficult year to advocate for development aid for education.
To read about the many positive outcomes from last week’s Global Education Summit, .