Inter Press Service | News and Views from the Global South

Inter Press Service | News and Views from the Global South

Right-Wing Nationalism Threatens Democratic Norms, Human Rights & Press Freedom Thalif Deen The steady decline in multilateralism—accompanied by a rise in unilateralism-- is beginning to threaten democratic norms, including press freedom, global governance, civic participation and human rights across Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East. The threats – directly or ... MORE > >

Billions of Dollars Available for Reducing and Reversing Land Degradation Desmond Brown The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has debunked the notion that there is no funding available for countries to prevent, reduce or reverse land degradation. UNCCD Executive Secretary Monique Barbut says there are millions of dollars available for Land Degradation ... MORE > >

Youth Bridge the Gap Between Climate Change and Climate Awareness in Guyana Desmond Brown A group of youngsters in the Caribbean who promote environmental protection in the region is on a drive to empower other youth to address some of the big issues facing their generation. National Coordinator of Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), Kiefer Jackson, says the organisation has ... MORE > >

Crusade Against Sex Education Undermines Progress Made in Latin America Fabiana Frayssinet The crusade against comprehensive sex education by conservative and religious sectors undermines progress in Latin America and could further drive up rates of teen pregnancy, communicable diseases and abuse against girls and adolescents. In Brazil, where far-right President Jair Bolsonaro took ... MORE > >

Ethics for artificial intelligence Rosli Omar and Jomo Kwame Sundaram Owing to our varied circumstances and experiences, there are contradictory tendencies to either exaggerate or underestimate the power and importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in contemporary society. Nor should we uncritically legitimize everything AI can be used for, even if it has been ... MORE > >

The Silent, Invisible Crisis Destabilising Communities Could be a Subject of Hope Desmond Brown New data show that globally two billion hectares of land—roughly twice the size of China—have been degraded. And of this amount, 500 million hectares are abandoned agricultural lands. The 17th Session of the Committee for the Review of Implementation (CRIC17) of the United Nations Convention to ... MORE > >

Ending Poverty is Possible, but it Means Facing up to Inequality – Within & Between Countries Liu Zhenmin World leaders have committed to ending poverty everywhere for all people by 2030. Achieving this aim means facing up to the need for dramatic declines in inequalities – in income, in opportunity, in exposure to risk, across gender, between countries and within countries – over the next ... MORE > >

Desertification, Land Degradation and Climate Change Go Hand in Hand Desmond Brown The link between desertification, land degradation and climate change is among several issues occupying the attention of the 197 Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for the next three days. Guyana, a member-country of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), is ... MORE > >

Is the UN Being Undermined by a Demagogic Trump Administration? Thalif Deen The United Nations, which embodies the core principles of multilateralism since its creation more than 74 years ago, is being steadily and systematically undermined by a reactionary and demagogic Trump administration recklessly flaunting American imperialism at its worst. The US has already ... MORE > >

Asia’s Expanding Illicit Market: Brides Tharanga Yakupitiyage Paradoxically, the world’s most populated countries are facing a population crisis: a woman shortage. And it’s women who are paying a brutal price for it. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the natural sex ratio at birth is approximately 105 boys to every 100 girls. However, ... MORE > >

In Venezuela, Two Presidents Vie for Power Humberto Márquez Venezuela entered a new and astonishing arena of political confrontation, with two presidents, Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guaidó, leading the forces vying for power, while Venezuelans once again are taking to the streets to demonstrate their weariness at the crisis, which has left them ... MORE > >