The ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius is calling for applications for “Settling Into Motion” – The Bucerius Ph.D. Scholarships in Migration Studies. The scholarship program seeks to address the ongoing transformations in societies where migration is just one factor among others generating change. For 2008 applications relating to migration and urban transformations are especially welcome.
Within this international program, the ZEIT-Stiftung grants six to eight pre-doctoral scholarships per year. Applicants must be Ph.D. students of – in a broad sense – social sciences. The scholarships involve a monthly stipend of 1.200 Euros as well as yearly conferences and workshops. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2008. Scholarships are granted for up to 36 months. They can be used for research and writing periods but not for course work.
The world is in motion: people and ideas, products, technologies as well as diseases are travelling between regions and continents. Cities and cultures as well as family and labour market relations are changing in these processes of globalization. Regulatory competencies of nation states are also in question. The movement of people is only one factor among others generating change, but one whose importance will rise over the next years.
Migrants are settling into societies that are themselves transforming. Thus the meaning of integration is increasingly hard to pinpoint. Everyone needs to be prepared to embrace change. Some migrants will also keep multi-stranded relations with their countries of origin, thereby building transnational spaces; others will after little time move on to third countries. All of them settle into motion.
How can migrants and their receiving and sending countries reap the benefits of this movement of people? Which structural and procedural conditions have to be in place to take advantage of diversity? And what are the challenges for the individual, the migrant family, the regions and countries migrants come from as well as the places of reception? The Bucerius Ph.D. Scholarship Program “Settling Into Motion” seeks to address these questions, each year focusing on a different topic.
For 2008, applications to study “Migration and Urban Transformations” are especially welcome. The majority of migrants live in urban areas. For a long time, cities were regarded as “integration machines” because of their capacity to incorporate people of different backgrounds in a functionally differentiated system. At the same time, cities are themselves focal points of economic, social and cultural transformations.
Applications for scholarships under this topic could study the following questions of (but are not limited to):
Super-diversity and the effects of rapid diversification on neighbourhoods
Housing careers of migrants
Policing and anti-discrimination policies
(Informal) economy and development of innovation
Governance issues at local level (including provision of welfare services)
Urban sprawl
Social and political participation at local level and the role of religious communities
Local school choice and the school-neighborhood nexus
Innovative approaches both in methodology and in research questions are highly encouraged.
The ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius is one of the major private foundations in Germany sponsoring academic research. Among other things, it founded and continues to financially support the Bucerius Law School, a Hamburg-based private law school that combines innovation in teaching with renowned research.
Please find further information as well as the online application at www.settling-into-motion.de
Gunilla Fincke, Project Director Science and Research
ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius – Feldbrunnenstrasse 56 20148 Hamburg Germany
Tel.: 
0049-40-41336-771
Fax: 0049-40-41336-777
E-Mail: fincke@zeit-stiftung.de
http://www.zeit-stiftung.de
March 4, 2008
Calling All Filmmakers and Activists!
The 5th annual Freedom Film Fest (FFF) began its campaign to promote and highlight socially conscious film making and films about human rights. the launch also signifies the calling for submissions for the “Dare 2 Document” film proposal competition 2008. the 2008 logo and theme “Democratic Space – Making Room for Human Rights” was also unveiled.Democracy is deteriorating in Malaysia. There are increasing restrictions to freedom of speech, assembly, information, free and fair elections, religious practice and other basic rights. Hidden behind the facade of economic progress is an authoritarian state using its machinery to deny our inherent human rights!
The questions that beg to be asked are: “What really is Democracy in Malaysia?”, “Where are the Democratic Spaces, if any, in Malaysia?” and “What can we do as citizens to reclaim our democratic rights?”
KOMAS invites members of the of public to send in their proposals before the deadline on the 31st March, 2008 to compete for the chance to be one of the three lucky people to receive a RM5,000 grant each to turn your film into a reality!
Winners will also receive the Justin Louis Award and technical assistance from KOMAS to produce their winning stories. Completed films will premiere at the FFF2008 screenings and will ultimately compete for the “Most Outstanding Human Rights Film” title.
For the past five years, FFF has earned a strong reputation for catalyzing and creating an open space for sharing socially engaging media and critical discussions among different sectors of the Malaysian public. Last year, the FFF2007 screened 32 social documentaries and independent films from all over the world in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru and was received with great enthusiasm from the public. This year, we hope to extend the FFF2008 film screenings to East Malaysia.
As part of the build-up to FFF2008, KOMAS will also be organising a series of video workshops throughout the year for community members, film makers and social activists to learn how to highlight human rights issues through the powerful medium of film. Special forums and dialogue sessions with renowned social film makers and activists from Malaysia and other countries will also be organised.
http://www.freedomfilmfest.komas.org/2008/news/dare-2-document-2008-calling-for-film-proposals/
March 3, 2008
“A lot of what passes for depression these days is nothing more than a body saying that it needs work,” (Geoffrey Norman: Quote Garden).
March 2, 2008
This is worth reading … A simple man tells how his booking an air ticket for his father, his first flight, brought emotions and made him realize that how much we all take for granted when it comes to our parents. My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same.
In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Lufthansa. The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him. When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.
As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for football, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have satisfied to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments. Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children,the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes. Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also.
They have wishes, too. Take care of your parents. Pls pass on this mail to every child who loves parents and want to love them more … God bless!!
February 28, 2008
Pilipinas is an international, peer-reviewed Journal, published since 1980, with a global readership of primarily academics and tertiary institutions. We encourage the submission of papers on all topics and from all disciplines relevant to the Philippines, or comparing other countries with the Philippines.Papers may be of any length, and include (colour) pictures etc, as we also publish each Issue on CD and the Internet, as well as Hard copy. We are particularly interested in papers that address sexuality, and, for our 50th anniversary Issue, papers that address the history and/or development of Philippine studies.
Publication is on-going, so submitted and accepted papers appear in the next Issue in train. To submit a paper, please email in Word format a copy to the Managing
Editor, Dr. Paul Mathews: paulmathews2@yahoo.com.au, pmathews2@hotmail.com
Enquiries & proposals: as above.
Dr Paul Mathews
PSAA Secretary
Managing Editor, Pilipinas
PO Box 827 Jamison 2614. Canberra. Australia
Note: You may also email me at: pmathews2@hotmail.com
February 24, 2008
Pilipinas is an international, peer-reviewed Journal, published since 1980, with a global readership of primarily academics and tertiary institutions. We encourage the submission of papers on all topics and from all disciplines relevant to the Philippines, or comparing other countries with the Philippines.Papers may be of any length, and include (colour) pictures etc, as we also publish each Issue on CD and the Internet, as well as Hardcopy. We are particularly interested in papers that address sexuality, and, for our 50th anniversary Issue, papers that address the history and/or development of Philippine studies.Publication is on-going, so submitted and accepted papers appear in the next Issue in train. To submit a paper, please email in Word format a copy to the Managing
Editor, Dr. Paul Mathews: paulmathews2@yahoo.com.au, pmathews2@hotmail.com
Enquiries & proposals: as above.
Dr Paul Mathews
PSAA Secretary
Managing Editor, Pilipinas
PO Box 827 Jamison 2614. Canberra. Australia
Note: You may also email me at: pmathews2@hotmail.com
February 18, 2008
Here are two quotations on Money by Benjamin Franklin in his “Advice to a Young Tradesman, 1748.” Hope you will find some wisdom in this.
“Remember, time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a day by his labour, and goes abroad, or sits idle, one half of that day, though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expense; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five shillings besides.”
“Remember, that money is of the prolific, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six, turned again it is seven and threepence, and so on, till it becomes a hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding sow, destroys all her offspring to the thousandth generation. He that murders a crown, destroys all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds.”
Source: www.quoteland.com
February 15, 2008
This is something we should be looking at very closely, for it affects all of us, one way or another. Its been 17 years since the passage of Republic Act 6969: Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990. Its about time to fine tune this law to meet the needs of the times.
There is a new hero from the 2nd District of Quezon Province, Congressman Proceso Alcala. His heroism? House Bill 2806: An Act Providing for a Comprehensive Hazardous and Radioactive Waste Management, Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, and for Other Purposes. It seeks to address the gaps and weaknesses of Republic Act No. 6969: Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, concerning the management of hazardous, radioactive and health care wastes in the Philippines.
This bill is now one of the topics of discussion at the Philippines Virtual Plenary (www.pvpnetwork.net). The Committee on Ecology pf the House of Representatives invites you to post our comments and suggestions on the subject bill. A copy of the bill is available in this site for your guidance and perusal: http://www.pvpnetwork.net/index.cfm?module=Forums&page=Forum&ForumID=208.
Source: www.pvpnetwork.net
February 15, 2008
