Suchergebnisse

"Food security, food safety, healthy consumption habits, and environmental sustainability are
essential to the well-being of societies worldwide. Yet, progress in fostering sustainability in the global agrifood system has been slow at best and significant challenges remain. First, food
insecurity remains a problem for millions of people, while its range and consequences have been
aggravated by the recent food crisis (FAO 2008b). Second, repeated food scandals and health
scares constitute additional challenges for food governance (World Bank 2005). Food is the
number one cause of premature death in the western world due to the increasing consumption of
fattier, saltier, and sweeter foods and drinks (Popkin 2002). Even in many Asian countries
obesogenic diets are becoming more prevalent (Florentino 2002; IOTF 2005). Third, threats to
the provision of adequate amounts of nutritious food are expected to multiply as a result of
climate change (European Commission 2008a). At the same time, the food sector itself is a major
contributor to direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (FAO 2008a). Fourth, alternative
food products – while promising environmental and health benefits in relation to their
conventional equivalents – are also associated with costs. In India, thousands of farmers have
reportedly committed suicide, partly as a result of debt due to unfair biotech deals (Nagaraj 2008).(...)" [authors remark]

Examining the involvement of religious NGOs (RNGOs) at the UN, this book explores whether they polarize political debates at the UN or facilitate agreement on policy issues. The number of RNGOs engaging with the United Nations (UN) has grown considerably in recent years: RNGOs maintain relations with various UN agencies, member-state missions, and other NGOs, and participate in UN conferences and events. This volume includes both a quantitative overview of RNGOs at the UN and qualitative analyses of specific policy issues such as international development, climate change, business and human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, international criminal justice, defamation of religions, and intercultural dialogue and cooperation. The contributions explore the factors that explain the RNGOs' normative positions and actions and scrutinise the assumption that religions introduce non-negotiable principles into political debate and decision-making that inevitably lead to conflict and division. Presenting original research on RNGOs and issues of global public policy, this volume will be relevant to both researchers and policy-makers in the fields of religion and international relations, the United Nations, and non-state actors and global governance.