UN climate deal on the brink ahead of Durban talks
The UN climate talks, COP17, begin at the end of November. This could be the last chance to save the current international climate deal. The first period of the Kyoto…
film: a reminder after DSEi arms fair of Eisenhower’s warning
Last week we saw the return of the DSEi arms fair, and the usual protest against its presence. Defence Secretary Liam Fox went to bow down before these peddlers of…
Infographic: How banks cause hunger
Banks and other financial speculators are betting on prices in financial markets, causing dramatic spikes in the cost of food. This infographic that we’ve produced at the World Development Movement…
Lessons from Libya – Democrats make for effective emperors
You have to hand it to Obama. The man is a smooth operator. When he got into power, Republicans threw up their hands in horror at the prospect of a…
No shock doctrine for Libya
To say that the West's involvement in Libya was all about oil was always far too simplistic. For any country to commit military force, a number of people must conclude…
Love in a time of Anguish
Ruth lives in Tromsø, and writes from Oslo. “Kjærligheten vil vinner over hatet” ”Love will win over hate” So were the words of a young Utøya survivor. The Mayor followed…
Breivik, Blogging and How Not to Study Terrorism
Claims in early editions of newspapers following the appalling attacks in Norway last Friday that an Islamic group had claimed responsibility have led onto a flurry of accusations regarding the…
What’s happening in Somalia is no natural disaster.
Last month I asked a Kenyan farmer what the impact of food speculation was on her community. "Food is getting more and more expensive" she told me. She talked too…
Australia’s Carbon Tax: the ‘fair dinkum’ Transition
A Just Transition. A Carbon Tax that forces companies to take responsibility for their carbon emissions, ensuring that those paying are the ones on the top of the ladder. A…