General News

International Alert’s fifth dialogue on climate change, conflict and fragility, held on 27th January 2012 in London, explored the connections between climate change and community level security, drawing on new research from West Africa and South Asia. During the discussion, participants explored the practicalities of linking top-down policies with on the ground realities in communities already facing complex risks to their human security.

By Phil Vernon

Between 21st-30th November, International Alert organised a study visit to London and Belfast and trainings in conflict analysis and conflict-sensitive journalism for a group of nine journalists working for the mainstream media in Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Following on from the successful hosting of a “Peacebuilding School for Gender Activists” in August 2011, International Alert gathered together some of the most promising and talented young women activists from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh for a three-day workshop from 6th to 8th December, as part of a wider project funded by the US State Department.

A group of emerging political leaders from Sri Lanka’s Parliament and civil society have been spending the week here in the UK as part of a programme aimed at fostering reconciliation in that country’s progress toward peaceful development following the end of the three decade civil war there in 2009.

Stories of flood-affected communities in the Sundarbans of Bangladesh, citizens from the disappearing islands of the Maldives and the drought affected communities of the Sahel, all in their own ways struggling to cope with the impacts of climate change are increasingly permeating mainstream consciousness within those countries whose carbon intensive development over the past 100 years has been contributing to these situations.

Last week, the Democratic Republic of Congo went to the polls for the country’s second democratic elections, which have been marred by violence and tensions in many provinces since the start of the electoral campaign in October.

Over 120 people packed into a large Committee Room in the House of Commons on Wednesday night to hear the Voices for Reconciliation group of young British Sri Lankan diaspora members describe their vision for peace – at home and in Sri Lanka.