In Session 3 we discuss the role of various civil society groups in policy making and global governance. These videos showcase various civil society organizations, initiatives and movements that deal with various issues and agenda.
I. Videos and related media
1. International Campaign to Ban Landmines: Save Children from Landmines
This 1997 Nobel Peace Prize winning organization campaign to ban landmines and cluster bombs through promotional videos such as this.
2. Dont Step on Mine
A personal video presentation by a concerned netizen on the issues surrounding land mines and civilians.
3. Ozone agreement reached in Montreal
1987 was the year 24 countries signed the Montreal Protocol that phases out ozone-harming chemicals.
4. Eco-friendly Forest Management in the Amazon (Reuters)
Feb. 18, 2008 - Brazil's government focuses on eco-friendly ways of managing the Amazonian forests. The Forest Stewardship Council estimates that illegal loggers kill 30 to get one usable tree. The new conservation projects protect far more trees than they cut down.
5. War Crimes and the International Criminal Court (ICC) - Fora TV
Judith Armatta discusses War Crimes and the International Criminal Court (ICC) during her adress to the World Affairs Council of Oregon. You may video this video complete with transcripts and outline through this link.
6. Saving the Dugong in Okinawa, Japan
Animation made for Save the Dugong Campaign Center (SDCC), a Japanese NGO that aims to raise awareness on Dugong Conservation in Japan. You may view the video though this link.
In Session 2 we defined NGOs and their role in global civil society. Here are several videos featuring various types of NGOs from funding agencies like Oxfam, to respected international NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders.
I. Videos and Figures
1. Save the Children: "Knit One, Save One" campaign
2. Human Rights Watch: "Congo: The World's Deadliest War"
You may view this interesting video featuring Congo and its unstable democracy through this link.
3. Parallel Summit: 2008 G8 Summit in Hokkaido, Japan (NTDTV)
4. Oxfam: "Canvas for Change" during the 2008 UN Climate Change Conference
5. Better World Books: "Book Drives for Better Lives"
Watch this six-minute video to learn more about Better World Books: how we got started, the non-profit literacy partners we benefit and our book drives at over 1,200 campuses nationwide. You may view this video through this link.
6. Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors Without Borders: an Introduction
Introductory Lecture on Civil Society - December 3, 2008
1. Definition of Civil Society
Linz and Stepan (1996) defines Civil Society as follows:
Civil society = that arena of the polity where self-organizing and relatively autonomous groups, movements, and individuals attempt to articulate values, to create associations and solidarities, and to advance their interests.
Civil society can include manifold social movements (e.g., women's groups, neighborhood associations, religious groupings, and intellectual organizations), as well as associations from all social strata (such as trade unions, entrepreneurial groups, and professional associations).
The authors then differentiate civil society from political and economic society which they define as:
Political society = that arena in which political actors compete for the legitimate right to exercise control over public power and the state apparatus
The core institutions of a democratic political society are: political parties, legislatures, elections, electoral rules, political leadership, and interparty alliances.
Economic society = a mixed system of legally crafted and regulated non-state forms of property, production, exchange and consumption.
After defining civil society, here are some videos of some known civil society groups and Non-Govermental Organizations (NGO):
2. Green Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo - Green Peace TV
Greenpeace launches its new office in the Democratic Republic of Congo - the second on the African continent - which will focus on the protection of the Congo Basin rainforest.
6. Thailand and the PAD protesters take over the Airports - Channel News Asia (0:00-3:00)
7. Transparency International: Champion for Accountability
One of the more well known international NGOs, Transparency International's (TI) founder Peter Eigen talks about their organizations thrust on spreading accountability.
8. Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index 2008
One of the more established methods of measuring corruption is TI's annual corruption perception index.
The top ten countries with best marks were:
Denmark
New Zealand
Sweden
Singapore
Finland
Switzerland
Iceland
Netherlands
Australia
Canada
The lowest ten meanwhile were:
Somalia
Myanmar
Iraq
Haiti
Afghanistan
Sudan
Guinea
Chad
Equatorial Guinea
Congo, Democratic Republic
You may view the most recent ranking of your country through this link.
9. Battle for Seattle movie trailer
Battle in Seattle is the story of the 1999 WTO Protest that took place on the streets of Seattle. The movie was written and directed by Stuart Townsend. The official Battle in Seattle movie premiere date is September 19, 2008. This is the official movie trailer for Battle in Seattle.
10. Seattle Docu
From the WTO protests in Seattle, 1999.
We will be posting the syllabus and links for the readings soon.
You may also photocopy for yourself a hard copy version of our readings at room 3K 205. Remember to return the master copies promptly.
Welcome to the class blog for Prof. Quimpo's course on "Studies on Civil Society". This blog will be used to post announcements, show videos used during the lectures and links for the required readings.
For today's entry, we will be posting the guidelines for your NGO fieldwork visit, and how to write your research report based on your field work. We will post the syllabus and videos used during the 1st lecture soon.
Guidelines for your NGO visit
1. Before making your NGO visit, make sure to prepare well. Search the internet for as much information about the NGO that you can gather. This will help you in asking questions that are more informed and that go deeper. Prepare your key interview questions in advance, but you must also be able to formulate good follow-up questions on the spot.
2. Set appointment/s with the persons you wish to interview by phone or e-mail. It would be best to interview at least two persons: 1) someone who can give a good overview of the NGO; and 2) someone who can explain a particular project that you find most noteworthy or interesting.
3. All members of the group should participate in doing the interview. If the person you are interviewing cannot speak English, then let the Japanese member/s of your group translate what he or she is saying.
4. It would be good to use a tape recorder. But ask the permission of the person you are interviewing beforehand if it is all right with him/her that you tape the interview. It may also be good for your powerpoint presentations to take photos.
5. It will be up to you what kind of questions you will pose to the people you interview at the NGO office. The important point is that on the basis of your interviews, you should be able to answer all the questions in the attached guidelines for making the report on your NGO visit.
6. When asking about the successes and failures/shortcomings of the NGO, don't ask about the failures/shortcoming too early in the interview. Ask about these later in the interview, perhaps after asking about the NGO's problems.
If there are things that still need to be clarified, feel free to e-mail Prof. Quimpo.
Guidelines for Making the Report on Your NGO Visit
I. Introduction
1. Name of NGO
2. Type of NGO
a. Focus (human rights, environmental, women’s issues, or some other)
b. Scope (international, national or local)
3. Names of persons interviewed and their positions in the organization
(Suggestion: During the interview, ask for their business cards or meishi.)
4. Address of the Japanese office of the NGO
5. Date/s of your visit
II. Description of the NGO
1. What are the objectives of the NGO?
2. Give a brief history of the NGO.
3. What have been the main achievements or victories as well as main failures or shortcomings of the NGO?
(Note: If the NGO is international, focus on the achievements or failures of the Japanese section or branch.)
4. What are major projects, campaigns and activities that the NGO is currently undertaking? Why has the NGO embarked on these projects or activities?
(Note: If the NGO is international, focus on the major projects, campaigns and activities of the Japanese section or branch.)
5. What are the major problems that the NGO has encountered in doing its work in Japan?
6. How does one become a member of the NGO? What are criteria or requirements for membership? What kinds of people in Japan have become active in the NGO? Why have they joined the NGO?
7. How does the NGO help bring about social and/or political change (for example, promoting or improving democracy) in the country/countries it operates in or supports?
8. Discuss a particular project of the NGO that you find most noteworthy or interesting. Why do you find this project most noteworthy or interesting?
III. Your Opinion of the NGO
1. What are your impressions of the NGO? Do you think it is performing a significant and positive role in Japanese civil society?
2. Would you be interested in joining the NGO (in Japan or in your country) now or in the future? Why or why not? Would you encourage some of your relatives and friends to join the NGO? Why or why not?
