By Yossef Ben-Meir MARRAKECH, 29 May 2023 (IDN) — A research study reveals the positive community impact of sustainable agricultural initiatives when preceded by women’s empowerment workshops, leading to participatory action, enhanced community well-being, and decentralization.

Analysis by Kalinga Seneviratne SINGAPORE, 28 May 2023 (IDN) — The international media may have focused on the attempts at the G7 meeting this month in Hiroshima to unite against China promoting a “de-risking” strategy, which China sees as “containment” of their economic rise. It seems many Asian leaders agree with China.

Soka University of America Honours Ambassador Chowdhury’s Life Partner NEW YORK, 27 May 2023 (IDN) — The Soka University of America (SUA) located at Orange County, California, USA held a beautiful dedication ceremony this morning for the Mariam Chowdhury Corner for Global Citizenship at its campus. The beloved life partner of SUA’s Distinguished Visiting Professor Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the United Nations, Mrs Chowdhury was a friend and supporter of the university, accompanying the ambassador to campus over the last two decades to support SUA’s learning clusters and dialogues on the culture of peace.

By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, 25 May 2023 (IDN) — At a UN sponsored high-level meeting, donors collectively pledged about $2.4 billion in “life-saving and life-sustaining assistance” to nearly 32 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia plagued by five consecutive poor rainy seasons. But the pledges—from 28 donors out of the 193 UN member states—fell far short of the $7.0 billion needed to rescue the countries devastated mostly by droughts.

By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK, 21 May 2023 (IDN) — A review of progress on implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has determined that global progress towards disaster risk management has been weak and insufficient, putting at risk the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

By J Nastranis NEW YORK, 17 May 2023 (IDN) — A new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report says countries and companies could reduce plastic pollution by 80 percent by 2040 using existing technologies. According to UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, “the way we produce, use, and dispose of plastics pollutes ecosystems, poses health risks, and destabilizes the climate.”