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WHY A LEGALLY BINDING TREATY ON TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS IS SO IMPORTANT
THE DEVIL WILL ACTUALLY BE IN THE DETAILS UN CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS KICK OFF
Stumbling TTIP Friends of the Earth Europe assesses the situation
Small community in Liberia stands strong against land grabbing
SHELL ORDERED TO CUT ITS CO2 EMISSIONS IN HALF BY 2030
REVIVING INDIGENOUS AGROECOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES SULAGAD
MONOCULTURE PLANTATIONS DESTROYING FORESTS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS EAST ASIA
INDUSTRIAL MONOCULTURES IN HONDURAS CONFLICT LANDGRABBING AND PERSECUTION OF PEASANTS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
INDIA ONGOING REPERCUSSIONS AND DEMANDS AFTER MASSIVE FIRE IN OIL WELL
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH WINS HISTORIC RULING AGAINST SHELL IN NIGERIA
COMMUNITIES IN ASIA UNITED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COAL
June 30th marks the full circle of the first year under Philippine president Ferdinand ‘Bongbong' Marcos Jr., son of previously deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The Philippines is both a globally critical hotspot of biodiversity and natural resources, and a historic beacon of democracy and people power in Asia. But the environmental and human rights situation has deteriorated over the past decades, especially under the prior regime of the fascist Rodrigo Duterte, president from 2016 to 2022.
Asia is drowning in plastic, with national production and imports from the global north having devastating environmental and public health impacts. According to a report by Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific, most South and East Asian countries lack proper waste management strategies, regulations and facilities to deal with the plastic waste crisis. Often, communities are forced to resort to open dumping and burning of waste, exposing them to harmful toxins. As a result, waterways and farmlands are being contaminated with plastic pollution, putting people, communities, food production and biodiversity at risk.
Climate litigation is an increasingly common area of environmental law that people are using to hold countries and public corporations to account for contributing to the climate crisis. In 2021, Friends of the Earth Netherlands, known locally as Milieudefensie, won a landmark victory for climate justice in the People VS Shell climate case. Now, Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific member groups are turning to the courts in their struggle for climate justice.
The Philippines has 421 principal rivers spread across 119 proclaimed watersheds. Aside from providing water to drink for 110 million Filipinos, these are also the source of irrigation for almost a million hectares of agricultural lands across the nation, and a significant source of electricity, comprising 10% of the current power mix.
Starting on Monday 10 October through to Thursday, the United Nations Committee on World Food Security (CFS) will hold its 50th session, in Rome, Italy. This year, it faces the challenge of the third massive hunger crisis to hit the world in the past 15 years. But, will it be able to put in motion the structural changes needed to solve this human crisis?
Peace-building is one of the items on the agenda of social movements and organizations in Colombia. After the indigenous uprisings in the north of Cauca department that indigenous representatives called “territorial control actions”, a “Political Seminar for the Construction of a Social Solution and Peace Conference” was organized in the area on August 3 and 4.
Farming in Europe is increasingly dominated by monocultures and factory farms. So what does it mean to be a young small-scale farmer in this context? How can they get the power and resources to produce and distribute food sustainably?
Under the Israeli occupation, the Palestinian people have been denied access to and control over their land and natural resources, especially water, for decades. “Several studies estimate that the benefits for Israelis from natural resources in Palestinian territories amount to more than US$70 billion since 1967,” said the Chairperson of PENGON – Friends of the Earth Palestine, Dr. Abedelrahman Tamimi, in an interview with Real World Radio. Tamimi is also member of the Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG).
The former head of DESA will be sentenced on 3 August. COPINH highlights that the masterminds still need to be prosecuted
The Latin American Coordination of Rural Organizations (CLOC-LVC) denounced the “arbitrary detention” by the Attorney General's Office of Colombia of three well-known leaders of the National Agricultural Coordination (CNA) on December 15.
In early November, Elsa Nury Martínez, Chair of the National Agricultural Union Federation in Colombia (FENSUAGRO) and member of the Latin American Coordination of Rural Organisations (CLOC-Via Campesina), received death threats against her and her family.
Armed group kidnapped the President of the Triunfo de la Cruz Community Board and three other young leaders
“It should not be a crime to be a social leader in Colombia,” said the threatened Chair of FENSUAGRO
In early November, Elsa Nury Martínez, Chair of the National Agricultural Union Federation in Colombia (FENSUAGRO) and member of the Latin American Coordination of Rural Organisations (CLOC-Via Campesina), received death threats against her and her family.
“The Israeli occupation's attacks on Palestinians have massively damaged health facilities and targeted health workers. The ongoing, direct attacks have caused thousands of injuries and hundreds of fatalities, which increases the burden on hospitals,” warned Palestinian researcher in health systems, Aisha Yousif Elbasuoni.
Farming in Palestine, an essential activity for the national economy, was already suffering from military attacks and the Israeli blockade. The sector now faces further damages due to the COVID-19 pandemic and government response measures, including lockdown.
48 hours after the kidnapping and disappearance of Sneider Centeno, President of the Triunfo de la Cruz Community Board and active member of the Black Fraternal Organisation of Honduras (OFRANEH), Real World Radio interviewed fellow OFRANEH member César Benedith, who denounced that they have not yet received “any type of answer from the government.”
Cabo Delgado, the northernmost province of Mozambique, is suffering. The invasion of the transnational gas industry, attacks by extremist groups and military deployment from a government that seems to hate its people, are all creating a frightening breeding ground for murders, forced disappearances, the persecution of journalists and social activists and the displacement of peoples.
New report exposes Human Rights abuses against defenders of territories and peoples´ rights
Mozambique is rapidly becoming one of the Liquified natural gas (LNG) giants of the world. With little international media coverage, oil and gas monsters such as Exxon, Eni, Chevron, Shell and BP are rubbing their hands at the million dollar business prospects in this African country. Ongoing projects, whilst still in their exploration and construction stages, are already displacing local communities and jeopardizing livelihoods, while greenhouse gas emissions are set to grow exponentially in the midst of a climate crisis.
The murder of Maritza Quiroz, leader of the Santa Marta Victims Roundtable, on January 6th, was the sixth political murder that took place in the first week of 2019. The crimes against Colombian territory defenders continue unabated and are a cause of concern for social organizations throughout the country that defend the Peace Agreements signed in 2016 between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and Juan Manuel Santos´ administration.
The one where we hear from the students striking for climate
The leader of the Association of Rural Workers of Nicaragua (ATC) Fausto Torres, called for an “International Day for Peace in Colombia” and urged governments to demand Colombian president Iván Duque to advance in the fulfillment of the Peace Accords signed in 2016 by the State with the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Working with communities affected by environmental injustice
During the first week of 2019, six Colombian defenders of territories and peoples rights were murdered
Ahed Tamimi: “The resistance continues until the occupation is removed”
OFRANEH and other organizations will mobilize against the reform of the Prior, Free and Informed Consultation Law that aims to give away natural resources to national and foreign investors.
Palestinian women leaders in prison: activist denounces illegal detentions and demands respect for international laws
Hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners nears 1 month
Gustavo is still in danger and we want him home, safe, as soon as possible
In mid April, 2013, artisanal brickmakers of Moatize, Mozambique, affected by the largest open-pit coal mine of multinational company Vale were violently repressed during a demonstration. As a response to this situation, the company promised to meet with the brickmakers (called “oleiros” in that country) to negotiate their demands. The claims by the workers and communities include: payment of compensations by the loss of their jobs caused by the installation of the mine, the delivery of housing –in good condition- to families displaced by the mining project and the distribution of lands of enough quality and quantity, since the families were granted less lands than promised, and of bad quality on top of all.
Interview with Sahar Francis, chair of Addameer, one of the Palestinian organizations recently raided by the Israeli army.
More Repercussions of the Death Threat Against Rafael Alegria in Honduras
Colombia: Indigenous Leader Received Death Threat After Being Interviewed by RWR
Journalist Jeremias Vunjanhe, member of the organization Justicia Ambiental-Friends of the Earth Mozambique was denied entry in Brazil. He was there to participate as an observer at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), to be held in Rio from June 19 to 22.
Different social organizations from Colombia are working very hard and joining efforts in the search of environmental activist Sandra Viviana Cuellar Gallego, who disappeared from Cali, in Valle del Cauca department, Colombia, last February 17. Many Latin American and international organizations are providing their support.