Global Media and Information Literacy Week (24-31 October)

 DID YOU KNOW?

Sofonie Dala, the founder of this platform, has a postgraduate degree in media management and leadership. She was awarded the Media Manager degree in 2020 by Rhodes University, South Africa. Since then she has been promoting Media and Information Literacy around the world, across all her digital platforms, as well as creating public awareness campaigns for citizens of all ages about the SDGs.

Click here to explore her work: https://linktr.ee/sofoniedala

Knowledge and information have become transformative dimensions of our existence and are key drivers behind the implementation of all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From government to small villages, knowledge and information guides what people do and how they do it. The 2030 Agenda recognizes the need to develop knowledge societies where everyone has opportunities to learn and engage with others, which starkly highlights the need for access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). This is my reading of SDG 9, which calls on states to “build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.” 

Yet, in many places, people and communities cannot access computers or the Internet. In the developed world, for example, over 80% of individuals use the Internet; in the developing world, less than 35% do. The remaining 65% are often poor and remote communities or disenfranchised groups. They may be fragile communities struggling every day to recover from years of conflict. All these communities need access and I believe it is especially true of conflict-affected or post-conflict communities.

I UNITE TO ACT! What do you UNITE for? Join me and millions of others UNITING to #ACT4SDGs for a more just, equitable, peaceful, sustainable, and green future.

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2023 Theme: Media and Information Literacy in Digital Spaces: A Collective Global Agenda

In Our Common Agenda report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, twelve commitments were made by world leaders. Among these commitments, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the values of trust and solidarity as being the glue for social cohesion and social breakthroughs for the common good.

However, the harsh reality is that the trust factor is being eroded. Considering Our Common Agenda, we are calling on the global community to not only reaffirm and increase commitment to Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for all, but to also develop new initiatives on MIL to nurture trust.

The Global MIL Week 2023 focuses on digital spaces and gives the opportunity to explore paths for strengthening multilateral cooperation with digital platforms and other stakeholders. It highlights some promising actions in connection with media and information literacy in the last year and how media and information literacy helps with nurturing trust and countering mistrust.

Background

Media and Information Literacy for the Public Good

In 2021, the UN General Assembly decided to commemorate Media and Information Literacy (MIL) week, citing the need for the dissemination of factual, timely, targeted, clear, accessible, multilingual and science-based information. The resolution recognizes that the substantial digital divide and data inequalities that exist among different countries and within them, can be addressed in part by improving people’s competencies to seek, receive and impart information in the digital realm.

In the current ecosystem of complex and sometimes contradictory messages and meanings, it is hard to conceive of the public good being advanced, if the public is disempowered in the face of opportunities and threats. Each individual needs to be equipped with media and information literacy competencies to understand the stakes, and to contribute to and benefit from information and communication opportunities.

Global Media and Information Literacy Week, commemorated annually, is a major occasion for stakeholders to review and celebrate the progress achieved towards “Media and Information Literacy for All.” 

What is Media and Information Literacy?

Our brains depend on information to work optimally. The quality of information we engage with largely determines our perceptions, beliefs and attitudes. It could be information from other persons, the media, libraries, archives, museums, publishers, or other information providers including those on the Internet.

People across the world are witnessing a dramatic increase in access to information and communication. While some people are starved for information, others are flooded with print, broadcast and digital content. Media and Information Literacy (MIL) provides answers to the questions that we all ask ourselves at some point. How can we access, search, critically assess, use and contribute content wisely, both online and offline? What are our rights online and offline? What are the ethical issues surrounding the access and use of information? How can we engage with media and information and communications technologies (ICTs) to promote equality, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, peace, freedom of expression and access to information?

Through capacity-building resources, such as curricula development, policy guidelines and articulation, and assessment framework, UNESCO supports the development of MIL competencies among people.

Angolan diplomat highlights UN's role in world

 Luanda - The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Esmeralda Mendonça, highlighted Monday the role the United Nations (UN) has played in providing humanitarian assistance, distributing food and protecting refugees, benefiting millions of people around the world.

The Angolan official emphasized the importance of the 2030 Agenda and the partnership between Angola and the UN to promote sustainable development in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the head of Angolan diplomacy, Téte António, during the 78th anniversary of the UN, Mendonça highlighted the remarkable evolution of the organization since its foundation, with its peace missions, humanitarian programmes and actions around the world.

Mendonça said the date shows that equal rights and the hope for a better world continues to be the core of the United Nations, representing the unity of nations in the face of common challenges.

Esmeralda Mendonça took the opportunity to congratulate the United Nations family and its Member States on 78 years of service to humanity and their commitment to promote the fundamental pillars of peace, security, human rights and sustainable development.

 Zahira Virani, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Angola, congratulated the Angolan government on its new National Development Plan and reiterated the United Nations System's commitment to supporting the country in its quest for prosperity and the well-being of all Angolans.

The UN representative highlighted the cooperation framework between Angola and the organization, having highlighted the ongoing commitment of the United Nations’ Agencies, Funds and Programmes to serving the Angolan people.

The UN is an international organization founded in 1945, made up of 193 member countries, which aims to promote peace, security, international cooperation and sustainable development.

 It acts as a global forum for conflict resolution, human rights, humanitarian assistance and cooperation on global issues such as climate change and health and plays a crucial role in promoting peace and finding solutions to world problems.

UNDP highlights Angola's actions in combating poverty

 Luanda - The new Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Denise António, highlighted the excellent diplomatic work of the Angolan State with regard to policies for attracting new investments.

These aim, she said, to facilitate visas for tourists, businesspeople and reduce hunger and combat poverty, within the framework of the 2030 and 2063 Agendas endorsed by the African Union and the UN.

During an audience granted by the head of Angolan diplomacy, Téte Antonio, after receiving the Letters of Credentials, the minister said that Angolan diplomacy in general is willing to work with UN agencies, with the aim to strengthen cooperation and monitoring sustainable development programs implemented throughout the national territory.

Denise António cited the National Development Program (PDN) as a clear demonstration of the Angolan State's engagement and alignment with regional, continental and global policies, whether at bilateral or at multilateral level, where the United Nations, via the UNDP fits in.

The new head of the UNDP's operational activities in Angola, Denise António, is a senior employee of the United Nations System, having already performed numerous functions before coming to embrace this new professional challenge in Angola.

She has worked in Jamaica, Belize, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turkey, Côte d Ivoire, Zimbabwe and Ghana.

Austria business group to invests €10 million euros in agriculture in Cuvango

 Cuvango - Ten million euros is the amount that the Kirchmayer Investiments group, from Austria, will invest as from 2024 in the production of cereals and fruits, as well as in timber exploration, in the municipality of Cuvango, southern province of Huíla.

This is the company's first investment in Huíla and in agriculture. The group will produce corn, soybeans, vegetables and fruits, while for wood exploration the focus is on setting up a carpentry shop where it will manufacture formwork panels, beams of glue, pellets and charcoal.

When speaking about the project on Tuesday, in the municipality, after meeting with the local administrator, Luís Marcelo, businessman Kirchmayer Thomas, without revealing the exact date of the start of work, stated that it is an investment that is expected to guarantee 580 jobs direct and will boost the region's economy.

He stated that the industrial wood development project needs 500 thousand cubic meters/year of sustainable supply of round wood, while for mechanized agriculture it will be applied on five thousand hectares.

“It is necessary to acquire existing forests or larger plantations and also have the possibility of investing in new plantations for the sustainable supply of round wood over the next decade,” he declared.

On the occasion, the municipal administrator of Cuvango, Luís Marcelo Ndala, valued the interest in the municipality, which is open to any private investment, whether national or foreign, with the aim of promoting more jobs for youth and developing the local economy.

Located 356 kilometers east of Lubango, Cuvango has nine thousand 680 km², home to 103 thousand 262 people.

Angola gets best classification ever from iENA Innovation Fair

 

Luanda - The Angolan delegation that participated in the 74th edition of the Ideas, Innovation and New Products Fair (iENA), in Germany, obtained the best classification ever, winning 19 medals.

In its 15th participation, in the city of Nuremberg, after its debut in 2009, Angola won 3 gold medals, 6 silver and 10 bronze, surpassing the 14 last year.

This year, the Angolan delegation presented work linked to the environment and the social area, carried out at the universities Agostinho Neto (UAN), Metodista de Angola (UMA), Mandume Ya Ndemufayo and Instituto Politécnico de Ondjva - Cunene.

Angola was represented by 10 people, including university officials and inventors from 3 different provinces (Luanda, Cunene and Namibe), for a total of 32 registered projects.

In the last edition, in 2022, the country won 14 medals, 3 gold, 2 silver and 9 bronze. Angola registers and overall, of 128 medals, 29 gold, 43 silver and 57 bronze. 

Angola takes part in the 24th International World Justice Conference

 Luanda - The President of the Supreme Court (TS), Joel Leonardo, is taking part in the 24th International Conference of the World's Chief Justices, to be held from 1 to 7 November in Lucknow, India.

According to a press release ANGOP had access to on Tuesday, at the event Judge Joel Leonardo will present the theme "The Case for an International Anti-Corruption Court", as part of thematic group number 1, which deals with the Reform of the United Nations Charter.

The conference, whose motto is "Uniting the world for children through applicable global legislation and effective global governance", also includes parallel sessions with six thematic groups of 4 and 5 topics respectively.

The TS is the highest court of the common jurisdiction of the Angolan judiciary. It is one of the country's four highest courts, alongside the Constitutional Court, the Court of Auditors and the Supreme Military Court. 

SADC to assess DRC situation Saturday in Luanda

 

Luanda – The Angolan capital (Luanda) will host an extraordinary summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Saturday, November 4.

The information was provided Tuesday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, after an exceptional virtual meeting called by the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, in his capacity as SADC Chairperson.

According to Tête António, the main objective of the remote meeting between the SADC leaders was to analyse the situation in the DRC, with an emphasis on the December 2024 elections.

The resolutions of the quadripartite summit in Luanda in June 2023, which decided, among other things, on the meeting of the region's Chiefs of Staff, the deployment of forces in the east of the DRC (SAMIR-RDC) and its budget were also analysed by the Presidents.

Given the sensitivity of the issues under discussion, the statesmen decided to hold an extraordinary face-to-face meeting on 4 November in Luanda.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an inter-governmental organisation, created in 1992, dedicated to cooperation and socio-economic integration in the region, as well as cooperation in political and security matters.

SADC Is made up of 16 members states, namely, Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. MR/VM/DAN/DOJ

New Luanda Airport welcomes domestic flights in 2024

Luanda - Domestic flights at the new Agostinho Neto international airport will begin at the end of the first quarter of 2024, the minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, announced this Monday in Luanda.

The government official was speaking at the end of a meeting chaired by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, which served to discuss the preparations for the inauguration of the Dr. António Agostinho Neto Airport, which is scheduled to open on November 10th this year.

According to the minister, the intention is to begin receiving international flights in the third quarter of 2024.

According to a gradual logic of activating the new airport this year starts with cargo operations and, subsequently, services will be increased.

The new António Agostinho Neto airport, which is scheduled to open next November, will operate only cargo until the first quarter of 2024.

The new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport (AIAAN) has two runways and is located in the urban district of Bom Jesus, in the country's capital, it occupies an area of 1,324 hectares and has capacity for 15 million passengers and a volume of goods of 50 thousand tons per year.