The Arab-Israeli dispute is a conflict about land - and maybe just as crucially the water which flows through that land.
Former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali may not have been right when he said in the 1990s that the next war in the Middle East would be about water not politics, but a future war over water is not out of the question.
Demand for water already outstrips supply, requirements are rising and current supply is unsustainable.
Martin Asser - BBC News
Friday, 11 January 2008
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Japan to help Tuvalu
The ABC reports that Japan plans to give $11 billion over the next 5 years to countries suffering from the effects of climate change.
As well as countries like China and Indonesia, Japan plans to assist the Pacific island country of Tuvalu, which is made up of 9 islands totalling 26 square km and with a population of only 11,000.
Tuvalu's people fear that with seas rising their country is destined to disappear and that they will become climate change refugees.
Last year, the previous Australian government of John Howard refused to even meet the Tuvaluans to discuss the issue.
Let's hope the new Rudd government may change its tune on Tuvalu.
As well as countries like China and Indonesia, Japan plans to assist the Pacific island country of Tuvalu, which is made up of 9 islands totalling 26 square km and with a population of only 11,000.
Tuvalu's people fear that with seas rising their country is destined to disappear and that they will become climate change refugees.
Last year, the previous Australian government of John Howard refused to even meet the Tuvaluans to discuss the issue.
Let's hope the new Rudd government may change its tune on Tuvalu.
Make that 1.322 billion Aussies and Chinese
And now Australia's new environment minister, former rock star Peter Garrett, is planning to ban plastic bags in Australia, The Age reports.
That will be another 22 million people to stop using plastic bags to add to China's 1.3 billion - or more precisely 1,319,175,336 and counting.
That will be another 22 million people to stop using plastic bags to add to China's 1.3 billion - or more precisely 1,319,175,336 and counting.
1.3 billion Chinese to stop using plastic bags
The BBC reports that the Chinese State Council or Cabinet will ban shops from handing out free plastic bags from June this year.
People will be encouraged to use baskets or reusable cloth bags for their shopping.
China was using huge quantities of plastic bags each year, the State Council said.
"Plastic shopping bags, due to reasons such as excessive use and inefficient recycling, have caused serious energy and resources waste and environment pollution," it said.
People will be encouraged to use baskets or reusable cloth bags for their shopping.
China was using huge quantities of plastic bags each year, the State Council said.
"Plastic shopping bags, due to reasons such as excessive use and inefficient recycling, have caused serious energy and resources waste and environment pollution," it said.
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Wake up and take a lead: British Anglican bishop
Wolverhampton Anglican Bishop Clive Gregory has published a pastoral letter to his Lichfield diocese in which he warns of environmental "catastrophe" but also says that there is still time to respond.
Quoting St Paul he says that it is time to "wake from sleep".
"Who should be the most committed environmentalists?" he asks.
"Those whose vocation is to be stewards of God's wonderful creation."
Quoting St Paul he says that it is time to "wake from sleep".
"Who should be the most committed environmentalists?" he asks.
"Those whose vocation is to be stewards of God's wonderful creation."
Muhammad Yunus on Microcredit
Microcredit pioneer and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh has published a new book Creating a world without poverty which is reviewed in the Austin American Statesman.
In his book Yunus tells the story of the foundation of the Grameen Bank which pioneered microcredit among Bangladeshi women and which has been instrumental in reducing poverty in that country.
More recently, Yunus says, the microcredit industry has extended its focus to "social businesses" that endeavour to chart a middle path between profit making businesses and social welfare charities.
"Such businesses engage in commercial activities with the purpose of creating a social good. Unlike charities, however, they don't depend on contributions — they aim at self-sufficiency, and expand depending on how much they take in," says book reviewer Roger Graham.
Yunus distinguishes the social business approach from that of hybrid businesses that aim for both profit and charity because these "hybrids quickly become for-profit entities, disguising themselves behind a set of good intentions".
Monday, 7 January 2008
Big plans for Jesuits on environment
Catholic religious order, the Jesuits, are about to hold their General Congregation which is in effect a worldwide council of all their members where they will also elect a new "general" to replace the retiring Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the National Catholic Reporter says.
The Congregation will also set the direction for the Jesuits in coming years. It will discuss 262 "postulates" or proposals. Of these 42 concern justice issues and another 41 deal with environmental questions.
Let's keep an eye on reports from the Congregation over the next few weeks.
The Congregation will also set the direction for the Jesuits in coming years. It will discuss 262 "postulates" or proposals. Of these 42 concern justice issues and another 41 deal with environmental questions.
Let's keep an eye on reports from the Congregation over the next few weeks.
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