Development Subjects: Why Aren’t They Being Heard?

As An Unwitting Birthday Gift, I Received a Letter from The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG

Globalisation and My Discontents: A Few Teething Issues for Sustainable Globalisation

Protecting traditional knowledge is key to development, according to the Director of World Intellect
The head of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) today wrapped up a five-day visit to India, during which a major focus of discussions was protecting traditional knowledge, genetic resources and folklore. Director General Francis Gurry lauded India as a “pioneer” in dealing with questions related to these three issues, according to a news release issued by the Geneva-based agency. In particular, he highlighted the publicly available Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, which contains a vast database of thous

Ban Ki-Moon fasts on the eve of the World Summit on Food Security
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon intends to join a 24-hour fast over the weekend on the eve of the World Summit on Food Security in solidarity with the planet’s one billion people who do not have enough to eat, his spokesperson said today. Mr. Ban will deliver a speech at the opening of the three-day summit in Rome on Monday in which he is expected to say that it is unacceptable that more than one billion go hungry when the world has more than enough food, Marie Okabe told a news briefing. “He will also highlight the human cost of the rec

Afro-Brazilians and Indigenous groups face serious bias
While Brazil has an “impressive” set of laws and policies to promote human rights and improve socio-economic well-being, indigenous groups and Afro-Brazilians face serious discrimination, injustice and violence, the United Nations human rights chief said today. Wrapping up her week-long visit to the South American nation, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay noted that millions of Afro-Brazilians and indigenous people are “mired in poverty” and lack access to basic services and employment opportunities “Until that changes,

Ban expresses belief in climate change ahead of his Washington visit
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on November 9 voiced confidence for an agreement next month on fighting global warming even as key issues remain unresolved, a day before he travels to Washington D.C. to discuss with senior officials and congressional leaders what world governments expect in terms of the United States’ role. “The Secretary-General is confident that governments will reach agreement in Copenhagen on the fundamental issues that will form the substance of a legally binding international agreement which is the end goal for guiding acti

Millions in Africa set to suffer, as food crisis deepens
Despite good global cereal harvests this year, millions of people in dozens of poor countries are in desperate need of emergency humanitarian aid due to stubbornly high food prices, the United Nations agricultural agency warned in a report released today. Critical food insecurity is affecting 31 countries and the situation is particularly acute in East Africa, where prolonged drought and mounting conflict have left an estimated 20 million people in need of food aid, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).