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Shale gas is promoted as a safe and clean energy source that can help Europe increase its energy security and provide an affordable transition to a low carbon economy. The US experience, however, has shown what serious environmental and human health concerns are related to fracking. This report examines the uncertainties of shale gas and calls for an EU-wide moratorium.

In 2012 the head office Berlin decided to shift the Lahore office to Islamabad because of the shift in its worldwide policy to move the HBS offices to the capital cities in order to be close to the political arena. Therefore we had an official opening in Islamabad on the 6th of February 2013.

The friends and supporters of the Heinrich Böll Foundation support the values and goals of the foundation. They identify with the political and moral views of Heinrich Böll, and thus work to ensure the independence of the foundation and the high quality of its work. Membership contributions go to support human rights activists and smaller artistic and cultural projects quickly and without unnecessary bureaucracy.

In short, the Green political foundation can talk about alternative energy, but it cannot build a windmill. These are all things that TuWas – Foundation for Solidarity could do.

As traditionally, the Heinrich Böll Foundation was present at this years Conference of Partners with an observer delegation. Many members of the delegation came from Arab countries, trying to raise awareness about the importance of a climate conference hosted in the region. A small dossier on our MENA website features the experiences and perspectives of the delegates.

Two days officially of – this was the kind of weekend many governmental employees had long been looking forward to. Now it has been decided that for Kabul citizens it will become a reality – to protect the environment. Less work means less pollution says the Afghan government.

To write a text about Lepa Mladjenovic in singular, be it in first or third person, is very difficult. Her description would best be assembled from a myriad of voices of the women whom she addressed, supported, encouraged, spurred to speak out, to return to themselves and their deepest emotions.

Candidates nominated for the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Anne Klein Women’s Award should be politically active members of civil society – women who, as role models, encourage women and girls to act in gender-democratic ways.

In Afghanistan, natural resources and conflict have a intimate and complex relationship. In conflict assessment surveys, access to natural resources have been consistently reported as the cause for more than half of local level conflict incidents in Afghanistan. In particular, access to land and access to water are regularly cited by communities across Afghanistan as two top two causes of conflict.

Will the euro crisis end up in a historic tragedy? Europe’s destiny today, as so often throughout history, lies with Germany. In particular the German Left has a historic responsibility to take an active role in saving the eurozone.

This year’s award winner is Yfaat Weiss, historian at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Weiss, so claimed the jury, points out the unusual course of Israeli history as well as the potential of civil society in her country. The prize will be presented on December 7th 2012 in the City Hall of Bremen 

Germany, as seen from the perspective of its neighbour Poland, is primarily the engine of the European integration. But at the same time, the German debate on European politics is viewed by the Poles both with some mistrust and the concern that the upcoming euroscepticism and populism signifies the end of Europe’s future. 

The political developments in Hungary show, that democracy must be defended, protected and maintained on a daily basis in many areas of society. It is also a preview of what could threaten other countries in Europe, if the civil society isn't careful. An interview with Gerald Häfner, Member of the Greens / EFA group in the European Parliament.

At present, Afghanistan has turned into a focal point of agreements between Western and Eastern countries. These Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs) that Afghanistan has signed with many countries of the world, including Germany are deemed as vital achievement for the country.

Today, we have to remember that hundreds of thousands of Greek workers helped power the post-war German industrial renaissance. Today, millions of Germans are powering Greece’s only “heavy industry” – tourism. In view of the present crisis we will have to understand that the road ahead is a long one – but to jump off a cliff is not a viable shortcut.

From the euro crisis to a long-term vision: In Southern Europe, there should be immediate investment in solar energy. This would show EU citizens in the north that solidarity can provide them with cheaper renewable energy and citizens in the south would experience that reforms do serve a more integrated, greener, and more just Europe. 

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has projected fifteen to twenty years of governance in a “central political space”, rather than the customary shifts of power between left and right. In the elections 2010, Fidesz had the support of roughly half of all voters, and during its first half-year the new government enjoyed strong public approval. But since then the political landscape has changed dramatically.

6th June 2012, youth policy in the biggest province of Pakistan is launched officially-- Thanks to Bargad Organization for the youth development, a long time of Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.

Recent estimates of global fossil fuel subsidies for production and consumption are staggering, putting the total near US$775 billion annually or higher.  In a time of economic hardship, dangerous climate change, and growing demand for reliable and cleaner sources of energy, these fossil fuel subsidies are a reckless and irrational use of taxpayer money and government investments.

This month, two events occur back-to-back: the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (“Rio +20”) in Brazil and the Group of 20 (G20) Summit, in Mexico.  This paper asks how the powerful G20 might influence outcomes of Rio+20. 

The National Consultation aimed not only at reviewing the global discourse on green economy and ongoing negotiations on the outcome of the Rio+20 Summit but also examining the relevance of this concept to Pakistan. Moreover, the objective of the National Consultation was to review the potential roles and contributions of key stakeholders to promote Green economy in Pakistan.

“Sometimes it seems as if it was all part of a big plan”, says Sulayman Qardesh. He smiles at his band colleague Siddique Ahmad. Number three, drummer Mujtaba Habibi, couldn’t come for our interview. It was a perfect match when these three boys of different origin happened to meet and found Afghanistan’s first indie rock band, the “Kabul Dreams”.

In the 1990s, Hungary was considered a role model for the socialist transformation of centrally planned economies in Eastern Europe. Today, economic growth in Hungary is lower, and public and private debt are considerably higher, than in other East Central European countries. The country was led into this plight by politicians who concealed the real situation with irresponsible populism, delayed reforms, and promised the moon.   

For twenty years, the Hungarian political system was a liberal democracy characterised by a multiparty system, free elections, free media and independent courts. But in the past years the country has returned to an authoritarian system. Andras Bozoki, former Minister of Culture between 2005 and 2006 takes a closer look at Hungary's transition away from democracy.