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Release of Mam Sonando provides welcome reprieve as Cambodia’s land grabbing crisis worsens

Posted by admin on March 14th, 2013

Global Witness welcomes today’s ruling by Cambodia’s Court of Appeal to free longstanding government critic Mam Sonando. The decision provides a glimmer of light in the fight to end the repression of activists who speak out against the state-sponsored land grabbing crisis gripping the country.

72-year old Sonando has been a longstanding critic of Cambodian Prime Minster Hun Sen, and had been arrested twice before being sentenced to 20 years behind bars in October 2012. The charges, which accused Sonando of leading a village in Kratie province to secede from the Kingdom of Cambodia, had been widely dismissed and condemned by governments across the world. No evidence to back up the claims was presented during Sonando’s hearing in Phnom Penh, and seven of the key witnesses failed to turn up.

Today, judges dropped the charge against Sonando of leading an insurrection and replaced it with a minor forestry-related sentence, according to the Phnom Penh Post. His sentence was cut to five years, then suspended to eight months, most of which Sonando has already served.

“The Court of Appeal have at last bowed to international pressure and freed an innocent man”, said Oliver Courtney from Global Witness. “But what about all the other land and forest defenders currently rotting in prison, whose cases don’t get such attention? The Sonando verdict is a welcome reprieve, but the fundamental problem still remains – the authorities must end the repression of those trying to stop the plunder of Cambodia’s land and forests.”

Cambodia has leased out more than 2 million hectares of land to companies for plantations since 2008 – almost as much as the country allocates to rice, the staple of most Cambodian diets. With a general election approaching in July, repression and harassment of those trying to defend the country’s land has got dramatically worse, with 2012 seeing a 144 per cent increase in land-related arrests on 2011. Just yesterday, police launched a brutal attack on 60 protesters from the Boeung Kak Lake community who have been fighting to keep their homes since 2008.

Campaigners welcome Tokyo commitment on Afghanistan’s extractives

Posted by admin on July 11th, 2012

11th July 2012

Campaigners today welcomed a landmark agreement on good governance in Afghanistan’s mining sector, but warned that civil society engagement, deal disclosures and inclusion of environmental and social safeguards will be critical to its success.

Representatives from over 70 countries met in Tokyo on Sunday to decide on the future of development assistance to Afghanistan post-2014, once most international forces have withdrawn from the country. The Mutual Accountability Framework agreed at the Conference includes a crucial commitment to develop a plan for how the country’s mineral wealth will be well-managed: something which civil society groups have been calling for.

“This is an important step towards embedding accountability in Afghanistan’s mining sector,” said Eleanor Nichol of Global Witness. “The devil’s in the detail though, and the specifics on the forthcoming plan are crucial. At a minimum, we will look for a commitment to full transparency in all deals and to consultations with local civil society.”

The Conference recognised the importance of the extractives sector as a primary driver of sustainable, inclusive economic growth and job creation in Afghanistan. While welcoming this, campaigners cautioned that an emphasis solely on making money could undermine the sector’s sustainability.

“We’ve seen elsewhere that rapid development of this sector without social and environmental safeguards abuses can stoke conflict and corruption,” said Yama Torabi of Integrity Watch Afghanistan. “To avoid this scenario in Afghanistan, it is vital that the rush to exploit these resources does not happen at the expense of those living around the mines.”

Campaigners also called for civil society to play a full role in developing and monitoring the anticipated plan.

“An empowered civil society can play a key role in monitoring extractive projects and ensuring Afghanistan gets a good deal for its mineral resources,” said Katarina Kuai of the Revenue Watch Institute. “We are encouraged that the Ministry of Mines has publicly recognized civil society as a valuable stakeholder in the sector’s development. But it remains to be seen whether good intents translate into meaningful partnership under this new framework. The international community must play its part, continuing support for the work of Afghan civil society in this key sector.”

ENDS/

Contact: Eleanor Nichol on 0044 (0)7872 600 870 or +44 (0)207 492 5880 or [email protected] or Sayed Ikram Afzali on +93 (0) 700 266 645 or [email protected]

Notes:

1) Global Witness investigates and campaigns to prevent natural resource-related conflict and corruption and associated environmental and human rights abuses.

Integrity Watch Afghanistan is an Afghan civil society organization promoting accountability, transparency and integrity in public service delivery, extractive industries and the reconstruction sector.

The Revenue Watch Institute is a non-profit policy institute and grantmaking organization that promotes the effective, transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good.

2) The Ministry of Mines issued a response to a joint civil society letter ahead of Tokyo on the 11^th of June 2012 (http://bit.ly/NdzafI), outlining what they feel the role of civil society should be in the development of the extractives sector. (See the Ministry of Mines Response here: http://bit.ly/LHAiwv).

3) Commitments to the Extractive Industries Development Framework can be found in the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework (http://bit.ly/LIWd1K) and the main conference statement can also be found on the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (http://bit.ly/MUR8Hp).

Buzzard U-turn is welcome but it doesn’t end there

Posted by admin on June 4th, 2012

Hen harrier birds, Bowland moor in Lancashir

Although buzzards are flourishing, there is just one breeding pair of hen harriers left in northern England. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

If anyone doubts that people do not care enough about wildlife then a cursory look at the emails, tweets, letters and calls that have flooded into the RSPB in recent days will open their eyes.

I have never felt such a palpable sense of anger from the public as has been shown over Defra’s plans for a pilot project remove buzzards and destroy their nests in order to protect pheasants released by shooting estates.

The wildlife minister, Richard Benyon, had little choice but to cancel the project – and he made the right choice. But we are fools if we start celebrating now.

This was never about forcing a minister into an embarrassing climb-down while we rub our hands on the warm glow of political schadenfreude. It was about fighting the very real threats that birds of prey – symbolic monarchs of our natural environment – face in this country. And, unsaid but always at the forefront of my mind, it was about showing that people can live alongside nature without harming it for our own ends.

When I was a boy I had to travel to the Long Mynd in Shropshire before I caught my first glimpse of this magnificent bird, and when my grandfather was a child buzzards were non-existent in large parts of the country. Persecuted to the brink of extinction, there were just a couple of thousand left in the west of England at the start of the 20th century.

Today, after many years of legal and political battles, my own children can see buzzards in the countryside near where we live in Cambridge. There were close to 40,000 at the last count, and they can be found in every county – although we still get a steady flow of reports of birds illegally shot, poisoned and trapped.

Buzzards are a success story – red kites are also recolonising large areas of England thanks to reintroduction projects and tough legislation on killing birds of prey. But there is just one breeding pair of hen harriers left in northern England, an area with enough viable upland habitat to support hundreds. Peregrines and goshawks are also regular victims of persecution and their populations are struggling as a result.

One third of all bird of prey species in this country have been driven to extinction at some point in history. These are some of the nation’s best loved species, but despite this humans are a real and ever present danger to their very existence.

So, yes we welcome this U-turn but the champagne is still on ice. Unless the unnecessary killing of birds of prey ends, the threat is still there. This whole episode has been an unwanted distraction for Defra who should be targeting their funding at those species – like hen harriers – which are most in need.

And having seen the strength of public opinion, Benyon must now direct Natural England to refuse any licence applications to kills birds of prey, from shooting estates or anywhere else.

This is an important test of our society’s attitudes to nature. Many of us believe that wildlife enriches our lives and that we can live in harmony on this island with all our native species. I hope that our elected politicians can now show that they feel the same.

• Martin Harper is the RSPB’s Conservation Director

Environment news, comment and analysis from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

Welcome Back the Greater Snow Geese

Posted by admin on April 26th, 2012

Welcome Back the Greater Snow Geese. QUÃBEC, Que. — April 26, 2012 — Environment Canada invites you to the Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area to witness the passage of the Greater Snow Geese.
News Releases

Bicton College to Welcome Secretary of State for Education

Posted by admin on April 24th, 2012

EMBARGOED UNTIL 11th MAY 2012

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education, will be visiting Bicton College on 11th May. Bicton will be one of the first land-based colleges to welcome Mr Gove since he was appointed to his current role in May 2010.

The Secretary of State for Education’s visit to this leading land-based college in East Devon is a welcome chance for staff, students, employers and suppliers to show exactly why vocational qualifications are so important in the changing landscape of work and careers.

With an impressive 89% of students from Bicton College achieving a career of their choice and a multitude of courses to choose from, the further education sector is currently outperforming more traditional routes to work. Courses at Bicton range from entry-level preparedness for life qualifications through to foundation degrees in subjects such as agricultural management and outdoor leisure. This means that students are able to access both the course that suits them right now as well as giving them something concrete and more challenging to aim towards.

Michael Gove’s visit on the 11th May will give him the opportunity to see the ground-breaking EaRTH centre – a sustainability hub that gives both students and industry, along with the local community, an innovative centre to learn about new technologies that have been developed. From solar panels through to biomass boilers, EaRTH offers a technologically advanced study base for anyone with an interest in sustainability. Coupled with this, Bicton College has vowed that all students, on any course, will be able to learn about sustainability in their chosen field.

David Henley, Principal of Bicton College, said, “We welcome the opportunity to show Michael Gove MP exactly why further education colleges offer such a wonderful alternative to young people who wish to stay in education but who also wish to gain commercial experience and vital skills. Our courses are all designed to reflect today’s land-based careers and we are teaching the next generation of countryside custodians, not just in theoretical practice but in real business. Our agriculture students learn on a working farm and get up at 5am to milk, just as they will when they enter their careers. Our outdoor leisure students learn about the multi-faceted approach to running an adventure centre so that they are fully prepared once they enter work. Coupled with this is our commitment to apprenticeships that are worthwhile both for the employer and the apprentice – we pride ourselves on ensuring that both parties gain huge benefit from this partnership.”

Media Call:
11th May 2012 from 3.30pm – 5.15pm
Michael Gove MP will be at Bicton College, East Budleigh, Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 7BY
Please RSVP to Viki Kirby, PA to the Principal at Bicton College [email protected] or to Sarah Wolf [email protected] to confirm your place.

Further media information from Sarah Wolf at diablo PR – 01373 471849 / 07812 099243 / [email protected]

Notes to Editors
About Bicton EaRTH
Bicton EaRTH has been designed to provide high quality training for businesses and communities across the South West in renewable energy technologies and environmental education. It is a local facility supporting commercial and educational development in the growing low carbon sector. EaRTH also offers unique conferencing and interpretation facilities to host events, seminars and education days for local businesses, schools and community groups. It is already being recognised as a centre of excellence and a local resource for impartial information and development support.

By renovating old stable blocks, the BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) “very good” rated, EaRTH project demonstrates best practice in sustainable building refurbishment techniques whilst applying leading renewable technologies and building management services to create a unique and fully functioning regional demonstration centre of excellence.

Courses in Photo Voltaic Panel, Solar Thermal Hot Water Installation and Micro Certification Scheme Accreditation are held on a regular basis.

www.bictonearth.co.uk

About Bicton College
Bicton College is a leading land-based college set within an area of outstanding natural beauty in the heart of Devon. The grounds comprise 200 hectares of open parkland and rolling countryside; a majestic Georgian manor house overlooks the beautiful lake and sits alongside the latest in modern facilities and equipment.   It is the perfect setting for the range of land-based courses that are available from entry level to higher education, in the following subject areas:
• Agriculture
• Animal Care
• Countryside Management & Arboriculture
• Engineering: Vehicle, Plant and Manufacturing
• Equine Studies
• Environment
• Floristry
• Horticulture
• Outdoor Leisure
• Veterinary Nursing
• Sustainability

89% of students from Bicton College go on to enter a career of their choice – this number is rising.

Bicton College has been rated as ‘outstanding’ in the provision of Level 2 apprenticeships

The UK’s first fully residential Military Academy opens at Bicton College in September 2012

www.bicton.ac.uk

Custom Release Wire

Campaigners welcome moves to tackle tax evasion, but highlight ongoing loopholes in global controls against dirty money

Posted by admin on February 16th, 2012

Washington DC/ London, February 16, 2012: The Task Force on Financial Integrity and Economic Development (TF) welcomes moves to tackle tax dodging announced by the global body charged with fighting financial crime (announced at a Press Conference in Paris 11:00 CE).

Under revised standards from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), tax evasion will be an offence that can lead to a money laundering charge and banks will obliged to be on the look out for suspected tax evasion by their clients. The new recommendation will provide authorities with a powerful tool to help prosecute individuals and corporations attempting to dodge financial obligations, hide ill-gotten gains or fund illegal activities.

Although they carry no legal weight, FATF recommendations are considered the basis for national and international legislation to prevent the money laundering that allows tax evaders, financiers of terrorism, drug and human traffickers, corrupt politicians and other criminals to spend the profits from their crimes

Yet despite this progress the TF fears that FATF has failed to tackle one of the biggest problems with the current international financial system: the difficulty of accessing information about the real persons who have ultimate control over a company. These “anonymous companies” are a key part of the structure that enables criminals to set up the bank accounts they use to stash their funds. This represents a failure of political will by FATF member states, leaving a significant loophole that undermines progress elsewhere.

“FATF is probably the most influential international body you’ve never heard of and its recommendations have been adopted into law by many governments,” said Robert Palmer of Global Witness and a TF member. ‘But without an effective way of determining who ultimately owns a company, a tax evader, corrupt politician, terrorist or organised crime syndicate can still hide their identity and their money behind anonymous shell companies”.

The TF is calling on FATF to require all countries to have a public register of the ultimate person with control over a company, known as the beneficial owner. This could easily be integrated into the process of forming a company in any given country, and existing companies could be required to file beneficial ownership information with their next regular certification.

TF is also calling on FATF to ensure that the anti-money laundering laws it has pressured countries to adopt are actually enforced in practice.

“Thanks to FATF, laws are now in place in most countries requiring banks to ‘know their customers’ and be on the look out for suspicious transactions,” said Heather Lowe of Global Financial Integrity, also a TF member. “But without review of whether the banks are carrying out these checks and prohibitive fines when they’re caught harboring dictators’ stolen money or other illegal funds, banks often see little incentive to do more than tick the ‘we’ve checked our customer’ box and actually turn the money down. Look at how easy it was for Ben Ali, Mubarak and Gaddafi to stash billions of dollars in western banks.”

FATF has said that it intends to focus on enforcement in the future. This welcome commitment should be accompanied by naming and shaming countries that don’t do enough, including its own members.

Contact:

Robert Palmer (London) +44 (0)20 7492 5860; +44 (0)7545 645 406; [email protected]

Heather Lowe (Washington DC): +1 202-293-0740; [email protected]

Note to editors:

1) FATF’s 40 Recommendations, as well as its reviews of member countries’ compliance with them, can be seen on the FATF website.

2) The Task Force on Financial Integrity and Economic Development, a consortium of governments and research and advocacy organizations, focuses on achieving greater transparency in the global financial system for the benefit of developing countries.

Photo credit: Chris Harrison

Deputy Prime Minister and Environment Secretary welcome initiative on Sustainable Development Goals

Posted by admin on November 21st, 2011

The UK Government will support an initiative to build Sustainable Development Goals, which will focus international attention on the need to sustainably manage the world’s natural resources, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced today.

UK support for initiating a process to develop Sustainable Development Goals was revealed following meetings in London today between Mr Clegg and President Santos of Colombia, and between Mrs Spelman and Colombian Environment Minister Frank Pearl.

The UK is one of the first developed countries to welcome the idea of setting Sustainable Development Goals, the formal process for which would be launched at the Rio+20 summit in June 2012, marking the twentieth anniversary of the original Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said:

“The future of the human race depends on the careful management of natural resources. As global population increases, and economies and societies advance, so we must better manage our planet’s resources to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. Failure to meet that challenge will result in immense suffering.

“I welcome President Santos’s initiative, challenging world leaders to establish Sustainable Development Goals and look forward to working closely with the Colombian government and our international and EU partners to develop this idea in the run-up to the Rio+20 summit in June next year.”

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said:

“We want Rio+20 to be ambitious and to look forward to the next 20 years.

“The global challenges we face are complex, and they all link together – we simply won’t be able to tackle them successfully if we try to deal with the various problems in isolation.

“Producing more food sustainably, dealing with environmental degradation, providing access to clean energy and poverty eradication are all part of the same picture. We need green growth to deal with them.

“I welcome the proposal to use Rio+20 as a launch pad to develop new Sustainable Development Goals which will help to provide incentives for greater global cooperation to address these challenges.”

Colombia, supported by Guatemala, has proposed that Rio+20 should agree a mandate to develop a set of global goals, based on major sustainability issues. The UK is keen to work with Colombia and others to explore how the ideas relating to Sustainable Development Goals can be brought together with debates among international development experts around what should replace the Millennium Development Goals after 2015.

The UK and Colombia already work together on reducing emissions and protecting forests under the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. The UK has contributed £15m to the Facility and has welcomed Colombia’s readiness plan which the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility has supported.

Notes

1. Images of the Deputy Prime Minister meeting Colombian President Santos are available at www.flickr.com/cabinetoffice.

2. Images of Caroline Spelman meeting Colombian Environment Minister Frank Pearl are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/defragovuk/.

3. The Rio+20 summit will take place in June 2012. It will have two themes – the green economy and institutional reform.

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Defra News

Massachusetts Agricultural Officials Welcome the First Fruit of the Season – Strawberries

Posted by admin on June 13th, 2011

BOSTON – June 10, 2011 – Strawberry season is getting underway in Massachusetts, with local strawberry farms open to the public for picking starting this month.

According to a census for strawberry production conducted every five years, the number of acres used to yield strawberries increased from 267 acres harvested in 2002 to 300 in 2007. Agriculture officials urge Massachusetts residents to keep supporting the local farms to keep these numbers growing.

“Locally grown strawberries are fresher and taste better – an important reason to shop at your local farms,” said Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) Commissioner Scott J. Soares. “Loaded with Vitamin C and high in fiber, folate, potassium and antioxidants, strawberries are ready for picking. I encourage the people of Massachusetts to enjoy the first fruit of the season!”

Although cold weather and rain initially caused the strawberries to ripen slightly smaller than usual, the recent warm weather has reversed that trend and should assure that berries have good flavor. Farmers are optimistic about their crops as they prepare to harvest and sell their strawberries over the next few weeks.

“Our strawberries look great this year! We are a little late opening due to the cool May, but the recent warm weather is bringing them along nicely,” said Ellen Parlee, owner of Parlee Farms in Tyngsboro. “We actually missed all those storms recently – they went around Tyngsboro. We have irrigation and have been watering them.”

Over the month of June, strawberry festivals will be held throughout the Commonwealth. Connors Farm in Danvers is having a strawberry festival – which also includes live music, hayrides, and face painting – on Saturday, June 18 from 9 am to 6 pm.

Strawberry season is the perfect time to make jams, jellies, and pies. While purchasing your pints and quarts of strawberries, ask for delicious recipes recommended by the growers. A great and easy strawberry jam recipe can be found at http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Ball-Strawberry-Jam/Detail.aspx.

Fresh, new strawberries can be found at local farmers’ markets, roadside farm stands, or pick-your-own operations. Strawberry farms all over Massachusetts are welcoming people from far and wide to taste their locally grown crop. Information about the locations of these farms as well as information on Strawberry events and festivals can be found at www.mass.gov/massgrown. This site offers lists of agricultural destinations all over Massachusetts and is a great way to find farms in your area. Details regarding festivals and special events are also listed, as well as hours the farms are open to the public.

DAR’s mission is to ensure the long-term viability of local agriculture in Massachusetts. Through its four divisions – Agricultural Development, Animal Health, Crop and Pest Services, and Technical Assistance – the DAR strives to support, regulate and enhance the Commonwealth’s agricultural community, working to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and production. For more information, visit DAR’s website at www.mass.gov/agr, and/or follow at twitter.com/agcommishsoares.

News & Updates, Energy and Environmental Affairs, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Contaminated Land Guidance Under Review: A Cautious Welcome

Posted by admin on February 21st, 2010

Defra has announced an intention to review contaminated land guidance.

Further information:

Article source