Archive for Press Release

Why it makes more sense to invest in farmers than in farmland

Two years since the media spotlight turned on the so-called ‘land grab’ – whereby agribusiness, investment funds and government agencies acquire farmland in Africa, Latin America and Asia – the debate rages on. And rightly so.

Private sector expectations of higher food and commodity prices and government concerns about longer-term food and energy security have made land a more attractive asset. But land is central to livelihoods, culture and identity for millions across the developing world. And large-scale land acquisitions can have lasting repercussions for the future of agriculture, including both agribusiness and family farming. Rather than rushing into land deals, governments and investors should properly consider the wider range of options to invest in agriculture. In many parts of the world, family farmers have proved efficient and dynamic. Working with them can generate healthy returns, avoid the risks associated with land acquisitions, and improve farmers’ livelihoods.  Read more...

Climate Change driven by bad economic models say Nobels and major international Agencies

Nobel Prize winners join top anti-poverty and environment groups in call for new economic approaches to support climate deal

Today, 30 November, leading poverty and environment groups were joined by Nobel Prize winners and other international experts in calling for a new economic model to support an urgent tough, new climate deal to be negotiated in Copenhagen in December.

In a new report from The Working Group on Climate Change and Development, supported since its formation by Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Nobel prize-winning  Read more...

Exploring New Frontiers in Sexual Health

New Delhi: The third National Family Health Survey (NFHS-III) shows that significant proportions of all married women have experienced physical and sexual violence perpetrated by their husbands. But as a recent study shows, many of the young men, who could be termed as `marital rapists’, are in need of basic information about sexuality.

But how can they go about it? Cultural taboos, religious fundamentalism, and a lack of access to information and services impede informed choices. These problems pose a challenge not just to India but to many countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Can some of the issues be addressed by expanding and empowering the sexual and reproductive health and rights movement? While experts agree that this is necessary, they say that equalizing sexual relationships in the context of gender and sexual diversity  Read more...

Reducing Violence against Women and Empowering them through ICT

Violence against women is one of society’s universally decried ills. However, to move from platitudes to action and improvement, a clear understanding of the problem is required. It is important that the extent, nature and root causes of such violence are well-documented. By analysing such information, concrete steps can be taken, both legal and charitable, to reduce the occurrence of such violence and reduce its effects.

Merely collecting data and reporting on it can actually reduce violence against women. The fact that these crimes are being recorded highlights both the seriousness of the offence and the low regard that those responsible are held in, making both battered women more likely to come forward and report such abuses and law enforcement more likely to treat such complaints with the  Read more...

Sri Lanka : Creating awareness in Government on Information Security

The Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Response Team (SLCERT) jointly hosted the 2nd Lanka Government Network Information Security Awareness Programme recently. Officials from District Secretariats, Divisional Secretariats and the Chief Secretariat of Western Province also attended the event.

Mr. Wasantha Deshapriya, Program Director, Re-engineering Government, ICTA, provided an in-depth introduction to the Scope of the Lanka Government Network (LGN). Dr. Shahani Weerawarana, Chief Technology Officer, ICTA meanwhile described Security Methodologies used in LGN and Mr. Rohana Palliyaguru, Information Security Engineer, SLCERT educated the gathering on the Basics of Information Security.  Read more...