International migration as a policy tool, the World Bank's new report on governance indicators, sustainable care products from the Amazon, and biofuels and the BOP.

July 17, 2007

EarthTrends: Environmental Information

• A Closer Look at Impacts of International Migratation. A growing body of literature suggests that instead of seeing migration as a "development failure," policymakers should treat it as a powerful policy tool for improving conditions in both rich and poor countries. July 13, 2007.
  
  
• New World Bank Report Highlights Impact of Good Governance on Development. The report is part of a decade-long effort to quantify (and then publicize) good and bad governance and the concomitant impact they have on development. July 11, 2007.
  
  
• Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate in Crisis may have been the catalystic event for action against climate change. An estimated two billion people heard the message on July 7th. July 9, 2007.

New Ventures

• Rising Venture: Florestas. For Fernando Lima, natural care is a family tradition. Today, Fernando has grown the tradition into a line of all-natural, Amazonian personal care products. July 10, 2007.

NextBillion.net: Development Through Enterprise

• Biofuels and the BOP.  Rising ethanol production is putting upward pressure on corn prices, which has tied fuel and oil prices together in disturbing ways. July 10, 2007.
  
  
• M-Pesa Shows Strong Demand for M-Banking, the money-transfer via mobile phone service running in Kenya.  M-Pesa is now being covered by the New York Times and the Economist. July 9, 2007.

Environmental News

• Wisconsin Journal Sentinal. July 14, 2007. Efforts to Save Energy Lose Spark. High hopes to cut state's demand for power fizzled as funds were diverted to fix budget.
  
  
• New Scientist. July 13, 2007. India Starts Work on Climate Action Plan.
  
  
• CNNMoney.com. July 12, 2007.  Bringing Tech to the Next Four Billion.
  
  
• Brand Packaging. July 12, 2007. SC Johnson Public Report Highlights Commitment to Doing What's Right.
  
  
• Pakistan Daily Times. July 9, 2007. India's Hidden Greenhouse Gas Source?
  
  
• Environment News Service. July 6, 2007. Doris Duke Foundation Gives $3.6 Million in Climate Grants.
  
  
• ABC Radio Australia. July 5, 2007. ASIA: Environment Needs Public, Government Assistance: Campaigners.
  
  
• InfoChange India. July, 2007. The Great Green Rush. Everyone--including venture capitalists--seems to be jumping onto the global biofuels bandwagon. But the ethanol needed to fill an SUV just once requires 200 kg of corn, which could feed a person for a whole year.