By Stephen Diisango* HONIARA, Solomon Islands | 21 June 2024 (IDN | Wansolwara) — The hostile, coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) is threatening Solomon Islands coconut plantations likely subjecting to extinction. It poses a serious threat to the country’s coconut industry unless urgent steps are taken to exterminate this coconut pest once and for all. Known […]
Mr. Biden, Negotiate a Peaceful End to the War in Ukraine!
By Jeffrey D. Sachs* This article was published in Common Dreams and is being republished with the author’s permission. For goodness’ sake, negotiate! NEW YORK | 20 June 2024 (IDN) — For the fifth time since 2008, Russia has proposed to negotiate with the U.S. over security arrangements, this time in proposals made by President […]
Vanishing Shores of Fiji — Villagers Battle Against Coastal Erosion
By Salote Esira* QARASARAU VILLAGE, Fiji | 20 June 2024 (IDN| Wansolwara) — Nestled along the central coast of Serua province, the village of Qarasarau has always been a picturesque haven blessed with stunning coastal views and a thriving marine ecosystem. For generations, the villagers lived in harmony with the sea, drawing their sustenance from […]
No More Bombs for Netanyahu, says US Senator
By Thalif Deen NEW YORK | 19 June 2024 (IDN) — US Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont), one of the most vociferous opponents of Israel’s unrestrained military attacks on civilians in Gaza, urged the Biden Administration to stop sending any additional weapons and ammunitions to the Netanyahu government. In a statement released June 18, Sanders responded […]
The International Trade Framework and Recurring Food Crises
By Ranja Sengupta* The writer works as Senior Researcher and Coordinator of the Trade Programme of Third World Network (TWN) PENANG, Malaysia | 19 June 2024 (IDN) — The early stretch of the twenty-first century has been partly defined by recurring food crises, food price volatility, and uncertainty over agricultural production and distribution. Much of […]
Agricultural Future of Africa Lies in Agroecology
By Million Belay* KAMPALA, Uganda | 19 June 2023 (IDN) — A premise which has its roots in traditional knowledge and ecological principles, some people may find the term agroecology mysterious or esoteric. However, far from being an abstract concept, agroecology can be a lifeline for long-lasting food systems, providing a route that links the […]
Climate Change: The Missing Agenda in India’s Recent Elections
By Robert Mizo* This article was issued by the Toda Peace Institute and is being republished with their permission. NEW DELHI | 18 June 2024 (IDN) — The recently concluded general election in India was shrouded in irony. The six-week long voting period coincided with one of the worst heat waves yet recorded, but there […]
Mutual Recognition Between Serbia and Kosovo: How Do We Get There?
By Dr Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 18 June 2024 (IDN) — The conflict between Kosovo and Serbia can only end when both sides agree to recognize the other. The question is how to resolve their conflicting issues, chief among them Serbia’s categorical refusal to recognize Kosovo’s independence The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Havener, […]
Reflections From the Dried-Up Aral Sea
UNCCD Special Feature BONN | 17 June 2024 (IDN) — In the haunting expanse that was once the flourishing Aral Sea, the aftermath of an environmental catastrophe unfolds with swift and devastating consequences. Once the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Aral Sea has lost about 90% of […]
UN Keen to Tackle Global Refugee Crisis and Statelessness
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | 16 June 2024 (IDN) — While the European focus is on the Russo-Ukrainian war, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is concerned about those crossing terrain such as deserts and seas without adequate resources to escape war, poverty, or climate catastrophe—often at risk of losing their lives or […]