Blog 1 Column Right Sidebar

Who’s afraid of the big (bad) EU?0
- EU Governance and Politics, Op-ed
- 01/07/2016
The reason to stay in the post-Brexit EU should not be based on fear.
READ MORE
The unexpected champion: How Rio’s favelas strive to go green while Olympic legacy falls short 1
- Environment and Energy, Op-ed
- 01/07/2016
The municipal government of Rio de Janeiro has promised to urbanize its favelas by 2020, but projects supposed to upgrade the favelas’ infrastructure and create jobs have quickly lost momentum. Fortunately, an unexpected champion has emerged, as residents of favelas have come together and taken the initiative to “green” their communities with reforestation projects, rooftop solar panels and community food gardening, highlighting how sustainable urban design should be done.
READ MORE
There is something –missing– about Brazil: Women, social protest and massive sports events 0
- Human Rights and Migration, Op-ed
- 30/06/2016
Brazil is used to dealing with two issues lately: massive sport events and extensive social protests that challenge them. Yet the recent brutal gang rape provoked a discourse that had always been downplayed, forgotten – or neglected. When massive sport events make the sex industry flourish, how do we address and tackle the underlying stigmatization of women in Brazil? Authors: Irene Zugasti & Simon Marijsse
READ MORE
The EU Timber Regulation: Three years of ineffective implementation 1
- Environment and Energy, Op-ed
- 30/06/2016
The EU tends to be a credible force in fighting the illegal logging and related trade issues. For that reason, the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) in its essence fights illegal logging matters by prohibiting the placement of any illegally sourced timber and timber products on the European market. Three years after it entered into force, the regulation seems to be ineffective by failing to prohibit illegally logged wood products from entering the EU market. On top of that, the regulation could have a detrimental effect in developing countries by potentially harming their progress.
READ MORE
Janice Perlman: “There are so many things in Rio that are never talked about and that are absolutely heroic.”2
- International Relations and Global Affairs, Interview
- 29/06/2016
For this month’s Special Report, Dr. Janice Perlman, founder and CEO of the Mega-Cities Project, joined us to share her wide expertise on public policy, mega-events and the Rio Olympics. Since her last book Favela. Four decades of living on the edge in Rio de Janeiro hit the shelves, six years have passed. It’s time to take a step back and have a look at what has happened.
READ MORE
What’s the deal with Russian gas in Georgia?0
- Environment and Energy, Op-ed
- 28/06/2016
A potential natural gas delivery deal from GAZPROM to Georgia went bust, but not without causing quite a stir as well as calling into question Georgia’s motivation for starting talks to begin with. However, the entire discussion has overlooked the more glaring problem of a seriously outdated energy policy on the Georgian side.
READ MORE