In considering the essential problem of how to produce and distribute material wealth, virtually all of the great economists in Western history have ignored the significance of the commons - the shared resources of nature and society that people inherit, create and utilize. 

Acknowledging the multiple challenges that Pakistan is facing in this regard, the Ministry of Environment, in cooperation with partners, organized an “International Conference on Climate Change and Development” on 21st - 22nd October 2010 at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad. This interdisciplinary conference brought together a wide range of international organizations, academics, civil society and private sector to deliberate on climate change and development issues.

It is an undeniable fact that women and men are affected differently by wars and conflicts. However, the assigned stereotypes – men as fighters, women as victims – do not do justice to the complex reality. Speech for the international Conference "Coping with Crises, Ending Armed Conflict"

 International conference of the Gunda Werner Institute in cooperation with the German Women's Security Council and PeaceWomen Across the Globe. Date & venue: October 28-30, 2010 at the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin.  more»

Much of the public is deaf to the claims of President Obama that poverty and unemployment levels would be worse without the injection of stimulus money by his administration which provided tax relief and income support for millions of Americans.

Many Americans have long seen campaign finance laws as the best hope for restoring democracy in the US and were glad to hear President Obama's pledge to work with the Congress to overturn the Supreme Court decision. But the political tides are not moving in favor of democracy.  Money can't buy love or democracy.

The strategy in its current form is problematic in some key areas. For example, it says very little about the governance, rights and environmental issues associated with mineral wealth in many developing countries. 

Samuel Nguiffo, Director of the Center for Environment and Development Cameroon and Goldman Environmental Award Winner 1999 and other members of the civil society in Cameroon comment and criticise the Raw Material Strategy of the German Federal Government 

In a concise analysis Kurt Bassuener shows why Secretary Clinton's three-day Balkan tour had an overall negative effect.

The security situation in Afghanistan and the role of the German army are topics of controversial discussion in the German media. Prior to the election of the parliament Sanjar Sohail, Afghan journalist and chief editor of the daily paper “Hasht-e Sobh” (“8 am”), talked to the Heinrich-Böll-Foundation about working conditions for journalists and the reputation of the German troops in Afghanistan.