Gee-Whiz Science or Biopiracy?

By Sifelani Tsiki, The Herald | Editorial comment by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food companies have made millions on plant species that have been used for generations by indigenous groups, without any benefit accruing to local communities in the countries of origin.

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Foreign Aid, Foreign Wastes

Data from USAID | Commentary by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. A policy of tied aid has until now required that USAID funds be spent on goods and services exclusively from U.S. companies. A new policy will allow USAID to buy many goods and services from developing countries, but not food, motor vehicles, or U.S.-patented pharmaceuticals.

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The Giving Moringa Tree | Árvore milagrosa como um supermercado ao ar livre

By Kristin Palitza, IPS | Informações de Envolverde | Holistic Health | Haiti Chery. Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing, drought-resistant tree that produces leaves full of nutrients and medicines, and pods full of protein. The seeds can purify water and furnish cooking oil, and the flowers are decorative and medicinal. Moringa already grows in most of the South where it is often called Malunggai. In Haiti, it is called Benzolivier.

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Harvesting Water to Save Crops and Lives | Recolección de agua para salvar cultivos y vidas

By Isaiah Esipisu, IPS. If, in Africa and Asia, immediate action were taken to increase investment in diverse methods of water storage, then an estimated 500 million people would benefit from improved agricultural water management. (English | Spanish)

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Scientists Hail Africa’s Steps Into Space

By Staff Writers, Space Daily | NASRDA | Stephen Clark, Spaceflight Now. Last month Nigeria launched two satellites, Nigeriasat 2 and Nigeriasat X, used for forestry, mapping, disaster monitoring and security applications. In 2009 South Africa launched SumbandilaSat and last year formed its own space agency.

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Egypt, Ethiopia Mull Nile Dams Dispute

UPI via Terra Daily Editorial Comment. Finally there is a move afoot to reconsider the water agreements between Nile countries. The previous agreements for sharing the Nile waters had been unfair and involved the U.K. bullying upstream countries for the … Continue reading →

Plant a Tree for Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, Who Died on September 25, 2011

Eric Law, The Independent | GRITtv. Wangari Maathai died of cancer on Sunday, September 25, 2011. The organization she founded, the Green Belt Movement, planted millions of trees.

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Guatemala, the United States’ Field Laboratory | Guatemala, el campo de pruebas de los laboratorios de Estados Unidos

By Jacobo G. García, El Mundo – Spain | Translated by Camden Luxford, Watching America | Commentary by Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Now that money for legitimate science has dried up in the U.S., there are probably many more John Cutler(s). (English | Spanish)

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Putting Trees on Farms Fundamental to Future Agricultural Development

By Staff Writers, SPX via Seed Daily. As natural vegetation and forests are cleared for agriculture and other types of development, the benefits that trees provide are best sustained by integrating them into agriculturally productive landscapes.

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Looking South for Environmental Progress

By Jay Walljasper, On the Commons. The developing world doesn’t simply do less of what’s wrong, it has pioneered new approaches to protect the environment that are rooted in a sense of the commons.

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