Mitch Addison Lay has come all the way across the ocean to Dublin to tell us about the Caribbean Union of Fisherfolk Associations and their worries about diminishing fish stocks close to the shores of many of their islands. He was first and foremost a red snapper line fisherman but had worked hard to bring unity [...]

The world is definitely changing. The song "Gangnam Style", made in Korea and sung in Korean, has gone to number 1 in the UK, number 2 in the US, and has broken the record for being the "most viewed" video on you tube, with over one billion views. It is also being parodied all over the [...]

It takes imagination to picture what ancient Panjakent once looked like. While it might now be little more than a sprawl of ruins in western Tajikistan, the city was once a thriving trading point along the Silk Route. Like famous Samarkand, just across the border in Uzbekistan, this remote town is one of the oldest [...]

My alarm goes off at 6.15am. I hit the snooze button and realise I've been dreaming about work. I must be nervous. Not surprised really. Today's going to be busy, despite the fact that the "text" - all 283 paragraphs of it - was agreed by negotiators yesterday. Today is the high level summit - [...]

Sometimes, it seems like we are constantly under pressure to "pitch". Whether it's planning your two minute "elevator pitch" for the momentous day you meet your role model in a lift, or working out how to get your boss to pick up your innovative new idea, pitching is becoming a norm in our society. It was [...]

I've always been a fan of birthdays. Mine falls on June 20th. Last year, I had a wonderful celebration. It wasn't just because of the presents - I got to spend the weekend in the countryside with my closest friends, enjoying all that nature has to offer. This year, however, my birthday will be memorable for [...]

The UK's Foresight programme is intended to help government think systematically about the future. It helps to improve how we use science and technology within government and society. It does this by drawing on well-tested, scientifically valid techniques to inform those responsible for developing policy and strategy in government. The Foresight Migration and Global Environmental [...]

The opportunity to attend a COP (Conference of the Parties) event, and one that was hosted in South Africa where I grew up, was a dream come true for me - a once in a lifetime event I won't soon forget. I am still digesting all the information shared at the various 'side events' and associated [...]

The phrase "the benefit of hindsight" has been ringing in my ears as I've been reading the reports from the close of the Durban climate negotiations late on Saturday night. In particular, it's been ringing in my ears as I read that we're now aiming to get a global deal in 2015. The question I've been asking [...]

As the world gathers in Durban to continue discussions on how best to avoid the impacts of climate change, last Saturday, several UN organisations and others hosted the Agriculture and Rural Development Day. I gave a keynote presentation, sharing a platform with Rachel Kyte, Vice President of the World Bank, and Dr Mary Robinson, former [...]