Stories about Development from June, 2012
South Africa: No Pain, No Gain
Learn about No Pain, No Gain campaign in South Africa: “SANGONeT's Executive Director, David Barnard, will run 750km across three deserts on three continents in 2012 in celebration of SANGONeT's 25th anniversary, to raise R1 million in support of SANGONeT's work and to create awareness about the work of NGOs...
Brazil: Deeper Media Coverage of Belo Monte Dam Needed
A lot of information is shared daily around the world about controversy surrounding the construction of the Belo Monte dam in the Amazon. At the same time, however, it is unclear how well circulated the concerns of those to be directly affected - the river-dwellers, 'caboclos' and indigenous peoples - by what some have labeled 'pharaonic' construction work.
Vietnam: Vanishing Green Space in Ho Chi Minh City
Backwater Views writes about the “severe lack of green space” in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The author cites a report that the city lost 50 percent of its green spaces between 1998-2008.
Croatia: President Josipovic Uses Facebook to Invite IT Investor Group
President Ivo Josipović used Facebook to invite an IT investor group to Croatia and Southeast Europe, showing that the region is ready for innovation and development. Danica Radisic reports.
The Evolution of African Social Welfare Systems
The implementation of national social welfare systems is still in its evolutionary phase for many African countries. The achievement of the systems currently in place are discussed by social protection experts in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Gabon: Civil Society Leaders Arrested Prior to New York Forum Africa
News website Koaci.com [fr] reports that Marc Ona Essangui, of the civil society organisation ‘Ca suffit comme ça’ (Enough is enough) and other Gabonese activists were arrested this morning in the capital Libreville. They were planning to hold a ‘Forum of the indignants‘ [fr] to counter the New York Forum Africa,...
India, Bangladesh: Water Disputes and Teesta River Diplomacy
Longstanding tensions between India and Bangladesh on how best to share river waters have recently come to head in a dispute over the Teesta River that threatens bilateral relations. At stake, are the lives of countless Bangladeshi and West Bengali people who depend on the river waters for survival.
Nepal: The Kathmandu Project
Lex Limbu highlights a photography project of Surendra Lawoti, which will try to record the landscape of the Kathmandu valley in transformation.
Catfight Between China and the US Over Air Quality
The Chinese authority is unhappy about the monitoring of air quality by foreign consulates and embassies, while the U.S suggests China to do the same thing and check upon the air quality in U.S's land. Offbeat China points out that the cat fight is a competition of “soft power” between...
Cameroon: Electric Dreams for Development by 2035
Cameroon hopes to reach the status of emerging market by 2035 through a series of “great achievements” in transport and energy infrastructure development. It's a deadline that fails to convince many commentators, if only because the challenges are so great.
Pakistan: Exploding Population And Depleting Resources
Saad Hirani sheds a light on the population explosion in Pakistan and the bleak future it shows with depleting resources.
Kenya: Digital Activists Fight Corruption Online
I Paid a Bribe is an initiative of Kenyan anti-corruption activists fighting corruption in Kenya using the new technologies. I Paid a Bribe, modeled after India's anti-corruption portal (IPAB), is a partnership between IPAB and Wamani Trust of Kenya to bring IPAB to East and Central Africa.
Zambia Fixes Maize Price Again, Flustering World Bank
Increases in the price of maize, a staple food of Zambia, has previously led citizens to riot and even stage a government coup. Despite warnings from the World Bank that it will damage the agriculture sector, Zambian leaders continue to fix the floor price.
Afghanistan: Girls Poisoned for Attending School
Although a ban on education for girls and women in Afghanistan was lifted after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, female students continue being targeted by fundamentalists for attending school. In a recent string of attacks in the northeastern Afghan province of Takhar, hundreds of girls were poisoned at their schools.
India: Renewing The Solar Pledge On World Environment Day
On World Environment Day, India, amidst growing concerns of energy security and climate change, renews its pledge to harness solar power in search of cleaner, renewable energy.
Sri Lanka: Towards The Perfect Reconciliation
Elijah Hoole looks at the reconciliation process in Sri Lanka from a different angle. The blogger thinks that a perfect reconciliation process should entail work towards building or rather restoring inter-ethnic relationships and making people care for each other.
Tajikistan: Why There Aren't Many Bloggers in the Country
Harsavor (Donkey Rider) explains [ru] why there are not many bloggers in Tajikistan. Most of the country's young people – the group that typically runs blogs – either work abroad or live in rural areas without internet access. And those who live in the cities and have access to the...
Ethiopia: Land, History and Justice in Gambella
Land activists are using online petitions, Facebook and Twitter to campaign against land grabbing in Ethiopia. It is reported that villagers in Gambella province are forced to settle in state-designated villages to pave way for land grabbers. Gambella is the poorest region in Ethiopia.
