The Week With IPS 6/2/2017

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	Why We Need to Save Our Oceans Now—Not Later José Vicente Troya What if the blue fades way as seawaters become brown andcoral reefs become white as marine grasslands wither and life below water vanishes? This is already happening at a staggering rate. It’s a lose-lose for all: people and planet. Fish stocks are declining. Around 80 percent of fishing is ... MORE > >
	Mixed Reactions to U.S. Withdrawal from Climate Deal Tharanga Yakupitiyage The United States is expected to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement, prompting mixed reactions from civil society and political representatives. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) receives the legal instruments for joining the Paris Agreement from Barack Obama, President of ... MORE > >
	Large Landowners Jeopardise Indigenous Revival in Brazil Mario Osava The attack with guns and machetes that left at least 10 Gamela indigenous people wounded, in the northeastern state of Maranhão, highlighted the growing threats against the resurgence and survival of native people in Brazil. On Apr. 30, dozens of armed men attacked indigenous people who were ... MORE > >
	Why Do International Financial Crises Happen? Jomo Kwame Sundaram International currency and financial crises have become more frequent since the 1990s, and with good reason. But the contributory factors are neither simple nor straightforward. Such financial crises have, in turn, contributed to more frequent economic difficulties for the economies affected, as ... MORE > >
	How to Produce More Food with Less Damage to Soil, Water, Forests IPS World Desk Massive agriculture intensification is contributing to increased deforestation, water scarcity, soil depletion and the level of greenhouse gas emission, the United Nations warns. To achieve sustainable development we must transform current agriculture and food systems, including by supporting ... MORE > >
	Measly Earnings for Tamil Shoemakers Erik Larsson Working fulltime in their own homes, putting their health at risk with the chemicals they use, to make the shoes sold in the West. Indian women endure poor working conditions and earn just over 40 dollars per month. ”These workers are always women. Often housed in small living areas together ... MORE > >
	Business Unusual: Valuing Water for a Sustainable Future Paula Fray Valuing water is more than simply assigning costs to a scare resource - it is an essential step for transforming water governance to meet the needs of a prosperous future. This was a recurring view from participants at the first regional discussion on water organised in South Africa as part of ... MORE > >
	Proposed UN Pay Cuts Threaten Work Stoppage in Geneva Thalif Deen Facing significant reductions in US financial contributions from a politically-unpredictable Donald Trump administration, the UN Secretariat is gearing itself for a rash of austerity measures and budgetary cuts, including downsizing peacekeeping operations and cuts in development aid, reproductive ... MORE > >
	The ‘Water-Employment-Migration’ Explosive Nexus Baher Kamal Water--everybody talks about it, warns against its growing scarcity, excessive waste, the impact of climate change, the frequent severe droughts and so on. Now, a global action network with over 3,000 partner organisations in 183 countries comes to unveil the dangerous nexus between water, ... MORE > >
	Africa Drives Global Action Against Mercury Use Miriam Gathigah With a new international treaty, an increasing number of African countries are committing to phasing out mercury, a significant health and environmental hazard. Research has shown that maternal exposure to mercury from contaminated fish can cause learning disabilities in developing babies. When ... MORE > >
	Millions of Homes in Mexico Suffer from “Energy Poverty” Emilio Godoy Energy poverty afflicts millions of homes in Mexico, with many social, economic and environmental impacts for the country. These homes, located in both urban and rural areas in this Latin American country of 122 million people, have difficulty satisfying their needs for energy for cooking, ... MORE > >
	Growing Unemployed Youth in Africa a Time Bomb, But… Friday Phiri There are nearly 420 million young Africans between the ages of 15 and 35 today. And it is estimated that within ten years, Africa will be home to one-fifth of all young people worldwide. These millions of young people could be a source of ingenuity and engines of productivity that could ignite ... MORE > >
	Valuing Water Beyond the Money Paula Fray Amid the worst drought in a century, South Africans are kick-starting a global consultative process to agree on the values of water in a bid to ensure more equitable use of the finite resource. On May 30, ministers, officials, civil society, business and local regional organisations will gather ... MORE > >
	Brazil Drives New School Feeding Model in the Region Mario Osava “I am going back to Panama with many ideas,” said Gilda Montenegro, a nutritionist with the Panamanian Education Ministry, after getting to know the school feeding system in the city of Vitoria, in central-eastern Brazil. She said she was impressed with how organised it is, the resources ... MORE > >