Last week important events
UPEACE signs agreement with Ateneo de Manila University to develop an International Peace Studies Dual Campus MA Programme
Last Tuesday 17 October, UPEACE, represented by Vice Rector Georges Tsaï and Tatiana Benavides, from the International Peace Studies Programme and Ateneo de Manila, represented by Vice President Santos and Father Cruz, signed the Memorandum of Agreement, and its First Supplement, that will allow UPEACE to fully implement the dual-campus special IPS programme financed by the Nippon Foundation.
This programme aims to provide students from Japan and other Asian countries with an opportunity to pursue a peace studies post graduate degree with a content-based language-training module, offering the support for individuals who do not have a proficient command of English to work in this increasingly common international language and to become comfortable in their professional abilities as they gain academic skills. As part of the programme, students have also the opportunity to apply their academic and practical knowledge through a four-month internship at the end of the Master courses. 
This programme is designed to enable students from diverse cultures and backgrounds to attain a deep understanding of the central issues of peace and security which will determine the future of humanity. Through their coursework, participants in the programme broaden their base of knowledge and engage with the major concepts, themes, and debates within international peace and conflict studies, preparing themselves for work with NGOs, governments, aid agencies, the UN and other organizations where a deep understanding of theses issues is critical.
The reception of applications to the Dual Campus Master Programme on International Peace Studies is currently open. Students accepted in the programme will be granted full scholarships provided by the Nippon Foundation. A full scholarship includes: tuition fee, the language module, academic materials, and air travel and living expenses during the period of studies.
Although for the first year the programme will primarily accept students from Asia Pacific (Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam), candidates from Central Asia and the Middle East will also be eligible.
The deadline for receiving application packages is 15 December, 2006
For more information on the programme, please visit http://www.upeace.org/academic/masters/SIPS.cfm
Click here for full information on admissions and on line applications
Students’ life
UPEACE Stands Up Against Poverty
On the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October, students at UPEACE stood up against poverty in their classrooms. They thereby joined the global STAND UP initiative of the millennium campaign (www.millenniumcampaign.org), thanks to the efforts of the Students Group for Human Rights at UPEACE (HRUP).
All around the world, a massive total of 23,542,614 participants stood up in 11,646 events already on the previous two days, setting a new Guinness World Record. The event was organized to demonstrate our commitment to working towards the eradication of poverty and to remind governments of their promises set forth in the UN Millennium Goals. Six years ago, 189 world leaders sat down and agreed to end poverty by 2015.
At UPEACE, the Stand Up Day initiated a Week Against Poverty, featuring movie presentations and a food drive. The donations will be distributed to the neighbourhood of Cristo Rey.
For comments or questions about the Stand Up Against Poverty Campaign, please contact Kimberly Ann Rafuse, krafuse@student.upeace.org or Mariella Cruzado at mcruzado@student.upeace.org
Rector meets Alumni in Amsterdam
UPEACE Rector meets with alumni at Earth Charter International Council meeting in Amsterdam. Dominick Stucker now works for the Earth Charter in Stockholm as the International Youth Coordinator.
System Wide Activities
Expert Forum “Capacity Building for Peace and Development: Roles of Diaspora”
More than 70 experts from around the world gathered in Toronto, Canada, on 19-20 October 2006, to take part in a High Level Expert Forum on “Capacity Building for Peace and Development: Roles of Diaspora”
The conference opened with a key note address from Her Excellency Sheikka Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the UN General Assembly 61st session. Click here to read the welcoming speech
The event brought together senior government officials, representatives of international organizations and civil society organizations as well as researchers to dialogue, debate and define the assumptions and complexities surrounding Diaspora or immigrant engagement in peacebuilding and development, both in the country of origin and the adopted homelands.
The two-day forum consisted of plenary keynote speeches, panel discussions and working groups. The goals of forum include a series of background papers, a map of peacebuilding potentials, challenges and opportunities of different Diasporas as well as identification of ways to integrate Diaspora potential through targeted capacity building projects. Click here to see an article featured in a local newspaper
New Report of the UN General Assembly on UPEACE
UPEACE is glad to release the official version of the Report of the Secretary General of the UN to the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly on UPEACE, last August 2006.
This report provides information on the development and implementation of the academic and professional training programmes of the University and encourages Governments and other organizations to support UPEACE activities.
Click here for the English version of the Report
Click aqui para la version en Español
Voir ici pour la version française du rapport
Costa Rican Private Natural Reserves Network meets at UPEACE
On Monday, 2 October, the board of the Costa Rican Private Natural Reserves Network held its monthly meeting at the UPEACE Campus. This Network gathers owners of private reserves that are determined to increase the overall area and quality of protected areas in Costa Rica. At the present time the Network has more than 160 members, and covers approximately 120 000 hectares of forest with high conservation value, adding significantly to the conservation areas being run by the Costa Rican government. Many of these private natural reserves currently house research projects, restoration of degraded areas, and ecotourism facilities that support the national strategy for conservation. For example, these private reserves contribute to the new biological micro-corridors, which are part of the larger Centroamerican/Costa Rican Biological Corridor.
In addition, the Network is promoting the extension of the Certification of Ecological Flag (Certificación de Bandera Ecológica) to include private natural reserves. This Ecological Flag system already includes schools and communities.
UPEACE Professors Flor Cubero, David Hoffman and Ronnie de Camino--the last two from the Department of Environment, Peace and Security-- expressed to the Board of the Network UPEACE’s intention to become members of the network as well as two other important initiatives:
-The development of the UPEACE Reserve in El Rodeo as an important place for recreation, conservation and environmental education for the Greater Metropolitan Area of San Jose,
-The “Blossoming Costa Rica Initiative” that intends to join all the country’s highways, roads, streets and footpaths with flowering trees as a tourism investment with peace as its dividend.
For more information, please contact Professor Ronnie de Camino, at rcamino@upeace.org
Coffee Harvest
After driving by people harvesting coffee for the past two weeks, a group of 20 students and faculty, organized by Professor Ronnie de Camino and NRSD student Jeff Follett, decided to try their hands at it. At the early hour of 6 a.m., the administrator of the plantation, don Ronald Madrigal, gave a brief overview of harvesting techniques gave a brief overview of harvesting techniques and then we were off to pick all the yellow, orange, and red berries we could. The group quickly discovered that there is definitely some skill involved, and this was even more obvious at the end of the day because we harvested about 5 sacks of coffee in 8 hours. Meanwhile our expert friends harvested about 30. At the end of the day, we sat exhausted waiting to deposit our bounty for what turned out to be about $1 per person. Overall, we provided comic relief for those accustomed to the process and we learned a bit about what it is like to make a living picking coffee. Thank you to everyone who participated in the fun!