By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – As the United Nations prepares to mark its 75th anniversary in September, the Organisation has yet to fulfil the obligation enshrined in the mandate of the Charter: “to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom“ by employing “international machinery for the promotion of […]
Urgent Health Challenges Facing the World
By Sean Buchanan GENEVA (IDN) – A list of urgent, global health challenges released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the beginning of 2020 reflects deep concern that leaders are failing to invest sufficient resources in core health priorities and systems. This, says the Geneva-based UN agency, is putting lives, livelihoods and economies in […]
The World’s Poorest Need Bold Actions by the Better Off
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA (IDN) – As the United Nations launches an ambitious global effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the fate of the world’s 47 most impoverished nations – the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – has assumed added importance. UNCTAD, an organization of the UN, is therefore urging them to […]
The Multinational Nestlé a New Colonial Power
Viewpoint by Franklin Frederick* BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (IDN) – On November 14 the Canadian group Wellington Water Watchers organized the «All Eyes on Nestlé» conference in the city of Guelph, Ontario, bringing together indigenous’ peoples and citizens’ movements fighting Nestlé’s water takings from Canada, the U.S., France and Brazil. Following this public event, the representatives […]
WISHING US ALL AND OUR PLANET PEACE & SECURITY
‘Sri Lankan Son and Global Diplomat’ Jayantha Dhanapala
Viewpoint by HMGS Palihakkara* The following are extensive excerpts from the remarks by Sri Lankan civil servant, diplomat and former Governor of Northern Province, Hewa Matara Gamage Siripala Palihakkara, at the launch of the book ‘Sri Lankan Son and Global Diplomat’ about one of the country’s most outstanding public servants and internationally recognized diplomats, Ambassador […]
International Criminal Court to Launch Probe into Alleged War Crimes in Palestine
By Robert Johnson THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (IDN) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has announced plans to open a formal investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestine, subsequent to a “thorough, independent and objective assessment”. At the same time, she said that she has asked the Court for a further ruling […]
From Protecting Nature to Greenand’s Raid Melt and Australia’s Bushfires
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – A young environmentalist in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invented robots to help protect nature, reports the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Asked about the role of children in creating a positive impact on the environment in the UAE, 11-year-old Sainath Manikandan said: “The backbone of a nation […]
News Briefs on Climate Action and Climate Emergency
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – A young environmentalist in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invented robots to help protect nature, reports the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Asked about the role of children in creating a positive impact on the environment in the UAE, 11-year-old Sainath Manikandan said: “The backbone of a nation […]
Youth Call for Human Rights to Be at The Core of Climate Talks
By Fabíola Ortiz MADRID (IDN) – The youth and human rights activists have been emphasizing since the start of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) on December 2 the pressing need of placing people in the centre of climate action. Spearheaded by the social movement ‘Fridays for Future’ initiated by the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, […]