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Author |
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Section |
Victoria Falling
Climate change, deforestation, erosion take toll on African landscape |
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10 Jun 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:01 PM on 10 Jun 2008 A new United Nations atlas depicts alarming changes to Africa's landscape. On a continent that produces a mere 4 percent of the world's greenhouse-gas emissions, significant landmarks are taking a hit from climate change: Lake Chad and Lake Victoria are shrinking each year, and Mt. Kilimanjaro could be snow-free by 2020. The deforestation rate in Africa is twice the world aver ... |
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| Topics: Africa, agriculture, climate, climate change impacts, deforestation, news, United Nations (all these topics) |
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Hard to Stomach
Federal food-aid package promotes GMOs |
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19 May 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:09 AM on 19 May 2008 A $770 million food-aid package proposed by the Bush administration may also aid U.S. agribiz, as the feds have slipped in language promoting the use of genetically modified crops in developing countries. Proponents of bioengineering say that GM crops are hardier in harsh climates and can produce higher yields; opponents say that just ain't the case. The food-aid package must be approved by Congress, and eve ... |
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| Topics: Africa, agriculture, Big Ag, food, GMOs, legislation, news, politics (all these topics) |
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Do the Congo?
Gigantic hydropower dam planned for Congo River |
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21 Apr 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 2:44 PM on 21 Apr 2008 Some of the world's largest banks and construction firms gathered with seven African governments Monday to chat about plans for an $80 billion hydroelectric dam on the Congo River. The proposed Grand Inga dam could generate twice the electricity of China's controversial Three Gorges Dam and greatly increase the amount of cheap and clean power currently available in Africa, according to supporters. &qu ... |
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| Topics: Africa, Congo, dams, energy, hydropower, news (all these topics) |
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The natural resource curse is such a bitch
Oil and the status of women in the Middle East |
Nathan Wyeth |
03 Mar 2008 |
Gristmill |
| I'm not sure this falls under my 'campus news' beat for Grist, but I heard it at a seminar at a college campus, and it's compelling enough that I'm going to say that because it falls within academia, it counts. Michael Ross is a political scientist at UCLA who was published in the February 2008 American Political Science Review with the assertion (PDF) that much of the gender inequality in the Middle East relative to the rest of the world can be explained not by tradi ... |
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| Topics: Africa, Middle East, international politics, politics, environmental justice, energy, oil (all these topics) |
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Deep thought of the day
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David Roberts |
25 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
| When tallying up the costs and benefits of climate change (and mitigating climate change), economists generally use GDP figures. If the entire continent of Africa was wiped out, that would shave about 2-4% off of global GDP. Would that count as a large cost or a small one? |
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| Topics: Africa, economy (all these topics) |
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They're Coming 'Round on Mountain Gorillas
Nations launch new combined effort to save mountain gorillas |
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21 Feb 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 7:16 AM on 21 Feb 2008 The three African nations that still have mountain gorilla populations have agreed to cooperate on a new plan to save the critically endangered primates. Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo hatched a 10-year program to enhance security in the parks and forests that the gorillas call home, as well as other measures. The countries have also ... |
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| Topics: Africa, endangered species, news, wildlife (all these topics) |
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On Africa, fair trade, and today's runways
High fashion around the globe |
Summer Rayne Oakes |
04 Feb 2008 |
Gristmill |
| It's been a few months since the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris, but I had a nice chat recently with French fashion designer Annabel Gerenthon, who debuted her fair-trade shoe label Moyi Ekolo there. Annabel was the former fashion designer at Charles Jourdan before it was sold in 2003. Now she's on her own and starting shoes from scratch. The vegetable-tanned leather used in the collection's cute ballerina flats and boots is sourced from a social project in Namibi ... |
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| Topics: Africa, fashion, green living (all these topics) |
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More on the fishing subsidies problem
There's a large human cost to subsidizing European fishing fleets in West Africa |
Andrew Sharpless |
14 Jan 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Today's front page New York Times story -- 'Europe Takes Africa's Fish, and Boatloads of Migrants Follow' -- chronicles the human cost of overfishing. Fueled by billions in government subsidies, European fleets empty out West African waters, leaving nothing for subsistence fishermen. I wrote about this in an earlier post, but it's an important enough issue to warrant reiteration. Wasteful subsidies promote mismanagement on both the European and African sid ... |
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| Topics: Africa, fishing, international politics, oceans, politics (all these topics) |
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Mirror, Mirror, on the Sand
Solar project in African desert could supply clean energy to Europe |
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04 Dec 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 1:12 PM on 04 Dec 2007 A string of gigantic solar generators in the northern African desert could cleanly supply one-sixth of Europe's electricity needs, say backers of a project called Desertec. The project relies on concentrated solar power, in which giant mirrors focus the sun's rays on pillars filled with water, creating steam, which drives turbines, which generate electricity. In the ... |
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| Topics: Africa, energy, European Union, innovation, news, renewable energy, solar thermal power (all these topics) |
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A Jolly Good Rockefeller
Rockefeller Foundation offers climate aid to Asia, Africa |
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10 Aug 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| A Jolly Good Rockefeller Rockefeller Foundation offers climate aid to Asia, Africa Comin' on over to the dirty-hippie side, the Rockefeller Foundation has announced an investment of $70 million over the next five years to help communities in Asia and Africa withstand the effects of climate change. The foundation will focus on developing adaptation strategies for affected pop ... |
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| Topics: Africa, Asia, climate, climate change adaptation, climate change impacts, news (all these topics) |
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Freight Fright
Organic farmers in Africa fear for their livelihoods as U.K. frets over food miles |
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03 Aug 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Freight Fright Organic farmers in Africa fear for their livelihoods as U.K. frets over food miles Small-scale organic farmers in Kenya and other African countries are waiting anxiously to find out whether the U.K.'s main organic certifier, the Soil Association, will withdraw organic certification from food items that are flown in from far-flung regions. Concerned that the ai ... |
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| Topics: Africa, agriculture, England, food, local food, news, organic food, shopping (all these topics) |
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You Can Poach an Egg, But You Shouldn't Poach an Elephant
Elephants massacred as ivory trade picks up |
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28 Feb 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| You Can Poach an Egg, But You Shouldn't Poach an Elephant Elephants massacred as ivory trade picks up As many as 23,000 elephants may have been killed in just one year, as an international effort to stem the ivory trade has fallen to the wayside, particularly in Africa. Increased demand for white tuskiness in Japan and China, combined with declining funding for anti-poaching programs, has overwhelmed the intenti ... |
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| Topics: Africa, endangered species, news, wildlife (all these topics) |
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Kenya Screw Me Now?
African farmers fear impact of U.K. supermarkets buying local |
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22 Feb 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Kenya Screw Me Now? African farmers fear impact of U.K. supermarkets buying local Last month, British supermarket giant Tesco announced a few changes it's making with the climate in mind, including limiting flown-in food. Which is all well and good, unless you're a farmer in Africa wondering what the hell is going on. Some fear that moves in the industrial world meant to reduce the carbon footprint -- an ... |
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| Topics: Africa, food and agriculture, news, United Kingdom (all these topics) |
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Get Out of Jail Fee
Dutch company pays nearly $200 million to help resolve Ivory Coast mess |
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15 Feb 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Get Out of Jail Fee Dutch company pays nearly $200 million to help resolve Ivory Coast mess Six months after toxic sludge was pumped from a ship and dumped in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, leading to 10 deaths and thousands of poisonings, the company responsible will pay the country nearly $200 million. Oops, did we say responsible? Trafigura, the Dutch-based company that chartered the ship o' death, says the fee is not an admission of guilt. ... |
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| Topics: Africa, news, toxics (all these topics) |
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Their Day in Cote
Groundwork begins for Ivory Coast toxic-dumping lawsuit |
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08 Jan 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Their Day in Cote Groundwork begins for Ivory Coast toxic-dumping lawsuit It's been almost five months since a cargo ship dumped over 400 tons of toxic "slops" in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, leaving at least 10 people dead and more than 40,000 ill. At the time, residents of the African nation responded by blockading streets, burning stuff, and collapsing their government. Now that's direct action ... |
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| Topics: Africa, environmental justice, news, politics, toxics (all these topics) |
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Do You Zaire What I Zaire?
Africa already feeling effects of climate change, will be hit harder |
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07 Nov 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Do You Zaire What I Zaire? Africa already feeling effects of climate change, will be hit harder While some people question whether climate change is happening, many Africans are already beginning to feel its effects -- and, says a new U.N. report, the continent is at greater risk than previously thought. Some 480 million Africans could face water-security issues by 2025 and more than 70 million may be at risk from co ... |
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| Topics: Africa, climate, news, United Nations (all these topics) |
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The Amazing Technicolor Dream Cote
Ivory Coast scandal highlights illegal dumping of toxic waste |
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28 Sep 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| The Amazing Technicolor Dream Cote Ivory Coast scandal highlights illegal dumping of toxic waste The recent dumping of toxic oil byproducts and subsequent deaths of eight citizens in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, has highlighted the shady world of illegal toxic-waste disposal. The practice of unloading nasties on developing countries was addressed by the U.N.'s Basel Convention in 1989 (you remember that one), ... |
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| Topics: Africa, globalization, news, toxics, United Nations (all these topics) |
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The Revolution Will Be Criticized
Why the new 'Green Revolution' in Africa may be misguided |
Tom Philpott |
27 Sep 2006 |
Victual Reality |
| Why the new "Green Revolution" in Africa may be misguided By Tom Philpott 27 Sep 2006 In a bid to move "tens of millions of people out of extreme poverty" and "significantly" reduce hunger, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has teamed with the Rockefeller Foundation to launch a new "Green Revolution" in Africa. These high-profile foundations have committed a combined $150 million toward fulfilling their admirable ... |
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| Topics: Africa, agriculture, industrial ag, international politics, Victual Reality (all these topics) |
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Sludge, Jury, and Executioner
Toxic waste dumping in Ivory Coast unleashes chaos |
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19 Sep 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Sludge, Jury, and Executioner Toxic waste dumping in Ivory Coast unleashes chaos Chaos still reigns in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, a month after 400 tons of toxic waste were illegally dumped at 14 open-air sites near residential areas. The black sludge -- petroleum waste containing hydrogen sulfide and hydrocarbons -- is letting off fumes that have sickened tens of thousands, killed seven, and angered countless others. ... |
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| Topics: Africa, news, pollution and waste, toxics (all these topics) |
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How Do You Solve a Problem Like Malaria?
World Health Organization endorses controlled use of DDT to fight malaria |
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18 Sep 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| How Do You Solve a Problem Like Malaria? World Health Organization endorses controlled use of DDT to fight malaria Reversing a 30-year-old policy, the World Health Organization on Friday announced that the pesticide DDT, used indoors in moderation, is critical to fighting malaria, and argued that such use won't harm people or the environment. Applied to the inside walls of dwellings once or twice a year, DD ... |
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| Topics: Africa, news, toxics, World Health Organization (all these topics) |
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Ivory Cower
Ivory Coast government resigns after dumped toxic-waste sickens hundreds |
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07 Sep 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Ivory Cower Ivory Coast government resigns after dumped toxic-waste sickens hundreds Fumes from toxic waste that was recently dumped around Abidjan, Ivory Coast, have killed three people and sickened more than 1,500. Under criticism that the government failed to act decisively, Ivorian Interim Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny took the unprecedented step of dissolving his cabinet, and will form a new government today. (Per ... |
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| Topics: Africa, news, politics, toxics (all these topics) |
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DDT Time
DDT poised for a comeback to fight malaria in Africa |
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02 Aug 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| DDT Time DDT poised for a comeback to fight malaria in Africa Hoping to gain ground in the fight against malaria, the World Health Organization will soon endorse the spraying of DDT in small amounts inside homes in afflicted areas. In May, the U.S. Agency for International Development made a similar endorsement. Malaria, spread by mosquitoes, kills as many as a million people a year, 90 percent of them in A ... |
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| Topics: Africa, news, toxics, World Health Organization (all these topics) |
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Beleaguered of Nations
Britain pledges to involve poor countries in fighting climate change |
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13 Jul 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Beleaguered of Nations Britain pledges to involve poor countries in fighting climate change Climate change ain't gonna be pretty for any of us, but it will have an especially devastating impact on Africa: more extreme weather patterns will cause food insecurity, income loss, higher death rates, and more diseases. Calling the impacts of climate change on poor nations "a global ethical challenge," British Sec ... |
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| Topics: Africa, climate, news, United Kingdom (all these topics) |
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Hey, Poacher, Leave Those Squids Alone
Pirates cause a social and environmental ruckus in Africa |
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23 Jun 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Hey, Poacher, Leave Those Squids Alone Pirates cause a social and environmental ruckus in Africa There's lots of money involved in commercial fishing off African coastlines -- a full trawler can bring in over $400,000. The high stakes, poor regulation, and lack of coast guards lure "pirates," foreign anglers who bully locals and deplete area fish stocks illegally. Many unlicensed ves ... |
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| Topics: Africa, Greenpeace, marine life, news, oceans, Sierra Leone (all these topics) |
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Ah, Summer in Rwanda
African nations try to bring in eco-tourists |
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12 Jun 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Ah, Summer in Rwanda African nations try to bring in eco-tourists African nations are hoping to boost their economies by attracting the ecologically curious, following the example of nations like Costa Rica, which thrives on ecotourism. The island nation of Madagascar has boosted protection of forests and wetlands and boasts biodiversity rivaled only by the rainforests of Brazil. Other countries r ... |
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| Topics: Africa, Conservation International, news, Rwanda, travel (all these topics) |
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