Southern take

ONLINE

No ecology without equity, it is said. And vice versa. The North-South debate on environment and development revolves around this very maxim. The portal, www.choike.org, presents the Southern perspective on this, presenting works of NGOs and social movements.

The portal serves as a platform from which organisations can disseminate details of their activities including projects and campaigns and also enrich them with information from diverse sources--all presented from the perspective of Southern civil society. Though it is not exhaustive, this portal has a directory of NGOs in the South.

The data bank, which contains reports, news and discussions, can be easily accessed. In-depth reports on key issues provide comprehensive information and reflect diverse views, particularly highlighting the positions adopted by Southern organisations on issues related to indigenous people, gender, education, health, human rights, environment, globalisation and media.

Choike is the Mapuche --an indigenous community of Chile and Argentina--name for 'Southern Cross', the constellation that helped guide travellers the past. The portal indeed helps users find the best of the South on web. This is a project of the Instituto del Tercer Mundo , an NGO accredited to the economic and social council of the UN based in Montevideo, Uruguay.