The report forecasts global economic growth to 2.6% in 2024, barely above the 2.5% threshold commonly associated with a recessionary phase. The report says the prevailing focus on inflation overshadows urgent issues like trade disruptions, climate change and rising inequalities. It advocates for structural reforms and coordinated global efforts, proposing …
the world's largest rookery of the highly endangered Olive Ridley turtle, Gahirmatha beach in Orissa, is fast becoming their largest graveyard, too. This year's record-breaking mass nesting of 800,000 turtles sent waves of jubilation among conservationists. But, the figure of 6,000 dead turtles washed ashore ebbed this jubilation. Last year …
The automobile industry in India may breathe a sigh of relief at last. While quota restrictions have been lifted at long last they have been provided a certain degree of protection by the government. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (siam) had lobbied extensively with the government to impose restrictions …
the European Union (eu), excluding France, has decided to end all barriers to trade with world's 48 poorest countries. The agreement on "almost every thing, but arms' aims to give to these countries duty and quota free access to eu markets. The agreement will take effect from March 5, 2001. …
In what can be termed a landmark ruling, the European court of justice has decided that Germany's legislation that concerns subsidising renewable energies does not violate trade laws of the European Union (EU). The ruling clearly indicates that free trade is not as important as EU's obligation to cut greenhouse …
uk has become the seventh European country to agree to internet-based trading in power generated from renewable sources. Beginning April 2001, it will participate in the renewable energy certificates scheme (recs), an 18-month experiment to trade in renewable energy at market rates. The genesis of the recs lies in the …
punjab farmers are protesting against a World Trade Organisation (wto) agreement that will come into force from April 1, 2001. According to the agreement, as many as 1,429 items from other countries would be allowed to enter the Indian market. These include nearly 300 items related to agriculture and allied …
people for Ethical Treatment of Animals (peta), a us -based non-governmental organisation (ngo), has intensified its campaign against the Indian leather industry. It organised a press conference on February 28, 2001 to collect signatures on a petition that urges prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to enforce strict laws related to …
Wajad ali shah , the last nawab of Avadh (Oudh), reaches out for an intricately carved silver khaas daan (a container for betel leaf) and gingerly takes out a green triangle dangling from one of the fine silver chains. Putting it in his mouth, he ruminates, savouring its flavour as …
india has signed the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which is the only international framework that regulates trade in genetically modified (gm) products. The protocol allows countries to ban the import of gm seeds, microbes, animals and crops that they believe is harmful to their environment. The pact also stipulates that …
While tiger parts, ivory and sandalwood smuggling continue to attract all the public attention, what India is losing is its medicinal wealth to well-organised smuggling networks run by thousands of Veerappans all across the country. Mum's the word on the trade practices, while forests, whether in the north, south, east …
It is a common sight near every forest area to see loaded trucks making their way through the dark cover of the night. The first thought that crosses one’s mind is that they are weighed down with timber. Wrong. Many times, what is being carried out is the herbal treasure …
In April 1999, a director of a reputed environmental organisation in Dehradun was tipped off about 12 trucks waiting at the check-post in Dehradun. They were carrying in various quantities medicinal plants that did not feature in the list of ntfp allowed to be collected in the region comprising Uttaranchal, …
The Indian herbal industry is estimated to have a turnover of Rs 2,300 crore annually. It is also involved in the export of finished products, intermediaries and bulk raw materials. More than 90 per cent of the plant species used by the industry are, however, collected from the wild of …
Considering the shortage of medicinal plants and the need to sustain ism, cultivation and sustainable harvesting of plants from the wild has become absolutely necessary. One way of solving the problem would be to encourage cultivation by small farmers and tribal people and make big manufacturers of herbal products source …
Realising the importance of medicinal plants in the health care system available to the poor people, the department of family welfare of the mohfw started the vanaspati van yojna as part of the reproductive and child health programme in October 1997. In other words, it means converting large areas of …
Three hours from Madurai is Shenbaha Thopu. Rich in forest wealth, the peripheries of the forests are inhabited by 24 families of the Pallyan community who have traditionally been involved in the collection of non-timber forest produce (ntfp). Now something else has become a part and parcel of their lives: …
in what is termed as environmental racism, a consignment of 118 tonnes of used neuro-toxic mercury from the us is on its way to an undisclosed location in India. It is reported that a portion of the mercury has reached a purification centre in Albany, New York, from where it …
The Global Environmental Negotiations (GEN) series provide information on environment-related treaties, negotiations and institutions. Poles Apart, the second in the series of books on the politics of global environmental governance (GEN). This book contains updates on the issues dealt within the first report, Green Politics . It contains new chapters …
it's November. Time for Gloriosa superba popularly known as glory lily to bloom. A few hours drive from the temple town Madurai in Tamil Nadu, it has indeed blossomed and covered hundred of hectares of land with its red flowers. It does make a pretty sight. But under the red …
