Africa is being opened up like a tin of sardines to a new wave of resource extraction, writes Colin Todhunter. Masked under the soubriquets of 'investment', 'growth' and 'free trade', a handful of vast global corporations are systematically plundering the continent's mineral wealth and leaving desolation in their wake, backed to the hilt by that ever-faithful servant of capital - the UK government.
… The corporate scramble for Africa's minerals: Britain's new colonialism … Colin Todhunter | 14th July 2016 News Africa Mining Corporations War Economics … Western Sahara Morocco bou-craa-cut.jpg Africa is being opened up like a tin of …
The latest salvo in the battle over Africa's seed systems has been fired, writes Stephen Greenberg, with the Gates Foundation and USAID playing puppet-masters to Africa's governments - now meeting in Addis Ababa - as they drive forward corporation-friendly seed regulations that exclude and marginalize the small farmers whose seeds and labour feed the continent.
… Grabbing Africa's seeds: USAID, EU and Gates Foundation … Oliver Tickell | 23rd March 2015 News Africa Farming Seeds Corporations USA EU maria … The latest salvo in the battle over Africa's seed systems has been fired, writes …
From slave labour to armed conflict, our thirst for natural resources has created serious problems for Africa. Pádraig Carmody’s latest book attempts to unravel the moral morass, says Mark Newton
… The New Scramble for Africa Mark Newton | 9th May 2012 Reviews Books Reviews Africa Minerals Natural Resources Conflict … resources has created serious problems for Africa. Pádraig Carmody’s latest book attempts …
Two of Asia's three rhino species are 'critically endangered', writes David Tosh, yet the lion's share of rhino conservation resources is lavished on Africa. The reason is simple: Africa's rhinos generate more cash from tourism. But should this really be the point?
… Africa's rhinos grab the cash while their … Tosh | 2nd October 2015 Comment Mammals Asia Africa Conservation Finance Economics … rhino conservation resources is lavished on Africa. The reason is simple: Africa's rhinos …
An elite group of aid donors and agribusiness corporations met in London this week to plan the takeover of Africa's seeds, writes Ian Fitzpatrick, replacing traditional seed breeding and saving by small farmers with a corporate model of privatized, 'improved', patented, genetically uniform and hybrid seeds in a profit-driven market.
… Carving up Africa - aid donors and agribusiness plot the … Oliver Tickell | 26th March 2015 News Africa Food Farming Corporations Seeds USA UK … in London this week to plan the takeover of Africa's seeds, writes Ian Fitzpatrick, …
The trade ban on rhino horn is not working, writes Keith Somerville. But non-lethally and sustainably harvested rhino horn can earn income to encourage breeders, pay rangers and anti-poaching teams, provide surveillance and supply wider benefits that will gain the support of people around parks, reserves and ranches.
… 2016 Comment Wildlife Trade Economics Africa Swaziland Conservation Hunting Farming … of people around parks, reserves and ranches. Africa's rhinos are seriously threatened by … or cocaine. Over the past nine years 5,940 African rhinos have been killed for their …
China has now overtaken the European Union as the largest new market for solar power, writes Paul Brown - as solar PV becomes one of the world's fastest growing industries - and one that's sure to keep on getting cheaper!
… 2015 News Renewables Economics Solar Wind EU Africa China Asia solar_leo_house_bipv-cut.jpg … but Asia and the US are now catching up fast. Africa, which has the most potential to … its possibilities - especiallin South Africa. While investment in small domestic …
What was NATO's violent intervention in Libya really all about? Now we know, writes Ellen Brown, thanks to Hillary Clinton's recently published emails. It was to prevent the creation of an independent hard currency in Africa that would free the continent from economic bondage under the dollar, the IMF and the French African franc, shaking off the last heavy chains of colonial exploitation.
… Why Qaddafi had to go: African gold, oil and the challenge to … | 14th March 2016 News Finance Economics Africa Libya War Politics USA France … creation of an independent hard currency in Africa that would free the continent from …
Two-weeks increase in food billionaires’ wealth is enough to fully fund East Africa hunger crisis response.
… | News Billionaires Oxfam Social Inequality Africa East Africa Climate Breakdown Economics … wealth is enough to fully fund East Africa hunger crisis response. Food inflation …
Important developments are unfolding at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty negotiations in New York this week, writes David Lowry. These include the surprisingly large scale of the US's warhead scrapping, and a grassroots rebellion against the nuclear states led by South Africa. But the UK and its media remain aloof from it all - intent on renewing Trident no matter what.
… | 21st May 2015 News Nuclear WMD UK USA South Africa titanii-missile-cut.jpg Important … against the nuclear states led by South Africa. But the UK and its media remain aloof … from seeking their own nuclear weapons. South Africa was arguably the most robust in …
In her new book The Vandana Shiva Reader, the celebrated campaigner and scientist deplores the way in which the Green Revolution forced India's poorest farmers off their land, writes Colin Tudge. Now she fears even worse outcomes in Africa where a GMO-fuelled farming revolution is under way.
… Tudge. Now she fears even worse outcomes in Africa where a GMO-fuelled farming revolution … from on high of another Green Revolution in Africa - which indeed is already train. But … be true, and seen to be above all criticism. Africa's GMO revolution, courtesy of Bill and …
The 'Global Redesign Initiative', a project of the World Economic Forum, aims to replace UN-based intergovernmental decision-making with unaccountable 'multi-stakeholder governance' run by and for corporations, writes Margi Prideaux. What future for nature and people in this brave new world? Generate profits for investors, or face extinction or exclusion to the margins of existence.
… of the world (meaning large swathes of Africa and Asia) are woefully inadequate. But … reached out and colonized distant lands , Africa, Asia and Latin America have been a … More poignantly, it robs communities in Africa, Asia, South America and the Arctic of …
Major world trade deals now under negotiation would allow corporations to sue governments for billions if they tighten up laws and regulations, writes Thomas McDonagh. But increasingly countries are rejecting these dispute mechanisms that undermine sovereignty and democracy.
… 'standard' clauses after the fact. South Africa, Indonesia have rejected the tribunals In South Africa, the government has recently moved to … Italian investors Piero Foresti sued South Africa in relation to its Black Economic …
As investors flock to the resource-rich but still poverty-stricken African nation of Mozambique, Thembi Mutch warns that - as usual - it won't be the Mozambiquans who reap the multi billion dollar rewards of an economic boom in what remains the world's second poorest country......
… Thembi Mutch | 27th September 2013 News Africa Resources Economics Politics … the resource-rich but still poverty-stricken African nation of Mozambique, Thembi Mutch … from one of the smartest five star hotels in Africa. Dom Perignon champagne at $320 a …
Six environment heroes, one from each continent, are honoured for their work today - fighting threats from giant coal mines to forest destruction, fracking, high dams, illegal development and toxic waste dumps. Sophie Morlin-Yron reports.
… Waste Water Energy USA Indonesia Russia Peru Africa India Forests … from Peru's civil war. Desmond D'sa, South Africa Desmond D'Sa rallied south Durban's …
The global rebirth of nuclear power was meant to be well under way by now, writes Jim Green. But in fact, nuclear's share of world power generation is on a steady long term decline, and new reactors are getting ever harder to build, and finance. The only real growth area is decommissioning, but that too has a problem: where's the money to pay for it?
… EU USA France Germany Japan Saudi Arabia Africa … in India's nuclear program. What about South Africa and Saudi Arabia? Last year Saudi Araba … program is not constrained. As for South Africa, its on-again off-again nuclear power …
Some of the world's most powerful figures tout the benefits of GMOs, writes Stacy Malkan, but what's the real story? Facts on the ground expose the PR spin, half truths and outright propaganda that has come to dominate a public conversation that is not so much about engineering genes, but engineering truth for the benefit of multinational corporations.
… vitamin fortification. "And so I think, for Africa, this is going to make a huge … (breeding)." Gates responded: "Well, the Africans it's up in the air, and Kenya just … using these things and if you want farmers in Africa to improve nutrition and be competitive …
Peru, notorious for its brutal exploitation of forests, oil and minerals, theft of indigenous lands and murder of eco-defenders, is an unlikely host for the COP20 climate talks, writes Alexander Reid Ross. Except that Peru's actions reflect the corporate land-grabbing agenda manifest in the false solutions on offer in Lima this week. It's a time for resistance, not compromise!
… and Europe in the name of producing food for Africans, while bestowing just a tiny percentage of their massive budget on Africa, itself. The Gates Foundation's project with African countries, known as the New Alliance …
Based on current performance tropical forests, the world's most biodiverse ecosystems, are set to be reduced to species-impoverished fragments by the end of the century, writes Simon Lewis. But it's not inevitable. Decisive action by the world's governments in Paris in December could secure desperately needed change.
… together: in the decade to 2011 some 62% of Africa's forest elephants were killed for … and Malaysia's forests is now moving into Africa, which up to now has had relatively low … A study of 80 forest commons across Asia, Africa, and Latin America showed forest was …
Last week the UN General Assembly's Disarmament and Security Committee voted for negotiations to begin next year on a new international treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, writes Rebecca Johnson, bypassing the stalled Non Proliferation Treaty. One immediate consequence is to make the UK's plans to replace its Trident nuclear missile system 'completely untenable'.
… of nuclear free countries, including South Africa which eliminated its nuclear arsenal in … Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa, with 57 co-sponsors, calls for the … weapons when they don't have any. Several African and Latin American diplomats reported …
Climate breakdown risks a supercycle where the price of goods - including food - rises as supply breaks down. So who is going to pay?
… Editor’s Picks 0.41432800_1485252890_africa-drought.jpg Climate breakdown risks a … and revolutions, most famously across North Africa in the Arab Spring. The volatility of …