Inter Press Service | News and Views from the Global South

Inter Press Service | News and Views from the Global South

Opting In: The Value of Vaccines Tharanga Yakupitiyage Since the introduction of vaccines, diseases such as measles and polio were quickly becoming a thing of the past. However, the world’s progress on immunisation is now being threatened. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 85 percent of the world’s children received basic vaccines, ... MORE > >

Are Migrant Workers Humans or Commodities? Thalif Deen The United Nations has estimated a hefty 6 billion as remittances from migrant workers worldwide in 2017—and perhaps even higher last year. These remittances, primarily from the US, Western Europe and Gulf nations, go largely to low and middle-income countries, “helping to lift millions of ... MORE > >

Benin’s Agriculture Has a Good Season, But it Wasn’t Easy Issa Sikiti da Silva Théophile Houssou, a maize farmer from Cotonou, has spent sleepless nights lying awake worrying about the various disasters that could befall any farmer, often wondering, “What if it rains heavily and all my crops are washed away?” or “What if the armyworms invade my farm and eat up all the crops ... MORE > >

Coping With World Bank-Led Financialization Jomo Kwame Sundaram and Anis Chowdhury The World Bank has successfully promoted its ‘Maximizing Finance for Development’ (MFD) strategy by embracing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, internationally endorsed in September 2015. It has also secured support from the G20 of twenty biggest economies, and effectively ... MORE > >

VIDEO: World Press Freedom Day 2019 - Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation IPS World Desk Journalists and media outlets worldwide have recently been subject to a subtle wave of vilification. Populist rhetoric and public indifference have begun to threaten the very foundation of our freedom. Journalists provide the checks and balances fundamental to all democracies, by highlighting ... MORE > >

Renewables to Become the Norm for the Caribbean Desmond Brown Jamaica and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are embracing renewable energy as part of their plans to become decarbonised in the coming decades. The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, has committed the island nation to transitioning to 50 percent renewable energy by ... MORE > >

Land Conservation: A Risky Business Tharanga Yakupitiyage In light of land degradation and climate change, the protection of the environment is crucial—but the protection of the very people working tirelessly and with much risk to preserve nature should be just as important. Forests have long been underestimated—they sustain biodiversity, regulate the ... MORE > >

US Takes Back Signature on Arms Trade Treaty Thalif Deen The United States dropped a political bombshell when President Donald Trump announced his administration would withdraw from the historic Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which the former Obama administration signed in September 2013. “We are taking our signature back”, said Trump April 26, addressing ... MORE > >

Improving the Lives of Millions of Mothers and Children Friday Phiri It is slightly after 3pm on a hot Wednesday afternoon in Chipata district, eastern Zambia, and a group of women are gathering for a meeting. It is Elizabeth Tembo’s turn to stand amongst the other mothers like herself and share key lessons on nutrition. It is a subject she learnt about from a ... MORE > >

US & Western Arms in Yemen Conflict Signal Potential War Crime Charges Thalif Deen When US political leaders urged the Trump administration to either reduce or cut off arms supplies to Saudi Arabia – largely as a punishment for its indiscriminate bombings of civilians in the four-year old military conflict in Yemen—President Trump provided a predictable response: “If we don’t ... MORE > >