News


Colombia: Climate Change: A Challenge for Colombia’s Campesinos

Jul 16, 2019 | Erik Apolinar, Bogota Post

Climate change is a challenge in every country – and the past G20 summit shows that even amongst world leaders, there is not a lot…


Afghanistan: Driving Improvements in Agriculture through Better Education

Jul 16, 2019 | ACTED

While Afghanistan society has experienced a wide range of positive changes over the recent past, not all Afghans are able to benefit equally from these…


DRC: Send in the Troops: Congo Raises the Stakes on Illegal Mining

Jul 16, 2019 | Aaron Ross, Reuters

Deploying soldiers to clear tens of thousands of illegal informal miners from mining concessions is a new approach by the authorities in Democratic Republic of…


DRC: Refugees Blame Chronic Violence on Battle for Mineral Wealth

Jul 16, 2019 | Halima Athumani, Voice of America

For decades, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo -- the Ituri and North Kivu provinces especially -- has endured ethnic violence leaving thousands dead and…


China/Vietnam/South China Sea: Vietnam, China Embroiled in South China Sea Standoff

Jul 16, 2019 | James Pearson and Khanh Vu, Reuters

Vietnamese and Chinese ships have been embroiled in a weeks-long standoff near an offshore oil block in disputed waters of the South China Sea, which…


War's Physical Toll Can Last for Generations, as It Has for the Children of the Vietnam War

Jul 16, 2019 | Michael Palmer

History often focuses on the immediate death toll of war. But hostilities can have longer-term consequences on a population’s health. In a new study published…


China, Vietnam: What to Take from the South China Sea Flare-Up

Jul 16, 2019 | Stratfor Worldview

Chinese and Vietnamese coast guard vessels have reportedly been engaged in a weeklong confrontation around Vanguard Bank in the southern region of the South China…


UN Lawyers Approve 28 Legal Principles to Reduce the Environmental Impacts of War

Jul 16, 2019 | Stavros Pantazopoulos

This year is a defining one for the laws protecting the environment in conflict. This month, the UN’s International Law Commission has endorsed 28 legal…


Afghanistan: Afghanistan’s Forests Are Turning a Profit for the Islamic State

Jul 15, 2019 | Stefanie Glinski, Foreign Policy

Small numbers of fighters for the Islamic State of Khorasan Province, the Afghan branch of the militant group, have been in Kunar since 2015. But…


Colombia: Colombia Launches Coffee Price Stabilization Fund

Jul 15, 2019 | Nick Brown, Daily Coffee News

Colombian President Iván Duque signed into law a new fund late last week designed to support the country’s smallholder farmers in times of downward price…


From Syria to Sudan, Women Rights Defenders Need More Than Likes

Jul 15, 2019 | Lubna Alkanawati

As a Syrian activist, seeing this photo of Ala'a reminded me of the brave girls and women who also called for change0 in streets, in…


Iraq/Kurdistan: Iraqi MP Accuses KRG of ‘Treason’ for Failure to Send Oil

Jul 14, 2019 | Lawk Ghafuri, Rudaw

An Iraqi MP has called national leadership silence over the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) refusal  to send Baghdad 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) in exchange…


Syria: ISIS Oil Minister Killed in Eastern Syria

Jul 14, 2019 | Al-Masdar Al-'Arabi

The Islamic State oil minister was killed in eastern Syria this week after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) carried out a joint operation with the…


Afghanistan: Fish Farming Booms in S. Afghan Province

Jul 14, 2019 | Xinhua

The Afghan Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock has been supporting local farmers in southern province of Kandahar in raising fish to cater to the…


Myanmar: How a Singaporean Is Changing the Fates of Rice Farmers in Myanmar [Video]

Jul 13, 2019 | Desmond Ng and Alistair Ang, Channel News Asia

Against a backdrop of climate change and a cyclone disaster, David Chen is helping to tackle the problem of poverty through the way rice is…


Climate Change: UNFAO: Conflict and Climate Conditions Continue to Exacerbate Food Insecurity

Jul 13, 2019 | OOSKAnews

Variable climate conditions and persistent conflicts contine to cause high levels of food insecurity in 41 countries, with 31 of these in Africa, UNFAO has reported. The Crop…


China/Vietnam/South China Sea: China and Vietnam in Stand-off over Chinese Survey Ship Mission to Disputed Reef in South China Sea

Jul 12, 2019 | Liu Zhen, South China Morning Post

Chinese and Vietnamese coastguard vessels have been involved in a week-long confrontation over a reef in the South China Sea, risking the biggest clash between…


Iraq: Iraq Seeks to Promote Oil Exports via Integrated Infrastructure: Minister

Jul 12, 2019 | Hellenic Shipping News

The Iraqi oil minister said that his ministry seeks to promote Iraqi oil exports through establishment of integrated infrastructure. According to the statement, the Iraqi…


South Sudan: South Sudan Collects 36 Million USD Tax from Non-Oil Sources

Jul 12, 2019 | Xinhua

South Sudan said on Friday that it collected over 7 billion South Sudanese Pounds (36 million U.S. dollars) in the last six months from non-oil…


Brazil Faith, Peace and Climate Organizer

Jul 12, 2019 | 350.org

About the Brazil Faith, Peace and Climate Organizer

The Brazil Faith, Peace and Climate Organizer will be engaged in enhancing the network and engagement of diverse religious groups,…


India: Water Wars: Tempers Fray as Shortages Bite in New Delhi

Jul 12, 2019 | Joe Wallen, Telegraph

Soaring temperatures and a long delay to the start of the monsoon season are behind some of the most severe water shortages in New Delhi's…


It's Always the Oil

Jul 12, 2019 | Michael Klare

It’s always the oil. While President Trump was hobnobbing with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Japan, brushing off a…


Meet the Woman Risking her Life to Clear Colombia's Minefields

Jul 12, 2019 | BBC News

Paola Sanchez is 24 years old and risks her life every day, finding and deactivating landmines after five decades of conflict in Colombia.

Many of the…


Myanmar: Loopholes in Myanmar’s Forest Sector Cost Govt Million in Revenue

Jul 11, 2019 | Nan Lwin, Irrawaddy

On Thursday, MEITI released two reports on the forestry sector for fiscal years 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, shedding light on issues like the discrepancy in annual…


The Looming Accelerant: the Growing Links between Climate Change, Mass Atrocities, and Genocide

Jul 11, 2019 | Robert Kiel

The purpose of this research commentary is to show a growing link between climate change and genocide and mass atrocities. The International Panel for Climate…


Colombia: Why Colombia’s Deforestation Spiked after the FARC’s Demobilization

Jul 11, 2019 | Kristen Rounds, Colombia Reports

Deforestation in Colombia surged after the demobilization of the FARC as it opened previously untouched rainforest to harmful and unregulated development. The increase in military…


Israel/Palestine/Gaza: A Spillover Crisis: How Gaza’s Water Shortage Affects Israel

Jul 11, 2019 | Tamar Lavi, Zavit

Recently, the Israel Water Authority announced an upgrade to the water supply line from Israel to the Gaza Strip. The renovations will be carried out…


Land Rights and Livelihoods Key to Achieving Sustainable Development for Kenya’s Indigenous Women

Jul 11, 2019 | Global Forest Coalition

Governments gathered today at the High-level Political Forum at United Nations Headquarters in New York are discussing Sustainable Development Goal 13, on climate action. But…


Los Derechos a la Tierra y a los Medios de Vida son Clave para que las Mujeres Indígenas de Kenia Logren un Desarrollo Sostenible

Jul 11, 2019 | Coalicion Mundial por los Bosques

Los gobiernos que están hoy reunidos en el Foro Político de Alto Nivel en la sede de las Naciones Unidas en Nueva York, están discutiendo…


Colombia: As Climate Changes, Colombia’s Small Coffee Farmers Pay the Price

Jul 11, 2019 | Richard Schiffman, Yale Environment 360

In the last 18 months, Colombia has lost nearly 100,000 acres of coffee plantations, more than 4 percent of the land under coffee cultivation, according…