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- Alternative Peoples Summit a contrast to Rio+20
As roughly 50,000 representatives from governments the world attend the United Nations conference on sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro, an alternative conference -- touted as the Peoples Summit, and funded by Brazil -- offers a platform for decrying the inability of world leaders to take bold steps to end poverty and protect the environment. Organizers say government policies primarily serve businesses that exploit nature as a commodity. The Guardian (London) (6/18), Deutsche Welle (Germany) (6/18)      - UN urges U.S. to involve Iran in Syria peace talks
The U.S. is being encouraged by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to include Iran in talks to end the conflict in Syria. The world body has suspended its monitoring mission because of an escalation in violence that has already claimed the lives of more than 10,000, mostly unarmed civilians. "Iran is a key player in this crisis, and if you're going to have a group that talks about what can be done to pressure the parties in Syria then you can't neglect the fact that Iran has influence on the Syrian government," said Ahmad Fawzi, spokesman for UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan. Bloomberg (6/19), Bloomberg Businessweek (6/18), ForeignPolicy.com/Turtle Bay blog (6/12) - New development approach finds Rio+20 support
Among the initiatives on rural development gaining traction at Rio+20 is the so-called "landscape approach" -- backed, in part, by the United Nations -- that uses technologies such as remote sensing, resource monitoring and spatial analysis to determine how to properly use land agriculturally, if at all. Such efforts typically are led by those living in the communities targeted for development. IRINNews.org (6/18) - Breaking the cycle of poverty, hunger in Ethiopia
 A photo essay depicts the divergent lives of two women in Ethiopia living only 100 miles apart. One mother collects and sells rocks because of drought that has left her fields fallow and cattle and oxen dead, while another -- as part of a food-for-work irrigation project -- is able to feed her five children even during the long dry months. BBC (6/18) - Anti-malaria group sees work on ground in Kenya
Representatives of the North Carolina-based Buzzkill Foundation traveled to the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, where insecticide-treated bed nets designed to fend off malaria-carrying mosquitoes only last two to three years, instead of the usual five, because of extreme weather. Buzzkill aims to raise $1 million to purchase and distribute 100,000 such bed nets through Nothing But Nets. The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (6/15)  | - At least one killed weekly in global resource grab
The fight over scarce global resources is becoming more violent, claiming the lives of at least one person each week -- typically activists, community leaders and reporters working on behalf of land and rivers, according to the human rights group Global Witness. Over the past decade, such deaths were highest in Brazil, where almost half of all killings were reported, followed by Peru, Colombia and the Philippines, the group said. AlertNet/Reuters (6/19), The Guardian (London) (6/18) - Turning to the Koran to dissuade Afghan bombings
Security services in Afghanistan are trying to deprogram captured would-be suicide bombers, who are often Afghans raised in Pakistan, through lessons from the very book in defense of which some admitted they had acted -- the Koran. "I don't want to go to paradise, I want to go home," said one 17-year-old who had planned to blow himself up in an attack on foreigners. Reuters (6/11) - Virgin Unite and the United Postcode Lotteries announced as Rio+Social's latest supporters
The United Nations Foundation, Mashable, 92nd Street Y, Ericsson, Energias de Portugal, LiveAD and Planeta Sustentável announced the support of Virgin Unite and the United Postcode Lotteries as additional sponsors of Rio+Social, a global event about the nexus of social media, technological innovation, and sustainable development. At Rio+ Social, Virgin Unite and the United Postcode Lotteries, with the Carbon War Room and Rio+Social partners, will hold a "Screw Business as Usual" celebration to recognize business leaders who are protecting and sustainably harnessing natural assets. Read more. - UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock featured on Capitol Hill
Herbie Hancock -- UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Grammy Award-winning, international jazz icon -- will be featured on Capitol Hill today. The reception will include a performance by Mr. Hancock. The Better World Campaign will recognize Hancock for his dedication to harnessing the power of music to promote peace and intercultural dialogue. Read more.
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