Morocco’s Short-Sighted Politics
Morocco’s democratic deficit, too often abetted by allies, has contributed to an unsustainable status quo both at home and in Western Sahara.
Syrian Repression, the Chinese-Russian Veto, and U.S. Hypocrisy
The Russian and Chinese veto of the moderate and reasonable UN Security Council resolution was unconscionable, but the United States may have its own hypocrisy to thank.
Let’s Stop Sentencing Children to Life without Parole
This practice, banned in most of the world, is common in the United States.
Durban Diary: The Waiting Game
As the doors on government meetings swing shut, Janet ponders whether our future will be one of ecological stability or planetary chaos.
Durban Diary: Climate Reality Check
What we need in Durban is a commitment to complete the mandate that already exists. Countries must deliver a renewed Kyoto Protocol, and effective Green Climate Fund, and substantial money to fill it.
Key Countries, Organizations Call For Innovative Sources of Finance
At a press conference in Durban, South Africa, officials from a diverse set of countries will join civil society leaders to call for innovative sources of finance, including a tax on financial transactions and a fee on emissions from maritime shipping, to be part of a deal in Durban which raises billions of dollars to help fill the Green Climate Fund.
Durban Diary: Dispatch from the Ground
As UN climate negotiations in Durban, South Africa, go into their final week, Janet Redman, co-director of IPS’s Sustainable Energy & Economy Network, provides a quick update on the talks.
Ideas into Action in Durban
This week, IPS is taking its ideas to the UN Climate Change Summit in South Africa.
Durban Diary: #Occupy the COP
A former Central American president proposes that all vulnerable countries should occupy the UN climate change meeting and refuse to leave until progress is made.
Developed nations, led by the United States, the UK, and Japan, try to turn Green Climate Fund into “Greedy Corporate Fund”
Janet Redman, IPS, joins 163 civil society organizations from 39 countries in denouncing a proposed scheme to give corporations direct access to UN Global Climate Fund financing.
Background Briefing on Upcoming UN Climate Summit in Durban, South Africa to be led by Janet Redman
“Solving the climate crisis is the most urgent challenge of our time,” said Redman. “Our economy, our jobs, our health and our security depend on climate stability. But over the past year the United States has been undermining the continuation of the world’s only global treaty to curb greenhouse gas pollution, and has blocked critical progress on a Green Climate Fund and long-term financial support for poor countries most impacts by global warming. The Obama administration must use the Durban talks to clean up its act. Our future depends upon it.”
G20 Missed Its Chance to Take Action on Climate Change
This week leaders of the world’s largest economies once again missed an opportunity to actually do something on climate change.
[VIDEO] U.S. Pulls All Funding for UNESCO After Sweeping Vote to Support Palestinian Membership
Democracy Now! interview discussing the world’s symbolic rejection of the U.S.-led peace process, and the U.S. response.
UN Origins Project Part 7: Forging a Lasting Peace
The foundations of the tightly interconnected world we live in now were laid in the early days of World War II by leaders hoping to prevent the next great war.
Ideas, Reaction, and Action in Canada
Efforts to restrict my commentary on the Palestinian statehood bid show that when ideas can still turn into action even – or especially – when someone tries to squelch them.