From legislative loopholes to cultural norms, women worldwide still face barriers in accessing land, researchers said on Thursday, despite evidence that tenure rights can protect them from the worsening effects of climate change.
Indigenous people under threat from Asia clean energy push
Tuesday, 9 February 2021 01:00 GMT
ARCHIVE PHOTO: A worker is seen at a solar power plant in Phetchaburi province, Thailand, August 23, 2017. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
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Share: Rush for renewable energy hurting rural and indigenous communities disproportionately Violations include land rights and indigenous rights abuses, displacement, violence Projects receive government incentives, less scrutiny and are fast-tracked
By Rina Chandran
BAN KHU, Thailand, Feb 9 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Muhammad Lamoh had no inkling that his small village of Ban Khu in southern Thailand would be key to the nation s renewable energy goals, until local authorities called a community meeting to inform them of a plan to build a biomass plant.
FEATURE-Indigenous people under threat from Asia clean energy push Reuters 2/9/2021 Rush for renewable energy hurting rural and indigenous communities disproportionately Violations include land rights and indigenous rights abuses, displacement, violence Projects receive government incentives, less scrutiny and are fast-tracked
By Rina Chandran
BAN KHU, Thailand, Feb 9 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - M uhammad Lamoh had no inkling that his small village of Ban Khu in southern Thailand would be key to the nation s renewable energy goals, until local authorities called a community meeting to inform them of a plan to build a biomass plant.
The 25 megawatt plant began operating in March last year, despite villagers concerns about its effects on their health, its proximity to a local school, and sharing water from a canal that they used for fishing and their rubber and rice crops.
7 Min Read
BAN KHU, Thailand (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Muhammad Lamoh had no inkling that his small village of Ban Khu in southern Thailand would be key to the nation’s renewable energy goals, until local authorities called a community meeting to inform them of a plan to build a biomass plant.
The 25 megawatt plant began operating in March last year, despite villagers’ concerns about its effects on their health, its proximity to a local school, and sharing water from a canal that they used for fishing and their rubber and rice crops.
Before long, villagers noticed a foul smell and waste such as fly ash being dumped. Some residents complained of skin rashes, and many could not get as much water from the canal.
By Umberto Bacchi, Thomson Reuters Foundation
6 Min Read Rights activists warn a lack of clear rules allows for abuse Authorities say cameras identify people who have committed crimes
TBILISI, Feb 4 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Russian authorities are deploying facial recognition cameras to identify protesters during rallies in support of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in Moscow, human rights groups said, warning that the technology is being used to stifle peaceful dissent.
With more than 105,000 cameras, Moscow boasts one of the world’s most comprehensive surveillance systems - which authorities say has helped cut crime and enforce coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
Yet, since the system became fully operational last year, rights activists have noted that cameras have been used to monitor political demonstrations, with a lack of clear rules allowing for abuse of the system.