ecomatters - publications

Brown and Wenani rice show the diversity of varieties of rice available. © Siu/Still Pictures

Genetically modified organisms

What's wrong with GM? - Why genetically modified crops are bad for people and bad for the environment* (267k PDF)
This Progressio (formerly CIIR) environmental action leaflet argues that the introduction of GM crops will endanger small farmers' livelihoods, undermine poor people's ability to feed themselves, and increase the pressures on already damaged and vulnerable environments.

Extracts of the Spanish publication 'Memory of the 1st International Conference on GMOs' (694k PDF)
Extracts from the Spanish publication 'Memory of the 1st International Conference on GMOs in the Dominican Republic'. This two-day conference took place on 2-3 July 2005 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It was co-sponsored by Progressio, together with other organisations from the Dominican Republic. The conference aimed to encourage debate and raise awareness about the implications that the introduction of GMOs could have for the Dominican Republic, especially with reference to the organic agriculture sector, which is important to the country's economy.

Sean McDonagh's talk to the CIIR 2004 AGM (110K PDF)
Reflections on feeding the world: the moral imperative of biotechnology and the study-document of the pontifical academy of sciences on GMOs. This is the paper given by Seán McDonagh to the annual general meeting of Progressio (known at the time as CIIR) on Friday 15 October 2004 in London, UK.

Climate change

Up in Smoke Latin America and the Caribbean (1.45 Mb PDF)
This report examines the impacts that climate change is having on agriculture and farming practices, fishing and coastal zones, towns and cities, and on the people of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Up in Smoke Asia (1.9Mb PDF)
By Hannah Reid and Andrew Simms with Dr. Victoria Johnson. A report from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development.

Weather warning: Why we must take responsibility for the damage we are doing to the earth's climate (612k PDF)
This Progressio (formerly CIIR) environmental action leaflet argues that developed nations need to reduce their energy use and carbon dioxide emissions in order to slow down global warming before it is too late.

Faith and the environment

Living lightly on the earth: Christian stewardship of the environment* (163k PDF)
This Faith Reflection by Fr Sean McDonough argues that the human, moral and religious challenge of our times is to halt the destruction of the earth's environment and heal, where possible, the damage which has already been inflicted on our planet.

Environmental vulnerability in Latin America and the Caribbean

People and the environment on the edge: Environmental vulnerability in Latin America and the Caribbean* (316k pdf)
This Progressio Comment examines environmental damage and degradation in Latin America and the Caribbean, and argues that neoliberal structures of aid, trade, debt and investment are the underlying causes of the region's 'environmental vulnerability' - whereby poor people are most vulnerable to the adverse consequences of the stresses that the modern world is placing on the environment.

Full list of references for People and the environment on the edge (40k PDF)

Sustainable agriculture

Feeding This Generation: Agroecological approaches to food production - A UK Food Group Report (1.5Mb)
This report is a contribution to reframing the discourse on agricultural strategies. Food sovereignty has become the rallying cry of small-scale farmer movements worldwide. The agroecological systems they espouse are designed to feed people, to be diverse and resilient in the face of multiple threats from pests, diseases, droughts and floods - all expected to increase due to climate change - and to minimise use of fossil fuels. Localised agroecological farming systems have a low carbon footprint, produce foods with a high nutritional value and can be responsive to the needs of consumers. More people should be aware of the advantages of agroecology and the pitfalls of industrial production systems.