COVID-19

Sustainable Development Observer Issue 4 Focuses on Global Health Crisis

By Kalinga Seneviratne

SYDNEY (IDN) — This fourth issue of Sustainable Development Observer focuses on the global health crisis that has been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and pharmaceutical industry’s greed—at the cost of peoples' health. While the world’s media has gone berserk about a new "Omicron" variant of the COVID virus, the World Trade Organisation has quietly postponed a ministerial conference that had as its main agenda item, an Indian and South African initiative supported by over 100 countries to waive patents on COVID vaccines and other medical testing systems and equipment.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; SUSTAINABILITY; Peace & Justice; 07 January 2022

UN Report Concerned About Hunger and Food Insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean

By Jaya Ramachandran

ROME (IDN) — The rise in hunger and food insecurity levels that have been occurring in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2015, were exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The region is now even further off-track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 2.1 to end hunger and achieve food security, according to the latest Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition.

: Jaya Ramachandran; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 06 January 2022

Image: Map of the South Pacific Island region with the participating countries circled. Source: Sabera Turkmani | ResearchGate

'Secret plots', sovereignty and Climate Change Challenges face Pacific in the New Year

Analysis by David Robie

Dr David Robie is a retired professor of journalism and founding director of AUT University’s Pacific Media Centre.

AUCKLAND (IDN) — In the South Pacific, the year 2021 has closed with mounting tensions over sovereignty and self-determination issues and growing stress over the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic in a region that was largely virus-free in 2020. Pacific leaders are also raising their voices globally on the devastation brought about by climate change on their islands.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; THE WORLD; Asia-Pacific; 03 January 2022

Omicron To the Rescue: NPT Review Conference Postponed—Again!

Viewpoint by Tariq Rauf*

"The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is an essential pillar of international peace and security, and the heart of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Its unique status is based on its near-universal membership, legally-binding obligations on disarmament, verifiable non-proliferation safeguards regime, and commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy". UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the NPT’s opening for signature, 24 May 2018, Geneva.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 02 January 2022

UN Committee Rewards Countries for Protecting Human Rights Despite COVID-19

By Jamshed Baruah

GENEVA (IDN) — The Human Rights Committee periodically scrutinizes the implementation of the legal obligations of countries that have ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Despite the challenges to its work brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee was able to hold online follow-up reviews of 12 countries during its three regular sessions in 2021.

To date, 173 countries have ratified the Covenant. An additional six countries have signed the Covenant but have yet to ratify it, while 18 have taken no action.

: Jamshed Baruah; UN INSIDER; 02 January 2022

Photo: The UN Secretary-General António Guterres talks to Yeashea Braddock, Operations Manager of the Bronx high school where he received a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe.

UN Chief Calls for Making Recovery 'Our Resolution For 2022'

By UN News

NEW YORK (IDN) — Together, let's make recovery "for people, planet and prosperity" our resolution for 2022, the UN chief said in his message for the New Year.

"The world welcomes 2022 with our hopes for the future being tested by deepening poverty and worsening inequality…an unequal distribution of COVID vaccines…climate commitments that fall short, and by ongoing conflict, division, and misinformation", Secretary-General António Guterres lamented.

: UN Bureau; UN INSIDER; 01 January 2022

Photo: Australian PM Scott Morrison making the national cabinet statement on December 30, 2021. Credit: Prime Minister of Australia Website.

Omicron Surge Forces Australia to Redefine COVID-19 Response

By Kalinga Seneviratne

SYDNEY (IDN) — In July 2021 Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Australians to go out and get vaccinated as the Delta variant of COVID-19 spread across the world. They were assured that once double-vaccinated the lockdowns will be lifted. He said at the time “by Christmas Australia will be a different place” if fellow Australians follow his advice.

: Kalinga Seneviratne; SUSTAINABILITY; Health & Well Being; 31 December 2021

Collage: Image of the reviewed book (Credit: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute) superimposed on a picture from freemalaysiatoday.com

COVID-19 and the Structural Crises of Our Time - BOOK REVIEW by Chan Kok Peng*

By Lim Mah-Hui and Michael Heng Siam-Heng

SINGAPORE (IDN) — This is clearly an ambitious book spanning over 200 pages and covering the history of economic and philosophical thought, pandemics, climate change, different economic and political systems and recent financial developments. The authors’ objective is to argue that these subject matters are not separate but are all intertwined. In doing so, the three authors’ years of experience in academia, public and private sectors are clearly discernible in each of the six chapters. By entitling the book ‘COVID-19 and the Structural Crises of Our time’ the authors are aiming to ride on a topical issue and hence appeal to the broader general public.

: Opinion Editor; ARTS & CULTURE; 28 December 2021

Photo: Lake Chad desertification water seedlings. UNDP Chad

A New Programmatic Offer for the Sahel Region

By UNDP

NEW YORK (IDN) — In A Special Online event featuring voices from the Sahel, from top-level officials to artists and activists in the region, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented on December 9 its new programmatic Offer for the Sahel region: A Regeneration. Covering ten countries—Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia—the programme is a call for new partners to join local actors and the United Nations in a unique contribution to the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel (UNISS) to regenerate this great land of opportunity.

: UN Bureau; UN INSIDER; 23 December 2021

Photo: The 17 Sustainable Development Goals projected on UN headquarters, New York, 2015. UN Photo/Cia Pak

With a Rise in Infections, UN Advises Staffers to Work Remotely—and Return to their Homes

By Thalif Deen

UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — The United Nations, which temporarily dropped its defences and partially lifted its 20-month-old lockdown last month, has reacted swiftly to the rise in COVID-19 infections in New York city by suspending its “flexible working arrangements” and advising staffers to work remotely—from their homes beginning December 20.

The new restrictions will continue through January 9, 2022.