Discovering mutations

Book Excerpt: Swahili in German East Africa

Morgan J Robinson's 2022 book explores how Swahili was standardised and eventually became a pan-African language

World “on track” for a climate change deal by 2015

Two-day Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin ends on positive note as Germany pledges $1 billion for UN’s Green Climate Fund

The majority settled community views nomadic and pastoral Maasai in Tanzania as a threat: Joseph Oleshangay

Down To Earth speaks to members of a Maasai delegation that recently visited Europe to draw attention to the tribe’s plight in Tanzania

`Bioregionalism could become a global movement'

French architect Didier Prost is an advocate of bioregionalism, which calls for a renewed focus on local people and knowledge to innovate for …

COP24: World is politically unwilling to fight climate change

India manages to climb three spots and is ranked 11th in this year’s Climate Change Performance Index

Ireland is past its ‘Celtic Tiger’ days; economic growth is good and we want it to be sustainable: Roderic O’Gorman

Down To Earth talks to Irish Green Party politician and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’ …

Dumping ground

Americas first in the world to eliminate rubella

The contagious viral disease can lead to miscarriage in the first three months of pregnancy

Fight fire with trade: How Europe can help save the Amazon

The EU is already responsible for hefty imports from the Mercosur bloc; it imports 10 million tonnes of soy (for livestock feed) and over 200,000 …

Climatic loophole

Sinks can now be potentially identified as the most dangerous loophole for the environmental integrity of the Kyoto Protocol

Industry pushes for hybrid insurance model to achieve universal health coverage

Experts believe with implementation of the plan, India's health care would largely depend on the private sector

British king acknowledges colonial atrocities in Kenya — here’s what could happen next

Public acknowledgements of colonial legacy in east Africa by Britain, German and Belgium can be classified under broad framework of transitional …

Life of a licenced e-waste collector

With no government monitoring, e-waste management is proving difficult

The pirates come ashore

German Pirate Party’s strong showing in the May elections is a sign that anti-IPR movements resonate with the people

COVID-19: How far will green stimulus to combat climate change go?

COVID-19 disruptions caused shocks to power and oil sector that will cause drop in carbon emissions. However, long-term implications are uncertain

Will appellate body uphold grant of compulsory licence to cancer drug?

Hearing on Bayer's appeal against manufacture of generic version of Nexavar to conclude this week

Recycling metals better for environment than mining or production: UNEP panel

Its two reports advocate improvements in recycling systems, adoption of product-centric approach