All Entries in the "Development" Category

The Pandit, the pundits and the bandits

The IPCC got another knock
recently, perhaps from an unexpected corner. In its 2007 report, the predictions for the Himalayan glaciers indicated that they would entirely disappear by 2035.
In late 2009, at the request of his government, the Indian geologist V.K. Rania (retired) looked into this, and concluded in a White Paper that glaciers (in [...]

This is not an Avatar

It remains to be seen whether Copenhagen was indeed a watershed; but at least the French mainstream media seem less apologetic in past months. It is comforting for instance to read the columns by Claude Allègre in the weekly Le Point. (He was sacked from competitor L’Express in 2008, presumably for speaking out against the [...]

Climate Policy’s Third World Threat

Barun Mitra and Manuel de Araujo Address CFACT’s International Climate Eco-Summit (I.C.E.) in Copenhagen

Thanks to Jody Clarke and the Atlas Foundation for their sponsorship of Barun Mitra’s and Manuel de Araujo’s Presentations in Copenhagen.

Water seeks its own level: here comes that sinking feeling

What’s the difference between the climate jamboree and the Titanic? At least the latter had an orchestra. Numerous groups are eager to grab the headlines in Copenhagen; the smaller you are, the more original the initiatives. But dressing up as a polar bear is a tiresome business. Better try for direct appeal to bleeding hearts [...]

Pascal’s Wager, Gore’s Wages

“- Supposing a tree fell down, Pooh, when we were underneath it?
- Supposing it didn’t, said Pooh after careful thought.”
(The House at Pooh Corner)
The Economist in its special report argued that the world needs a new climate treaty as an “insurance policy against a catastrophe that may never happen”. A curious statement, especially in [...]

Monsanto, mon amour

In truth, there is no such thing as absolute safety; but this fundamental human need may explain the excessive search for certainty in particular as the world seems awash with a constant flow of disconcerting events.
It seems obvious then to assume that risk is the opposite of safety. But it isn’t: as inaction also entails [...]

Reversing the burden of spoof

by Jacob Arfwedson
One of the less endearing features of government supporters is their general disdain for democracy when eventually popular vote goes against their designs. The legitimacy of consent suddenly becomes irrelevant and a downright nuisance. In Europe, we experienced this in the constitutional negotiations: first with the Maastricht Treaty, and more recently with [...]

CFACT's Field Trip to Mexico

CFACT recently completed a development project in Valle Verde, Mexico.  CFACT partnered with a coalition of relief organizations to provide local residents with solar panels, recycled laptops, and basic computer training.

Still Feeding the World

The great Norman Borlaug Died September 12, 2009
By PAUL DRIESSEN (Washington)
Norman Borlaug just turned 94 – and is still going strong
During the “Eat This” segment of their docu-comedy series BS, Penn Jillette beat Teller in a round of their “Greatest Person in History” card game. Penn needed just one card: Norman Borlaug.
This Iowa [...]

Newspapers Review "Eco-Imperialism"

HOLGER J. THUSS (JENA)

With 150.000 copies and about twice as many readers every day, the Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung is not only the largest Swiss newspaper, but also the most respected daily paper among the German-speaking Europeans. Under the headline “Eco-imperialism at the expense of the poor,” it also was the first major print [...]

Commentary: Sick and Deadly Disease Control Programs

Too many of them perpetuate disease and cost lives
PAUL DRIESSEN (Washington)
If an accident kills wildlife or people, punishment is meted out and restitution made. A host of regulators, lawyers, judges, activists, journalists and politicians help bring the wrongdoers to justice.
But when it comes to policies and programs that sicken and kill millions of parents and [...]

"Eco-Imperialism" reviewed in Switzerland

CFACT Europe’s German edition of Paul Driessen’s Eco-imperialism: Green Power – Black Death received a lengthy review in Die Idee, published by the Junge Schweizerische Volkspartei [JSVP] (Young Swiss People’s Party).  CFACT Europe is proud to join the political debate in one of the world’s oldest democracies.
The JSVP has approximately 5.800 members and is the youth wing [...]

CFACT's Thuss Advocates Values Based Foreign Policy at Adenauer Foundation Forum

Berlin, Germany, 20 Jan. Today, Dr. Holger Thuss, Executive Director of CFACT EUROPE, joined a panel debating the role of ethical values in foreign affairs, in order to present his translation of Paul Driessen’s best-selling book Eco-imperialism: Green Power – Black Death.
During his presentation, Dr. Thuss strongly emphasized the importance of value-based foreign policies, particularly [...]

Rothbard and Rucker on Environment, Development and Africa in "European View"

In their article, David Rothbard and Craig Rucker urge EU policy makers to ensure that their new policies towards Africa will be beneficial in particular to African nations that were once European colonies.
“The answer to Africa’s needs, however, is not more handouts or even aid forgiveness, as was recommended at the June 2005 G8 summit [...]