Russian prosecutors announced Tuesday that 215 nonprofits working in the country have violated a recently passed law that places heavy restrictions on outside organizations.
Russia passed a law in November that, among other restrictions, requires organizations to register as "foreign agents" if they receive financing from overseas and are deemed to be engaging in political activities. According to a report in The New York Times, Yuri Chaika, Russia's general prosecutor, said that the 215 organizations named in his report received 6 billion rubles, or about $180 million, over a period of three years yet had violated various aspects of the law.
He noted that 22 of the groups continued to use overseas funds, which is forbidden by the law, while an additional 17 received funding through foreign embassies.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly accused foreign governments of using nonprofits to disrupt the country's political system but, in a statement on Tuesday, suggested Chaika show the groups some leniency.
“Analyze this practice to avoid errors and to see if any organization has been rated as a foreign agent, although it does not engage in politics,” he said, according to the news agency Interfax, The Times reported.
You can read the full story in The New York Times.
Showing posts with label international. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
China To Lift Nonprofit Restrictions
The Chinese government announced Wednesday that it will lift some of its long-standing restrictions for outside nonprofit organizations, potentially opening the door to a greater partnership with these groups.
According to a report on ABC News' website, Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo said in a news conference that as part of the Cabinet's recently announced restructuring, the government will begin to expand the functions that external nonprofits, which they call social organizations, are allowed to perform.
"Overall, from now on, the role that our country's social organizations will play in economic and social development will be expanded and strengthened," Li said at the Beijing news conference.
In the past organizations would have to find government sponsors in order to obtain official registration that would grant them nonprofit status in the eyes of the Chinese government, allowing them to operate legally, raise funds domestically, and be eligible for some tax deductions. That process will no longer be necessary, Li announced, as groups will be able to register themselves directly through the Civil Affairs Ministry. While Li did not explain how applications would be assessed, he said the Ministry would set up a mechanism to process registrations and supervise and regulate independent groups.
The new changes would apply to nonprofits, charities, community service groups, industry associations, and organizations that work in science and technology. This would seem to exclude organizations that are working to expose environmental pollution or expand the rule of law. It is also unclear whether nonprofits that operate in other "sensitive" areas, such as AIDS prevention, would be treated differently. Such nonprofits are frequently reported as being harassed by local police and tax authorities.
Lu Jun, organizer of the anti-discrimination group Yirenping, acknowledged to The Associated Press that the new changes indicate that the Chinese government doesn't view all nonprofits as a threat now. Still, he said that by seemingly excluding these more sensitive groups, China still has a long way to go.
"Not opening up to these kinds of organizations is a huge flaw," he reportedly told the AP.
You can read the full story on ABC News' website.
According to a report on ABC News' website, Civil Affairs Minister Li Liguo said in a news conference that as part of the Cabinet's recently announced restructuring, the government will begin to expand the functions that external nonprofits, which they call social organizations, are allowed to perform.
"Overall, from now on, the role that our country's social organizations will play in economic and social development will be expanded and strengthened," Li said at the Beijing news conference.
In the past organizations would have to find government sponsors in order to obtain official registration that would grant them nonprofit status in the eyes of the Chinese government, allowing them to operate legally, raise funds domestically, and be eligible for some tax deductions. That process will no longer be necessary, Li announced, as groups will be able to register themselves directly through the Civil Affairs Ministry. While Li did not explain how applications would be assessed, he said the Ministry would set up a mechanism to process registrations and supervise and regulate independent groups.
The new changes would apply to nonprofits, charities, community service groups, industry associations, and organizations that work in science and technology. This would seem to exclude organizations that are working to expose environmental pollution or expand the rule of law. It is also unclear whether nonprofits that operate in other "sensitive" areas, such as AIDS prevention, would be treated differently. Such nonprofits are frequently reported as being harassed by local police and tax authorities.
Lu Jun, organizer of the anti-discrimination group Yirenping, acknowledged to The Associated Press that the new changes indicate that the Chinese government doesn't view all nonprofits as a threat now. Still, he said that by seemingly excluding these more sensitive groups, China still has a long way to go.
"Not opening up to these kinds of organizations is a huge flaw," he reportedly told the AP.
You can read the full story on ABC News' website.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Nonprofit's Viral Video Draws Attention To Rebel Leader Kony
A now infamous viral video released to YouTube by a nonprofit has sparked a social media campaign to bring an African rebel leader to justice, showing once again the power of viral marketing.
The Wall Street Journal reported today about the nonprofit's viral video "Kony 2012," which spotlights the crimes the leader of the Ugandan rebel group Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has allegedly perpetrated. Kony is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and war crimes including murder, sexual slavery, and using children as combatants. Invisible Children's video features interviews with Ugandan children, many who are afraid to speak for fear of being captured and killed.
"Kony 2012" (Warning: Graphic content) was first uploaded to YouTube on Monday and, by Thursday afternoon, it already had 44.7 million views and more than 170 related video clips, according to the online measurement firm Visible Measures Corp. The video also reverberated in other areas of social media, with social media analytics firm PeopleBrowsr reporting that Twitter users mentioned Kony 950,000 times. It was sites like Twitter and Facebook that allowed Invisible Children to get people aware of their video in the first place. Invisible Children's campaign also allows participants to directly message specific celebrities and policy makers through their website to encourage them to speak out on the issue. The site includes a wide array of personalities to message, from Lady GaGa to Mitt Romney.
The goal of Invisible Children, which was founded by Jason Russell along with two other filmmakers, is to bring Kony to justice this year. They plan to do this by bringing awareness of his alleged crimes through "Kony 2012" and the Invisible Children Protection Plan. The nonprofit's financial statements show that this program has a five-step strategy that includes creating an early-warning radio network and deploying search and rescue teams.
There are some who question whether this viral marketing campaign is effective. Scott Gilmore, chief executive of NYC-based Peace Dividend Trust, told The Wall Street Journal that while Invisible Children's efforts are commendable, they are ultimately for an effort that didn't need awareness. He also said the efforts won't bring back the children who were already kidnapped by Kony and the LRA. Invisible Children has responded to these types of critiques on their website.
You can read the full story in The Wall Street Journal.
The Wall Street Journal reported today about the nonprofit's viral video "Kony 2012," which spotlights the crimes the leader of the Ugandan rebel group Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has allegedly perpetrated. Kony is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and war crimes including murder, sexual slavery, and using children as combatants. Invisible Children's video features interviews with Ugandan children, many who are afraid to speak for fear of being captured and killed.
"Kony 2012" (Warning: Graphic content) was first uploaded to YouTube on Monday and, by Thursday afternoon, it already had 44.7 million views and more than 170 related video clips, according to the online measurement firm Visible Measures Corp. The video also reverberated in other areas of social media, with social media analytics firm PeopleBrowsr reporting that Twitter users mentioned Kony 950,000 times. It was sites like Twitter and Facebook that allowed Invisible Children to get people aware of their video in the first place. Invisible Children's campaign also allows participants to directly message specific celebrities and policy makers through their website to encourage them to speak out on the issue. The site includes a wide array of personalities to message, from Lady GaGa to Mitt Romney.
The goal of Invisible Children, which was founded by Jason Russell along with two other filmmakers, is to bring Kony to justice this year. They plan to do this by bringing awareness of his alleged crimes through "Kony 2012" and the Invisible Children Protection Plan. The nonprofit's financial statements show that this program has a five-step strategy that includes creating an early-warning radio network and deploying search and rescue teams.
There are some who question whether this viral marketing campaign is effective. Scott Gilmore, chief executive of NYC-based Peace Dividend Trust, told The Wall Street Journal that while Invisible Children's efforts are commendable, they are ultimately for an effort that didn't need awareness. He also said the efforts won't bring back the children who were already kidnapped by Kony and the LRA. Invisible Children has responded to these types of critiques on their website.
You can read the full story in The Wall Street Journal.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Convio Expands Across The Pond
Just in time for Independence Day, Convio has announced plans to purchase the British company Baigent Digital. The Austin-based online fundraising and constituent management (CRM) firm, which serves more than 1,400 nonprofits, payed $2.9 million for Baigent, and may be on the hook for another $400,000 depending on the performance of the company.
Founded in 1997, Baigent is one of the UK's leading digital strategy, design and technology implementation firms. The current plan is for Convio to offer their fundraising services to British charities. At a later, yet to be determined date, they will offer additional services, including CRM.
You can get the full scoop on this story by visiting The NonProfit Times, or you can go to Convio.com for even more info.
Founded in 1997, Baigent is one of the UK's leading digital strategy, design and technology implementation firms. The current plan is for Convio to offer their fundraising services to British charities. At a later, yet to be determined date, they will offer additional services, including CRM.
You can get the full scoop on this story by visiting The NonProfit Times, or you can go to Convio.com for even more info.
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