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Dear Reader

Football as an agent of change - Democracy in Action June 2010

Vuvuzelas and football fever are sweeping across the globe with the eventful 2010 Fifa World Cup in our backyard. For many old and new fans, they are learning not only about football, but about Africa and where to place us on a map.

When it all comes to an end, what will be left? A group of people and organisations are working hard to ensure that some of the excitement of 2010 is transformed into a sustainable commitment to social development. Idasa celebrates the immediate goodwill that comes with the world cup, and is involved in a long term “legacy” project to make an impact at grassroots level, where young people are learning about football, computer literacy and lifeskills. Idasa also supports the 1goal campaign – to provide education for all.

Idasa has been hard at work in other areas as well – see more about our work below, or join us on facebook and twitter to talk some more.

Ayoba! Feel the fever.

Warm Regards

Samantha Fleming, Editor

twitter@democracyafrica

facebook@democracyafrica

In this issue

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Lunchtime soapbox
Join us for free lunch talks at Idasa’s Democracy Centre on Thursdays at 1pm, where you can see our bookshop and have a brownbag lunch from the restaurant (or bring your own). See this week’s programme here and future events here.

What South Africa does the world need?

Ideas are important in order to develop new visions of the world, but we must put make sure that they are incorporated by the people themselves and made to live through relations of responsibility, justice and dignity. Otherwise, ideas can convey governance regimes based on exclusion and on the domination of others. Read this report which explores opportunities that exist to change the world and the extent to which South Africa can and should contribute towards better global governance. Idasa participated in this global movement to foster and develop an understanding of authentic global governance. Read the thoughtful report here.

Understand citizen action in the light of protests

Idasa looks at protests in South Africa over the past 15 months and asks how citizen agency has contributed to the deepening of democracy. See the report here.

Facing change in Burundi’s elections

Burundi has seen 16 years of violence, but it appears that democracy and a better measure of peace is a distinct possibility. See this analysis by Idasa’s States in Transition Observatory.

From Ideas to Action

Turning a good idea into a successful project is not always easy. Read Idasa’s latest toolkit for communities who have good ideas – and need to turn them into projects. This is geared for nonprofit projects and uses study circle methodology. See more here.

Integrating Parliament with economic policy– SA’s Reserve Bank

SA Parliament recently held public hearings on the SA Rserve Bank Amendment Bill. Idasa argued that there should be better integration of Parliament on economic policy processes, which would give citizens (to whom parliamentarians are directly accountable) greater influence in economic policy. See more here.