Governance

Understanding Rio+20

JOHANNESBURG, 3 April 2012 (IRIN Global) - A Nobel laureate, a Swedish environmentalist’s idea, the “doughnut” concept, Scandinavia’s sense of social capital, measuring the quality of life, and valuing the oceans are just some of the things trending in the run-up to the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development due to be held on 20-22 June 2012. full report

DRC: Kinshasa fashion highlights lack of ARVs

 KINSHASA, 3 April 2012 (PlusNews Global) - Twelve HIV-positive women held a fashion show in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, on 30 March to highlight the plight of tens of thousands of people with HIV/AIDS, and challenge donors and the authorities to provide adequate treatment. full report

MALI: Looting halts aid work in chaotic north

 BAMAKO/DAKAR, 3 April 2012 (IRIN Africa) - Malians in the northern towns of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu are hiding in their homes in fear following the weekend takeover by rebel groups, during which hospitals, health clinics, government buildings, and most NGO and UN offices and warehouses were looted, and in some cases destroyed, leaving the bulk of humanitarian operations suspended. full report

EGYPT: Fuel shortage threatens bread supplies

 CAIRO, 2 April 2012 (IRIN Middle East) - It has been three months since a fuel shortage hit Egypt, and people’s patience is wearing thin amid fears the crisis could disrupt the production of subsidized bread. full report

MALI: Holy wars and hostages – AQIM in the Maghreb

 DAKAR, 30 March 2012 (IRIN Africa) - Mopti in central Mali had a thriving tourism industry a few years ago, but Issa Ballo, a private tour operator, says the city built at the confluence of two rivers and often described as the ‘Gateway to the North’ still has everything in terms of “adventure, discovery and culture”. full report

AID POLICY: A “new humanitarianism” at play in Syrian crisis

 AMMAN, 30 March 2012 (IRIN Middle East) - In a trendy coffee shop in the Jordanian capital, Amman, 20- and 30-somethings smoking sheesha pipes are playing the role of international aid agencies from their laptops. full report

Briefing: War and peace – Mali repeats the cycle

BAMAKO, 29 March 2012 (IRIN Africa) - During a visit to Bamako, capital of Mali, on 26 February, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé observed that the Malian government would be best advised to sit down and negotiate with the MNLA (Mouvement National pour la liberation de l’Azawad), which is fighting to carve out an independent state in the north. full report

ISRAEL: Water being used to coerce Bedouin villagers, says NGO

 UMM AL-HIERAN, NEGEV DESERT, 29 March 2012 (IRIN Middle East) - Salim Abu al-Qi’an’s family live in Israel’s Negev desert in the “unrecognized” Bedouin village of Umm al-Hieran, 9km from the nearest source of clean water. full report

MYANMAR: OVERVIEW

 YANGON, 29 March 2012 (IRIN Asia) - As millions of Burmese go to the polls on 1 April, expectations are high for real change. Across this Southeast Asian nation and abroad there is an unprecedented sense of hope not seen in decades following a wave of political reforms now described by Myanmar's own government as "irreversible". full report

Briefing: Myanmar’s ethnic problems

 MAE SOT, 29 March 2012 (IRIN Asia) - Mutual distrust, power struggles and tension over the hoarding of resources, including gold, gems and timber, have characterized the long history between the rulers of Myanmar - primarily of Burman background - and the many other smaller ethnic groups that comprise this Southeast Asian nation of more than 50 million. full report

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