By Ibrahim Mayaki and Wanjira Mathai Dr Mayaki is the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, while Ms Mathai is the Vice President and Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute. JOHANNESBURG; South Africa (IDN | Africa Renewal) — Six years ago, African leaders recognized that the degradation of 65 per cent of Africa’s agricultural land […]
Faith, Nature & the Climate Crisis: An Evaluation
Viewpoint by Fazlun Khalid Fazlun Khalid is Founder of the Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences and the author of “Signs on the Earth – Islam Modernity and the Climate Crisis” published in 2019. BIRMINGHAM, UK (IDN) — As the post-colonial world emerged in the middle of the last century it left in its […]
South Africa Insists on Dutch Shell Drilling in Home of Migrating Whales
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — A South African court has greenlighted plans by Royal Dutch Shell to do seismic oil exploration in a pristine coastal stretch in an area known as “Wild Coast” in Port Edward over the strenuous objections of local environmentalists. Oceans Not Oil, which describes itself as […]
US Accused of COVID-19 ‘Travel Apartheid’
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Harsh criticism continues to be heard from Africans and their leaders against UK and U.S. travel restrictions allegedly to control the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant—now showing up in several U.S. states. “What is expected is a global approach, not selective,” Sarafa Tunji Isola, […]
Call for A New Deal for Development to Bridge Vaccine Divide
By Jaya Ramachandaran PARIS (IDN) — Ministers and high-level representatives from 55 developed and developing countries have proposed a New Deal for Development and stressed the urgency of bridging the vaccine divide and strengthening financing capacities in developing economies. They have called for greater international support for developing countries on the occasion of the Seventh […]
Global Agreement Defines The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) — A historic agreement defines the common values and principles needed to ensure the healthy development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). All the member states of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have signed the agreement. The importance of the agreement signed on November 23 is underlined by […]
Fiji Islands: Sunken Suva Harbour Wrecks Pose Environmental and Safety Hazard
By Josefa Babitu Suva (IDN | Wansolwara) — Instead of a safe haven for ships, the famous Suva Bay has become a graveyard for derelict vessels, which pose a major risk to shipping and marine habitat. And there are growing concerns over the impact of derelict vessels on the environment and the safety of ships […]
Sustainable Development Observer Issue 3 Focuses on COP 26 and Climate Change
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) — The November 2021 issue of Sustainable Development Observer focuses on Climate Change and the COP26 summit in Glasgow. We look at the debate on methane gas reduction from a farming mythology perspective. Indigenous people have called for a stop to ‘war on nature’ and we look at their perspective […]
Dirty Coal to Replace Africa’s ‘Fancy Blue Diamond’ As Part of a New Initiative
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | GABORONE (IDN) — There may be a lump of coal in Botswana’s Christmas stocking if the southern African country goes through with plans to wind down its famed diamond industry and replace it with unsustainable dirty coal. President Mokgweetsi Masisi, at the Investing in African Mining […]
African Countries Rage at New Travel Bans by Vaccine Hoarding Countries
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | CAPE TOWN (IDN) — Southern African countries are facing new travel restrictions after the discovery of a handful of coronavirus variants, first found in Botswana. For some African leaders, it’s the classic case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. “Despite the repeated […]