human rights

Over the years Sheikh Noor has learnt to endure the

Wastepickers scour through open trash bins for recyclable paper, metals, glass and plastics, which they then sell. According to Chintan, they account for almost 1 percent of Delhi's population and handle about 20 percent of the city's waste. They earn, on average, one or two dollars a day.

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues recently met. Although the final decisions of the 7th session have not been officially released, I was able to get an advanced, unedited version of the report. Below I've summarized the decisions and recommendations of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to the Economic and Social Council.

Talks in Dublin began concerning a possible treaty to ban cluster bombs.

President Bush recently requested another $70 billion to fund the campaign in Iraq. Was Saddam a monster? Were there WMDs? Links to Al-Qaeda? Was it all about oil…? All excellent questions, but isn’t 'the' question - Can’t $70 billion be better spent?

Friends of the Earth produce hard evidence of human rights abuses as palm oil plantations expand in Indonesia. EU targets on bio-fuels are helping to drive these land grabs from subsistence farmers.

Representatives from Rainforest Action Network (RAN), Student Trade Justice Campaign, Food First and Grassroots International held a press conference today to call for a moratorium on all incentives and renewable fuels targets for agrofuels in federal energy legislation until standards can be developed to ensure that plant-based fuels such as biodiesel show significant environmental benefits over fossil fuels, and that they do not contribute to world hunger or human rights abuses.

Panelists in this session argue that global crises related to the escalating demand and inadequate supply of fresh water are as urgent as - yet more vexing and complicated than - efforts to tackle climate change. There is broad recognition today that water stress poses a risk to economic growth, human rights, health, safety and national security.

The issues facing luxury goods companies are numerous. They include concerns over human rights, conflict, corruption, labour rights, and environmental degradation throughout their supply chains, as well the trade in wildlife. The opportunities, on the other hand, are huge, if you happen to be a “sustainable” luxury brand.

The UN's Human Development Report, out yesterday, suggests that failure to act on climate change would be a human rights abuse against the world's poor. If the developed world is demonstrably responsible for environmental abuse in developing countries, are we open to being sued for climate change?

A fact finding report revealing the state machinery that persistently ignores Adivasis’ lawful demands but bends backward to facilitate the business interests of a multi-national corporate at the expense of justice.

Great article about eco-friendly denim label Nudie Jeans. They use only organic cotton, natural indigo dye and potato starch in place of chemicals to wash their jeans. They also have a sustainanble edition t-shirt for sale and the proceeds go to Amnesty international to support human rights.

The military junta has been responsible for massacring thousands since it seized control of the country over forty years ago. They have also denied Aung San Suu Kyi her right to govern the country, since her election in 1990.

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