August 2011
In 1997 a British barrister uttered three words that left my sister and me speechless and gave us a glimpse of the future.
Four years ago a peaceful street demonstration in Uganda against a government plan to allow the clearance of an area of important rainforest went badly wrong, leaving at least three people dead and several wounded.
When it comes to forest governance — who gets to decide what about forests — REDD is a pleasant dream for some, a nightmare for others. I think it is depends on how you see the money and the leverage.
As Libyan rebels prepare for the final act in the downfall of Gaddafi’s regime — defenders of the pro-Gaddafi stronghold, Sirte, have until Saturday (3 September) to surrender — questions are already being raised about the country’s future. In particular, asking how the country can successfully move from Gaddafi’s autocratic and corrupt rule to a democratic constitutional order and an economy that brings prosperity for all.
A new IIED briefing paper asks some hard questions about biomass investments and warns that rising demand for renewable energy sources could drive land grabs.
An issue that cannot be ignored