News headlines for “Biodiversity”, page 25
HeForShe Campaign Tackles 'Sex for Fish' Abuse Malawis Lakeshore Communities
- Inter Press Service

LILONGWE, May 22 (IPS) - Women in fishing communities in Malawi's lakeshore districts of Nkhotakota and Mangochi are frequently targets of sexual exploitation for fish, a practice commonly known as 'sex for fish.' A recent report by the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has unearthed disturbing accounts of women being coerced into transactional sex to access fish from male boat owners, exposing a widespread violation of their rights.
A New Pope at a Pivotal Moment: Civil Society’s Hopes for Leo XIV
- Inter Press Service

LONDON, May 22 (IPS) - The new pope, the latest in a line dating back almost 2,000 years, was quickly subjected to a very modern phenomenon: no sooner had Pope Leo XIV delivered his first address than people started trawling his social media history for clues about his views. In the context of an ongoing culture war, the fact that far-right grievance entrepreneurs were quick to decry the new pope as ‘woke’ seemed reason enough for progressives to welcome him. But for civil society and the global human rights community, it’s how Leo acts that matters.
UN Ocean Conference Must Inspire Global Ambition
- Inter Press Service

NICE, France, May 21 (IPS) - The United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) takes place every three years and in just a few weeks, the international community will gather in Nice, France, at a time when the International Science Council has called for the world to address the new reality of a disrupted Earth system.
Seafood Without Transparency is a Recipe for Disaster
- Inter Press Service

NICE, France, May 19 (IPS) - Seafood is a staple in my house – fish tacos, paella, sushi. But no matter how good it tastes, I can’t help but wonder: was my fish caught responsibly? Or did something go horribly wrong before it ever reached my plate?
Explainer: What Rural Communities in Tanzania Need to Know about Carbon Trading and Land Rights
- Inter Press Service

DAR ES SALAAM, May 19 (IPS) - As global demand for carbon credits rises, Tanzania has become a magnet for carbon offset projects. From Loliondo in Arusha to Kiteto in Manyara, foreign firms and conservation groups are looking for land to capture carbon and sell credits to polluting industries in the Global North. The growing interest in carbon trading has sparked hope, confusion, and concern— putting millions of hectares of village land and the livelihoods of people who depend on it at risk.
A Shift in the Sands: The Reshaping of Global Influence in the Gulf
- Inter Press Service

NEW YORK, May 16 (IPS) - The Gulf's most powerful weapon isn't a military, a United Nations (UN) Security Council seat, or a legacy of global diplomacy. Choosing multilateralism and mega-projects over militaries and old-world diplomacy, they are tipping the scale without firing a single shot. Their approach is more modern, where money, alliances, and an active vision for the future are the weapon of choice.
How Mangroves Save Lives, Livelihoods of Bangladesh Coastal Communities
- Inter Press Service

SHYAMNAGAR, Bangladesh, May 16 (IPS) - Golenur Begum watched her house being washed away twice by powerful storms that hit the coastal village of Sinharatoli in southwestern Bangladesh. Now the women from her village and others are climate-proofing their communities by planting mangroves.Golenur Begum has faced 12 cyclones in her life. As a child, she witnessed her father’s house destroyed, and as an adult, she watched her home smashed. Saltwater brought by the tidal surges that accompanied the cyclones wrecked their farms and livelihoods. And with climate change, these impacts are becoming more intense and frequent.
Amidst Choking Garbage, Locals Join Hands to Build a Zero-Waste Bali
- Inter Press Service

GIANYAR, Bali, May 14 (IPS) - It was Christmas Eve last year when visitors across several tourism hotspots in Bali woke up to a ghastly scene they hadn’t expected: layers of cans, bags, bottles, and driftwood covering their favorite sandy beaches, washed up by hours of rain and high tide. So bad was the situation that from Kuta to Legian and Seminyak to Jimbaran—none of the island’s picturesque beaches was clean enough to attract the visitors for a swim.
The Indus Water Treaty Suspension: A Wake-Up Call for Asia–Pacific Unity ?
- Inter Press Service

May 12 (IPS) - On April 23, India suspended the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), a 65-year-old agreement that had been a rare symbol of cooperation between India and Pakistan despite decades of hostility. The suspension came a day after militants attacked civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, a disputed region, killing 26 people, most of them Indian tourists. India accused Pakistan of supporting “cross-border terrorism” and responded by halting the treaty. Pakistan denied involvement in the attack and called India’s move an “act of war.”
Former Energy Ministers from Saint Lucia and Uruguay Named REN21 Renewable Energy Champions
- Inter Press Service

MIAMI, Florida, USA, May 12 (IPS) - The Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), a global network that advances renewable energy through collaboration and knowledge sharing, has named James Fletcher of Saint Lucia and Dr Ramón Méndez Galain of Uruguay as its first Renewable Energy Champions.
Global Issues