News


Toward a Secure and Sustainable Water Future for Kurdistan and Iraq

May 18, 2014 | Tessa Manuello

As tensions between Erbil and Baghdad resumed earlier this year, some voices in the Kurdistan Region called for waging a “water war” against the central…


Sudan: Sudan's Oil Output Falls by 10-20,000 bpd

May 18, 2014 | Radio Dabanga/Reuters

SINGAPORE (REUTERS) (18 May.) - Production of Sudan's Nile Blend has dropped to around 90,000 barrels per day (bpd), down from 100,000-110,000 bpd two months…


South Sudan: Oil Fans Flames of South Sudan War

May 18, 2014 | Newvision

Despite heavy international pressure, a second ceasefire this month for the world's youngest nation has crumbled, in a war that has already claimed thousands --…


Balkans: Catastrophic Floods Hit Balkans, Raising Fears for Land Mines and Power Plants

May 18, 2014 | Rick Lyman, The New York Times

WARSAW — At least 33 people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated in Serbia and Bosnia during three days of torrential rains…


Crimea: In Taking Crimea, Putin Gains a Sea of Fuel Reserves

May 17, 2014 | William J. Broad, The New York Times

When Russia seized Crimea in March, it acquired not just the Crimean landmass but also a maritime zone more than three times its size with…


Myanmar: Drugs, Land and Mining Issues Plague Shan State

May 17, 2014 | Paing Soe, Democratic Voice of Burma

A four-day regional development workshop responding to the challenges posed by drugs and environmental degradation— identified by contributors as the main issues plaguing the region –…


COOL, Conflict Minerals, GMOs & Beyond: Much Hangs in the Balance of DC Circuit En Banc Rehearing in Commercial Speech Case

May 16, 2014 | Chip English

Americans are naturally curious and interested about the food we eat and the products we buy—e.g., non-GMO labeling, country of origin labeling (“COOL”) and “conflicts…


China, Philippines, Vietnam: China Paper Supports ‘Non-Peaceful’ Steps Against PH, Vietnam

May 16, 2014 | INQUIRER.net

BEIJING – A state-run Chinese newspaper backed the use of “non-peaceful” measures against Vietnam and the Philippines Friday, as it considered the possibility of war…


China/Vietnam: Unrest Poses a Risky Choice for Vietnam

May 16, 2014 | Chris Buckley and Edward Wong, The New York Times

HA TINH PROVINCE, Vietnam — The hundreds of men on motorbikes who roared into Lee Hsueh Ying’s factory compound north of Ho Chi Minh City…


Timor-Leste: Wife of East Timor's P.M. Slams Australia

May 16, 2014 | Emma Alberici, Australian Broadcasting Corporation

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: East Timor's former first lady has slammed Australia's handling of its relationship with the struggling nation as both countries fight in The…


Liberia: Liberians Successfully Resist UK Company’s ‘Land Grab’

May 16, 2014 | Global Information Network

(GIN)—After years of fruitless court battles by small farmers against major multinational corporations,  the Jogbahn Clan across 11 villages in Liberia is celebrating victory over…


Climate Security: Climate Change, Migration, and Nontraditional Security Threats in China

May 16, 2014 | Center for American Progress

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Center for American Progress released the latest report in a series on the intersecting phenomena of climate, migration, and security.…


South Sudan: East - West Tussle for Oil 'Sparked South Sudan War'

May 16, 2014 | Ramadhan Rajab, AllAfrica

STRUGGLE between the Western and Eastern countries over control of oil fields in Southern Sudan is behind the ongoing conflicts in the country, South Sudan's…


Responsible Sourcing of Minerals from Conflict Zones: Is the EU Doing Enough?

May 15, 2014 | Anna Bulzomi

On March 5, 2014, the European Commission released its long-awaited responsible tradingstrategy for minerals from conflict zones. The strategy is composed of a draft Regulation setting up an…


Sudan: Sudan Oil Industry’s Lingering Questions

May 15, 2014 | Alsir Sidahmed, Sudan Tribune

May 15, 2014 - A statement attributed to Petroleum Minister Eng. Makkawi Awad that Sudan’s oil reserves stand at 4 billion barrels raises more questions…


Nepal’s Micro-Hydropower Projects Have Surprising Effect on Peace Process

May 14, 2014 | Florian Krampe

Development, and human development in particular, is frequently considered a ground condition for peace by the development community. It follows that, because they provide rural…


Myanmar: Despite Ceasefire, Army Seizes Land and Tortures Citizens in Southeast Myanmar - Report

May 14, 2014 | Thin Lei Win, Thomson Reuters Foundation

BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The Myanmar army continues to commit rights abuses - seizing land and detaining and torturing citizens - in the country’s…


Myanmar: Land Grab Report to Inform Parliament Commission

May 14, 2014 | Eleven Media Group

The special report will discuss farmland disputes including the Thilawa Port Project and Migyaungkan evictions and suggest ways to solve these disputes. 

“The current methods have…


Myanmar: Coal-fire plant fuels concern in Mon State

May 14, 2014 | Nang Mya Nadi, Democratic Voice of Burma

Several civil society groups in Mon State have united in opposition to a proposed coal-fired power plant.

The Mon Youth Forum (MYF) and Ye Town Social…


Environmental Peacebuilding Community of Practice Celebrates 6 Months of Growth

May 13, 2014 | ELI & UNEP

On May 6, 2014, the Environmental Peacebuilding Global Knowledge Platform and Community of Practice celebrated six months of dialogue and growth.  Since its launch, the…


Tunisia: Tunisian Discontent Reflected in Protests That Have Idled Mines

May 13, 2014 | Carlotta Gall, The New York Times

GAFSA, Tunisia — Tunisians often say the first uprising of the Arab Spring began not in 2010 after the self-immolation of a fruit vendor, Mohamed…


Ukraine: At Center of Ukraine Talks, Degrees of Decentralizing

May 13, 2014 | David M. Herszenhornd, The New York Times

KIEV, Ukraine — National “round-table” talks seeking to resolve Ukraine’s six-month political crisis by finding a formula for decentralizing power will begin Wednesday against a…


Liberia: Ellen Calls for Agriculture, Food Production

May 13, 2014 | Rewina Juduh, AllAfrica

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has encouraged Liberians to return to the soil and engage in agriculture and food production, noting the rewards are immense "though farming…


Myanmar: Courts, Cops, Cronies—The Three C's Driving Farmers to Ruin, and Jail

May 13, 2014 | Asian Human Rights Commission

The frenzy of land grabbing in Burma (Myanmar) amid the country's transition to nominally democratic government shows no signs of abating. Reports of the number…


Myanmar: Building barriers: Fencing off the Bangladesh border

May 13, 2014 | Democratic Voice of Burma

The construction of a fence along Burma’s border with Bangladesh has resumed in Arakan State.

New checkpoints will also be built to stop people entering Burma…


World: Climate Change Deemed Growing Security Threat by Military Researchers

May 13, 2014 | Coral Davenport, The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The accelerating rate of climate change poses a severe risk to national security and acts as a catalyst for global political conflict, a…


Myanmar: Tea industry in steep decline

May 13, 2014 | Paing Soe, Democratic Voice of Burma

Tea-leaf producers in Namhsan, northern Shan State, are struggling to stay in business due to labour shortages and a surge in untaxed tea from neighbouring…


Programme Advisor - Food Security

May 12, 2014 | Cordaid

The Food Security Programme Advisor will coordinate implementation, ensure the coherence between the different projects and will come up with proposals to improve the effectiveness…


Extractives Advisor

May 12, 2014 | Cordaid

The objective of Cordaid’s Extractives programme is to ensure that the exploitation of extractives (oil, gas and minerals) contributes positively to local community development, to…


Land and Livelihood Program Manager

May 12, 2014 | The NGO Forum on Cambodia

The NGO Forum is seeking qualified Cambodian candidates to fill the position of Land and Livelihood Program Manager based in Phnom Penh with occasional travel…