Welcome to READIT - the new 'do-it-yourself' on-line calendar of sustainable development events
The Rapid Environment And Development International Timetable allows users to publicise their own events to a world-wide audience, find out about other events in their own country or across the globe, and research past events for scientific conference results, NGO recommendations, government and inter-governmental decisions and partners for new and innovative projects.
Users may enter events which relate directly or
indirectly to environment and/or development, human rights, peace, etc.
Readers can search for information on meetings using 76 subject fields or
their own search terms. The 76 subject areas range alphabetically from Antarctica, Biodiveristy and Climate to Water, Wetlands and Wildlife.
READIT
was originally published by the Amsterdam based Environment & Development
Resource Centre (EDRC) in hard-copy and on-line in 1990-91 ahead of
UNCED
in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The new READIT is an events data base offered
as a free service to the sustainable development movement in the lead up to the
World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August-September 2002.
But the calendar is not limited to WSSD
related events
and is intended to be used well beyond 2002.
READIT is offered in the interest of increased interaction and better co-ordination between the environment, development, human rights and peace movements everywhere. It is also meant to be a tool – part of several modules in the planning – to enable especially young people who want to get involved in action for a better world to be able find out about the issues, events and organisations that are shaping the future of life on the planet.
Everyone involved in sustainable development - government officials, parliamentarians, local authorities, NGOs, organised labour, farmers, indigenous peoples, women’s groups, children, youth and students, and the media – can benefit from this simple easy-to-use site where they can post and find in one place key events and contacts from all around the world.
About Languages
In the future we hope to make READIT also available in other languages.
In the meantime, users can enter information on events in any language
expressed in European characters. You may want to submit more than one
form so that the information will appear in the data base in more than
one language - for example English and French. Remember though that,
for now, most readers will probably be searching the data base using
English keywords. Also, organisers should always indicate the languages
associated with their meetings in the field provided for that.
Correspondents and Partners
READIT is being developed with the assistance of partners - with one
(or sometimes more than one) partner per subject area - and
correspondents (individuals and organisations) identified in various
regions / sub-regions / countries.
READIT Partners are organisations or networks
who agree to help ensure
that important events in their areas of work are included in this
timetable. For some subjects there are more than one partner; some
partners assist with more than one subject.
Partners also agree to promote the use of READIT
among their own contacts and where possible include a link to this calendar
on their web sites.
KEY Partners are those who also use a special
keyword to code events they and/or their members are organising to quickly
find events associated with their network or campaigns. To see the list of
key partners and the codes for their agendas, click HERE
READIT Correspondents are individuals or
organisations who help us include important events in their respective
regions, sub-regions or countries, irrespective of the subjects of the
events.
NOTE: Users need not be correspondents or
partners to use the web site. Organisations are invited to list events they
are organising or know about simply by submitting data entry forms. Your
event information will appear in the data base within a couple of days.
Global Action Guide
This web site also contains a data base of URL links covering 100s of
organisations dealing with a wide range of sustainable development and
related topics. Suggestions for additions to the Global Action Guide are
welcome. Send your web site information to
editor@readit2002.net.
Sustainable Development News
The SDN section contains links to a growing number of news
services and web sites containing important articles and background features on
environment, development and related issues.
READIT has been launched with the support of the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.
READIT was originated and developed by
Ronald A Kingham of the Environment & Development Resource Centre.
Other members of the READIT Advisory Group include: Paloma Agrasot
(WWF-EPO), Franck Biancheri (EUROPE 2020 / EU-Studen Vote / TIES), Margaret Brusasco
(Stakeholder Forum for Our Common Future), Liliana Hisas(Fundacion Ecologica Universal), Steven Lovink (TransGlobal
Ventures), Pradeep Mehta (Consumer Unity & Trust Society), Colin Moorcraft (EDRC),
Tom Spencer (European Centre for Public Affairs / State of the World Forum - Europe), Anna Ström (Journalist) and Wouter
Veening (Netherlands Committee for the IUCN).
The web site layout is by
TRAITS in Brussels,
Belgium and the data base applications are by
ANTENNA in Nijmegen, The
Netherlands.
For more information on how the READIT web site
works click on help. If you still have questions or would like to make
suggestions for improving the site please write to
editor@readit2002.net.
Disclaimer Notice and Copyright
The Environment & Development Resource Centre maintains this web site as
a public service to the sustainable development movement.
We aim for the service to be as up-to-date and accurate as possible. However, EDRC and its sponsors accept no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to material on this site or for errors which may occur on this site or on linked external sites. The information
on this sight is provided by users themselves or acquired from other public information sources - web sites, newsletters, etc. If errors
are brought to our attention we will try to correct them.
© EDRC, 2002
Reproduction of the data contained on this site is authorised, save where
otherwise stated.
Where prior permission must be obtained for the reproduction or use of
textual and multimedia information (sound, images, software, etc.),such permission shall cancel the above mentioned general permission and any restrictions on use shall be indicated.
The name READIT: Rapid Environment And Development International
Timetable, the READIT logo, the type and subject pictographs, navigation ikons, and the READIT world map are the property of EDRC and may not be used or reproduced
without prior permission.
Contact Information
For further information or suggestions write to editor@readit2002.net.
