December 2002



Success Stories
NI (No.352)

Contents

9 Get it right!
Introducing alternative visions from around the world.

10 If the clothes fit, wear them
Argentine workers are taking on corporate closures - and winning. Ivan Briscoe talks with the workers.

12 How children saved the river
'Economy first' is out. 'Ecology first' is in. Ma Guihua tracks the turn-about in the Chinese city of Chengdu.

14 Brave steps towards peace
Dylan Matthews and Jason McLeod profile three peace activists putting their lives on the line.

16 Islands of hope and hydrogen
A world powered by hydrogen is unfolding, writes Seth Dunn.

18 Internationalist News
What a newspaper spreading good news looks like.

20 Sisters are tapping it for themselves
Women's climb towards parliamentary policy-making can start at a local level, as Raphael Tenthani discovers in Malawi.

22 Daring democracy
Giving power to the people has helped politicians in Brazil to win elections. Rebecca Abers reports.

24 Profit from principle
Kenyan forest endangered by local people has been saved… by butterflies. Katy Salmon flies in to find out why.

26 What makes the stars shine?
The United Nations' Nicholas You reflects on what it takes to change the world.

28 Pitching a Good News story
Tips for activists wanting press coverage for their projects AND a special offer for readers of the NI.


<<Regular Features>>

2 Letters

4 Southern Exposure
A forgotten freedom fighter from Bangladesh, photographed by Abir Abdullah.

5 View from the South
Choosing a baby to die - and a map of buried treasure. Eduardo Galeano contemplates the have-nots in the 10th part of his Windows series.

6 Currents
Palestine farmers find surprising allies; asbestos fall-out in East Timor; Uzbekistan bans billiards; 'undemocratic' World Bank and IMF.
PLUS: Word Corner - Tea.
PLUS: Seriously

29 Worldbeaters
Is it all because a GI stole his ice cream? The unrepentant xenophobia of Japanese politician Shintaro Ishihara.

30 Mixed Media
BOOKS, MUSIC, FILM/VIDEO

32 Big Bad World
One world, one helmet: Polyp's latest cartoon.
PLUS: NI Prize Crossword

33 Making waves
How indigenous Mexican rebel Raúl Gatica buried pessimism with his umbilical cord.

34 Essay - Night of the gas
The Bhopal disaster is still claiming victims, 18 years on - and, according to Luke David, the Indian Government is still sitting on their compensation.

36 Country Profile - Mauritius

NI-Japan (No.40)

Contents

Success Stories
There are so many problems in the world, it's true, but there are also many people taking them on and making significant changes for the better in their communities and regions. NI ends the year with hope and inspiration, bringing you a selection of success stories from around the world..

<This month's article>

·Translation of "How children saved the river" (p12-13)
·Translation of "Daring democracy" (p22-23)
·Translation of "World Beaters: Shintaro Ishihara" (p29)

<Reporting from Japan>
Community and Oversea Development Brought Together by Recycle Shop
Development assistance, humanitarian assistance, poverty... the media often bring up the relationship and activities between northern and southern countries. Unfortunately, this coverage is often merely a parade of images of countries and people suffering under miserable conditions. An inexhaustible supply of problems occurring in distant countries. It's very easy to get tired of hearing this kind of news and wonder "Just what can we in Japan do about this?" If one takes a look around, however, one will find people and groups who have hope and are working to solve these problems. This month we report on a ground of citizens who have come up with the idea of providing overseas assistance by creating local recycling shops.

<Contact Points>
Information on local-based network organizations, etc.

<Country Profile>
-Translation of "Country Profile - Mauritius" (p36)



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