MARCH 30
HARARE ZIMBABWE
City Authorities Destroy Homes of 200 families
The
Harare Municipality is wantonly destroying backyard shacks in most of
Harare's high-density suburbs. The latest victims are the Jo'burg Lines
of Mbare where 200 families had their homes raised to the ground in a
pre-dawn raid despite an earlier agreement by the Commission running the
city to halt these demolitions until some form of dialogue had been
entered into.
An Urgent Appeal has been sent by our friends in Harare
Please go here to help. URGENT
APPEAL
Link to article in The Telegraph: 31/03/01
MARCH 29
KARACHI EVICTIONS UPDATE
Railway
Authority Stops Bulldozing People's Houses
Recently the railway
authority has issued notices to the bulldozing operation of 65 houses in
Hazara Colony Bloch D in Karachi (see story below) .
The bulldozing has been stopped.
But all railways colonies in Pakistan are still under threat. The
Pakistan railway authorities are waiting for a suitable time to start a
bulldozing operation.
CLICK
ACHR
MARCH
16 KARACHI PAKISTAN
Railway Authority Resumes
Bulldozing Houses
The Pakistan
Railway Authorities once again are undertaking a bulldozing operation of
poor people’s housing in railway colonies. Recently the railway
authority had issued notices to 65 houses in Hazara Colony Bloch D in
Karachi and intending to start a bulldozing operation of these houses on
17th March 2001. This will follow the bulldozing of thousand of other
houses in all other railway colonies. No alternative and
compensation will be paid to these effected families.
In January the Pakistan Railway has started a similar operation and
bulldozed over 1000 housing unit. The CBOs and NGOs (Local and
international) made a strong protest against this brutal operation.
Then a high level meeting held on 15th
January 2001 in Islamabad presided by the General Pervez Musharraf Chief
Executive of Pakistan has approved a plan for regularization of katchi
abadis (slums) in the country and decided to prepare a resettlement
plan. This also issued an order to stop all kinds of evictions in
the country until approval of the resettlement plan.
The
URC in Karachi has sent and urgent appeal and details of how we can
help.
CLICK
ACHR
to help the Railway Katchi Abadi dwellers.
MARCH 15
WORLD POVERTY
About
one fifth of the world's population tries to live on less than one dollar
per day. It would help significantly if the prosperous countries
would open their markets to goods produced by poor countries. At
present farmers in poor countries not only have to compete against rich
countrie's subsidized food exports, they also face high import barriers.
The tariffs imposed by industrialized countries on staple such as meat,
sugar and dairy products are also 5 TIMES HIGHER than those on
manufactures. The European tariffs on meat products is as high as 826%.
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FEBRUARY 24
NAIROBI HIC EXEC BOARD MEETING
HIC's New Sec-Gen Nominated YVES CABANNE
Last week Yves
Cabanne was nominated to be the new Habitat International Coalition
(HIC) Secretary General from June 2001 onwards.
Many
in ACHR and HIC have known Yves for years as highly committed and with a
strong belief in people and partnerships for social change. Yves has
enormous international working experiences in many countries and very
professional managerial skills. In taking on the HIC Secretariat work, he will have to resign from his very important work at UMP
(Urban Management Program UNDP) which has had so many good impacts on
Latin American cities. Yves has a month to confirm his
acceptance.
HIC Web Site is at home.mweb.co.za/hi/hic/
FEBRUARY 11
JAPAN
Mixed News from Japan's Homeless
Osaka City Evicts the Homeless while TOKYO offers alternative sites and
peaceful negotiation.
It seems the administrators in Osaka
City do not have the same attitude to their homeless people as those in
Tokyo. While Osaka City is presently evicting homeless people,
from Nagai Park, without negotiating or offering any acceptable
alternative, Homeless
People living in Ueno Park Tokyo have reported a breakthrough and a
change of attitude by the Park Authorities due to the homeless
people’s action and support from the many messages from friends around
the world.
The Administration Office of Tokyo Eastern Parks recently sat down with
the homeless and the supporting organizations, to negotiate a settlement
which included an apology and a promise to never evict by force. The
office will prepare an alternative site in the same park for people to
move their tents and after a six month period will negotiate future
plans with the people. Our Japanese friends say the results will support
and encourage 30,000 homeless people in Japan.
ACHR
Supporters in Japan suggest messages
from the international community will help persuade Osaka officials to
act differently. Their suggestions for action are HERE
FEBRUARY 10
New ACHR Activities for Jan - March 2001
We've now added a NEW
ACHR Activities Calendar
For detail of planned Activities for January to March go HERE
For detail of last October to December go HERE
For an Overview of our programmes go HERE
JANUARY 30 INDIA
Earthquake in Gujurat, India
Latest can be read at the
SPARC India news site CITYWATCH
JANUARY 20
EVICTION NEWS PAKISTAN
Evictions Stopped in Pakistan
The Pakistan Railways has stopped the
evictions. A policy meeting was held in Islamabad on 15 January,
which has decided to make a resettlement plan in next two months for all
settlement located along railway lines, river belt and other dangerous
zones.
However it is a victory for all of us.
On the behalf of NGOs, CBOs and railway colonies I would like to thank
all of those who supported us in this struggle.
Cheers from Younus URC Karachi
January
10 Pakistan
Massive Bulldozing of Railway Settlements
Despite assurances from Federal
Minister for Environment, Local Government and Rural Development and
other higher authorities the Pakistan Railway started a massive
bulldozing operation of poor settlements railway colonies along the
railway lines in Karachi.
On 8 9 January 2001 they have
bulldozed over 200 houses and are planning to bulldoze 500 more houses..
According to press reports this operation will continue until 30 January
2001 and thousands of houses would be bulldozed in these poor Railway
Colonies, which are mainly occupied by railway lower staff, their
relatives and people who provide services to the city i.e. watch men,
domestic workers, drivers, gardeners etc
THE Urban Resource Centre Karachi
would like to build national and international pressure against these
evictions.
URGENT REQUEST:
The URC request all individuals and organizations to send direct faxes
to the relevant authorities. A sample letter and fax / email
addresses are HERE
DECEMBER 12
PAKISTAN
Arif Hasan Awarded Pakistan Highest Honour
Arif Hasan Awarded Netherlands Urban Heroes 2000
First: "Hilal-I-Imtiaz"
The Hilal-I-Imtiaz ( Award) for public services is awarded by the
Government of Pakistan and is the country’s highest civil award for a
living person.
Second: Award from the Netherlands
The PRINCE CLAUS AWARD for "URBAN HEROES, 2000"
Since 1997, the Prince Claus Awards have been
presented to people and organizations to recognise and encourage their
exceptional achievements in the field of culture and development in
Africa, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean.
The fund does not only honour artists,
intellectuals and cultural organizations for the high quality of their
work. It also looks in particular at the positive changes they bring to
their society and culture.
This
year the theme of the award is Urban Heroes.
The focus is on people who have made a valuable
contribution to the welfare of fast-growing cities by taking resourceful
initiatives.
Congratulations Arif from all in
ACHR
A small tribute to Arif
HERE
Nov
26-28 PAYATAS Secure Tenure Launch
PHILIPPINES
More Impacts from SDI and the
Philippines Homeless People's Federation
The Payatas urban poor community and
the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines launched their
secure tenure campaign in two days of celebrations at Payatas dump site
community this week. The President, National government shelter agencies
and city mayors joined the urban poor Federation’s agenda - the
impacts are summarised below in the MOU signed by each of the groups.
- the full MOU is HERE
1. Open and available government land
shall be released for providing housing to the urban poor.
2. Existing settlements on government
land which is not required for immediate public use, shall be made
available to help the urban poor to develop their communities and to
build houses with secure tenure guaranteed.
3. All private land occupied by
existing settlements will be made available to the occupants through
land-sharing agreements between communities and land-owners, supported
by government tax exemptions ad incentives.
4. The Community Mortgage Program (CMP)
shall be decentralised to city-level, in order to speed up and open up
the delivery of finance to the poor.
5. Urban Poor Development Funds will
be established in five more cities.
The MOU is signed by the
Homeless Peoples Federation of the Philippines
Vincentian Missionaries Social Development Foundation Inc.
Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
League of Cities (Network of Mayors)
Slum Dwellers International
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS)
In the witness of the President of the Philippines M. Joseph Estrada.
PHOTO DIARY of the LAUNCH
is HERE
ACHR Profile on the Philippines
Homeless People's Federation HERE
Nov
21 HOUSING RIGHTS NEWS
DataBase on Housing Rights Legislation
COHRE is currently
collecting ALL available national legislation supportive in any way of
housing rights. We would be very grateful if you could send COHRE's
legal officer Bret Thiele <bret_thiele@yahoo.com> any digital
copies of any national laws supporting any element of housing rights.
Any help you can provide would be great. ... Scott Leckie
Contact Scott at sleckie@attglobal.net
Send information to bret_thiele@yahoo.com
Nov 20
PHILIPPINES
Homeless People’s Federation Secure
Tenure Activities
The Philippines Homeless People's
Federation’s national meeting and secure tenure campaign launch will
held in Payatas from November 26 - 28, 2000.
Despite some other NGO concerns over the event regarding the
impeachment process against President Joseph Estrada over the past two
months, the communities in the Homeless People's Federation have decided
to forge ahead with plans to launch their campaign for secure land, and
are doing so with support from the Philippines Government, the Housing
and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the UNCHS and Slum
Dwellers International (SDI).
More on the events HERE.
OCTOBER 14
THAILAND
How the Urban Poor are Coping
with Thailand's Economic Crisis
Between 1997 and 1998, Asian
countries were slammed by an economic crash which brought twenty
“bubble” years of swiftly-increasing prosperity and lopsided
development to a crashing halt.
Thailand's Urban Community Development Office took up the challenge with
the urban poor communities to minimize the impacts on the poor, and in
the process developed new mechanisms which are having profound impacts
on urban development actors at national, provincial and local levels.
This is the theme of the latest UCDO Update Newsletter available Oct 20
from ACHR. Over 30 pages covering:
What the
economic crisis has meant for Thailand's urban poor communities and how
they have responded.
New developments in Networking, reaching the poorest and experimenting
with new institutional forms which change urban development for the
poor.
If you are not on our mail list contact ACHR for a copy at achrsec@email.ksc.net
OCTOBER 10
INDIA PHILIPPINES SOUTH AFRICA
Summary of Secure Tenure Launches so far ...
To effect change on
a large scale requires partnerships. SDI and ACHR recognize the
importance of collaborative efforts with governments and multi-lateral
aid agencies. Some in the network felt the need to bring such groups up
to date on the development strategies being undertaken by poor
communities around the world. In joining with the UNCHS the
challenge was to make the Campaign relevant both Globally and
Locally and to demonstrate how global and local partnerships can create
win - win solutions. Apart from raising the vital issue of land and
secure tenure for the poor, the campaigns so far have had some very
concrete and practical impacts.
Impacts - Summary: India, Philippines, South Africa HERE
OCTOBER 2 SECURE TENURE
SOUTH AFRICAN LAUNCH
Massive Gathering of Urban Poor in
Durban,
South Africa
Over 10 000 members of the South
African Homeless Peoples' Federation and allied organisations descended
on King's Park Sports Complex in Durban on Sunday, October 1st, for the
Southern African launch of the UNCHS Campaign for Secure Tenure.
Exceeding all expectations of the
organisers, grassroots savings groups from all of South Africa's
provinces traveled to the event in nearly 100 buses and dozens of
minibus taxis. Joining them were delegations from urban poor Federations
in Zimbabwe, Namibia, India, and the Philippines. The Filipino
government also sent its housing minister. A Jockin and Jesse Robredo,
recipients of the prestigious 2000 Magsaysay Award, were also in
attendance. Also represented were international development
organisations such as the UNCHS, World Bank, and several bilateral
development agencies.
More HERE
OCTOBER 8
KARACHI PAKISTAN
Urban Resource Center Karachi
The
first of a series of 10 ACHR TAP workshops begins November 3 - 10th.
ACHR
- URC workshop; Encouraging Citizens’ Participation in Urban
Planning Process: The Case of Urban Resource Centre Karachi, Pakistan
Information / Urban Resource Centres from Asia Cities are welcome to
apply.
More Information on this site
The Rationale for the URC and
The URC Karachi Exposure
SEPTEMBER 30 - OCT 2
DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA
Next Secure Tenure Campaign Launch
ACHR and Slum Dwellers
International are continuing collaboration with the UNCHS in launching
the Secure Tenure Campaign in Africa and Asia. After successful
preliminary launches in Bombay and Cebu Philippines the campaigns will
be under way in each of the countries during the coming months. Next
week the third planning launch will take place in Durban South Africa
attended by UNCHS, South African and local Government rep.s as well as
community members from SDI from African countries such as Namibia and
Zimbabwe. The National Housing Secretary of the Philippines and a group
from Payatas dump site community in the Philippines will also attend as
guests of SDI.
There is more news on the campaign below.
SEPTEMBER 8
MANILA & CEBU PHILIPPINES
One Week in the Philippines
Come ! - Armed with SOLUTIONS !
From a successful meeting of 7,000
people from the Payatas Dumpsite community and Philippines Homeless
People’s Federation in collaboration with SDI and ACHR, a week’s
activity in the Philippines began and evolved into successful meetings
with the Housing Secretary of the Philippines, a meeting with President
Estrada; a cheque from the President for 15 million pesos for the
Manila federations urban poor development fund; promises of more for the
fund in other cities in which Federation operates; plus agreements on
land, relocations, on-site developments; as well as agreements on
Presidential participation in the coming (November) Security of Tenure
Campaign Launch in the Philippines.
The events took place against the backdrop of the Magsaysay
Awards Presentation in which
long time ACHR friends Jockin Amputham and Jesse Robredo
received awards for International Understanding and Government Service
respectively. Jesse and Jockin were able to open more doors to ADB, WB,
and high level government officials in the Philippines in meetings which
bought communities NGOs, governments and multi- lateral agencies
together for discussions and proposals vital to the urban poor
communities throughout the Philippines.
More: Payatas, the Housing
Secretary and the President HERE
More: with pix of the Magsaysay
Award Ceremony HERE
More on Secure Tenure Preparations HERE
