The French “meanwhile” on vaccine equity Published: 17 February 2022 Commentary While nearly 82% of Europeans are fully vaccinated, this is the case for just 11% of Africans. This vaccine gap could overshadow discussions between the heads of state of the two continents at the summit to be held in Brussels on 17 and 18 February between the European Union and the African Union. France, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU, has been called upon to act to waive patents on Covid-19 vaccines. Emmanuel Macron is the champion of the “global licence” project. By Nicolas Kirilowits
Why won’t Germany support a Covid-19 vaccine waiver? Anna Cavazzini answers this and more ahead of the EU-AU summit Published: 16 February 2022 Interview Four civil society representatives ask MEP Anna Cavazzini (Greens/EFA) about the Covid-19 vaccine patent waiver, as the wane of some countries’ Omicron winters poses a new threat to global vaccine equity. By Laura Lopez Gonzalez
Covid-19 pandemic, vaccine distribution and global justice: the story so far Published: 16 February 2022 Analysis We are experiencing two very different pandemic realities between low-income and high-income countries. Unfortunately, instead of seeking a solidarity-based response, the international community has once again demonstrated its disunity in this health crisis. The task now is to regain credibility and rebuild trust. By Barbara Unmüßig
EU-Africa relations in times of Covid-19 Published: 14 February 2022 Dossier The uneven distribution of Covid-19 vaccines is one of the main discussion points at EU-Africa Union summit on 17-18 February 2022. Two years into the pandemic, about 75% of the EU’s population has already received at least one vaccine dose, while on the African continent only 16% has been jabbed. The sustained pandemic not only affects the public health conditions but also African economies, societies and political stability. This dossier sheds light on the impacts of Covid-19 on African countries and offers ways forward for a green, inclusive and feminist recovery.
Ill feeling between continents ahead of the EU-AU summit Published: 14 February 2022 Commentary The travel restrictions imposed by the European Union on people traveling from southern Africa after the discovery of the Omicron variant, will potentially have a long-term impact on the EU-AU relations. By Dr. Melanie Müller
CAP beyond the EU | Precision agriculture: for whom precisely? Published: 18 November 2021 Analysis The development and diffusion of precision agriculture might speed up since fresh money could become available through eco-schemes under the new CAP Strategic Plans. How does the EU support precision agriculture and what does it mean from a global south perspective? This article looks at the case of Rwanda and suggests technological developers and policy makers to proceed with caution to avoid widening inequality between smallholders and commercial farms, privacy breaches or undesired data dependency on tech giants like Google. By Hans Wetzels
Neither Climate Nor Jobs Published: 8 November 2021 Study A continuing insistence on nuclear will be detrimental to our ability to power a Just Transition: while the jobs it creates are few and primarily for the highly skilled, its enormous costs will likely result in austerity policies. pdf
Discourse matters: the net-zero agenda and Africa’s priorities Published: 2 November 2021 Commentary Where in the global dialogue is the aspiration for adaptation, equitable climate finance and inclusivity? What practical actions will the global community take to address these cardinal objectives? For African countries - which have contributed least to climate change but remain most vulnerable to its impacts - these objectives are as important as net-zero ambitions. By Lily Odarno
Motherhood in the time of Coronavirus Published: 30 September 2021 Video Story The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened many of the challenges that mothers around the world face as the global health threat and resulting economic downturn have created a caregiving crisis that has disproportionately affected women and motherhood.
Land conflicts: cutting down forests, carving up pastures Published: 7 September 2021 Meat Atlas 2021 In South America, natural vegetation is being turned into pastureland and monocultures to support an unsustainable form of livestock production. In Africa and Asia, on the other hand, a sustainable form of livestock raising is losing ground to industrialized agriculture. Traditional local communities are the losers. By Thomas Fatheuer
