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By Nina Somera, Isis International

Twenty years since the Tiananmen Square massacre, the image of the young man who was bravely confronting the tanks continues a collective memory especially outside China. While Tiananmen may have slipped through the media's attention this year, a similar event was unfolding in Iran.

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by Nina Somera, Isis International

Isis International conducted a communications strategy workshop for members of the Asia Pacific Women's Watch network from 12 to 14 June 2009 in Saitama, Japan. The workshop aimed to help women's groups to project their advocacies on violence against women (VAW) both to mainstream and alternative media in ways that they find strategic and appropriate based on their local and national contexts. It also sought to reconcile the characteristics and expectations of both civil society and the media in the creating and disseminating ideas and information.

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by Bianca Miglioretto, Isis International

Section J of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) places an emphasis on the central means of effecting women's empowerment and gender equality. The media has been crucial for women to communicate their aspirations, struggles, identities and desires. But the market-driven nature of most media seemed to have left behind, especially with the emergence of new information and communications technologies (ICTs).

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Isis International, together with AMARC (World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters) Asia Pacific is set to conduct a radio seminar for women broadcasters on the role of community radio in peace building and disaster management from 3 to 7 October 2009 in Bangalore, India. Isis also encourages the participation of selected women in AMARC Asia Pacific’s 2nd Regional Community Radio Conference from 10 to 13 October 2009 also in Bangalore, India.

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by Nina Somera, Isis International

In 2008, the world was alarmed by the shortage of food especially staples such as wheat, rice and corn. This crunch was further aggravated by the soaring prices of fuel and now, by the gripping economic and climate crises.

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by Nina Somera, Isis International

Although the Philippines has managed to undo the decades old monopoly in the telecommunications industry, much remains to be desired in ensuring fair and healthy competition, much less in achieving universal access. Telecommunications companies or telcos are not about to share its resources, money and information without a price — even if it means everyone's access to phones and the internet. Unless perhaps when the process is painless.