Is there a feminine approach to leadership? In what ways is fashion a human rights issue in China? What can development banks do to help mitigate climate change? In this week’s Development press review, ID4D explores the past months major issues, and celebrates, with The New York Times, the eradication of wild polio in Africa.
It’s the (happy) end to a three-decade campaign: Africa has been officially declared free from wild poliovirus. The disease once paralyzed 75,000 children there each year. A cause for celebration slightly undermined by the identification of a resisting vaccine-derived strain
“ Africa Celebrates the End of the Wild Poliovirus (but Not the End of All Polio) ” , The New York Times, August 24, 2020
Female leaders have been more successful in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Why? For Kate Maclean, international development professor, the answer does not solely lie on gender “attributes”, but also on the political and institutional contexts in which these female leaders evolve.
“ Women leaders and coronavirus: look beyond stereotypes to find the secret to their success ” , The Conversation, June 29, 2020
In Paris, development banks will partly gather on November 10-12 to outline a post-COVID-19 recovery. The Finance in Common Summit will emphasize sustainable solutions to rescue the economy whilst addressing climate change.
“ First-of-its-kind summit to push development banks on climate ” , Devex, August 24, 2020
Greenland is disappearing. In a new study, researchers mention an “unprecedented” loss of ice. Extreme melting and its contribution to sea level rise could have major consequences, yet these are still unknown. If the loss cannot be stopped, its rate can be slowed with climate change mitigation.
“ Climate change: 'Unprecedented' ice loss as Greenland breaks record ” , BBC News, August 20, 2020
In the Xinjiang region, forced labor is perpetrated in the name of fashion. Imprisoned and tortured, the Uighur population is used in the cotton and yarn industries. For human rights groups, “virtually the entire [global] apparels industry is tainted by forced Uighur and Turkic Muslim labour.”
“ 'Virtually entire' fashion industry complicit in Uighur forced labour, say rights groups ” , The Guardian, July 23, 2020
About this publication
Discover each month on ID4D the “Development News”, with a brief overview of a topical issue, and the “Press review”, with a selection of web articles, reflections and analyses.