Another victory for the anti-GMO lobby as the bulk of the EU members rejec tdangerous GM plants! Monsanto and the GMO agribusiness cartel have suffered a major new defeat as two-thirds of the 28 EU member states have opted for a full ban on GMO crops. This according to the terms of new Brussels rules allowing national decision on the toxic agro-technology. The bans … [Read more...]
Banks for bean counters
In the early 1970s Asia’s rice farmers faced ruin. The brown planthopper, an insect up till then found mostly in Japan, began to appear across the region. It fed on young plants and transmitted grassy stunt virus, causing crops to shrivel and brown. As it swept through Asia’s paddy fields, yields crashed. By the end of the decade it had caused damage costing over $300m—more … [Read more...]
These are the countries most at risk from climate change
Climate change can affect countries and regions in terms of economic and environmental impact. Standard & Poor's has assessed the effects of climate change on a country's economy by evaluating the percentage of population living in coastal areas, the percentage of agriculture that makes up a country's gross domestic product and the vulnerability index developed by the … [Read more...]
How will Africa adapt to green energy?
US President Barack Obama has unveiled a final set of rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions in a big initiative which would form a major plank of his legacy as he winds down his term in office. In what has been termed the strongest action ever taken in the United States to combat climate change, the rules will see the country’s hundreds of coal-fired—and polluting—power … [Read more...]
The bio-fuel start-up that sells cooking gas by the rucksack
Inside a large ramshackle shed a struck match is held to the end of a metal pipe, and a faint blue flame springs into life. Zenebech Alemayehu smiles, puts her finger tips to her lips, then towards the flame, a symbolic kiss for her new biogas business. A single mother with a nine-year-old son to look after, Ms Zenebech, 32, recently bought an Ethiopian franchise from a … [Read more...]
Africa advised to take DIY approach to climate resilience
African countries would do well to take their own lead in finding ways to better adapt to and mitigate the changes that climate may impose on future generations instead of relying only on foreign aid. This was one of the messages that rang out during the international scientific conference on ‘Our Common Future under Climate Change’ held earlier this month in Paris, six … [Read more...]
Archbishop Tutu wants renewable energy target of 100% by 2050
Climate change is one of the greatest moral challenges of our time. It threatens the health of our planet and people; especially the poorest and most vulnerable. It threatens our children’s future and everything we hold dear. It is time for all of us to wake up and take action together — in our local communities, nationally and globally, as well as in our daily lives. Moral … [Read more...]
Man-made climate change: 4 continents hit by historic droughts
Four continents around the world are currently experiencing historic droughts affecting millions of people, and experts warn that this is the effect of man-made climate change. Severe dry spells are being felt not only in North America, but also in South America, Asia and Africa. Peter Gleick, president of the global water think tank Pacific Institute based in Oakland, … [Read more...]
Experts flay Nigeria’s dalliance with coal
Nigeria’s decision to adopt coal as alternative source of generating electricity has attracted several reactions among industry players over the long term health and environmental effects on host communities. The stakeholders who gathered on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, to brainstorm the preferred energy mix for the country raised worrisome questions, particularly … [Read more...]
One last chance to thwart the great African seed grab
Nineteen African nations met this week in Arusha, Tanzania, to finalise a 'plant protection' protocol that would open up the continent's seeds to corporate interests, taking away farmers' rights to grow, improve, sell and exchange their traditional seeds, while allowing commercial breeders to make free use of the biodiversity they embody, to sell them back to farmers in … [Read more...]
Electrifying Africa: the hunt for the off-grid solution
Worldwide 1.1 billion people continue to live without access to electricity. More than 95% of those without access to electricity live in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia. While progress is being made, rapid population growth continues to challenge that progress. Perhaps needless to say but the most significant depravation is amongst rural communities. The … [Read more...]
Will you join Pope Francis in the call for climate action?
Reacting to the Pope's Encyclical on the environment, Michael O’Brien Onyeka, Executive Director at Greenpeace Africa, said: "Greenpeace welcomes the valuable intervention of Pope Francis in humanity's common struggle to prevent catastrophic climate change. This first encyclical on the environment brings the world a step closer to that tipping point where we abandon fossil … [Read more...]
Collective efforts needed to reduce plastic litter in the oceans
“South Africa has what it takes to become one of the world leaders in reducing the amount of litter that ends up in our oceans. Not only do we possess some of the most beautiful, diverse and dramatic coastlines in the world – teeming with a wide variety of different marine animals – but we also have private individuals, companies, research institutions and government … [Read more...]
