Campaigners have forced the biggest shareholder in a titanium mining project on south Africa's 'Wild Coast' to withdraw, reports Rachel Lees. But they now fear the project itself will continue under the auspices of local 'front' companies, while the big profits enrich the British and Australian investors that are the real masters of Africa's neo-colonial minerals boom.
… Victory in the campaign against mining South Africa's Wild Coast - but it's not over yet! Rachel Lees | 21st July 2016 News Mining Africa South Africa Finance UK Australia Indigenous Peoples …
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, …
Coca-Cola is the latest company to join the agricultural 'scramble for Africa', writes Miriam Ross. Backed by £600 million of British aid under the guise of 'food security' and 'nutrition', a vast give-away of Africa's land is under way that will condemn small farmers to landlessness and poverty.
… Coca-Cola is not the solution to hunger in Africa Miriam Ross | 22nd September 2014 Comment Food Farming Corporations Africa UK farmer-ethiopia-keep-watch-cut.jpg A … to join the agricultural 'scramble for Africa', writes Miriam Ross. Backed by £600 …
A new report reveals huge declines in the UK's migratory birds that winter deep in Africa's rainforests. Shorter distance migrants are performing much better, with some recording big population increases.
… African habitat loss driving migrating birds' … | 16th October 2014 News Birds UK Europe Africa Natural World turtle-dove-cut.jpg A new … the UK's migratory birds that winter deep in Africa's rainforests. Shorter distance …
The 'New Alliance', backed by £600m of UK aid, is meant to improve food security, reduce malnutrition and lift people out of poverty, writes Aisha Dodwell. But it's all a huge con - delivering corporate welfare, attacking small farmers, enabling land grabs - and leaving a trail of poverty and human devastation. It draws praise from only a single review of its activities: its own.
… truth about the New Alliance and farmers in African countries? Aisha Dodwell Global … Now | 15th January 2016 Activism Farming UK Africa Corporations Aid … its full title, is about helping countries in Africa to improve food security, reduce …
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 …
The UK Government is to examine the activities of London-based oil company Soco over alleged violations of environmental protections and human rights abuses in Africa's first National Park, home to 200 Mountain gorillas.
… The Ecologist | 17th February 2014 News Africa Congo Natural World Oil Fossil Fuels UK … protections and human rights abuses in Africa's first National Park, home to 200 … make it the most biodiverse protected area in Africa, a status recognised by the World …
Should we really be spending £1.2 million a year to conserve red squirrels? Yes we should, writes James Borrell. But with Africa's rhinos facing extinction, and vital conservation in UK's overseas 'biodiversity jewels' sadly underfunded, there are much better investments we should be making too.
… Yes we should, writes James Borrell. But with Africa's rhinos facing extinction, and vital … in Europe. Meanwhile, in southern Africa, critically endangered black rhinos are … cuckoos and turtle dove all migrate from Africa, but numbers have dropped 73% since the …
At the inspiring new 3,500 acre 'wildland' of the Knepp Estate in West Sussex, the nightingale is making itself at home amid the thorny thickets, writes Hazel Sillver. That's proof to any that need it that the bird's extinction is far from inevitable - if only we can muster the will to save it! It also offers a wonderful opportunity to hear its magical song ...
… 2% of the nightingales that fly annually from Africa to breed in the UK. Why these … lush green pastures and wetlands of North Africa, before these turned into the scorched … any female birds that may be flying in from Africa - if his warbling is up to scratch, she …
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 …
Last election climate change was all the rage, writes David Williamson. But in the current campaign it's hardly getting a look in in spite of melting icecaps, collapsing glaciers, a wave of climate refugees fleeing Africa and serious weather events at home. Now it's up to us to force it onto the election agenda!
… glaciers, a wave of climate refugees fleeing Africa and serious weather events at home. Now … horrific images of refugees massing in North Africa is just a preview of what will await if … spreading mayhem in the Middle East and North Africa, the danger of rising sea levels seems …
A bill to quadruple the UK's aid funding to a profit-driven 'private equity' company owned by the government comes before MPs today for its third reading, writes Global Justice Now. Trouble is the investments do little or nothing for the poor, and instead entrench corporate power in health, education and infrastructure. Parliament should seize this last chance to reject the new law.
… healthcare in India Private education across Africa An upmarket shopping mall and luxury … were refocused on companies operating in Africa and South Asia and CDC started making … its strategy, making new investments only in Africa and South Asia, and investing directly …
Of course rising world population matters, writes Biff Vernon, due to its impact on the planet and its resources. But to actually do something about it, don't even mention the 'p' word. Instead let's cut back on our wasteful, high-consumption lifestyles - and empower women everywhere!
… | 30th December 2014 Comment Population UK Africa woman-cut.jpg Of course rising world … and only half a dozen are not in sub-Saharan Africa. None of the hundred countries with a TFR below 2 are in Africa. Thus, to a first approximation, …
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 …
Sir David King is credited with bringing climate change to serious political attention. But he is also a campaign of GM crops. How does that square?
… per cent cut is required to avoid genocide in Africa smacks of political pragmatism, too, … of charge. If we are going to work in the African continent, as we are – because we are … spending roughly £1.2 billion per year in the African continent; that’s a massive increase – …
A fusion of drone systems and chemical agents is set to transform the landscape of combat for states and non-state actors alike, writes Paul Rogers. These technologies won't just be used for warfare, but for 'public order' ... suppressing riots, protests and political dissent. Forget water cannon - this is the real deal.
… paramilitary activity across much of northern Africa. Behind the positive headlines about … and other groups across a range of fronts. Africa in particular is witnessing a …
Seaweed, carrot flower and locally caught fish were all on the menu during Kate Eshelby’s gastronomic tour of the Scillies
… with the colour of flowers from South Africa and Australia, and agapanthus and … GREEN LIVING Lions and eco luxury on South Africa’s Eastern Cape Pristine wilderness and … made the Kwandwe Reserve a key stop on South Africa's Garden Route. Ruth Styles went to …
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 …
Most of the world's large herbivores - from elephants to gorillas, tapirs and sloths - are at risk of extinction, a new study shows. With most of these species in poorer countries, rich nations should dedicate substantial resources to their survival. But we must also lead by example - by reintroducing them ourselves.
… is sufficient human will to do so. While Africa supports the greatest number of large … would substantially alter the natural world. African elephants knock over trees enabling … service is being lost in parts of Asia and Africa where they are becoming scarce. Other …
Despite the endless rhetoric about a 'nuclear renaissance', there are fewer power reactors today than there were a decade ago, writes Jim Green. The one country with a really big nuclear build program is China, but no one expects it to meet its targets. And with over 200 reactor shut-downs due by 2040, the industry will have to run very hard indeed just to stay put.
… hope for in South Korea is slow growth. South Africa plans 9.6 GW of new nuclear capacity to … commentator Dan Yurman states : "South Africa's plans to build 9.6 GW of nuclear … to the political twists and turns by South African President Jacob Zuma. "Most recently, …
As flagship nuclear projects run into long delays and huge cost overruns, solar and wind power are falling in price, writes David Elliott. Renewables already supply twice as much power as nuclear. It's just too bad the nuclear-fixated UK government hasn't noticed.
… America, although less so as yet in most of Africa. But the International Renewable Energy Agency says that Africa has the potential and the ability to …
Theresa May has suggested that the UK can pay for other countries to make carbon cuts on our behalf - but these crude, colonial equations are not enough.
… as the country bakes in 50°C heat. Southern Africa is still reeling from cyclones Idai and …
At the UN climate summit in New York today, institutional investors managing $24 trillion of assets are demanding stronger, more ambitious policies on climate change, writes Kieran Cooke. These include an effective carbon price and an end to fossil fuel subsidies.
… investors in Asia, Australia, South Africa and the US - have put their signatures …
Overtaken by massive regional trade agreements like TPP, TTIP, CETA and TINA, the World Trade Organisation has slipped into the background, writes Polly Jones. But this week it's back with a vengeance, with its first big meeting in two years. The US's plan is to globalise the investment protection regime set out in the TTP, and open a new era of corporate rule and the eradication of democracy.
… time in Nairobi and for the first time in Africa, and I will be there. While there are …