Global Marshall Plan Academy finished successfully
Overall of 4 modules in Hamburg, Augsburg, Karlsruhe and Austria have produced successful graduates of the Global Marshall Plan Academy.
The project had initially been started by volunteer Trainers and has now grown a successful institution to train more Global Marhsall Plan advocates and ambassadors all over Europe. One of the main goals now is to meet twice a year to discuss concrete projects and examine how to best promote the Global Marshall plan vision.
First support of a city council
The city council of Neumarkt i.d.OPf concluded on the 28th of May 2009 that it would support the Global Marshall Plan Initiative. This makes Neumarkt the first city in the region surrounding NĂĽrnberg that officially joined the initiative. 
Felix Ekardt presents his paper on a future transnational climate policy beyond the Kyoto Protocol
Global climate policy is not a long shot. It needs solving now and not by future generations. Yet many still see climate policy as a hindrance to competitiveness on a global free-trade market and the sale of emission rights as an international trade barrier. Felix Ekardt, vivid supporter of Global Marshall Plan and Professor for Environmental Law and Legal Philosophy at the University of Rostock with special research interests in Climate policy, theory of sustainability, theory of justice, WTO law presents his findings and suggestions on the ongoing EU global climate policy debate in the Carbon & Climate Law Review 2009. The paper elaborates on national and European climate policies and proposes a future transnational climate policy beyond the Kyoto Protocol. The paper in its entirety can be found here.
Israel's quest to regain their national pride
Can and will Israel be able to recover from the deep political shock that came with the election of a reactionary government in 2009? Zeki Ergas,writer, scholar, social activist and glowing supporter of the Global Marshall Plan, says yes to both. However, Israelwill not be able to tackle the challenge alone: She will need unremitting support from the American and European Jews and the US Government led by Barack Obama, representing newly found hope. Erdgas’ essay paints the bigger picture as to how and why a road back to national pride is important and explains how this route can be taken.
1. The present Israeli government. It will have to go, and this is why. Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition government is dependent on Avigdor Lieberman who can make it fall any time he chooses to do so. In other words, Netanyahu is a prisoner of Lieberman. That is not an acceptable situation. Netanyahu has really shot himself in the foot by agreeing to give the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to this man who is unacceptable, and will never be accepted, by his counterparts in the Western world – not to mention the (moderate) Arab and Islamic countries."
The essay in its entirety can be found here.
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view
The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. 
The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.
To the video
Duisburg Environmental Days 2009
11-year-old Felix Finkbeiner is stepping into the footsteps of Angela Merkel by becoming the youngest ever patron of the Duisburg Environmental Days 2009.
At age 9 he founded the now nationally active student initiative Plant-for-the-Planet with the goal to plant a million trees by the end of 2009. Now he was invited to become the patron of the annual, nationally acclaimed environmental program in Duisburg to honor his commitment to climate justice.
More information about the Duisburg Environmental Days 2009
Hosting an academy and planting 25.000 trees for climate justice
The official kick-off of the Duisburg Environmental Days was on June 5th but 80 students ages 10-12 were already trained to become climate ambassadors a week early.
The Plant-for-the-Planet Academy on May 30th not only taught the kids why were are stuck in a climate crisis but also offered concrete solutions of what everyone can do to prevent a catastrophe. Now these newly trained ambassadors will share their knowledge with other kids by giving presentations or speeches, roundtables or letters to editors.
Youth organization in Sandl exceeds initial goal by more than double
Supporting the student initiative Plant-for-the-Planet, the youth organization in Sandl bet against mayor Alois Pils that they would manage to plant 100 tress on May 17th 2009.
In cooperation with Austria's 1 million trees campaign, the youth organization was able to plant 100 trees during the "rubber boots throwing competition". With the 50€ wager from the mayor, additional 154 trees were able to be donated to Plant-for-the-Planet’s reforestation project in Ecuador.
Large-scale 100.000 trees campaign to start in the fall
Within the national student initiative Plant-for-the-Planet, students from the Gymnasium Bürgerwiese planted a symbolic maple tree in attendance of principal Jens Reichel, chief officer for public greens and solid waste management Detlef Thiel, division manager of the Akademie der Sächsischen Landesstiftung Natur und Umwelt Dr. Hans-Joachim Gericke, chief executive officer of the Lokale Agenda 21 für Dresden e.V. Silke Timm and other prominent guests.
The tree is a first sign of the Plant-for-the-Planet planting campaign that starts this fall.
10/16/2009 - 10/18/2009
Worldwide
Join the global movement to end poverty.
In 2006, 23 million people stood up, in 2007 47 million people, last year 116 million people Stood Up and Took Action.
For the fourth year in a row, millions of people around the world will Stand Up and Take Action to show their support for the fight against poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This year Stand Up will take place against the backdrop of a deepening financial crisis and a slowing global economy.
It is a time of great challenge for development in general and the MDGs in particular. Already we are seeing the potentially devastating impact of this on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable. We know that the current economic climate threatens to undo and possibly even reverse the very significant gains that have been made towards achieving the MDGs. With just six years left to the 2015 deadline for the achievement of the Goals, we cannot afford to let this happen.
The achievement of the MDGs must remain a priority on the global political and public agenda. In this environment, Stand Up is a vital opportunity to send a clear and urgent message to world leaders and decision makers and raise the political stakes. Our policy messages and actions must reflect the urgency of the situation and must be an instrument to convey the sense of our growing impatience and intolerance of excuses for and distractions from the implementation of policies and programmes that address the poorest and most vulnerable.
Join millions worldwide to STAND UP and TAKE ACTION against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals.
STAND UP and TAKE ACTION against Poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals.
When?
October 16th, 17th, 18th, 2009: From 12 a.m. GMT (relevant local time) on the 16th October to 11.39 p.m. GMT (relevant local time) on the 18th October
More information at www.standagainstpoverty.org
