News headlines for “Consumption and Consumerism”, page 36
Micro-Dams, a Solution to Water Shortages in Rural Brazil
- Inter Press Service
SETE LAGOAS, Brazil, Aug 18 (IPS) - Water shortage is over, springs have emerged or become perennial, small ponds with fish have formed and pastures have become greener and more permanent, all thanks to the ‘barraginhas', the Portuguese name given in Brazil to micro-dams that retain rainwater and infiltrate it into the soil.
Origins of the Gaza Catastrophe - Part 1
- Inter Press Service
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Aug 16 (IPS) - During the first half of the 20th century, antisemitism was endemic in Europe and eventually burst out in full force when Nazi-Germany and its collaborators between 1941 and 1945 systematically (and well-documented) murdered six million Jews across German-occupied Europe.
In an environment mined by hostile public opinion, the Zionist Nahum Sokolow popularized the Hebrew term Hasbara. The word has no real equivalent in English, but might be translated as "explaining", indicating a strategy seeking to explain actions, regardless whether or not they are justified.
As a skilled diplomat, Sokolow based his widely publicized opinions on in-depth research of actual events, though he presented his findings in a manner that favoured his cause.
Dealing with Bangladesh’s Odious Debt
- Inter Press Service
SYDNEY, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON DC, Aug 16 (IPS) - Bangladesh has become increasingly indebted since 2009. The country's external debt stock increased from US$23.3 billion in 2008 to US$100.6 billion in December 2023 (see figure below). Thanks to the country's mega-projects led so-called development with borrowed money under the now deposed authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina.
Gender Equality Has Everything To Do with Climate Change
- Inter Press Service
NAIROBI, Aug 16 (IPS) - After years of reporting on the frontlines of climate change, I have witnessed the devastating impact extreme weather events have on women and girls. In Kenya's pastoralist communities in far-flung areas of Northern Kenya, West Pokot, Samburu and Narok counties, droughts mean a resurgence in harmful cultural practices such as outlawed female genital mutilation (FGM), beading and child marriages.
How the Private Sector Can Create Jobs and Drive Development in Western & Central Africa
- Inter Press Service
WASHINGTON DC, Aug 16 (IPS) - Every year in Western and Central Africa6 million young people enter the labor force, while only about half a million new jobs are created. This enormous jobs deficit means that most entrants into the workforce work in the informal sector, with insecure income, low quality employment, and very little hope of escaping poverty.
Yemen Crisis Brings Small Reprieve for Entrepreneurial Women
- Inter Press Service
TORONTO, Aug 16 (IPS) - Once upon a time, the Sheba (Seba'a) Kingdom (today's Yemen) had a prominent queen. Women, in the presence of men, were held in a higher position, literally.
Ensuring a Healthier Future By Sustaining the Fight Against NTDs
- Inter Press Service
HOVE, United Kingdom, Aug 14 (IPS) - The outgoing Executive Director of Uniting to Combat NTDs reflects on a decade at the helm of a global advocacy organisation dedicated to ending neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Over the last ten years, I have been privileged to witness incredible progress in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) – a journey marked by unwavering dedication, resilience, and hope.
Rizwana Hasan Vows to Ensure Justice for Those Killed During Bangladesh’s Quota Reform Movement
- Inter Press Service
DHAKA, Aug 14 (IPS) - Justice for all those who died and suffered injuries during the recent student-led quota reform movement in Bangladesh and reforms to the systems to ensure that this justice takes place are not negotiable, an adviser to the Bangladesh interim government, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, told IPS in an exclusive interview
Handling Financial Crises in the South
- Inter Press Service
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug 14 (IPS) - When history repeats itself, the first time is a tragedy; the next is a farce. If we fail to learn from past financial crises, we risk making avoidable errors, often with irreversible, even tragic consequences.
Empowering Africa’s Informal Market Traders To Deliver Safe Food
- Inter Press Service
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, Aug 13 (IPS) - Local informal food markets feed millions of urbanites in bustling African cities, but the consequences of tainted food could be illness and death for unsuspecting consumers.