Tag: human security
-
Food Fights over Food Rights
“Global food price shocks have demonstrated the urgent need to effectively address food insecurity in Southeast Asia – both at the national and regional level” This think-piece goes beyond issues of supply and demand of food, and provides greater insight to the role of Human Security in understanding the issue of food security in a…
-
Pandemic measures during the Hajj
In a think piece “Ensuring Good Health During the Hajj in a Time of the H1N1 Pandemic”, I – together with researchers at the RSIS Centre for NTS Studies – commented on the progress and prospects of H1N1 pandemic mitigation efforts in Saudi Arabia leading up to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in 2009. The piece…
-
Waste picking to waste managing in Asian cities
In a recent NTS Alert on urban vulnerabilities, it was noted that the informal economic sector plays a significant role in supporting the formal economic sector and thus deserves greater attention in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction initiatives. Waste-pickers make up one such section in the informal sector and are commonly found in…
-
Reviewing our environment in 2012
Think saving the planet is that easy? Think again. If trying to understand the complex interactions between sciences, economics, culture, politics, security and global/regional frameworks is just not working for you and you’re close to giving up, then check this out. For the fourth year running, the RSIS Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies has…
-
Disasters’ Damage on Development
Recent media reports on the new wave of floods and landslides around the world have yet again highlighted the critical need for disaster preparedness and contingency plans to address the increasing intensity of weather related disasters. However, what has also played out more significantly in these incidents have been weather-related disasters’ direct adverse implications on…
-
The Price of Development – Coal Case.
The demand for coal is set to increase over the coming years, especially among developing countries. However, while coal may be a cheap source of energy to facilitate economic development, it is costly in terms of the implications for human security. Coal mining has been seen to adversely impact local communities and cause sociopolitical instability.…
-
The Effects of Sins: Evil upon Land and Sea
I got this from a fellow Muslim sister, Alia, from the DC Green Muslims mailing list. Found it lovely. Hope you do too. ————————————————— Asalaamu ‘Alaikum! Have you ever wondered why there is so much evil on the earth? Why are there so many environmental problems, so many wars, so many famines and sickness? From…
-
From MINDEF to MEWR
A media report earlier this month noted that a former Defence Chief, Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek, would appointed to Permanent Secretary post at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). My first impressions of this shift: 1) Environmental and Water issues are taken seriously and given as much attention as other traditional security/military issues. 2)…
-
Typhoon Kestana – Asia’s Katrina
By Mely Caballero-Anthony, Irene A. Kuntjoro & Sofiah Jamil* The devastation and catastrophe wrought by Typhoon Kestana on the Philippines’ capital Manila reflect a huge gap between rising vulnerabilities and preparedness at the national and regional level. As more studies reveal that climate change results in more devastating cyclones, how can the region better prepare…
Sofiah Jamil 