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here is a selection of the latest updates to SOSIG The Social Science Information Gateway For a full listing go to: http://www.sosig.ac.uk In the News: Disaster Relief International Strategy For Disaster Reduction Description: The International Strategy For Disaster Reduction is the focal point in the UN System to promote the coordination of, disaster reduction activities in the socio-economic, humanitarian and development fields. It serves as an international information clearinghouse on disaster reduction, developing awareness campaigns and producing articles, journals, and other publications and promotional materials related to disaster reduction. Its web site provides free access to press releases, statistics, reports and documents relating to all aspects of disaster reduction, early warning systems and risk management of disaster. This includes coverage of natural disasters such as floods, famines and climate change emergencies. The statistics section contains tables of data which list disasters and their impact worldwide from the mid 1990s to the present day. http://www.unisdr.org Check our useful guides for beginning research on diaster relief on the SOSIG web log site at: http://www.sosig.ac.uk/subject-news/index.php?cat=12 Choike.org: A Portal on Southern Civil Liberties Description: This web site is maintained by Instituto del Tercer Mundo, Uruquay. It aims to provide access to information and resources produced by NGOS (non-governmental organisations) and social movements from the Southern hemisphere (nations of Africa, Asia and Latin America). This includes coverage of democracy movements, human rights and public policy organisations. Key topics are: civil liberties, human rights, globalisation, international and regional trade, sustainable development and environmental policy.The site contains includes a comprehensive directory of NGOS concerned with all aspects of civil society (with links to their web sites), news updates, full text papers and reports. These offer a 'southern perspective' on world issues. http://www.choike.org/ Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies Description: This is the official web site of the committee responsible for organising the inauguration of the US president. It includes information about the January 2005 inauguration of President George W. Bush. Also accessible are facts and figures about previous presidential inaugurations and some archived audio and video files of historical inauguration speeches. URL: http://inaugural.senate.gov/ Official Documents of the United Nations This is an official site of the United Nations. It is also known as the ODS or Offciail Document System of the United Nations. Prior to 2005 it was offered as a susbscription service. It currently provides free access to an increasing number of full text UN documents. Most date from 1993 to the present day, although older materials are being added systematically to the site. It also provides free access to the resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council from 1946 onwards. All areas of UN involvement including peace keeping, conflict negotiations and international diplomacy are covered. Items excluded from the database are UN press releases, sales publications and United Nations treaties. Information about these can be obtained separately from the main UN web site. http://documents.un.org/ see also the useful training guides at: http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/train.htm Stalker's Guide to International Migration Description: This site provides a useful overview of the issues surrounding international migration. It is particular suitable as an introduction to the topic for students. It is compiled by Peter Stalker, freelance writer and migration specialist, using materials drawn from his publications including The No-nonsense Guide to International Migration Peter Stalker, New Internationalist/Verso (2001). It offers a history of international migration, interactive maps of trends, discussion of the causes, impact and effects of migration, immigration and emigration. Also available are statistical data plus a bibliography of further reading and links to the most important migration web sites and resources. URL: http://pstalker.com/migration/index.htm SpinWatch Description: SpinWatch is a UK based project of academics, journalists and researchers who seek to raise public awareness about the use of spin doctors and manipulation of the media by government and big business. Its web site provides access to news stories and articles relating to these issues. It also supports public discussion forums. Topics covered include sections on the use of spin by the Labour government of Tony Blair, media manipulation relating to multinationals, the food industry, biotechnology and GM crops. URL: http://www.spinwatch.org.uk NYPL Digital Schomberg Images of African Americans from the 19th Century Description: This web site forms part of the New York Public Library Digital Schomberg project. It provides free access to a collection of hundreds of photographs and prints of 19th Cenury African Americans. The site can be searched by keyword or browsed by topic. Key areas of interest include images of slavery and slaves, Black political organisations and social life in the USA at this time. Each image includes bibliographic and rights information. URL: http://149.123.1.8/cgi-shl/vsc30b.exe/schomburg/images_aa19/toc.html?E+nyplbeta Freedom of Information: Department for Constitutional Affairs Description: This site is maintained by the Department for Constitutional Affairs to provide official information from the British government about the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It provides access to the full text of the legislation plus guides to its background, purpose and implementation. Also provided are guides for citizens on understanding and using the act (including its relationship to Data Protection legislation)and fact sheets for organisations on how to implement it. Other features of the site include government press releases, statements and speeches relating to it. URL: http://www.foi.gov.uk/ if you have any comments on this newsletter please contac Heather Dawson SOSIG Government and Politics Editor [log in to unmask]