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EU financial reforms: an unfinished business
The author argues that EU financial reforms since 2008 are a cyclical response to public anger rather than a structural paradigm shift. While the CRDIV package, the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), and the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) represent progress, the document highlights critical gaps: the lack of a binding leverage ratio, insufficient transparency and accountability for the European Central Bank, and loopholes allowing 'preventive' public recapitalisation of banks. Regarding derivatives, the author contends that the EMIR and MiFID II frameworks may be counterproductive, potentially creating new 'too big to fail' risks through central counterparties and failing to effectively limit speculation in commodity markets. The paper concludes that the EU relies too heavily on transparency and needs a radical shift toward simpler, more stringent rules, such as the mandatory separation of high-risk banking activities.
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Document type: Research paper
Can we protect the rights of nature in a green economy?
The authors argue that the Green Economy approach, as defined by UNEP, fails to protect biodiversity because it treats nature as 'Natural Capital' and relies on market-based tools like Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES). They propose a shift toward a biocentric perspective that recognizes the intrinsic value and legal rights of nature, independent of human utility. The paper highlights Ecuador as a pioneer in constitutional recognition of nature's rights and suggests practical global targets, including the strict protection of 10% of the world's eco-regions and a transition to 100% organic production.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate and Development Economics: Balancing Science, Politics, and Equity
The paper critiques integrated assessment models (IAMs) for relying on controversial assumptions that often underestimate climate risks and ignore regional inequality. It advocates for cost-effectiveness analysis over cost-benefit analysis to implement precautionary climate targets and discusses various ethical frameworks for burden-sharing between industrialized and developing nations.
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Document type: Research paper
les mythes au sujet du REDD
The report argues that REDD, as currently designed, focuses on reducing rather than stopping deforestation and risks becoming a tool for corporate profit rather than climate mitigation. It highlights significant risks to indigenous land rights, the potential for 'leakage' where deforestation simply moves to other areas, and the danger of replacing natural forests with monoculture plantations. The author criticizes the use of carbon markets to fund REDD, suggesting instead public funding derived from fossil fuel taxes and the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies.
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Document type: Report
Gender Mainstreaming in Mine Action – a Critical Background Analysis
The document analyzes the application of gender mainstreaming in mine action, focusing on the Cambodian context. It argues that current efforts often rely on superficial indicators, such as head counts of female staff, rather than achieving genuine empowerment or influence for women in community consultations. The author critiques the tendency to equate gender issues solely with women's issues, noting that men also face gender-specific challenges as mine victims. The report suggests transitioning toward a rights-based approach to ensure that gender mainstreaming promotes equal access to benefits and decision-making power for all marginalized groups.
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Document type: Report
qui tire profit des cultures gm ? monsanto et la ‘révolution biotechnologique’ de l’agriculture menée par les multinationales
The document critiques the 'biotechnological revolution' in agriculture, specifically the role of Monsanto and the ISAAA in promoting GM crops. It argues that the industry has used deceptive marketing, bribery, and political influence to bypass regulations and establish dominance over the global seed market. The report claims that GM crops have not reduced poverty or hunger, have increased pesticide use, and have led to land concentration and the erosion of farmers' rights, particularly in the Global South.
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Document type: Executive summary
Towards a Convention on Knowledge
The paper argues that the predominant reductionist model of Western science has failed, contributing to environmental degradation and the marginalisation of indigenous knowledge. It proposes a non-binding 'Convention on Knowledge' based on principles of public ownership, ecological accountability, and the protection of indigenous rights. The authors call for a shift toward holistic, organic sciences and the banning of destructive technologies, such as weapons of mass destruction and certain forms of genetic engineering, while promoting research into agro-ecology, renewable energy, and holistic health.
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Document type: Research paper
Reforming the Global Financial Architecture as a Pre-Requisite for Debt Sustainabili in Africa
The document examines how the Global Financial Architecture (GFA) disadvantages African nations through high borrowing costs, biased credit ratings, and a reliance on foreign currency debt. It critiques incremental reforms as insufficient and proposes radical shifts, including the creation of a resource-backed regional currency (African Financial Asset), the use of blockchain-based Decentralised Finance (DeFi), and the implementation of Land Value Taxation to fund development independently of predatory international markets.
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Document type: Research paper
movilizar resistir transformar ‘Soluciones basadas en la naturaleza’
The fact sheet critiques the trend of presenting agroecology as a subset of 'nature-based solutions' (NbS), asserting that this framing serves the interests of fossil fuel companies, agribusiness, and the financial sector. It argues that while agroecology seeks systemic change and social justice, NbS focuses narrowly on carbon capture to create new financial assets and 'green' credentials for industrial actors. The document highlights the incompatibility between the emancipatory goals of agroecology and the market-driven approach of NbS, which it claims facilitates land displacement and the continuation of destructive business models.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Just Energy Transition: SOUTH AFRICA RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY SCAN
The report provides a critical scan of South Africa's renewable energy policies, highlighting a tension between the rapid liberalisation of the electricity market to solve the energy crisis and the goal of achieving a 'just transition'. While the country has expanded its solar and wind capacity and introduced frameworks like the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM), the authors argue that inconsistent application of local content requirements and a lack of enforceable decent work standards have undermined industrial localisation and equitable employment. The analysis emphasizes that the current shift toward private investment risks creating 'low-carbon poverty' if not coupled with targeted support for SMMEs, women, and vulnerable rural communities facing energy poverty.
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Document type: Report
THE NORWEGIAN COVID-19 TRACING APP EXPERIMENT: LESSONS FOR GOVERNANCE AND CIVIC ACTIVISM
The research paper examines the failure of the first version of Norway's 'Smittestopp' app, which was launched in April 2020 and cancelled in September 2020. The author argues that the app's failure highlights a tension between 'technological utopianism' and the rule of law, specifically regarding data protection and privacy. The document details how the app was criticized by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority (DPA) and the tech community for being 'disproportionately intrusive' and 'experimental'. It further analyzes the government's response to this failure, noting a tendency to blame 'Big Tech' (Google and Apple) and a lack of humility in accepting legal criticisms. The author concludes that the Smittestopp saga demonstrates the rising political importance of GDPR compliance and the critical role of private-sector tech activists in providing democratic oversight when traditional civil society organizations remain silent.
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Document type: Research paper