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 …
Pristine wilderness and eco-friendly lodges have made the Kwandwe Reserve a key stop on South Africa's Garden Route. Ruth Styles went to visit
… Lions and eco luxury on South Africa’s Eastern Cape Ruth Styles | 1st December 2011 Ethical Living South Africa Eastern Cape Green Living Natural World … Conservation Safari Black Rhino Travel south-africa.jpg Pristine wilderness and …
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, …
In an effort to address the joint problems of poverty and environmental degradation, Vivienne Westwood has joined up with the International Trade Centre for the launch of her second ethical range
… work: Vivienne Westwood's 'Ethical Fashion Africa' collection goes on sale Rosie Spinks | … Ethical Living Fashion Society Green Living Africa Vivienne Westwood Ethical Fashion Recycled Materials africa_ethical_fashion.jpg In an effort to …
Dressing poorer countries in our designer cast-offs while we invest in shabby sweatshop chic? Invest in their infrastructure, not vetements, argues Joe Turner
… Outfitting Africa Joe Turner | 19th March 2009 Comment … Living Politics And Economics Outfitting_Africa-MAIN.jpg Dressing poorer countries in …
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 …
Once derided as backwards, the southern African San tribe’s love of nature is now bringing them real rewards, as well as offering an insight into how humans can survive with little or no water. Ruth Styles travelled to meet them in Namibia
… Living Tribe Climate Change Namibia Wildlife Africa Travel Safari Green Living holding.jpg … Once derided as backwards, the southern African San tribe’s love of nature is now … today. The San or Bushmen people of southern Africa are one of the oldest peoples on the …
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 …
There are plenty of small scale, locally appropriate innovations out there. Jeremy Smith has set up a video archive and social network that puts all the stories and advice together
… for showers in an offgrid ecolodge in South Africa. It was cheap, lo-tech, easily … countries across Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa, I never saw anything like it again. … to a computer / the internet. In much of Africa, for example, mobile phone coverage is …
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 …
Unsustainable and bad for the environment, industrial viticulture leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Pesticide-free and weed-friendly, biodynamic wine holds the key to an organic revolution.
… Argentina, Chile, California and South Africa. Even if they become uneconomic to … rolls out of town. Viruses on the veld South African vineyards are also trying to convince … into stakeholder positions, the South African wine industry is still hideously white …
If you're planning a new year health kick there's no point buying an expensive new bike - reconditioned or recycled cycles are the environmentally friendly way to lose those Christmas pounds
… bicycle aid to various communities in Africa. It ships donated secondhand bikes, parts, tools and bike manuals to Africa, where they are distributed to local … skills to the bikes' new owners in Africa, as well as offering new skills and …
What's the real price of your bouquet? Pat Thomas dishes the dirt on cut flower production in less-industrialised countries
… Recent research shows that flowers flown from Africa can use less energy overall than those … 'and making it easier, not harder, for African people to make a decent living.' If … other monocultures to be deleterious. From Africa with Love Some 90 per cent of the cut …
We didn’t want GM on your table, but the crucial question now is, will we allow it in our tanks? Robin Maynard and Pat Thomas report
… for biodiesel use. Last year, Tony Blair’s Africa Commission declared that mass growing of biofuels in Africa, ‘provides a sustainable development path for the many African countries that can produce biofuels …
Straw bale is a low impact, low carbon building material making strides towards mainstream acceptance. So is it about time we took notice? Mark Briggs reports
… Maya Guesthouse Switzerland South Africa Travel holding.jpg Straw bale is a low … A five star resort in South Africa was built using 10,000 wheat straw … to be constructed in the Western Cape, South Africa. The most outstanding advantage is the …
Some of nature's most majestic creatures are migratory, but their future in a changing world is far from certain, as a stunning new book of photographs makes clear
… inspiring documentary INVESTIGATION Who needs Africa's land more: us or wildlife? An … people and economics means that land in Africa is becoming more valuable - and more …
He’s been a charity fundraiser and is now a fully-fledged adventurer. But is ‘Best Job in the World’s’ Ben Southall about to add eco-warrior to his CV? Ruth Styles met him to find out
… but I used to travel throughout Southern Africa, hiring four wheel drives and going on … and climb the five highest mountains in Africa within the year on the road. …