The world we inhabit is a miracle of billions of years of evolution as life has unfolded in its full beauty and diversity, writes Grant A. Mincy. But human activities - deforestation, mining, urbanisation, pollution, climate change - are tearing away at the functioning fabric of the living biosphere. A mass extinction is under way, and it must be halted, and reversed. But how?
… Change Ecocide Evolution shroom-cut.jpg The world we inhabit is a miracle of billions … climate change - are tearing away at the functioning fabric of the living biosphere. A mass extinction is …
Mainstream climatologists predict a 15% fall in rainfall over the Amazon if it is stripped of its rainforest. But the 'biotic pump' theory, rooted in conventional physics and recently confirmed by experiment, shows that the interior of a forest-free Amazon will be as dry as the Negev desert. We must save the Amazon before it enters a permanent and irreversible dessication.
… Without its rainforest, the Amazon will turn to desert Peter Bunyard | … predict a 15% fall in rainfall over the Amazon if it is stripped of its rainforest. But the 'biotic pump' theory, rooted in …
Peru is in hot competition with Brazil to be the main focus of Amazonian deforestation, writes Clément Doleac. A neoliberal government desperate to hand over the country's forests, oil, gas, minerals and indigenous lands for corporate exploitation is unafraid to break national laws, turn a blind eye to air and water pollution, and respond to any challenges with overwhelming violence.
… with chainsaws: deforestation in Peru and the future of the Amazon Clément Doleac | 5th October 2015 … Peru is in hot competition with Brazil to be the main focus of Amazonian deforestation, …
An encounter with a Colombian shaman led Peter Bunyard on a spiritual journey into and beyond the living, breathing, transpiring Amazon rainforest, providing key insights into the essential role of the great tropical forests in the workings of Gaia. He emerged re-energised from his visions - and inspired to redouble his efforts to save our wondrous planet.
… The Shaman's cure: a Gaian awakening Peter … on a spiritual journey into and beyond the living, breathing, transpiring Amazon … rainforest, providing key insights into the essential role of the great tropical …
The Gates Foundation is spending half a billion dollars a year to 'feed the world', most of it aimed at Africa. But as GRAIN discovers, it is imposing a model of high-tech, high-input 'green revolution' farming, complete with GMOs, agro-chemicals and a pro-business neoliberal agenda, all in in alliance with corporate agriculture.
… Gates Foundation 'feeds the world' with corporate agriculture GRAIN | … Africa Farming Science bill-gates-cut.jpg The Gates Foundation is spending half a billion dollars a year to 'feed the world', most of it aimed at Africa. But as …
The global gold trade relies on 'tax optimisation' and dumping tons of hazardous waste.
… The price of gold Dimitar Sabev | 8th January … Canada Dundee Precious Metals dpm_3.jpg The global gold trade relies on 'tax … and dumping tons of hazardous waste. In the fifteen years since the Canadian ore …
Unilever denies some female employees at its Rainforest Alliance-certified tea plantation in Kenya are subjected to sexual harassment. But Dutch research outfit SOMO paints a very different picture. Verity Largo and Andrew Wasley report
… Largo and Andrew Wasley report It is one of the flagship plantations of the world’s biggest tea company, stretching … of land and employing 16,000 people. But the Kericho tea estate in Kenya, operated by …
Repulsing the logging invasion of Tasmania’s wet eucalypt forest by Paul Kingsnorth
… World Society Archive_77.jpg Repulsing the logging invasion of Tasmania’s wet … forest by Paul Kingsnorth It’s raining in the Styx Valley, but Lee barely seems to notice. He wants to show me the forest. We’re walking downhill through the …
The tree-clad hills of Spain's Sierra de Huelva retain their beauty, wildlife and traditions, writes Jan Nimmo, who has speant a decade exploring the area on horseback. Just one thing is missing: the throngs of people that once inhabited and managed the land.
… Travels with Chaparro - a letter from the Sierra Jan Nimmo | 22nd March 2014 Ethical … Forests jan_chaparro_ribera_jan_nimmo.png The tree-clad hills of Spain's Sierra de Huelva retain their beauty, wildlife and traditions, writes …
Farmers on Palawan are being tricked into giving land away to palm oil companies with local government support, writes Rod Harbinson. Under the palm oil company 'leases' the farmers lose all rights to their land, never receive any money, and are saddled with 25 years of debt. Those who resist the land grabs are now in fear for their lives following the murder of a prominent campaigner.
… support, writes Rod Harbinson. Under the palm oil company 'leases' the farmers lose all rights to their land, never receive any money, and are …
When Martin Cradick and Su Hart travelled to West Africa in 1992, little did they know the journey would set their lives on a whole new direction, writes Matthew Newsome. Inspired by the Baka people of Cameroon's rainforest and the joy that resonates through their music, they are now dedicated to saving this vulnerable people using their magical music to reach into people's hearts.
… Two musicians' quest to save the forest people of Cameroon - Martin & Su of Baka Beyond Matthew Newsome | 10th June 2015 Comment … travelled to West Africa in 1992, little did they know the journey would set their lives on …
The revolution taking place in Burkina Faso is far more than an uprising of rebellious youth, writes Alexander Reid Ross. It's a genuine fight for national liberation - from neoliberalism, land grabs, corruption and foreign domination - that evokes the freedom struggle of an earlier generation.
… Faso Africa ouagadougou-market-cut.jpg The revolution taking place in Burkina Faso is … and foreign domination - that evokes the freedom struggle of an earlier generation. … by North Atlantic military intervention over the past four decades, as well as an …
In the battle to save America's real wild west of unlogged forests, grizzly bears, mountain goats, Bull trout, free flowing streams and roadless wilderness, a single person stands out, writes Jeffrey St Clair, for her dedication, courage and remarkable success: Arlene Montgomery of Friends of the Wild Swan, Montana.
… Saving the wild Rockies Jeffrey St. Clair | 26th July … Conservation Law USA u-valley-cut.jpg In the battle to save America's real wild west of … success: Arlene Montgomery of Friends of the Wild Swan, Montana. If you wanted to …
Forest communities are fighting increasing incursions onto their land by US oil companies. Now the Belizean government is seeking to reverse a court ruling preventing them allowing oil exploration, logging or mining. Robin Llewellyn reports from Belize
… are fighting increasing incursions onto their land by US oil companies. Now the Belizean government is seeking to reverse a court ruling preventing them allowing oil exploration, logging or …
As Paris prepares for COP21 in Paris, Marc Brightman finds that the city is in the grip of a benign but ignorant authoritarianism that is ready to trample on much-loved green spaces like the Bois Dormoy, reclaimed from dereliction by the multicultural local community, which represent real solutions to the global problems of food, climate, the future of our cities, and our place in nature.
… for COP21 in Paris, Marc Brightman finds that the city is in the grip of a benign but ignorant … to trample on much-loved green spaces like the Bois Dormoy, reclaimed from dereliction by …
Turkey's Gezi Park protestors are finding common cause with Kurdish communities, writes Rosa Wild. Both are suffering from Erdogan's annihilation of land, forests, parks and cities in pursuit of economic growth. A new eco-democratic resistance is taking root.
… and conservative, run deep. But Gezi and the Kurdish movement stand on the same side in AKP's divided nation and people keep coming to protest. The protest camp has been here for several …
Venezuela is set to hand over 12% of the nation's territory in the upper reaches of the Amazon rainforest to mining corporations, writes Lucio Marcello, with 150 companies from 35 countries poised to devastate the army-controlled 'special economic zone'. But resistance is growing, and a counter-proposal aims to protect the area's precious biodiversity, indigenous cultures and water resources in a new South Orinoco Mega Reserve.
… Saving the Venezuelan Amazon: mega-nature reserve? Or … Venezuela is set to hand over 12% of the nation's territory in the upper reaches of the Amazon rainforest to …
China led the reclamation of the largest abandoned rice farm in Mozambique, with the blessing of the authorities. But now the company involved is accused of land grabbing and displacing thousands. Cecilia Anesi and Andrea Fama report
… News handecologist480x360-1.jpg China led the reclamation of the largest abandoned rice farm in Mozambique, with the blessing of the authorities. But now the …
The practical evidence suggests agroforestry in the UK has got something to offer both commercial farmers and smallholders alike. The challenge now, says Ed Hamer, is how to encourage sceptical farmers that planting trees across farmland is a good idea
… Investigations istock_000002151884large.jpg The practical evidence suggests agroforestry in the UK has got something to offer both … commercial farmers and smallholders alike. The challenge now, says Ed Hamer, is how to …
The white rhino is in deep trouble after a new surge of poaching. But the fact that it's there at all is largely thanks to one man: Ian Player, who saved the white rhino from near-certain extinction in the 1960's. Earlier this year Nicola Graydon met Dr Player at his home in South Africa, to record his last major interview.
… River of Life: Ian Player, saviour of the white rhino Nicola Graydon | 5th December … Africa Conservation Biodiversity a53-cut.jpg The white rhino is in deep trouble after a new surge of poaching. But the fact that it's there at all is largely …
Western consumers are inadvertently driving the Sumatran elephant to extinction by eating, washing and wearing - in cosmetics - the derivatives of a fruit that is destroying the animal's last remaining forest habitat. Jim Wickens reports
… Western consumers are inadvertently driving the Sumatran elephant to extinction by eating, washing and wearing - in cosmetics - the derivatives of a fruit that is destroying the animal's last remaining forest habitat. …
Financed by the World Bank, the Kenya Forest Service has intensified its illegal campaign of evictions, arson, beatings and arrests of the Sengwer forest people of the Embobut forest, Dean Puckett reports from the Cherangani Hills. And behind the violence lies the lure of hard cash - from the prospect of selling the forest's carbon to international financiers.
… evicted, beaten, imprisoned - paid for by the World Bank Dean Puckett REDD Monitor | 7th … Change Finance embobut1-cut.jpg Financed by the World Bank, the Kenya Forest Service has intensified its …
The plight of Kenya's Sengwer people shows that carbon offsets generated by 'sustainable' forest management are empowering a corporate recolonisation of the South backed by the World Bank against its own guidelines, writes Nafeez Ahmed. Indigenous forest peoples are at risk of genocide while corporations let rip.
… Carbon Finance torched-sengwer-home.png The plight of Kenya's Sengwer people shows … are empowering a corporate recolonisation of the South backed by the World Bank against its own guidelines, …
We must beware an 'environmental' agenda that excludes the human dimension, Pope Francis writes in his recent Encyclical: the poor are least to blame for the ecological and climate crises, yet they are its primary victims. Humanity must make enduring decisions about the world we and our children will share.
… Social and environmental justice: the struggle is one! Pope Francis | 28th June … an 'environmental' agenda that excludes the human dimension, Pope Francis writes in his recent Encyclical: the poor are least to blame for the ecological …