Abid Aslam

WASHINGTON, Sep 10 2007 (IPS) – The International Finance Corporation (IFC) faces pointed criticism in coming days as an effort to lessen the damage wrought by large mining projects enters a new phase.

Mining pollution in the Philippines Credit: IUCN/CEESP

At issue are updates and enhancements to environmental, health, and social guidelines from the World Bank s private sector arm. Green groups and international charities say the proposed changes lack adequate standards in critical areas such as water contamination and the disposal of toxic …

Abid Aslam

WASHINGTON, Oct 4 2007 (IPS) – When Dominique Strauss-Kahn takes over as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next month, he will confront demands for the agency to more actively support health and education spending in the world s poorest countries.
Strauss-Kahn has pledged to revitalise the fund s development efforts as IMF managing director.

Africa Action and 100-plus other pressure groups, in a letter to the former socialist finance minister from France, demand decisive action within the first 100 days of his five-year term, due to start Nov. 1.

If Mr. Strauss-Khan is serious about IMF reform, these issues must be at the top of his agenda, said Marie Clarke Brill, interim executive director at Washington-based Africa Action.

Th…

KARACHI, Pakistan, Mar 2 2010 (IPS) – The first time he and his wife had an ‘accident’, 40-year-old Kamran Rehman worried that they may have inadvertently paved the way for child number three. A chemist he consulted, however, recommended that his wife try the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP).
She did. Today, Rehman and his wife Aasia still have two daughters. Says Aasia Rehman: It was a big relief for both of us as we don’t plan to have another child.

It’s good to have a back-up in case of a mistake or an accident, she adds, confessing she has taken the drug when we were short of condoms at home and still had sex .

The ECP is essentially a high dose of female hormones – estrogen and progestin – that are normally in the daily-use oral contraceptive pi…

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 20 2017 (IPS) – After finally breaking silence with a much anticipated address on the ongoing crisis in Rakhine State, Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi has disappointed the world as she refuses to acknowledge the plight of her country’s Rohingya community.

Aung San Suu Kyi

In a 30-minute televised address, Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi said that her government does not fear “international scrutiny” over its management of the crisis in Rakhine.

Suu Kyi, who decided not to attend the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York, said she nevertheless wanted the international community to know what her government …

Vehicle ownership in India is projected to hit 400 million by 2040 from the 170 million recorded in 2015, which could prompt a five-fold increase in poisonous gases emitted by cars and trucks. Credit: Neeta Lal/IPS

NEW DELHI, Mar 20 2018 (IPS) – With India’s citizens clamouring for breathable air and efficient energy options, the country’s planners are more receptive than ever to explore sustainable development options, says Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of…