Daily Archives: October 10, 2010

Haiti

Haitian Farmers: Growing Strength to Grow Food

Common Dreams

by Beverly Bell

Addressing an ongoing food crisis. Today, even with imports, more than 2.4 million people out of a population of 9 million are estimated to be food-insecure. Acute malnutrition among children under the age 5 is 9%, and chronic under-nutrition for that age group is 24%. Peasant groups are convinced that, with the necessary investment, Haiti could  produce at least 80% of its food consumption needs; and  Promoting a post-earthquake redevelopment plan that serves the needs of the majority, unlike the one currently promoted by the U.S. and U.N. which is based on the growth of sweatshops Continue reading Haitian Farmers: Growing Strength to Grow Food →

Environment, Japan

Climate Change Concerns Give Aid A Green Hue

By Suvendrini Kakuchi*

TOKYO, Oct 7, 2010 (IPS) – It may not be easy to imagine Japan as a jolly green giant, but to several Asian countries that have been enjoying environmental projects funded by Japanese aid, that’s what this nation has resembled in the last two decades.  Since the early 1990s, Japan has been involved in several green initiatives across Asia, with its participation usually in the form of overseas development assistance (ODA) loans, grants, and technology transfer.  One of the most recent ones, in fact, addresses some of the impacts of climate change in agriculture, and has taken one of Japan’s foremost agriculture development experts to northern Thailand. Continue reading Climate Change Concerns Give Aid A Green Hue →