Daily Archives: May 12, 2015

Action, Economic Justice, Environment

Farmers Fight Real Estate Developers for Kenya’s Most Prized Asset: Land

INTER PRESS SERVICE
by Miriam Gathigah

David Njeru, a farmer from central Kenya, attends to his cabbages. This community is at risk of being displaced from their land by powerful real estate developers. Credit: Miriam Gathigah/IPS
David Njeru, a farmer from central Kenya, attends to his cabbages. This community is at risk of being displaced from their land by powerful real estate developers. Credit: Miriam Gathigah/IPS

NGANGARITHI, Kenya, May 11 2015 (IPS) – Vegetables grown in the lush soil of this quiet agricultural community in central Kenya’s fertile wetlands not only feed the farmers who tend the crops, but also make their way into the marketplaces of Nairobi, the country’s capital, some 150 km south.

Spinach, carrots, kale, cabbages, tomatoes, maize, legumes and tubers are plentiful here in the village of Ngangarithi, a landscape awash in green, intersected by clean, clear streams that local children play in.

“I am not fighting for myself but for my children. I am 85 years old, I have lived my life, but my great-grandchildren need a place to call home.” — Paul Njogu, a resident of the farming village of Ngangarithi in central Kenya

Ngangarithi, home to just over 25,000 people, is part of Nyeri County located in the Central Highlands, nestled between the eastern foothills of the Abadare mountain range and the western hillsides of Mount Kenya. More…

Climate Change, Environment

Caribbean Looks to Paris Climate Summit for Its Very Survival

Sunday, May 10, 2015
INTER PRESS SERVICE
by Desmond Brown, IPS News

Half Moon Caye Natural Monument in Belize. (Photo: anoldent/Wikimedia/cc)
Half Moon Caye Natural Monument in Belize. (Photo: anoldent/Wikimedia/cc)

Caribbean leaders on Saturday further advanced their policy position on climate change ahead of the 21st Conference of Parties, also known as COP 21, scheduled for Paris during November and December of this year.

The position of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), 14 independent countries, was put forward by the group’s chairman, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, during a meeting here with French President François Hollande.

“For the Bahamas, which has 80 percent of its land mass within one metre of mean sea level, climate change is an existential threat.” — Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie More…

Action, Kenya, South Africa

Inagural class graduates from Green Pioneer Accelerator

VENTURE FORUMS IN KENYA AND SOUTH AFRICA, June VC4A
By Miguel Heilbron
May 5, 2015

The Green Pioneer Accelerator is gearing up for its inaugural graduation that will showcase 21 entrepreneurs. These innovative companies will present to investors and strategic partners at two closed Venture Forums on Tuesday, June 9th in Nairobi, Kenya and on Thursday, June 11th in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Green Pioneer Accelerator focused on early stage enterprises contributing innovative solutions to environmental issues such as climate change, energy insecurity, loss of biodiversity and degradation of ecosystems. More…

Action, Environment

Whose renewable future?

NEW INTERNATIONALIST
March 2015

Is big business poised to capture the renewables revolution?
by Danny Chivers

keynote-590In January this year, the energy researcher Jeremy Leggett made a bold claim. He told the Guardian newspaper that we should expect a major oil firm to turn its back on fossil fuels soon and shift to renewable energy. ‘One of the oil companies will break ranks,’ he said, ‘and this time it is going to stick.’

Leggett points to the collapsed oil price, the falling costs of renewable-energy generation and potential government action on climate change as key factors that could persuade an oil corporation to jump ship. His comments were excitedly shared online by anti-fossil fuel campaigners.

But hang on a minute. Would this really be good news? More..