Businesses and policy-makers need to recognize the tremendous economic value of ecosystems, as well as the social and economic costs of losing such natural resources as forests, freshwater, soils and coral reefs, a new United Nations report released today said. The report by the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), a body hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), seeks to galvanize the world to recognize the economic consequences of failing...
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UPA-II to unveil 'slum-free India' dream scheme by Mahendra Kumar Singh
UPA-II's ambitious programme to make the nation slum-free within five years is all set to take off as the housing and urban poverty alleviation ministry has finalised the scheme, and how now sent it to finance ministry for approval. Last year, the government had announced the launch of Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) aimed at making Cities slum-free, addressing the problems of slum-dwellers and urban poor in a definitive and holistic manner....
More »The narcissism of the neurotic by P Sainath
The Commonwealth Games were no showcase, but a mirror of India 2010. If they presented anything, it was this — Indian crony, casino capitalism at its most vigorous. The Commonwealth Games over, we can now return to those of everyday Indian life. For all the protests, though, there was nothing in the corruption that marked the Games that does not permeate every town and city, all the time. Just that, in...
More »Changing face of local polls by Mrinal Pande
Panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh have thrown up many curious phenomena. Everyone involved with the panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh seems to love it. Sons, brothers, sons-in-law of MLAs contesting for seats at the village, tehsil or district levels in vast numbers are happy because the vidhayak mahoday is campaigning on their behalf, making full use of the party machinery. Wives and daughters-in-law from ‘influential families' are delighted because their family's...
More »Hunger banquet in Paris marks World Food Day
Ten thousand empty plates were displayed at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Saturday morning in an event to mark World Food Day. French non-governmental organisation Action Contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger) organised the event, dubbed the Banquet Against Hunger, in coordination with the European Union, to draw the public's attention to starvation and hunger worldwide. According to Francois Danel, General Director of Action Contre la Faim, "ten-thousand...
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