Africa The climate crisis is a result of the commodification of land and social relations Interview The climate crisis is the result of relations of power and exploitation, between the Global North and the Global South as well as between people and nature. A decolonial approach in climate activism stands for a radical break with colonial principles of economic, political and social systems – including industrial agriculture and landgrabbing. A conversation with Ruth Nyambura, climate activist from Kenya. By Imeh Ituen The right to belong and the protection of cultural property Interview For centuries, resources have been extracted from the African continent without adequate payment or compensation. With colonialism, Khoikhoi and San, the first inhabitants of Southern Africa, lost their land and many lost their lives. During decades of Apartheid they were racially discriminated and still have to fight for political and economic inclusion in the post-Apartheid era. We spoke to the Khoikhoi lawyer Lesle Jansen about her fight for the community and for the legal acknowledgement of the cultural heritage of Indigenous people. By Imeh Ituen More about Africa Asia "Climate killer cement" Travelling exhibition The exhibition "Climate Killer Cement", designed by Save Kendeng and Watch Indonesia and produced with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, highlights on the one hand the impact of cement production and construction megaprojects on ecosystems and indigenous communities, but also aims to show positive local alternatives. Peace processes need a feminist vision! Background Much has been achieved at international level in the critical field of women, peace and security in recent years. Yet women are still woefully underrepresented in the Afghan peace process. The basic rights for which they fought so hard are at stake in the country’s internal negotiations with the Taliban. By Anna Schwarz and Sarah Weiß More about Asia Europe Conference on the Future of Europe: a real chance for reform, or just a guide for policy-making? Analysis The EU is undeniably crying out for fundamental reforms. The Conference on the Future of Europe, launching on 9 May 2021, is meant to create the first-ever genuine public space between European citizens of all Member States and enable encounters beyond national frameworks. Unlikely to deliver major reform plans, though, this platform still has the potential to provide important impulses to crucial issues for Europe’s future. By Andreas Bühler Biden's climate summit brings some ambition boost but no true U.S. climate leadership Analysis With the two-day Biden leaders summit on climate attended by 40 countries, the United States has returned to the international stage of climate diplomacy. Whether the increased ambition of new climate action pledges via video made by several core countries can be implemented in a binding manner, however, remains an open question. By Liane Schalatek More about Europe Middle East & North Africa Reminiscence of Coming Times - Souvenirs from Beirut Essay “Mid-October, 2019. The mood across the country was like the opening passage to a novel that promises to turn sad. But on the 17th of that month, something unexpected began, setting the course for a very different story” - Abraham Zeitoun remembers. By Abraham H. Zeitoun Unveiling through Voice: Writing as Resistance by Iranian Women Essay “Once I started to write myself, I began to realize how this powerful act of self-expression was the counter opposite of the seclusion, alienation, and repression that mandatory veiling had imposed on me” says Iranian author Ava Homa. In her article, she points out various forms of protest with which women in Iran fight for freedoms and participation – one of them is writing. By Ava Homa More about Middle East / North Africa Latin America Brazil's trade with China: donkeys as an addition Background Despite criticism of China's growing influence in Brazil, Brazil's role as an exporter of raw materials and trade relations with the Asian giant were further consolidated in the first year of the Bolsonaro administration. More about Latin America North America More about North America From Berlin around the World The Heinrich-Böll-Foundation works with more then 100 partner projects in 60 countries and maintains offices in 30 countries. About half of our founding goes to projects in foreign countries. Offices in foreign countries
The climate crisis is a result of the commodification of land and social relations Interview The climate crisis is the result of relations of power and exploitation, between the Global North and the Global South as well as between people and nature. A decolonial approach in climate activism stands for a radical break with colonial principles of economic, political and social systems – including industrial agriculture and landgrabbing. A conversation with Ruth Nyambura, climate activist from Kenya. By Imeh Ituen
The right to belong and the protection of cultural property Interview For centuries, resources have been extracted from the African continent without adequate payment or compensation. With colonialism, Khoikhoi and San, the first inhabitants of Southern Africa, lost their land and many lost their lives. During decades of Apartheid they were racially discriminated and still have to fight for political and economic inclusion in the post-Apartheid era. We spoke to the Khoikhoi lawyer Lesle Jansen about her fight for the community and for the legal acknowledgement of the cultural heritage of Indigenous people. By Imeh Ituen
"Climate killer cement" Travelling exhibition The exhibition "Climate Killer Cement", designed by Save Kendeng and Watch Indonesia and produced with the support of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, highlights on the one hand the impact of cement production and construction megaprojects on ecosystems and indigenous communities, but also aims to show positive local alternatives.
Peace processes need a feminist vision! Background Much has been achieved at international level in the critical field of women, peace and security in recent years. Yet women are still woefully underrepresented in the Afghan peace process. The basic rights for which they fought so hard are at stake in the country’s internal negotiations with the Taliban. By Anna Schwarz and Sarah Weiß
Conference on the Future of Europe: a real chance for reform, or just a guide for policy-making? Analysis The EU is undeniably crying out for fundamental reforms. The Conference on the Future of Europe, launching on 9 May 2021, is meant to create the first-ever genuine public space between European citizens of all Member States and enable encounters beyond national frameworks. Unlikely to deliver major reform plans, though, this platform still has the potential to provide important impulses to crucial issues for Europe’s future. By Andreas Bühler
Biden's climate summit brings some ambition boost but no true U.S. climate leadership Analysis With the two-day Biden leaders summit on climate attended by 40 countries, the United States has returned to the international stage of climate diplomacy. Whether the increased ambition of new climate action pledges via video made by several core countries can be implemented in a binding manner, however, remains an open question. By Liane Schalatek
Reminiscence of Coming Times - Souvenirs from Beirut Essay “Mid-October, 2019. The mood across the country was like the opening passage to a novel that promises to turn sad. But on the 17th of that month, something unexpected began, setting the course for a very different story” - Abraham Zeitoun remembers. By Abraham H. Zeitoun
Unveiling through Voice: Writing as Resistance by Iranian Women Essay “Once I started to write myself, I began to realize how this powerful act of self-expression was the counter opposite of the seclusion, alienation, and repression that mandatory veiling had imposed on me” says Iranian author Ava Homa. In her article, she points out various forms of protest with which women in Iran fight for freedoms and participation – one of them is writing. By Ava Homa
Brazil's trade with China: donkeys as an addition Background Despite criticism of China's growing influence in Brazil, Brazil's role as an exporter of raw materials and trade relations with the Asian giant were further consolidated in the first year of the Bolsonaro administration.
