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 …
The rainforest habitat of chimpanzees and other great apes is being destroyed by the expansion of palm oil projects in central Africa, according to new evidence from Greenpeace.
… Palm oil wiping out Africa's great ape rainforests The Ecologist | 24th February 2015 News Food Farming Africa EU Transport Politics Corporations … the expansion of palm oil projects in central Africa, according to new evidence from …
The European Parliament today called on the Commission and member states like the UK to stop funding the 'New Alliance' plan to force export-oriented agribusiness onto Africa. Instead they want support for small-scale family farms and agroecology.
… 'aid' funding billions to agribusiness in Africa Oliver Tickell | 7th June 2016 News Corporations Aid Food Farming EU Africa GMOs Agroecology fatu-kanu-cut.jpg The … to force export-oriented agribusiness onto Africa. Instead they want support for …
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 …
The European Parliament has had a great week, writes Molly Scott Cato MEP - for those who oppose GMOs in food and farming. MEPs voted on five occasions to say no to GMOs, and gave their support to agroecology as the only sustainable way to feed the world.
… no 'new' GMOs, no GMOs in the EU, no GMOs in Africa! Molly Scott Cato | 9th June 2016 Comment GMOs Food Farming Politics EU Africa Corporations soy-depot-cut.jpg The … negotiations. No to GMO imports! No GMOs in Africa! Two objections to the authorisation …
Vultures have become one of the most threatened families of birds on the planet thanks to poisoning by the veterinary drug diclofenac. Now Birdlife has discovered that it's on sale in Europe - threatening to wipe vultures out and undermine significant EU investments in vulture conservation.
… with carcasses, vultures in Europe and Africa may be set to follow, according to … budget lines. A host of other threats in Africa As well as the impending threat of … threats need to be unravelled further in Africa, and investment needed to tackle them. …
The Sahrawi people of Western Sahara have been waiting 40 years for a self-determination referendum, writes Oscar Güell. But thanks to the passivity of the EU, the US and the rest of the 'international community' their wait for justice won't end any time soon. Meanwhile, Morocco settles the country with colonists and exploits its natural resources.
… still waiting for justice: Western Sahara, Africa's last colony Oscar Güell | 12th … for what is theirs." The last colony in Africa, Western Sahara is divided by the … the major European states distributed the African continent among themselves. In 1965, …
We, the signatories of this declaration, are calling on the European Union (EU) to exclude bioenergy from its next Renewable Energy Directive (RED), and thereby stop direct and indirect subsidies for renewable energy from biofuels and wood-burning.
… Ghana Acción Ecológica, Ecuador AEFJN (Africa Europe Faith & Justice Network), … du Congo), Democratic Republic of Congo Africando, Spain ALDEAH (Alternatives au … Indonesia Biofuelwatch, UK/US Biowatch, South Africa Blackwater Nottoway Riverkeeper …
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 …
With the EU projected to source most of its 'renewable' energy by burning biomass, its policies are leading to widespread land-grabbing and forest destruction, writes Oliver Munnion. And because many of the biomass projects are purely speculative, 'sustainability standards' will do little or nothing to improve practice on the ground.
… forests . Next: Brazil, West & Central Africa Industry analysts, NGOs and policy … that Brazil, and both West and Central Africa will become major new wood exporters to …
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 …
Agriculture is big business and with the EU pumping money at the sector, the corporate profiteers are holding all the aces, writes Chris Lang. The documentary ‘Land Grabbing’ investigates what happens when well-financed agro-investors take over rural communities' land and water.
… Grabs Farming Finance EU Romania Cambodia Africa Sierra Leone oil-palm-indonesia-cut.jpg … 'top of the market' in the Middle East and Africa. The work is backbreaking and poorly … is the next stop. Addax Bioenergy earned Africa's first Rountable on Sustainable …
Sir Nicholas Stern was asked to find out what way of averting climate change was economically feasible. A loaded question that has allowed him to find a perverse solution to a fatal problem.
… diseases such as malaria and dengue fever in Africa; up to 10 million will be affected by … of genocide’. Essentially, the whole of Africa becomes scorched and famines and … and again. If we lose this game, we lose Africa, Bangladesh, the Amazon, the Maldives …
Our thirst for the latest gadgets has created a vast empire of electronic waste, writes Ian Williams. The EU alone produces some 9 million tonnes of it a year, of which some 70% is still working when disposed of, and over a third is disposed of illegally. With increasingly affordable electronic devices available to ever more people, it's high time for effective global regulation.
… 2016 Comment Waste Pollution Regulation EU Africa China Toxics guiyu-cut.jpg Our thirst … especially in some parts of Asia and Africa. Illegal shipment of e-waste from …
A 'Friend of the Sea' Dutch-owned trawler certified to supply 'sustainably caught' shrimp to the US and EU was arrested in Liberia after operating in an an area reserved for artisanal fishers, writes Peter Hammarstedt. The vessel, which had no licence and lacked the turtle excluders required by law, was discovered by the crew of Sea Shepherd's 'Bob Barker' in a joint mission with the Liberian Coast Guard to clamp down on rampant illegal fishing.
… Vrolijk has a long history of fishing in West Africa. Two years ago, the British Royal … Barker continues to patrol waters off West Africa on the hunt for illegal fishing … ) and heads the IUU Task Force for Africa. He can be followed on Facebook …
It has been an epic battle, writes Aisha Dodwell. Monsanto and other corporations are desperate to get the world's number one herbicide, glyphosate, relicenced in the EU. But their network of power has been challenged by doctors, scientists and a global movement of people. With today's postponement of the EU's decision, we have just scored a major victory.
… increasingly including those related to Africa. It is a part of the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition and GROW Africa. Under the guise of being development … have actually helped Monsanto expand its African markets and have enforced drastic …
Attempts to recycle E-waste and donations of old electronic devices are harming poor people's health and devastating the environment, writes Nele Goutier. Agbogbloshie, once an idyllic landscape of wetlands and small farms, is now the most toxic place in the world ...
… | 7th August 2014 News Waste Trade EU USA Africa Toxics Health Ghana agbog-fire.jpg …
With the help of some clever engineering, writes Paul Brown, the power of the Sun can now produce electricity on demand - day and night, bright or cloudy. The key technology has just won a prestigious DESERTEC Award.
… Renewables Solar Power Energy EU Spain Africa Germany gemasolar-cut.jpg With the help …
The Kwegu people of Ethiopia's Lower Omo Valley are facing starvation because of the loss of their land to a huge sugar plantation, the destruction of their forest and the damming of the Omo river - supported by a UK, EU and World Bank funded 'aid' program.
… Tickell | 13th March 2015 News Ethiopia Africa Indigenous Peoples UK EU Development …
Shocking events have taken place in Malta as hunters - angered by a temporary closure of the bird-shooting season - attacked bird watchers, writes Steve Micklewright. But with a Maltese politician taking on the role of Environment Commissioner, the real battle lies ahead: the survival of the Birds Directive.
… ancient migratory route between Europe and Africa. Following a series of shootings of …
Ecocide is a global problem, writes Bukola Saraki, and laws are desperately needed to hold companies to account for the damage they cause. Nigeria - long despoiled with impunity by the oil industry - is just the place to start.
… Saraki | 5th February 2014 Comment Ecocide Africa Nigeria Oil Fossil Fuels EU …
On 10 December, the European Parliament will vote over a huge fisheries partnership agreement with Morocco. If the agreement is approved the environment, human rights, peace and international law will all suffer. Erik Hagen reports...
… Erik Hagen | 6th December 2013 News EU Fish Africa adrar-sardine-discards.jpg On 10 … Morocco is the only occupying power on the African continent. Its government refuses to … But in spite of these abuses, Morocco is the African country with the closest ties to the …
The illegal killing of songbirds on the UK's military base on Cyprus has reached record levels, a study by RSPB has shown, with an estimated 900,000 birds trapped, killed and eaten in autumn 2014.
… songbirds, moving between Europe and Africa each autumn. Extensive areas of …
An open letter signed by over 230 organisations and individuals – including author/campaigner Mark Lynas and Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas – has been sent to the European Union calling for ministers to vote against planned biofuel targets at the EU Summit on Friday.
… farmland across Latin America, Asia and Africa into biofuel monocultures. The …