Weekly Development Policy News

Click here (opens Google Reader) to access my weekly selection of mainstream news articles covering rich world policies and practices that affect poor people in developing countries.Last week's development news took a back seat to the ongoing financial turmoil. However, the media that did cover development issues focused on rich countries' environmental impacts on developing countries and the United Nations intervention in fragile states.Sample articles:EPA Lets Electronic Waste Flow Freely, GAO Report Says (Washington Post: 9/16/08)A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report indicates that much of the poorly regulated waste from U.S. electronics ends up in developing countries. When electronics are disassembled, toxic materials enter the air and water causing health problems for the local population.U.N. Official Says Sudan is Still Worth Fighting for (CNN: 9/16/08)Despite the Sudanese government's rhetoric promoting human rights in their country, United Nations' reports indicate that human rights violations continue to increase in the country. Sima Samar, an Afghan doctor and rights expert argues that these increases are due in large part to the Sudanese government’s lack of commitment to fight human rights violations.Read all the articles from this week (opens Google Reader)