Stories about Development from July, 2014
“Very Difficult to Care about Madagascar”
Thomas Friedman recently traveled to Madagascar and posits that Americans need to pay more attention to the economic and ecological disaster that threatens the island. Some of his readers did...
Indian Scientists Are Preventing Wild Elephant Attacks With Text Messages and TV
A small team tracks elephants during the day and gives the information to TV channels. Text messages are sent to those who are within a two-kilometre radius of elephant movement.
Bangladesh Authorities Shut Down a 200-Year-Old Brothel, Evicting Hundreds of Sex Workers
Pressure from religious leaders and conservative politicians is the suspected reason behind the closure. But the national platform of sex workers of Bangladesh accused local officials of land grabbing.
Indian Prime Minister Modi's First Budget Promises Lots of Change, Including an Expensive New Statue
Narendra Modi's first budget as India’s new prime minister was greeted with mixed reactions. The $34 million budget allocation for a 600-foot statue in his home state generated much buzz.
Sri Lanka Plans to Deport 1,500 Pakistani and Afghan Refugees
Facing persecution in Pakistan, many Ahmadiyya Muslims and Christians have taken refuge in Sri Lanka. These refugees are mostly held in Boossa and Mirihana detention centers and have to live on...
This Young Woman Footballer Is More Popular Than Messi in Her Remote Village in Nepal
Sunakali led her team to victory in the national women's football tournament. When they arrived home, locals met them at the airstrip chanting, "Sunakali, like Messi!"
Bangladesh's Elite Paramiltary Unit Is Under Fire for Human Rights Violations. This Blogger Asks: What About Israel's IDF?
Brad Adams, the executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, has recently written a letter to Bangladesh's prime minister suggesting that the Bangladesh government should disband the paramilitary Rapid...
A Leaked Document Casts A Shadow Over Tanzania's Bright Gas Extraction Outlook
Leaked to the public, a contract between Norway's Statoil and the Tanzanian government highlights how fraught the question of revenues from Tanzania’s gasfields—and who will benefit from them—has become.
Improper Land Allocation Harms Trinidad & Tobago's Public Interest
Property ownership is a critical ingredient of the society we are trying to build. No one can deny that. The wealthiest people and companies in this society have made a...
Bangladesh Has Formaldehyde to Thank for Its Short Supply of Mangoes This Season
Police are confiscating and destroying truckloads of mangoes because they are contaminated with dangerous levels of formalin, a strong solution of formaldehyde sprayed on fruit to extend their shelf life.
Distribution of SMS Printers in Cameroon to Reduce Delays in HIV Testing for Newborns
Afrique IT news reports that [fr] a new type of device (SMS printer) is being installed in several HIV testing facilities in Cameroon thanks to the Clinton Foundation and the telecommunication...
A Brazilian Favela Is Challenging the World Cup Champion to a Match
The favela Anita Garibaldi, located 10 kilometers from Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, Brasil, is home to 4,000 families and its own football team. Latin American origin NGO TECHO (@untecho)...
Will India's Search for ‘Black Money’ Stashed Abroad End in Fortune or Frustration?
It depends on who you ask. Some estimates put the amount of money stashed abroad at $1.34 trillion, which India would use for its development.
Guyana's Foreign Minister Comes Out Swinging After the US Ambassador Criticizes the Lack of Local Elections
The ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP) administration has failed to hold local government elections for 20 years.
Government Jobs Remain a Sweet Retirement Deal in China Despite Clamor to Reform Pensions
"Iron rice bowl" jobs promise free pensions, a liability for the Chinese government in recent years as it struggles with a looming pension deficit amid changing demographics.
The Victims of China’s Soil Pollution Crisis
A very in-depth investigation published by ChinaFile on the problem of soil pollution in China.
There's a Good Chance Your World Cup Jersey Was Made in Bangladesh
Manufacturers have earned at least $500 million in export orders to sew World Cup jerseys for fans around the world. People in Bangladesh are also buying up the gear.
