Hunger summit dialogue threads path between hope and...

GuelphMercury - Hunger summit dialogue threads path between hope and...: "In two hours, speakers that included UNESCO special envoy to Haiti Michaëlle Jean and Senator Pamela Wallin touched on a range of subjects from the desensitization of Westerners to the plight of the hungry to the role of democracy in bringing about food security and the notion of a “fat tax” on unhealthy foods."

An introduction to ecological immunology

An introduction to ecological immunology - Martin - 2011 - Functional Ecology - Wiley Online Library

World hunger best cured by small-scale agriculture

World hunger best cured by small-scale agriculture: report | Environment | guardian.co.uk: "A move from industrial farming towards local food projects is our healthiest, most sustainable choice, says Worldwatch Institute"

PAHO: Advocating for Ecohealth: International Development Research Centre

PAHO: Advocating for Ecohealth: International Development Research Centre

ScienceDirect - Ecological Economics : Can domestication of wildlife lead to conservation? The economics of tiger farming in China

ScienceDirect - Ecological Economics : Can domestication of wildlife lead to conservation? The economics of tiger farming in China

Tigers are a threatened species that might soon disappear in the wild. Not only are tigers threatened by deteriorating and declining habitat, but poachers continue to kill tigers for traditional medicine, decoration pieces and so on. Although international trade in tiger products has been banned since 1987 and domestic trade within China since 1993, tigers continue to be poached and Chinese entrepreneurs have established tiger farms in anticipation of their demise. While China desires to permit sale of tiger products from captive-bred tigers, this is opposed on the grounds that it likely encourages illegal killing. Instead, wildlife conservationists lobby for more spending on anti-poaching and trade-ban enforcement

ScienceDirect Spatial wildlife-vehicle collision models: A review of current work and its application to transportation mitigation projects

ScienceDirect - Journal of Environmental Management : Spatial wildlife-vehicle collision models: A review of current work and its application to transportation mitigation projects

In addition to posing a serious risk to motorist safety, vehicle collisions with wildlife are a significant threat for many species. Previous spatial modeling has concluded that wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) exhibit clustering on roads, which is attributed to specific landscape and road-related factors. We reviewed twenty-four published manuscripts that used generalized linear models to statistically determine the influence that numerous explanatory predictors have on the location of WVCs. Our motivation was to summarize empirical WVC findings to facilitate application of this knowledge to planning, and design of mitigation strategies on roads. In addition, commonalities between studies were discussed and recommendations for future model design were made.

World Bank`s Shantayanan Devarajan on Africa - The AfricaNews articles of smajek

AfricaNews - World Bank`s Shantayanan Devarajan on Africa - The AfricaNews articles of smajek: "Mr. Shantayanan Devarajan, the Sri-Lankan-born Chief Economist of the World Bank's (WB) Africa Region whose research covers public economics, trade policy, natural resources, the environment, and general equilibrium modeling of developing countries is a sought after authority on Africa.

Although there are many “unofficial authorities” on Africa at the WB, his name is the only one listed on the World Bank’s website as their expert on Africa."

Horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2011

ScienceDirect - Trends in Ecology & Evolution : Horizon scan of global conservation issues for 2011

This review describes outcomes of a 2010 horizon-scanning exercise building upon the first exercise conducted in 2009. The aim of both horizon scans was to identify emerging issues that could have substantial impacts on the conservation of biological diversity, and to do so sufficiently early to encourage policy-relevant, practical research on those issues.

Disease-related conflicts in mammal conservation

CSIRO PUBLISHING - Wildlife Research: "Diseases pose a major direct or indirect threat to the conservation of endangered species, and can be a source of conflict among the stakeholders in conservation efforts. We aim to provide examples of disease-related conflicts in conservation, and information that can be used to identify means to reduce existing conflicts and avoid potential new ones. After introducing how diseases can affect conservation efforts, we have provided examples of different types of disease-related conflicts,"

Research Areas & Approach: International Development Research Centre

Research Areas & Approach: International Development Research Centre: "IDRC has been contributing to building the field of ecohealth since 1996. Results include improved health and ecosystems, improved research capabilities in developing countries, and in many cases, positive changes in policies and common practices.
The Program supports many Communities of Practice in Ecohealth (COPEH) and other networks, the International Association for Ecology and Health and its journal, EcoHealth. It has also organized two international Forums to share knowledge between different groups,while strengthening and challenging the field."

East Africa gets ready for looming famine in 2011

The East African: - News |East Africa gets ready for looming famine in 2011: "During a meeting in Arusha last week that brought together senior officials from the five East African Community governments and the private sector that deal with agriculture and climate change, it was established that the big three — Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania — have common problems mitigating against maximising production and distribution of food."

How can Africa grow more food?

How can Africa grow more food? | Global development | guardian.co.uk: "African agriculture has become the focus of extraordinary attention and interest. Yesterday a big report was launched by the Harvard academic Calestous Juma with the backing of several African presidents, and next week Chatham House in London is hosting a major conference on food security where the International Fund for Agriculture and Development (Ifad) is launching a new report on rural poverty."

Food security, farming, and climate change to 2050 | International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Food security, farming, and climate change to 2050 | International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): "As the global population grows and incomes in poor countries rise, so too, will the demand for food, placing additional pressure on sustainable food production. Climate change adds a further challenge, as changes in temperature and precipitation threaten agricultural productivity and the capacity to feed the world’s population. This study assesses how serious the danger to food security might be and suggests some steps policymakers can take to remedy the situation."

Is Climate Change Too Scary?: Scientific American Podcast

Is Climate Change Too Scary?: Scientific American Podcast: "When it comes to persuasion, doom and gloom doesn't work. If that wasn't clear from the morass that is international climate change negotiations starting this week or the constant reports of extinction of plant and animal species worldwide, new research [pdf] from the University of California, Berkeley shows it's so."

Hunger in America

Hunger in America: "Some 15 percent of US households, 17.4 million families or about 50 million people, were too poor to buy adequate food last year, according to a new report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). More than a third of these households, with as many as one million children, were missing meals on a regular basis, the study found.

The number of families classified as “food insecure” according to the USDA, which administers the food stamp program, has more than tripled since 2006, before the current economic slump which has brought near double-digit unemployment. Because most people are reluctant to admit they have a problem putting food on the table, particularly when they have children, “food insecurity” was calculated from survey questions about skipping meals or running out of food stamps, combined with comparisons of income and food prices."

The Trouble With Billionaires: Amazon.ca: Linda Mcquaig: Books

The Trouble With Billionaires: Amazon.ca: Linda Mcquaig: Books: "The glittering lives of billionaires may seem like a harmless source of entertainment. But such concentrated economic power reverberates throughout society, threatening the quality of life and the very functioning of democracy. It's no accident that the United States claims the most billionaires--but suffers among the highest rates of infant mortality and crime, the shortest life expectancy, as well as the lowest rates of social mobility and electoral political participation in the developed world.
Our society tends to regard large fortunes as evidence of great talent or accomplishment. Yet the vast new wealth isn't due to an increase in talent or effort at the top, but rather to changing social attitudes legitimizing greed and government policy changes that favour the new elite. Authoritative and eye-opening, The Trouble with Billionaires will spark debate about the kind of society we want."

Earth System Science for Global Sustainability

Earth System Science for Global Sustainability: Grand Challenges -- Reid et al. 330 (6006): 916 -- Science: "Tremendous progress has been made in understanding the functioning of the Earth system and, in particular, the impact of human actions (1). Although this knowledge can inform management of specific features of our world in transition, societies need knowledge that will allow them to simultaneously reduce global environmental risks while also meeting economic development goals. For example, how can we advance science and technology, change human behavior, and influence political will to enable societies to meet targets for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to avoid dangerous climate change? At the same time, how can we meet needs for food, water, improved health and human security, and enhanced energy security? Can this be done while also meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and ensuring ecosystem integrity?"

Vision of Humanity

Our Vision « Vision of Humanity: "We are in an epoch different to any other epoch in human history. The problems we are facing are global in nature. They include climate change, ever decreasing biodiversity, full use of the fresh water on the planet and underpinning all these – overpopulation. Without peace we will be unable to achieve the levels of cooperation, inclusiveness and social equity required to begin solving these challenges, let alone empower the international institutions needed to regulate them."

ScienceDirect - Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability : Food production, crops and sustainability: restoring confidence in science and technology

ScienceDirect - Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability : Food production, crops and sustainability: restoring confidence in science and technology

By 2050, the global food requirement will increase significantly, driven by a population increase to more than nine billion and by a richer diet. There is a need for agricultural and food systems that are not only more productive, but also sustainable. Currently, progress is hampered by a lack of understanding how to close the yield and sustainability gap. The consequence is stagnation in implementing policies and regulations that meet future needs. The challenge of meeting global food security in a sustainable way requires a knowledge-intensive approach and the use of advanced technologies.

The Global Economy: Finding Common Ground Between National Interests and Global Stability | Centre for International Governance Innovation | Centre pour l'innovation dans la gouvernance internationale

The Global Economy: Finding Common Ground Between National Interests and Global Stability | Centre for International Governance Innovation | Centre pour l'innovation dans la gouvernance internationale: "With the G20 in agreement that fiscal stimulus will shift to fiscal consolidation over the medium term, the question of how to address the risk of another downturn in global demand will be on everyone’s mind during the G20 summit in Seoul.

In this context, there has been a recent focus on the risk that currency market swings could result in competitive devaluations and protectionist measures. Such actions could deal a serious blow to the hope for a strengthening global economy."