Viewpoint by Pier Francesco Zarcone* ROME (IDN) – Recent events in Syria (downing of a Russian Ilyushin plane and an agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recip Erdoğan on Idlib) lead to some reflections starting with the Israeli bombing that caused more than ten Russian deaths. Many political observers, including Alberto Negri […]
The Call of the Most Excluded
By Emmaus International* “It is not enough to take action, we must overcome, that is to say, take more action than the forces moving in the other direction”. Abbé Pierre GENEVA (IDN) – The World Forum of Alternatives led by the most excluded was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from September 17-20, 2018 on the invitation […]
Helping Rural Latin America Beat the Economic Downturn
By Kwame Buist ROME (IDN) – Over the last three decades, the countries of Latin American and the Caribbean have experienced a profound transformation which has extended to rural areas. All countries in the region, except for Haiti, are now considered middle-income. This economic and rural transformation has resulted in many benefits, especially between 2004 […]
UNESCO-Japan Prize for Organizations in Namibia, Indonesia and Estonia
By Robert Johnson PARIS (IDN) – UNESCO , the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has nominated three non-profit organizations in Namibia, Indonesia and Estonia for outstanding projects aimed at promoting the role of education in connecting the social, economic, cultural and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, known as Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). […]
The United Nations Mourns Former Secretary-General Kofi Annan
UN Chief Implores ‘Faith and Inspiration’ Kofi Annan Embodied
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” This quote from Edmund Burke, the 18th century Irish statesman as well as an author, orator, political theorist and philosopher, was one of late Kofi Annan’s favourites, his son Kojo told the […]
Remembering Kofi Annan, UN Recalls His Contributions
By UN News NEW YORK (IDN) – In yet another move to honour the contribution of late Kofi Annan to the United Nations as Secretary-General from 1997 to 2005, who died at the age of 80 on August 18, UN News carried an article on September 20, saying that he “championed everything from stronger human […]
Brazil Sets Up an Innovative Model to Reverse Land Degradation
Viewpoint by Prof. Dr. Valdemar Rodrigues The writer is Director of Sustainable Rural Development of the Ministry of Environment of Brazil, National Director of the UNDP / GEF / MMA Program and National Director of the FAO / GEF / MMA Program. Prior to joining the Ministry, he was he was a Professor at the […]
Global Compact Pays Heed to Migrants Fleeing Degrading Lands
Viewpoint by Mariam Traore Chazalnoël The writer is a specialist in environmental and climate migration at the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s Office to the United Nations in New York. She has been working since 2013 on the global governance of environmental migration and regularly publishes on the topic. This article first appeared in UNCCD […]
When Climate Change Dishes Up a ‘Toxic Stew’
By William S. Becker* MILWAUKEE, USA (IDN) – It happened in July 2016. A flash flood roared through Ellicott City, Maryland, killed two people and caused tens of millions of dollars in damages to the historic buildings along Main Street. The experts said it was one of those rare 1,000-year flood events. The city set […]