By Ellen Hernandez and Katie Bercegeay * MARRAKECH (IDN) – Upon hearing the words “Hamdullah wa inshallah,” Mark Apel is transported as if in a time capsule to the many times he and Yossef Ben-Meir, President of the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), uttered them in gratitude for the food set before them or in hope […]
In Quest of Data-Based Solutions for A Sustainable Future
By Santo D. Banerjee NEW YORK (IDN) – More than 2,000 participants from the data user and producer communities will discuss in the first-ever fully virtual UN World Data Forum, from October 19-21, some of the greatest data challenges in our fast-changing world. They will identify innovative solutions to intensify cooperation on data for sustainable […]
China Aids Africa to Advance into The Satellite Age
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – An ET-SMART-RSS Earth Observation (EO) smallsat, designed in Ethiopia with Chinese funds, is preparing for launch into orbit as soon as next month. The satellite is the second to be launched into space by Ethiopia – just months after the launch of the county’s first […]
Caribbean Concerns Find Voice at 75th Anniversary of the UN
Viewpoint by P.I. Gomes* PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (IDN) – The High-level Meeting to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations was held on September 21, 2020, with a view to adopting a political declaration on the theme: “The Future We Want, the United Nations We Need: reaffirming our collective commitment to […]
Actions Needed to Protect Wild Species and Natural Habitats
UN Summit on Biodiversity Provides an Opportunity Viewpoint by Amy Fraenkel The writer is Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). BONN (IDN) – The UN Summit on Biodiversity was meant to galvanize commitments to stop the impending biodiversity crisis, and to underscore the need for effective […]
Fiji’s Tourism Workers Turn to Farming and Fishing As COVID-19 Ravages the Industry
By Kalinga Seneviratne SYDNEY (IDN) – The COVID-19 crisis has hit tourism-dependent Pacific Island countries severely. Fiji, the largest of these states, is feeling the impact badly, with laid-off workers of tourism-related industries, such as hotels and travel companies, turning to farming and fishing for survival. Because of its larger land mass and fishing grounds […]
Europe Pivots Towards Indo-Pacific Amid Row with China
By Atul Aneja The writer is a veteran Indian journalist who reported conflicts from Baghdad, Beirut, Cairo, Benghazi, Kabul, Tehran, and Dushanbe. He is an expert on the Middle East and China political affairs. He was Strategic Affairs Editor of an eminent Indian newspaper, The Hindu. CHENNAI (IDN) – Enticed for decades by China, which […]
Whether Trump Wins or Not, Europe Must Move Towards Russia
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN) – If Donald Trump wins re-election as president, is Europe going to bellyache about him for another four years without, as now, having any firm, cohesive, strategy for dealing with him and his foreign policies? There is a chance that Trump will surprise the political establishment, as he […]
Beijing +25: Overcoming 21st Century Challenges to Deliver for Africa’s Women
Beyond legislation, countries must tackle negative social norms and rising bias. Viewpoint by Angela Lusigi* NEW YORK (IDN) – The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action signed in 1995 committed the world to end discrimination, promoting women’s rights and advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. This Platform for Action remains a guiding framework for realizing […]
Call For “Another ‘Paris’ Moment to Mobilise Action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development”
Viewpoint by Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti The writer is Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) BRUSSELS (IDN) – 2020 marks the end of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity (2011 – 2020) and the 20 global biodiversity targets (Aichi targets). The mission of the Strategic Plan was to “take effective and […]