In July, the people that control the budgets of the world’s 20 richest countries – Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors – will meet to discuss how they will spend public money. In the midst of a global health pandemic, where people have lost so much, will they opt for a ‘business as usual recovery’ and bail out industries that drive climate crisis and inequality – or … [Read more...]
Climate litigation creates a strong mandate for global climate action
Two years ago, a courageous law student, Sarah Thomson (pictured, right), sued the New Zealand Government over its weak climate targets. Now she’s made history. On 2 November, 2017, the High Court of New Zealand issued a game-changing ruling. It found that climate change presents significant risks and government actions on climate change are subject to judicial scrutiny. The … [Read more...]
Human rights investigation into climate change proceeds despite fossil fuel opposition
The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHR) today initiated the next steps in the world’s first-ever national investigation into human rights harms resulting from climate change, despite apparent opposition from some fossil fuel companies. A legal petition submitted by 18 individuals and 14 organisations, including Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines) - … [Read more...]
It’s time to break free from fossil fuels
There has never been a better time to break free from fossil fuels. Record-breaking global temperatures, plummeting fossil-fuel prices, historic investments in renewable energy, and global pressure to honour climate pledges are all coming together to create the ideal setting for this world-changing shift. The shift could not be more urgent. The United Nations climate … [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...]
Doc sheds light on Filipino farmers’ GM corn struggles
“We loan the seeds, and pay upon harvest. We are usually left with empty sacks. So we loan for food and family expenses, and inputs to be able to plant for the next season. Upon harvest, we have leftover debt.” This is but one of the numerous testaments of farmers that farmer-scientist group MASIPAG has documented on film about the impact of GM corn in the lives and … [Read more...]
Housing for Christmas in the Philippines
To assist the people of the Philippines who have suffered unimaginable destruction and great personal loss Gift of the Givers has added a further dimension to their highly successful mission to this region. They are launching a project called "Housing for Christmas in the Philippines". In Palompon Island 7000 families have lost their homes in 51 districts. It is indeed … [Read more...]
SA relief team first to help Philippino typhoon victims
South Africa was the first nation this week to reach out with aid after Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, displaced an estimated four million people in the Philippines. First there were the two front runners from Ireland and Denmark preparing for the arrival of the First 20-member Gift of the Givers Team from South Africa on Friday, 15 November. … [Read more...]
Stand with the Philippines
The horror of what's happened in the Philippines is unimaginable. Ten thousand people wiped away by a 25ft wall of water driven by 300km/h winds. A city of 200,000 people looks like a nuclear bomb hit it. It's the worst storm on record, but it's just the beginning, unless we act. Right now the world's powers are in a global climate conference talking about whether to hand … [Read more...]
Philippine typhoon kills estimated 10,000
One of the most powerful storms ever recorded killed at least 10,000 people in the central Philippines, a senior police official said on Sunday, with huge waves sweeping away coastal villages and devastating one of the main cities in the region. Super typhoon Haiyan destroyed about 70 to 80 percent of structures in its path as it tore through Leyte province on Friday, said … [Read more...]
A rough summer for Mindanao
A top-level crisis management team should be assigned in Mindanao to address challenges in areas badly hit by typhoon “Pablo.” The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) aired this proposal yesterday, citing the “rising death toll, the extent of damages, and the looming humanitarian crisis” as a result of the powerful storm. Mindanao is the second largest island in the … [Read more...]
Australian tuna giant cans destructive fishing
John West, one of Australia’s leading canned fish manufacturers, has pledged to stop using destructive fishing methods that needlessly kill sharks, rays, baby tuna and turtles. The commitment means that John West will phase out the use of highly destructive and wasteful Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) used with purse seine nets by 2015. “John West has joined the growing … [Read more...]
