Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) — There’s hardly a person alive who doesn’t know that the Third World continents of Africa, Asia and Latin America are having a desperate struggle fighting the Coronavirus. At a time when the richer countries are winning the fight against the virus many Third World countries—like Brazil, India […]
The Role of Academia and Universities in Fostering Awareness of SDGs
Viewpoint by Dr. Kakha Shengelia The writer is President of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) and President of Caucasus University (CU). The following is the text of Dr Kakha’s Foreword to Striving for People, Planet and Peace, 2021 Joint Media Project Report of the Non-Profit International Press Syndicate Group with IDN as flagship […]
The Ocean Is Now in Need of Support
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) — “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods” was the theme for World Oceans Day 2021 as well as a declaration of intentions that launches a decade of challenges to get the Sustainable Development Goal 14, “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources”, by 2030. The importance […]
Make People’s Vaccine Top Priority to Fight a Mutating Virus
Viewpoint by Nicolas J. S. Davies* PORTLAND | USA (IDN) — A recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll found that worries about the COVID pandemic in the United States are at their lowest level since it began. Only half of Americans are either “very worried” (15%) or “somewhat worried” (35%) about the virus, while the other half […]
Ghana Starts with Cocoa to End Neocolonial Trading Ties
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — At a state visit to Switzerland last year, Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo put his cards on the table. The second-largest cocoa producer would no longer ship the raw material to Switzerland if by doing so, it would trap the country in poverty for the next […]
US Think Tanks Consider Nigeria ‘A Failed Nation’
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Over 200 people were killed in violent attacks across Nigeria last week, as the insecurity across the country continues despite the efforts of security agencies. Over the same period of time, no fewer than 137 people were abducted across the country. The figures were gathered […]
Nigerian Preacher’s Sudden Death Stuns Scores of His Followers
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — “Time for everything—time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.” With those words, Nigerian preacher TB Joshua, one of Africa’s most influential televangelists, ended his final sermon on Emmanuel TV, the broadcast arm of his megachurch. His death was […]
Canadian and French Nuclear Weapons Policies Challenged for Violating the Right to Life
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) — Spurred by civil society organisations, the UN Human Rights Committee has challenged the nuclear weapons policies of Canada and France as being in violation of the Right to Life, a right enshrined in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These rights derive from […]
WHO Warns of the Risk of COVID-19 Upsurge Threatening Africa’s Health Facilities
By Jamshed Baruah GENEVA | BRAZZAVILLE (IDN) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the threat of a third wave of COVID-19 in Africa threatening Africa’s health facilities, and advised them to urgently boost critical care capacity to prevent health facilities from being overwhelmed. At the same time, vaccine shipments to the continent […]
Avenues of Action: UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Viewpoint by Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens GENEVA (IDN) — The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, 2021-2030 began on June 5. An ecosystem is an interaction between people, plants, animals and their surroundings. The UN Environment Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization are the lead UN agencies for this Decade. However, […]