Smokin' Mirrors

An Interview with Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai by Willhemina Wahlin Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, who founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in 1977, has called on industrialised countries to reduce waste and increase investment to stave off desertification across the world. Speaking to a 400-strong crowd at Waseda University on February 13, where she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for her work in environmental protection, Prof. Maathai called desertification “the new enemy.” More This article was first published as a JIN Newsletter for Japan Inc. on Tuesday 21 February 2006. www.japaninc.com www.japan.com For more information on the Green Belt Movement, go to: http://www.gbmna.org/ Pic: Prof. Wangari Maathai at the 2004 Nobel Laureate Ceremony, courtesy of the Green Belt Movement.

When kick-backs bite you in the ass... The AWB is accused of funnelling AUD300 million of kickbacks to the regime of Saddam Hussein via a Jordanian trucking company. While the upper management of the AWB has been going through the mill of an official inquiry, it wasn’t until most of them had claimed no knowledge that an AWB Market report on Iraq was brought before the Cole Inquiry, which stated: “Inland transport fees are paid via Alia in Jordon, which then pays the Ministry of Transport in Iraq.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. But there’s more.

Water, Water Everywhere, and Every Drop to Drink by Willhemina Wahlin The 17th January this year marked the 11th year since the Great Hanshin Earthquake devastated Kobe. In the midst of such a disaster freshwater is crucial. Burst water mains, spewing out onto the streets, become floods awaiting waterborne disease. A logistical nightmare unravels, as those in the wake of the disaster wait for supplies of freshdrinking water. Doctors treating the injured rely on clean water, but often that depends on whether the water system has made it through unscathed. Usually it hasn't. More Pic: DHD Multimedia picture Gallery This article was originally published via the Japan Inc. JIN Newsletter on February 15 2006. http://www.japaninc.com/ http://www.japan.com/