PROMISES ARE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR FOOD

Persistent hunger in countries like Niger reflects the failure of the international community to understand the root causes of hunger, write Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director of the Oakland Institute, and Frederic Mousseau, a food security consultant who works with international humanitarian agencies. In this article, the authors argue that the delayed response in providing aid and the insistence of donor countries like the US on providing in-kind food aid do little to strengthen national economies and tackle hunger. The dumping of cheap subsidised food aid only benefits large agribusinesses while destroying markets and livelihoods of small farmers in recipient countries. Development policies that promote economic liberalisation and encourage specialisation, commercialisation of agriculture, and withdrawal of the state from regulating the market, are eroding ability of nations to feed their populations. Niger\'s experience shows that relying on the market to solve food shortages leaves the poorest people hungrier and drives small farmers into further poverty while large food traders gain monopoly power. The fight against hunger needs to shift away from the free-market ideology. No industrialised country has been capable of developing its agriculture without protective barriers, yet the poorest farmers and consumers in the developing world have been deprived of such protection. It is time to implement an unconditional and non-paternalistic \'\'Marshall Plan for Africa\'\', including 100 percent debt relief and a boost in Western assistance.

Ecobreves – CUBA: Eco-Gardens in the City

- Urban crops in Cuba will produce some 4.3 million tons of vegetables and fresh herbs this year, Adolfo Rodríguez Nodals, head of the National Urban Agriculture Group, told Tierramérica.

Kids Pay Dearly for Lack of Clean Water

Diarrhea, caused by contaminated drinking water, kills more children in Latin America and the Caribbean than tuberculosis or HIV/AIDS, warns the United Nations. Millions of children -- children of the indigenous and black communities in particular -- are at risk.

Residents Say “Stop the Spraying!”

A campaign is launched in Argentina against herbicides used on genetically modified soybean crops, the country's main export.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Mega-Cities Far From Meeting Air Quality Standards

Brazil's major cities will have to reduce their air pollution much more if they hope to comply with the new parameters for air quality established by the World Health Organzation (WHO).

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Flamingos Enjoy Good Health

- So far in 2006, in the northwestern Venezuelan marsh of Los Olivitos alone, 6,700 Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) have hatched, reports Betsabey Motta, from the Environment Ministry's office of biodiversity.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: European Union to the Rescue of a River Basin

Over the next 18 months the European Union will be promoting a reforestation project in the Goascorán River Basin, along the Honduras-El Salvador border, which flows into the Pacific Ocean.

MAKING TRADE HELP DEVELOPMENT

The link between export growth and poverty reduction is not automatic, writes Benjamin W. Mkapa, former President of Tanzania (1995-2005) and President of the South Center, an Inter-Governmental Organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. In this analysis, Mkapa writes that making international trade a more effective mechanism of poverty reduction for poor countries requires a development approach with three pillars: better national development strategies, improvements in the international trade regime, and increased and effective international financial and technical assistance for developing production and trade capacities. For the developing countries, the potential of Doha has turned into a broken dream and an unkept promise. Once again, the world has allowed the worst impulse of humanity --to take as much as possible while giving as little as possible-- to triumph over the common sense of the wealth that comes from giving. Once again, our generation of leadership has allowed another opportunity to slip through our fingers. How much longer do we have to suffer civil strife and violence before accepting the reality that at the end of the day, peace can only be sustained when we allow all to share in the wealth that is being created?

Ailments Surge as Ozone Hole Widens

The increase in skin cancer from sun exposure is alarming, scientists say. Residents of southern Chile and Argentina are advised to take extra care in protecting themselves from solar rays this spring season in the southern hemisphere.

Monsanto Stands Firm on GM Maize in Mexico

Although the Vicente Fox government closed the door on genetically modified maize, the multinational corporation Monsanto has no plans to leave Mexico, an executive at the firm told Tierramérica.

The Rain Harvester

Tierramérica had a question-and-answer session with Colombian environmentalist Rodrigo Vivas, winner of the Sasakawa Prize for his contribution to the fight against desertification.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Measuring the Impact of Lightning

Every year, there are 61 million lightning strikes in Brazil, killing an average of 100 people and causing economic losses, according to a study by the atmospheric electricity group at the National Institute of Space Research.

Ecobreves – COLOMBIA: Legume to Counter El Niño

Cratylia argentea, a legume that is resistant to prolonged drought and highly nutritious for cattle, could be cultivated by Colombian ranchers to counter the effects of the climate phenomenon known as El Niño, according to the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Soldiers to Look After Maya Parks

Cratylia argentea, a legume that is resistant to prolonged drought and highly nutritious for cattle, could be cultivated by Colombian ranchers to counter the effects of the climate phenomenon known as El Niño, according to the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: Sábalo Threatened by Overfishing

The non-governmental Proteger Foundation revealed on Oct. 30 a nearly secret report by Argentina's fisheries agency which admits that the fish known as the sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus) is at risk of population collapse due to overexploitation.

Ecobreves – GUATEMALA: Super-Maize to the Rescue!

In November and December, the first harvest will take place of the "super-maize" planted three months ago on 32 farms in Guatemala as part of a pilot project.

Ecobreves – CHILE: Watery and Salty Chicken

Chile's consumer protection organization ODECU charged on Oct. 23 that chicken meat sold domestically had high quantities of water and too much salt, an ingredient that is harmful to the health of the two million Chileans who suffer hypertension.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Eco-Fuel for Urban Transport

Some 1,800 buses of a public transportation system in Sao Paulo will be on the streets in an experiment involving the fuel B30, which is less polluting.

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Bird-a-thon Rediscovers Capital Species

Team Paují (named for the Pauxi pauxi, an endangered bird) won first place in the 10th Bird-a-thon, a birdwatching marathon, held Oct. 22 in the Caracas metropolitan area, sponsored by the Venezuelan chapter of the Audobon Society.

Ecobreves – URUGUAY: Phonebooks Are for Recycling

From Oct. 23 to Nov. 12, the campaign "Your Pages Are Re-Usable" is collecting old telephone books for recycling in the Uruguayan capital.

Eye on Urban Water Pollution

Brazil's two biggest metropolitan regions face serious problems when it comes to their potable water supply. Observers recommend more investment in basic sanitation.