Issue 161 – December 2010

Good-bye Ricardo, welcome Winnie

Many years have passed since I had the great honour of being elected as the WRM International Coordinator. There are no words that could express my gratitude to those who
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Human Rights Day: A Story of Social Struggles

The United Nations has designated 10 December as Human Rights Day. The date was chosen to commemorate the 10 December 1948 adoption and proclamation of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
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Brazil: Aracruz sows violence and destruction in Espirito Santo

On the occasion of Human Rights Day, we think it would be opportune to share a report conducted this year in Brazil: a research study that analyses the impacts of
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Guatemala: Oil palm and sugar cane monoculture plantations hurt local communities on the Coyolate River

The Pacific watershed of Guatemala comprises 17 river basins. Most of the rivers in this region have a relatively short length of around 100 kilometres, from their source in the
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Oil palm in Nigeria: shifting from smallholders and women to mass production

West Africa used to be the centre of the palm oil industry. The export of palm kernels began in 1832 and by 1911 “British” West Africa alone exported 157,000 tonnes
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Amazon Basin: IIRSA opens the way for rainforest invasion

As the neo-extractivist and development policies of the region’s governments continue to move forward, they come hand in hand with the destruction of the natural environment and the genocidal ethnocide
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Philippines: Deforestation through mining subsidized by CDM project

In the Philippines, mining, along with logging, has been among the forces behind the country’s loss of forest cover: from 17 million hectares in 1934 to just three million in
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Uruguay: Tree plantation workers and agrotoxic spraying

One of the promises made by plantation companies to gain support – from the government and from local communities – is that they will create employment. What they fail to
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South Africa: Research shows conclusive results on the impacts of tree plantations on water

At a time when water resources are becoming scarce and ever more threatened by global warming and climate change, a research carried out in South Africa becomes quite timely. After
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Chikweti plantations in Mozambique: Will the FSC continue certifying the uncertifiable?

The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)website has announced that the company Chikweti Forests of Niassa, which operates in the province of Niassa in northern Mozambique, is seeking the FSC “green label”
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