Viewpoint by Roberto Savio* ROME (IDN | OtherNews) – If we ever needed proof of how the political system has become self-referential and unable to update itself, the latest student march in more than 1,000 towns is a very good example. Of course, politicians referred to it in declarations and, in a totally demagogic gesture, […]
‘Water for All by 2030’ Remains Little More than a Pious Wish
By Reinhard Jacobsen VIENNA (IDN) – More than 2 billion people live without safe water at home. One in four primary schools have no drinking water service, with pupils using unprotected sources or going thirsty. More than 700 children under five years of age die every day from diarrhea linked to unsafe water and poor […]
A ‘Level Playing Field’ for Women and Girls Key to Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
By Caroline Mwanga New York (IDN) – UN Member States have agreed to safeguard and improve women’s and girls’ access to social protection systems, public services and sustainable infrastructure, ensuring that their design and delivery is transformed to prevent discrimination and create a “level playing field” for women and girls. This is the upshot of […]
Germany Backs UN Chief in Countering Autonomous Weapons
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN (IDN) – Keeping humans in control of autonomous weapons and artificial intelligence is an important element of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ action plan to implement the Agenda for Disarmament, Securing Our Common Future, presented in May 2018. “Essentially, the question is whether we are in control of technology or whether, ultimately, […]
UN Chief Emboldens the ‘Fridays for Future’ Climate Movement
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – “My generation has failed to respond properly to the dramatic challenge of climate change. This is deeply felt by young people. No wonder they are angry,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres in an opinion piece for The Guardian, in the wake of unprecedented March 15 demonstrations by schoolchildren […]
New Study Shows Ups and Downs in Gender Equality
By Caroline Mwanga NEW YORK (IDN) – This year’s International Women’s Day on March 8 has been celebrated on an unprecedented scale by the United Nations and other inter-governmental organizations around the world. And, a new analysis shows improvements in gender equality. But there is a rather long way to go until gender parity has […]
UN Environment Assembly Convenes to Ramp Up Solutions for Sustainable Economies
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | NAIROBI (IDN) – A five-day meeting of the United Nations top body on the environment, which is expected to take bold decisions and produce far-reaching outcomes that move global societies to a more sustainable path, began in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on March 11. Over 4,700 heads of state, ministers, […]
UN Environment Forum Underlines the Science-Innovation-Entrepreneurship Nexus
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | NAIROBI (IDN) – Eminent scientists, Nobel laureates, artists, ministers, parliamentarians, industry and business leaders, young game changers in the science and business communities, heads of United Nations entities and civil society representatives participated in the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment at the UN Headquarters in Nairobi from March […]
World Religions Prepare for Global Development Summit
By Ramesh Jaura VATICAN CITY (IDN) – Nearly six months before the heads of state and government convene to review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the UN General Assembly’s ‘SDG Summit’ in September, the world religions have tasked themselves with elaborating “a road map or lines of action that can […]
Food Sans Essential Micronutrients Causes ‘Hidden Hunger’
By Brenda Wawa This article first appeared on Africa Renewal, December 2018-March 2019 issue. NAIROBI (IDN | INPS) – For years, boosting agricultural production was believed to be the solution to world hunger and malnourishment. But years of intensive farming with chemical fertilizers and pesticides has done little to move the needle on food insecurity, […]