By Jaya Ramachandran NEW YORK | BALI (IDN) – The Government of the Republic of Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 granite and coral islands in the Indian Ocean, off East Africa, has been acclaimed for showing “the leadership to create the world’s first sustainable Blue Bond”. The pioneering financial instrument was launched within four weeks […]
Inclusive Insurance for a Sustainable Future
By Katharine Pulvermacher* The author is Executive Director of Microinsurance Network. LUXEMBOURG (IDN) – Life is hard enough for small-scale farmers, businesses, families and communities who live with the daily threat of losing everything to natural disasters, extreme weather or other catastrophes. Even if you are insured, it can be tough to start again after […]
Africa’s High-Tech Path to Energy Inclusion
Viewpoint by Ben Good* The author is CEO of Energy 4 Impact, a London-based non-profit organisation working with local businesses to extend access to energy in Africa, particularly East and West Africa. LONDON (IDN) – Digital technologies are helping sub-Saharan African countries tap new sources of capital as they seek ways to close the energy […]
Tear Down Walls, Those Manifestations of Superficial Thinking
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – At first I was a bit surprised to find that the English admonition, “Good fences makes for good neighbours” exists in many other languages. I shouldn’t have been taken aback. A moment’s reflection should have told me that fences and walls to divide off peoples have been […]
Gabon Draws the Focus as Longtime President is Hospitalized
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Balloons and fireworks will have to wait as the longtime President of Gabon has been hospitalized at the King Faisal hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, suffering from severe fatigue. The party of President Ali Bongo Ondimba had just “coasted to victory” in a second round […]
UN Cheers Sahle-Work Zewde’s Election as First Female President of Ethiopia
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – “Congratulations Madam President! Women do make a difference. We are proud of you!” That was the excited message from María Fernanda Espinosa Garces, President of the United Nations General Assembly, to UN Under-Secretary-General Sahle-Work Zewde on her election as the first female president of Ethiopia. […]
South Africa Needs Tackling Air Pollution Hot Spots Urgently
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – The world’s largest air pollution hotspot is not where you might think. No, it’s not in New Jersey. But if you said South Africa you’d be right, according to a newly-released study by the environmental group Greenpeace. With coal and transport as the two principal […]
UN Announces ‘SDG Hubs’ Connecting Universities with 2030 Global Agenda
By Ramesh Jaura NEW YORK (IDN) – The critical role of academia in general and the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) in particular in advancing the goals of the United Nations Charter was underlined when the Organization celebrated the 73rd anniversary of its entry into force on October 24. In view of the fact that […]
Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament Go Hand in Hand
Viewpoint by Izumi Nakamitsu Following are extensive excerpts from remarks by Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), at the Roundtable Discussion on the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) hosted by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations on 25 October 2018. […]
The INF Treaty Looks Likely to be a Dead Letter by April 2019
Viewpoint by Dan Smith The following article by Dan Smith, Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), first appeared on October 23, 2018 on the Institute’s website. He has a long record of research and publication on a wide range of conflict and peace issues. Smith served four years in the UN Peacebuilding […]