The Global Gender Gap Index annually benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment). It is the longest-standing index tracking the progress of numerous countries’ efforts towards closing these gaps over time since …
A wrecked foreign vessel, suspected to be carrying toxic waste, has been found near the Banjul port of Gambia. The toxic waste was meant to be dumped in Gambia's waters, the government officials said. According to allegations, the vessel was
The recent flooding of untested and unlabelled genetically engineered foods, such as soybean oil, potato chips and milk in the markets and also food received from some international organisations for victims of the Orissa cyclone has caused widespread panic in farmers. Reflecting the concerns, a tribunal
The proposal of a German organisation to plant trees in Argentina is facing large-scale opposition from the country's environmentalist.Prima Klima, a non-governmental organisation, is planning to undertake a tree planting project covering an area of 125,000 hectares in the province of Chubut located in the Argentine part of Patagonia. The …
As the international crude oil crisis worsensits tremors are being felt in India. Seventy per cent of India’s oil is imported. The country’s oil import bill which was Rs 530crore in 1999is expected to be more than Rs 800crore this year. Most of this is due to the international oil …
The Indian government subsidises certain petroleum products like diesel This encourages consumers to switch from expensive petrol to cheap diesel Diesel emissions are more harmful than petrol emissions Increase in diesel vehicles means more pollution More pollution will only results in more health problems Subsidy keeps fuel use inefficient. Freight …
steel industry: To produce one tonne of steel, India spends 9.5 million kilocalories. In Italy it is 4.3 million kilocalories and for Japan it is only 4.1 million kilocalories. cement industry: Over 2 million kilocalories are used to produce one tonne of cement in India. In Germany it is 0.82 …
It has shaken the confidence of the new Europe. Oil crisesfuel shortagesstreet blockades and protests that had become commonplace during the 1970s oil shortagehave come back to haunt Europe once again. Over the past few weeksas the price of oil touched a 10-year high of us $35 a barrel
Diesel is under-prised by Rs 5. The government claims that it is used by farmers for their tubewells and tractors. But a major share of diesel is used by trucks and other heavy commercial vehicles. A cabinet decision was taken in November 1997 to deregulate diesel prices. But for the …
japanese whale hunting is undermining international efforts to protect endangered whale species, according to the us . Consequently, the Clinton administration is planning to impose economic sanctions on Japan. The us officials said that Japanese fishing fleets would not be allowed to operate within 320 kilometres of the us Exclusive …
In a landmark move, the Supreme Court (sc) admitted a public interest petition filed against mining going on in the Jadugauda mines of Bihar. The writ petition was filed in April 1999 by lawyer and activist BL Wadhera against the Union of India, particularly the Uranium Corporation of India Limited …
in a recent highly publicised event, the un had yet another go at self improvement. Weary eyed observers saw world leaders expound lofty ideas in a series of speeches at a un millennium summit that took place in New York city from September 6-8, 2000. But this time there was …
western civil society, it seems, has decided to go global and represent the world without any effort to understand what constitutes democracy and fairness from the point of view of poorer countries. Several Northern groups are now urging their governments to use their influence on international financial institutions, and stop …
Rumours of India demanding inclusion of nuclear energy technology under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism ( cdm ) have been doing the rounds. Despite Union government sources claiming that they support a country's right to select their technology options for clean energy, confusion persists regarding India's position. Reports in …
the us is unlikely to achieve emission reduction targets as stipulated under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol due to large-scale economic growth. "Taking full advantage of the flexibility mechanisms is the only option left with us in order to meet the Kyoto target,' said Frank Loy, under secretary of state for …
at least two Norwegian companies are acquiring several thousand hectares of land in East Africa to plant fast growing trees like eucalyptus and pine. The groups
Two Mexican environmentalist have been put behind bars for 10 years on charges of growing marijuana and possession of arms. The Sierra Club and Amnesty International, two non-governmental organisations, have condemned the conviction of Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera, the two environmentalists. According to them, Montiel and Cabrera were illegally …
• The Nigerian government; to discredit reports of genocide • The fascist junta in Argentina during the 1970s and 1980s; to help attract foreign investment • South Korea; to help avoid the focus on the human rights situation during the 1988 Olympics • The Mexican government in 1990; to sell …
Rights come with responsibilities. This is a lesson the Indian government, if there is such a homogenous entity, needs to learn. Relevant ministries recently refused to issue a clear statement opposing or supporting the transfer of nuclear energy technology from industrialised countries to developing countries under the global climate convention …
you may not have heard its name but Burson-Marsteller ( bm ) is the world's largest public relations firm, with 63 offices in 32 countries and a turnover of almost us $200 million in 1994. It is fast becoming an increasingly important cog in the propaganda machines of the new …
a clash between the us and the European Union (eu) over the rules for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, as agreed in the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, seems to be inevitable. The us in a submission to the United Nations has said that the Kyoto Protocol must recognise forests and agricultural …
