By Kalinga Seneviratne This article is the 22nd in a series of joint productions of Lotus News Features and IDN-InDepthNews, flagship of the International Press Syndicate. BANGKOK (IDN) – A 76-year old Buddhist monk living on his own in his forest monastery in North-eastern Thailand has appealed for international help after receiving death threats from illegal loggers according […]
How Francis Could Become to be Seen as One of the Greatest of all Popes
Viewpoint by Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden (IDN-INPS) – This present pope – Francis – is probably the most powerful man in the world, in the round. Stalin once asked when confronted with the argument about the Pope’s reach and influence, replied, “How many divisions has the pope got?” He missed the point. The pope does […]
Women Farmers in Africa Fight Impact of Climate Change
By Ronald Joshua NEW YORK | BAMAKO (IDN) – Fatou Dembele is a farmer in landlocked Mali, where half of the population engaged in agriculture are women. Agriculture is a key sector to lift women out of poverty. But the increasing degradation of land and natural resources caused by climate change is making women more […]
The Role of NGOs in Africa: Are They a Force for Good?
By Sally Matthews Dr. Sally Matthews is Senior Lecturer in Politics, Rhodes University, South Africa. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. JOHANNESBURG (IDN) – Non-governmental organisations have become key actors in responding to poverty and related suffering. In Africa, NGOs play a leading role in providing health care and […]
UNCTAD Asks the Caribbean Countries to be Weather-ready and Climate-smart
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA (IDN) – The Caribbean countries should be weather-ready and climate-smart in view of the rise in global temperatures and extreme weather events threatening to become frequent menacing the region, says Crispin D’Auvergne, who works on climate change and disaster risk management for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), comprising 10 […]
Experts Call For Paying Heed To Internally Displaced Persons
By Geneva Centre Staff GENEVA (IDN) – The forced displacement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Middle East cannot be left unaddressed by decision-makers in the context of the refugee and migrant crisis, stressed a group of human rights experts during a panel debate at the United Nations Office at Geneva. The debate entitled “Protecting people […]
UN Gathering Pledges to End Gender Injustice & Discrimination
By J Nastranis NEW YORK (IDN) – A landmark global gathering at the United Nations headquarters in New York has come up with a blueprint to ensure the rights and development of rural women and girls around the world. Convened on the heels of an unprecedented global activism and public clamour to end gender injustice […]
UNIDO Helps Prevent E-Waste Eiffel Towers in Latin America
By Jaya Ramachandran VIENNA | QUITO (IDN) – Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), comprising old computers, televisions, fridges, mobile phones, and other appliances, also known as e-waste, is expected to reach 52.2 million metric tons by 2021. It is equivalent to the weight of more than 29 million passenger cars, and would suffice to […]
Bolton’s Policy Opinions Would Worsen Proliferation Dangers
By Daryl G. Kimball Daryl G. Kimball is Executive Director of the Arms Control Association. Following is the text of his statement on the choice of John Bolton, former U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, as President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor. WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) – The United States already faces an […]
In 2018, Who Will Speak Up for Peace in the Korean Peninsula?
By Rick Wayman Rick Wayman is Programs Director of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF). In April 2016, he received the ‘Activist of the Year’ award from the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA) for “dynamic leadership in bringing the Marshall Islanders’ Nuclear Zero litigation to world attention, activating the next generation of peace leaders, and […]