Africa is not known as one of the more densely populated continents. Yet, the damaging marks of man’s activities may be seen there dramatically. Many of Africa’s ecological zones are fragile. Large scale soil erosion, resul tant cycles of drought and flash floods, downgrading of fauna and flora are well-known to many in general ways, as well as from detailed examination of a few areas. But large parts of Africa remain inaccessible. Very few students of Africa have the opportunity – or the tenacity – to travel over these vast areas or into the hidden corners that lie beyond the well-known routes of Africa. As FAO’s Regional Wildlife and National Parks Officer for Africa, ANTooN DE Vos had the opportunity of travelling widely and studying and reporting on the acceleration of man-made changes in much of the continent. As an experienced practitioner of an important and difficult science, ecology, he has made a significant professional contribution with this book. It is our hope that those who read it will be encouraged to carryon the important work and the concern with this subject to which Dr. DE Vos has devoted so much of his knowledge, energy and personal commitments.
À l’occasion du 50e anniversaire de sa parution, la réédition d’un livre mythique. Défi lancé aux agriculteurs africains, L’Afrique noire est mal partie fit scandale à sa parution en 1962 : ingénieur agronome, René Dumont dresse alors un constat peu encourageant. Dans un contexte optimiste de décolonisation, sa voix s’élève à contre-courant pour sommer les Africains de reprendre en main leur agriculture. Grâce à sa connaissance précise du terrain et à ses recherches, il propose des solutions concrètes pour supprimer la famine : respect du sol et des paysans, refus de la corruption et de la bureaucratie. Ces analyses demeurent pertinentes pour discuter de l’avenir de l’Afrique subsaharienne, notamment sur la question alimentaire. Trois textes complètent cette réédition du livre original. Dans sa préface, Abdou Diouf reprend à son compte la dénonciation par Dumont de la « coopération », nouvelle forme de domination, et affirme avec force que l’Afrique, par l’invention de nouveaux modèles et une certaine fidélité aux traditions, est le continent de l’avenir. Jean Ziegler, en revanche, démontre la justesse des prédictions et des analyses de l’agronome considéré comme l’un des premiers écologistes : « Indépendance n’est pas décolonisation », ce sont désormais les fonds de pension et les multinationales qui accaparent les terres. « Dumont avait-il raison ? »
Protesters hold signs at the YouthStrike4Climate student march on April 12, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. Students are protesting across the UK due to the lack of government action to combat climate change. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Europe
Saya Ameli Hajebi & Kelsey Wirth on BPR I November 11, 2019
How to prepare the United States, and the world, from the impacts of climate change has become a flashpoint in the 2020 presidential election. Several candidates running for the Democratic nomination for president have endorsed The Green New Deal, a resolution that calls for a dramatic shift in U.S. energy consumption and infrastructure within the next decade to protect the climate. Others have pledged to spend more than a trillion dollars to combat the issue.
The shift in the national dialogue towards climate change has often been attributed to a surge in climate activism, largely led by the Sunrise Movement. The Sunrise Movement is a national organization of youth activists advocating for bold leadership on climate change. Saya Ameli Hajebi, an organizer with the group, said during an interview with Boston Public Radio on Monday that one goal of the Sunrise Movement is to raise awareness for the immediate danger climate change poses to communities around the world.
“How many families, how many kids, are looking out to their home and seeing it burned to ash? How many kids are watching the last bits of brick and drywall from their school drift away because of more and more hurricanes?” Hajebi said. “This is an issue about protecting our families, and once we realize that, once we internalize just how urgent this crisis is and how it could really take our loved ones away from us, there’s no other path but to action.”
Joining Hajebi on Monday was Kelsey Wirth, the co-founder and chair of the board of Mothers Out Front. Similar to the Sunrise Movement, Mothers Out Front focuses their climate activism around the experience of being a mother during the climate crisis. Ultimately, Wirth said the goal of the group is to mobilize citizens to rival the power and influence major corporations have on elected officials.
Resilience Rising: From Crisis Response to Recovery” tells the story of how Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, affected first by conflict and then by the Ebola virus disease, overcame the crisis’ and is now strengthening the resilience of the region’s economy and social sectors by investing in people and effective systems.
Three US Democratic Senators have sent a request for documents on Donald Trump’s alleged communication with Attorney General William Barr. Trump is said to have wanted Barr to hold a news conference to back the president over a much-discussed phone call to his Ukrainian counterpart. Some media cite anonymous sources, or those supposedly familiar with the matter, alleging misconduct in Trump’s call, but have provided no solid details.
The fight of refugees for better living conditions is at the centre of Milo Rau’s new project. The renowned theatre director wants to end their exploitation. His film recasts the Passion of Christ, with refugees as Jesus and Apostles.
Anthony Nwachukwu – one of the apostle’s in “The Revolt of Dignity” – is from Nigeria. He has spent months as a seasonal laborer on farms in southern Italy. It is hard work for little money and he is one of many being exploited. Yet few rise up against the farmers and wholesalers; the migrants in Italy have no lobby. They are frightened. Milo Rau chose to put the spotlight on this misery in Matera, one of this year’s European Capitals of Culture, which has often served as a set for films about Jesus. The film crew and the refugees move through the city, reenacting the Passion of Christ and at the same time putting the spotlight on the situation today. A report by Andrea Kasiske.
Welcome to Transition Studies. To prosper for very much longer on the changing Earth humankind will need to move beyond its current fossil-fueled civilization toward one that is sustained on recycled materials and renewable energy. This is not a trivial shift. It will require a major transition in all aspects of our lives.
This weblog explores the transition to a sustainable future on our finite planet. It provides links to current news, key documents from government sources and non-governmental organizations, as well as video documentaries about climate change, environmental ethics and environmental justice concerns.
The links are listed here to be used in whatever manner they may be helpful in public information campaigns, course preparation, teaching, letter-writing, lectures, class presentations, policy discussions, article writing, civic or Congressional hearings and citizen action campaigns, etc. For further information on this blog see: About this weblog. and How to use this weblog.
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