International


Myanmar: New EIA/SIA Causes Fear among Local Villagers of Coal Mining Expansion in Nam Ma

Jun 2, 2017 | Shan State Farmers’ Network

A recent visit by a Burmese environmental consulting company to Nam Ma, Hsipaw township, northern Shan State, has caused local villagers to fear that the…


Myanmar: Watchdog Accuses Companies of Mining in Kachin with Expired Permits

Jun 1, 2017 | Chan Mya Htwe, Myanmar Times

Mining companies in the Hpakant and Lone Khin jade mining areas have been operating in each other’s existing licensed plots after the expiration of their…


Afghanistan: 6:30 Report: A Look at Illegal Mining in Afghanistan [Video]

Jun 1, 2017 | TOLOnews

In this episode of 6:30 Report, host Tariq Majidi looks at evidence that reveals the extent of ongoing illegal extraction of minerals from mines in…


Myanmar: Proposed Gemstone Legislation Risks Leaving Flawed System Intact

May 30, 2017 | Thompson Chau, Myanmar Times

In July 2016, the new NLD-led government decided to suspend issuing jade and gemstone licences until relevant laws could be reviewed and an environmental management…


Myanmar: Deputy Defense Minister: Army Agriculture on Confiscated Land Saves Money

May 30, 2017 | Pe Thet Htet Khin, Irrawaddy

The Burma Army’s farming projects inside cantonments and on confiscated land saves more than 75 billion kyats annually from the state’s budget, said Deputy Minister…


South Sudan: Indian ‘Blue Helmets’ in South Sudan Tackle Deadly Cattle Raids

May 29, 2017 | Press Trust of India

At the centre of the raging South Sudan conflict is not oil or territory but cattle, which, Indian UN peacekeepers posted to the African nation…


Myanmar: In Myanmar, a Lake that Sustained Generations Feels Strains

May 28, 2017 | Doug Clark, New York Times

Today, every morning and afternoon, fishermen still paddle out, singing Burmese songs, trailing gillnets with soda bottle buoys. But despite the encircling mountains and buffering…


Myanmar: Myanmar's Peace Conference Reaches Agreement for Most Points with Five Sectors on Second Day Session

May 26, 2017 | Zhou Xin, Xinhua

Myanmar's ongoing 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference reached agreement for most points in five sectors on Thursday, the second day session of the conference held…


DRC: Study Finds Congo's Miners often Resort to Hunting Wildlife for Food

May 26, 2017 | Phys.org

A new study by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) has revealed how mining for valuable minerals in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a major…


Afghanistan: Introducing Safaroma, a Movement and a Brand to Empower Afghan Women with Saffron

May 26, 2017 | Digital Journal

When it comes to Afghanistan, the public knows about war, crime, and the opium drug trade (most of the world’s deadliest drug comes from Afghanistan).…


Myanmar: Concerns over Seized Lands Hamper Agro Plan

May 25, 2017 | Nay Aung, Myanmar Times

Concerns have been raised on the implementation of the Agricultural Development Strategy and Investment Plan (Third Draft). The adviser to the Magwe Region Farmers’ Union,…


Liberia: Violent Land Dispute in Maryland

May 25, 2017 | New Dawn

The land in question is occupied with palms belonging to one Dr. James Elliott, a Marylander, whocurrently resides in the United States of America.YookudiCommissioner Nathaniel…


Land Grabbing: CED Launches Platform to Denounce Land Grabs in Africa

May 25, 2017 | Ecofin Agency

After the global call to indigenous populations to fight for their rights to land, the Centre or Environment and Development (CED) which is based in…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Kurdistan Oil Exports Not Subject to OPEC Reduction Agreement

May 25, 2017 | Rudaw

Kurdistan Region oil exports are not subject to OPEC’s renewed reduction targets, Iraq’s oil minister stated, adding, however, that he hopes they will be included.…


Sudan: Sudan Oil Revenue Drops to Record Lows

May 25, 2017 | Middle East Monitor

Sudan’s daily oil production revenue has sunk to its lowest level since the secession of South Sudan almost six years ago, the minister of petroleum…


Myanmar: More Than 290 Gem Blocks Due to Expire in June

May 25, 2017 | Eleven

Exploration activities in 291 gem blocks in Lonekhin, Hpakant, Mongshu, Moegok, Mohnyin and Nantyarseik will be discontinued in June, a source of the Ministry of…


Myanmar: Myanmar Peace Talks Must Address Natural Resource Management

May 24, 2017 | Global Witness

On the eve of national peace talks in Myanmar, civil society groups  from across the country today released a statement calling for a new approach…


Climate Change: NATO Countries Worry Trump Will undo Climate Progress, Drafts Show

May 24, 2017 | Nicholas Kusnetz, Inside Climate News

NATO's member countries published a series of draft reports this week highlighting the economic and security risks posed by climate change, and encouraging nations to…


Myanmar: Drilling for a Dream in Myanmar

May 24, 2017 | Adam Dean, New York Times

Nga Naung Mone is one of three oil fields near the town of Minhla, in south central Myanmar, and the largest by far. The others,…


Afghanistan: USAID Hosts Women’s Agriculture Credit Shura to Improve Lives and Livelihoods of Afghan Women Farmers

May 24, 2017 | USAID

One of the most difficult challenges for women farmers and agriculture-related business owners in Afghanistan is the access to credit for their agriculture operations, and…


Afghanistan: Death to Land Grabbers: Protestors

May 24, 2017 | Afghanistan Times

A large number of Logar residents on Wednesday took out to the streets to give vent to their anger against the evil practice of land…


Afghanistan: Afghanistan's Beautiful 'Green Zone' Offers Emeralds, Peace

May 23, 2017 | Fox News, Hollie McKay

It has been dubbed Afghanistan's Green Zone: A pocket of paradise amid the bloody, conflict-ravaged country -- both a hidden gem and full of gems.…


Cambodia/Myanmar/Vietnam: Land Disputes Cloud Fast-Developing Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar

May 22, 2017 | Straits Times

In countries like Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, where weak legal systems are often accompanied by land tenures that are insecure, or difficult to obtain, tens…


Malawi/Mozambique: Water Wars Worry Lake Chiuta Fishers

May 22, 2017 | James Chavula, The Nation

Malawian fishers on Lake Chiuta have lamented frequent armed attacks from their Mozambican neighbours despite efforts to end the conflict. The communities surrounding the 200-square-kilometre…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Boundary between Iraq, Kurdish Territory Divides Communities

May 22, 2017 | Balint Szlanko, Associated Press

Since 2014, Iraq’s Kurds have expanded the territory they control by about half at the expense of Iraq. The status of some of these areas,…


Myanmar: Committee Will Probe Khamti Jade Mine Conflict

May 20, 2017 | Aung Ko Oo, Mizzima

An inquiry has been launched to look in to the conflicts that happened on May 17 between the local police force and jade scavengers in…


Colombia: Major Politicians in Colombia Accused of Illegal Land Grabbing

May 20, 2017 | Michelle Begue, CGTN

Former Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe Velez has been accused of accumulating land meant for less fortunate farmers.The Comptroller General’s report, which compiled evidence from 2013…


Liberia: CFMB, CFDC Union Want Lawmakers Pass Land Rights Bill

May 19, 2017 | Robin Dopoe, Liberian Observer

The continued delay by lawmakers to pass into law the 2014 Land Rights Bill, which calls for the protection of community land, among other things,…


South Sudan: NGO Blames Water Pollution in S.Sudan on Oil Company

May 19, 2017 | Daniel Pelz, Detusche Welle

Drinking water around an oil-producing area in South Sudan is heavily polluted. A German NGO puts the blame on Malaysian oil company Petronas. It has…


Sudan/South Sudan: S. Sudan Calls for Pushing Sudan on Resolving Abyei Issue

May 19, 2017 | Xinhua

South Sudan on Friday called on the UN to push Sudan on quickly resolving the issues on the status of the contested oil-rich Abyei region…