News


Will Central Asia Fight over Water Resources?

Feb 6, 2017 | Fuad Shahbazov

Water has always been a major cause of wars and border conflicts in the Central Asian region. For being one of the greatest geographical regions,…


SEC Acting Chairman Directs Reconsideration of Conflict Minerals Rule

Feb 6, 2017 | Andrew Brady, Brian V. Breheny, Hagen Ganem, Caroline Kim, Justin Kisner, Josh LaGrange, and Emily Prezioso

The acting chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Michael S. Piwowar, yesterday released two public statements concerning the conflict minerals rule applicable…


Global Water and National Security: Why the Time Is Now

Feb 6, 2017 | Sherri Goodman, Ruth Greenspan Bell, Nausheen Iqbal

During the 2016 campaign President Trump stated that clean water would be a top priority of his administration, telling ScienceDebate.org “it may be the most important issue…


SEC Issues a Call for Comments on All Aspects of the Conflict Minerals Rule

Feb 6, 2017 | Sarah A. Altschuller

On January 31, the Acting Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), Michael Piwowar, issued an call for comments with regard to the conflict…


Afghanistan: Afghanistan Avalanches Death Toll Passes 135

Feb 6, 2017 | Agence France-Presse

Rescuers are battling to reach survivors of avalanches in Afghanistan’s remote, mountainous north, as the death toll exceeds 100 and fears grow for dozens of…


Is It Time to Roll Back the Conflict Minerals Rule?

Feb 5, 2017 | Gary Emmanuel

It’s well documented that conflict over lucrative mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a major driver of brutal violence, forced labor, rape and other…


Iraq: The Truth behind Oil Theft in Iraq's Basra

Feb 5, 2017 | Salam Zidane, Al-Monitor

Iraqi members of parliament have recently addressed the Oil Ministry with allegations related to the daily theft of Basra oil due to the malfunctioning of…


Final Text of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation

Feb 3, 2017 | Graham J. Stuart, Rachel Barlow, and Aurella Smith-Anthony

On 24 January 2017, the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade (INTA) approved the final compromise text of the EU's long awaited Conflict Minerals Regulation.…


What’s the Future for the Conflict Minerals Rule?

Feb 3, 2017 | Rob Bates

The controversial Dodd-Frank Section 1502 will likely be weakened by the new administration. Just as there is much uncertainty over how the new administration will handle conflict…


Confronting Global Security in an Era of Water Instabilities

Feb 3, 2017 | Kris Hartley, Cecilia Tortajada, and Asit K. Biswas

Political instability complicated by water security threats compromises America’s ability to navigate global security challenges. The state of global security and stability appears more precarious…


India: No Water Wars Here: How 2 Villages on Kerala-Karnataka Border Share Water Every Year

Feb 3, 2017 | Aishhwariya Subramanian, Better India

Although news is generally dominated by disputes that sprout between different states in India over sharing of water from the country’s rivers, there is a quiet oasis…


EcoPeace’s Center for Water Security Internship Program

Feb 2, 2017 | EcoPeace Middle East

The EcoPeace internship is an opportunity for high-caliber international students and young professionals to gain first-hand experience in the emerging field of environmental peacemaking, as…


Seeking Applicants: 2018 Rotary Peace Fellowship

Feb 2, 2017 | Rotary International

Each year, Rotary funds some of the world's most dedicated and brightest professionals to study at Rotary Peace Centers. Through training, study, and practice, Rotary…


Chairman Piwowar’s Statement on SECs Conflict Minerals Rule – We Could Have Seen It Coming

Feb 2, 2017 | Dynda A. Thomas

In a move that has already been widely reported, on January 31, 2017, the SEC’s Acting Chairman Michael Piwowar issued a statement on the SECs conflict minerals rule,…


Iraq: Emergency Fertilizer Distributions Help Conflict-Affected Iraqi Farmers Increase Wheat Production

Feb 2, 2017 | UN FAO

More than 2 000 farmers affected by conflict in Iraq have received 750 tonnes of fertilizer from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United…


Conflict Minerals: Massachusetts to Sign Legislation Fighting Deadly 'Conflict Minerals' in the DRC

Feb 2, 2017 | Elsa Buchanan, International Business Times

Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker is expected to sign a statewide legislation to fight against deadly "conflict minerals" in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this…


Afghanistan: EU Project to Monitor Afghan Agri System Signed

Feb 1, 2017 | Pajhwok

The signing ceremony of a European Union (EU)-funded project, aimed at assisting the Afghan government to assess agriculture production systems and to strengthen institutional capacity,…


Myanmar: 571 Tonnes of Illegal Timber Seized in Three Separate Raids at Yangon Port

Feb 1, 2017 | Kyi Kyi Sway, Myanmar Times

The Yangon Forest Department has seized 571 tonnes of illegally logged timber and nabbed the managing directors of two companies, department director U Thein Toe…


Conflict Minerals: Acting SEC Chair Seeks to Scale back 'Conflict Minerals' Rule

Feb 1, 2017 | Sarah N. Lynch, Reuters

The top Republican at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday took the first step toward scaling back the controversial "conflict minerals" rule, which…


Conflict Minerals: For Conflict Minerals and Resource Extraction Disclosures, the End Appears Nigh

Feb 1, 2017 | Kristyn Hyland, Bureau of National Affairs

Acting Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Michael Piwowar took the first steps toward scaling back the conflict mineral disclosure rule Jan. 31, directing the SEC…


Afghanistan: Militant Groups in Afghanistan Get Rich off Mineral Smuggling

Feb 1, 2017 | Noor Zahid, Voice of America

The smuggling of Afghan minerals supplies millions of dollars to armed groups, insurgents and strongmen in the country, an Afghan anti-corruption watchdog reported Wednesday. The…


Iraq: Iraq's Wetland Paradise under Threat

Feb 1, 2017 | Emilienne Malfatto, Deutsche Welle

Climate change, poor usage and distribution of water in Iraq, and above all dams upriver, have dramatically reduced the volume of water flowing into the wetlands. The…


South Sudan: Juba Now Extends Oil Extraction Contracts

Feb 1, 2017 | Kennedy Senelwa, East African

South Sudan has extended the crude oil exploration and production licences given to Asian multinationals by five years to increase output. The Petroleum Ministry has…


Colombia: Land Claimant Assassinated, Presumably by Forces Wanting to Keep War Trophies

Jan 30, 2017 | Adriaan Alsema, Colombia Reports

Deadly attacks against displaced war victims trying to have their land returned cost yet another life on Sunday in an ongoing wave of violence against community leaders in…


Afghanistan: Badakhshan Mining Revenue Goes to Illegal Gunmen

Jan 30, 2017 | Gul Mohammad Tanha, Pajhwok

Illegal gunmen and insurgents have been digging up gold and lapis lazuli mines in northeastern Badakhshan province, local officials said on Monday. Mohammad Akbar Anwari,…


South Sudan: South Sudan Plans to Double Oil Production

Jan 29, 2017 | Sudan Tribune

South Sudan aims to double its oil production to 290,000 barrels per day in fiscal year 2017/2018, up from current output of around 130,000 barrels…


Afghanistan: Taliban, Collecting Bills for Afghan Utilities, Tap New Revenue Sources

Jan 28, 2017 | Mujib Mashal and Najim Rahim, New York Times

The Afghan government faces a peculiar problem in at least two major provinces: It provides precious electricity, some of it imported at costly rates from…


Timor-Leste: Under the Radar: East Timor’s $40 Billion Oil Conundrum

Jan 28, 2017 | Global Risk Insights

With the host of maritime disputes in the Pacific, it is encouraging to see efforts at reconciliation and compromise, as Australia and East Timor have…


Syria: WASH and MEAL Field Assistant

Jan 27, 2017 | International Medical Corps

International Medical Corps is working to relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster and disease by delivering vital health care services that…


Somalia: Consultant Civil Engineer

Jan 27, 2017 | Adventist Development and Relief Agency International

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Somalia is an International Non-Governmental Organization registered in Kenya and operating in Somalia. ADRA Somalia is seeking a…