To address the growing concerns about the potential impact of the financial and economic crisis on global health, WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan convened a high-level consultation on 19 January 2009. Based on evidence from previous economic crises, the consultation aimed to:

- build awareness of the possible ways in which an economic downturn may have impact on health spending, health services and health outcomes;
- make the case to a wider audience for sustaining investment in health; and

Doctors group: Zimbabwe ripe for new epidemics
By DONNA BRYSON
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 17, 2009; 10:42 AM

JOHANNESBURG -- Zimbabwe's entire health system has collapsed and the southern African nation now overwhelmed by cholera will soon see other epidemics, a worsening AIDS crisis and the effects of widespread malnutrition, an international doctors group said Tuesday.

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Press Contact: Kirstin Brost, Full Committee, 202-225-2771
Matthew Dennis, Chairman Lowey, 202-225-6506

SUMMARY: 2009 STATE AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS
APPROPRIATIONS
CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS BILL

Bill Total
2008 Enacted: $32.8 billion
President’s Request: $38.2 billion
Final Bill: $36.6 billion

KEY INVESTMENTS

State Department and USAID Operations, Staff and Security:
• Diplomatic and Consular Programs: $4.2 billion, $464 million above 2008 for diplomatic operations and

by Faiz Shakir, Amanda Terkel, Satyam Khanna, Matt Corley, Benjamin Armbruster, Ali Frick, and Ryan Powers
NATIONAL SECURITY
On The Path To Sustainable Security

Enjoy the following short YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz_pVmf5NgE

Climate Fears Are Driving 'Ecomigration' Across Globe
By Shankar Vedantam
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 23, 2009; A01

Adam Fier recently sold his home, got rid of his car and pulled his twin 6-year-old girls out of elementary school in Montgomery County. He and his wife packed the family's belongings and moved to New Zealand -- a place they had never visited or seen before, and where they have no family or professional connections. Among the top reasons: global warming.

Strategic Myopia
Posted by Ed Corcoran on 02/02/2009 :: Permalink :: Comments
STRATEGY: Planning the optimal application of resources to achieve major objectives

http://sitrep.globalsecurity.org/articles/090202168-strategic-myopia.htm

Published: Friday, February 20, 2009 - 10:49 in Psychology & Sociology
Learn more about: conservation ethics ethics group global climate change michigan technological university sowing the seeds

By Jason Palmer
Science and technology reporter, BBC News, Barcelona

Health teams synchronize mobile devices and gather data from clinics
Three foundations have announced their intention to join in a "mobile health" effort to use mobile technology to provide better healthcare worldwide.
The UN, Vodafone, and the Rockefeller Foundation's mHealth Alliance aims to unite existing projects to improve healthcare using mobile technology.
The alliance will guide governments, NGOs, and mobile firms on how they can save lives in the developing world.

Washingtonpost.com

Read More: Burma, Burma Sanctions, Clinton Asia, Clinton Burma, Hillary Asia, Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton Burma, Hillary Clinton Myanmar, Myanmar, World News

Washingtonpost.com:

JAKARTA, Feb. 18 -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western governments had failed to pressure the repressive Burmese government, signaling a potentially major shift in U.S. policy.

Read the whole story: Washingtonpost.com

Global Health Council Members, Development Community Weigh In
On Foreign Assistance Reform
http://www.globalhealth.org/view_top.php3?id=638

David Carey, Bradley Herring and Patrick Lenain
ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT WORKING PAPER No. 665
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD - February 2009

Available online [44p.] at: http://www.olis.oecd.org/olis/2009doc.nsf/ENGDATCORPLOOK/NT00000B6A/$FILE/JT03259332.PDF

Whilst some of the Victorian wildfires continue to run, some devestated communities have already started the rebuilding process. An interesting article was posted yesterday about the difficulties associated with distribution of aid funds to start the healing and rebuilding process.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,25066007-1243,00.html

The article highlights a set of needs that could, perhaps, be better addressed through the community empowerment that the resilience networks approach brings.

http://www.westsideconnect.com/content/view/1960/166/

Written by JULIE ROSE
Monday, February 16, 2009

Re-evaluation of National Security Ordered

Chris Usher/European Pressphoto Agency
Janet Napolitano, the homeland security secretary, shown at her confirmation hearing on Jan. 15, was unhappy about the national security exercise in 2007. Its expense was one complaint.

By ERIC SCHMITT
Published: February 16, 2009
WASHINGTON — The homeland security secretary, Janet Napolitano, is re-evaluating the largest federal program for testing the country’s ability to respond to terrorist attacks, one of several Bush administration initiatives she has ordered to come under review.