Is it possible to diminish world hunger and save the global environment? A new intergovernmental report aims to set the agenda for the future of global food production. The report, which has been undertaken over four years, looks at the potential of agricultural knowledge, science and technology to reduce hunger and poverty and improve rural livelihoods, whilst working towards environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development. Over 400 experts have contributed to the International essment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development.
www.agassessment.org
Duration : 0:5:56
Read the rest of this entry »
Meratus Mountain Area, Kalimantan, Indonesia
The Dayak Meratus communities have created co-operatives that protect local resources and develop business institutions. The communities use non-timber forest products such as rubber to generate sustainable livelihoods. However, the encroachment of private businesses on the local forestland for large scale oil palm plantations, mining and forest concessions threaten their way of life and have forced them to respond.
See more on www.gekkovoices.com
Duration : 0:3:11
Read the rest of this entry »
Indigenous (or adivashi) communities were among people from Bangladeshs isolated south-eastern Chittagong Hill Tract Area taking part in a mass meeting to voice their concerns about climate change and the impact its having on their native forest lands.
Nearly 1,000 people, mainly indigenous groups, took part in the activity, which included local cultural performances.
Some carried banners calling for indusrialised nations to open their borders so that poor and vulnerable communities adversely affected by climatic changes and forced to move from their lands or climate refugees could find alternative and safer locations for their families.
Others held banners calling on the worlds richest countries to drastically cut their greenhouse gas emissions and compensate poor nations like Bangladesh. They urged financial help to allow communities to protect themselves from the negative impacts caused by rising sea levels, including unpredictable weather patterns and flash flooding.
Marginalised indigenous villagers in the Chittagong Hill Tract areas say weather patterns have become unpredictable and flash flooding has increased in recent years, causing land erosion and damaging their crops livelihoods.
People are already worried about climate change. It affects their livelihoods, said Arun Kanti Chakma, executive director of the istance for the Livelihood of the Origins (ALO), one of the event organizers.
Already cultivation is being affected, people are not getting good crop production because of irregular rainfall and sometimes very heavy rainfall, or no rain at all. Its become a big problem for us and people here are already among the most marginalized.
The climate change protest was organized by Oxfam and the Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), an alliance of more than 150 civic groups, in the run up to the United Nations conference on climate change in Poznan, Poland.
In the last few years Bangladesh, already prone to cyclones and other weather-disasters, has seen an increase in the intensity and frequency of climate related problems. Changing conditions have meant weather-related disasters have become less predictable and more difficult to manage. A lack of information and resources makes it harder for the poorest communities to prepare or respond to increased hazards.
Duration : 0:1:34
Read the rest of this entry »
Francisco (’Chico’) Whitaker Ferreira is a Roman Catholic activist, who has worked for democracy and against corruption throughout his life, both at home in Brazil and in exile. As Executive Secretary to the National Council of Brazilian Bishop’s (CNBB) Commission of Justice and Peace (CBJP) Whitaker has been instrumental in the conception, development, and implementation of an anti-corruption bill in Brazil. He is also co-founder of the burgeoning World Social Forum (WSF) a large conference event, parallel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, to share the various insights of those from around the world who are working for alternatives to “world domination by capital, within the parameters of neoliberalism”. The idea has been a great success and the annual Forums have become platforms for civil society organizations from all around the world to exchange views, form coalitions, work on concrete strategies and coordinate campaigns. He received the “Right Livelihood” Award in 2006.
Duration : 0:3:37
Read the rest of this entry »
http://www.authornation.com/jamesgoijr In this series, James Goi Jr., author of “How to Attract Money Using Mind Power”, discusses the 20 subjects which make up the chapters of his book. These are informal, and informative, talks on metaphysics and the mind power/money connection.
Duration : 0:9:21
Read the rest of this entry »
Villagers in Viet Nam’s Lam Dong Province are seeing their incomes rise under a new initiative that enhances families’ livelihoods while protecting the surrounding forests. The project is part of ADB’s Poverty and Environment Program.
Duration : 0:2:45
Read the rest of this entry »
All Things Being Equal, A Holistic Approach is Best.
There is a small but growing group of farmers, ranchers and land managers who are challenging both environmentalists and traditional ranchers to change the debate on overgrazing and land degradation. This trailer highlights four individuals that have embarked on a new, more holistic strategy to save their farms, heal the land and improve their overall quality of life. They make a compelling case that cattle and other grazers can and do have a positive impact on the environment and provide a sustainable income for farmers and their communities.
The completed video (coming February 2009) will be a practical guide specifically for the rancher but will also provide food for thought for policy makers, environmentalists, scientists or anyone who is interested in the environmental health of grazing lands and the communities and livelihood that it supports.
Duration : 0:5:39
Read the rest of this entry »
The video is part of the Global Nature Fund’s project to restore mangrove forests and livelihoods in Sri Lanka after the Tsunami of 2004.
The project aims at the re-establishment of livelihoods of affected communities, restoration of Tsunami affected areas and long-term environmental education. The main target groups are about 1,000 families from poor communities in the lake areas of Bolgoda, Maduganga and Madampe in Sri Lanka. A central goal is to improve the peoples self-reliance, mitigate poverty effects, increase long-term access of people to sustainable use of natural resources and protect the local communities against potential disasters by the implementation of precautionary measures.
Among the main activities are the installation of mangrove nurseries, the re-plantation of damaged mangrove forests and the establishment and operation of regional education centres. The latter serves to educate and inform the local people of negative impacts from logging in forested areas and coral reef harvesting in order to reduce or avoid them as far as possible. The project results will be transferred to the Tsunami affected Pulicat region in India.
Duration : 0:10:0
Read the rest of this entry »
Part six of the CONCERT FOR INDIA’S ENVIRONMENT’. “We cannot expect local people, the poorest of the poor, to pay the price of conservation in our country”. (Dr Erach Bharucha)
Duration : 0:4:34
Read the rest of this entry »
Excerpts from 45-min. documentary produced in the framework of the Project “Post Tsunami Restoration of Mangroves, Education and Reestablishment of Livelihoods in Sri Lanka” funded by the EU-Comission in the frame of the Asia Pro Ec II B Post Tsunami Programme.
A project of Global Nature Fund
in collaboration with Nagenahiru Foundation and EMACE Foundation of Sri Lanka
Visit www.globalnature.org for information about Global Nature Fund projects and the International Living Lakes Network.
Duration : 0:10:0
Read the rest of this entry »