By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) – A new United Nations report has called for completely lifting the ongoing Israeli land, air, and sea blockade which has reduced the Gaza Strip to “a humanitarian case of profound suffering and aid dependency”. The blockade is now in its eleventh year. The report by the United Nations Conference […]
Rare African Antiquities Lost in Brazil Museum Fire
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – A fast-moving fire that swept Brazil’s National Museum on September 2 incinerated priceless objects and reduced hundreds of African antiquities to ash, museum official are now saying. The museum’s permanent African exhibit was named Kumbukumbu – a Swahili word for the memory of people, objects […]
African Critics Warn of Dark Side to China’s ‘Charitable’ Loans
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – There are two sides to every coin and two widely opposing views on China’s offer of generous loans and grants to African countries announced at the recent China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Beijing. At the conference, with representatives from 53 of 54 African countries, sky-high numbers […]
South Africa Faced with Rising Suicides among Young and Old
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – South Africa’s rising suicide rate was in the spotlight as the World Health Organization marked World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. 450 men take their lives every month with four out of five deaths being the result of suicide, according to the Men’s Foundation […]
The Forgotten Saga of Mass Murders in Guatemala
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* Over the years, as a foreign affairs columnist of the International Herald Tribune, the author has made four visits to Guatemala. LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – In 1981 on the editorial page of the New York Times I wrote a column showing that the mass atrocities against the Indian population of Guatemala […]
Nine Foundations Pledge $459 Million to Forests, Indigenous Rights, and Lands to Combat Climate Change
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – Ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, nine of the world’s leading philanthropic foundations have decided on the protection, restoration, and expansion of forests and lands worldwide and the recognition of indigenous peoples’ and traditional communities’ collective land rights and resource management. For the purpose, […]
The Time Has Come for ‘Right Mindfulness’ in Journalism
By Kooi F. Lim This article is being moved in association with the Buddhist Channel (Malaysia). KUALA LUMPUR (IDN) – Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? – also called the six sigma of information gathering are the tools taught at basic journalism schools. Every budding reporting cadet is drilled to probe issues and to […]
Former UN Chief and Bill Gates on Board as the Netherlands Accelerates Climate Adaptation
By Reinhard Jacobsen AMSTERDAM (IDN) – Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will oversee the Global Commission on Adaptation to climate change, which the Government of the Netherlands and the Global Center on Adaptation have decided to set up. It will be formally launched on October 16 in The Hague. Bill Gate, Co-chair of the Bill […]
Engaging with Faith and Faith Actors on Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development
Viewpoint by Sudarshan Reddy Kodooru The author is Convener of the Asia Pacific Faith-based Coalition (APFC*) for Sustainable Development and Regional Director, Faith & Development, East Asia at World Vision International. The following is based on his speech during APFC’s first annual meeting on August 29-31, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. – The Editor BANGKOK (IDN) […]
A Mountain to Climb Before December UN Climate Summit
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN (IDN) – Despite growing calls for urgent and strong climate change action, a crucial round of talks concluded in Bangkok on September 9 with what UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa has termed “uneven progress”. The Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, Gebru Jember Endalew of Ethiopia finds […]