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The 4th Japanese-German Dialogue tries to strengthen the new strategic NATO-Japan partnership by identifying areas of mutual Japanese – German security interests and practical cooperation.

The US and its allies have engaged in efforts to stop North Korean nuclear program at least three times, every time ending up with a sense of betrayal. Now, it has become clear that North Korea did not really have the intention to abandon its nuclear program.

For three years, Pakistan has single-handedly – and successfully – blocked the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva from discussing an effort that would put a cap on fissile materials.

New weapon technologies may lead to insecurity in the Middle East. Therefor both Disarmament and Arms Control are indispensable in the region.

Renard Sexton is an International Expert on Resources and International Development. In this interview he explains the intimate and complex relationship of natural resources and conflict in Afghanistan.

Khwaga Kakar is Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan and Researcher on Water Issues. In this interview she explains the situation of Afghanistan concerning its water management.

The United States and Russia are implementing the New START Treaty, which requires that each side reduce to 1550 deployed strategic warheads on 700 deployed strategic missiles and bombers by 2018. The Obama administration would like to go further. Doing so, however, will require that Washington address several related issues, first and foremost missile defense.

On 29 August Attila Mesterházy, president of the Socialist Party, and Gordon Bajnai, leader of the Together 2014-PM alliance, announced that they had finally reached a deal that ‘would allow the democratic forces of the left to unseat the Orbán government’. What are the consequences of the agreement?

As old methods have lost credibility, some governments, economists and international institutions like the UN Environment Programme have adopted a new approach, based on the view that nature is an “ecosystem service” provider. In doing so, they have shifted the onus of addressing environmental risk onto the private sector and market-based mechanisms.

In recognition of growing importance of the natural resources, in particular the extractive sector, in future economy of Afghanistan, the Civil Society Natural Resources Monitoring Network (CSNRMN) called upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for more meaningful and constructive engagement between the government and the civil society and local communities.

Kabul women have two main fears when moving through public spaces: suicide bombers and harassment. Although the risks associated with harassment are less severe than those of a suicide attack, the everyday threat of harassment creates considerable anxiety amongst women. As part of the safety audit, women were asked how they would feel when confronted with various situations when walking down the street

Heinrich Böll Stiftung and National Commission on the Status of Women jointly organized one day round table meeting on 12th April 2013, where more than 22 eminent women from civil society, women organizations, gender experts, media, EU representatives and government have participated and actively took part in the discussion.

With the constitutional amendments adopted on the 11th of March, Viktor Orbán has once again caused a surprise. The reactions of the Western European public show that there is still an inadequate grasp of how political power is exercised by Orbán’s government. European democrats now finally need to formulate a common position against the power centralization in the country.

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.

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.

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 

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.