Wednesday, August 5, 2009
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I'm Amy Witherden.
Making headlines:
Africa's position at climate change negotiations is seen as unified and strong, says Alf Wills, DDG of international cooperation at the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Developing countries, in general, are unified on the science of climate change, and agree that historical responsibility for climate change lies with the developed world. However, when it comes to the finer details, and priority areas of focus, developing countries are very divided.
The Environmental Affairs department says that the impact of climate change on Africa will be devastating. By 2020, it is predicted that water stress will widen, and agricultural yields could decrease, with a resultant increase in food insecurity and stress on ecosystems. South Africa will be affected by all these issues, which is why the country's negotiating stance is that both mitigation, and adaptation will need to play a part in a global agreement on climate change.

Emerging economies have dug in their heels over power sharing in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), insisting that the realignment of voting shares must come before any other governance reforms are tackled.
Emerging powers want voting shares to reflect their rising might in the global economy and have rejected a proposal, backed by IMF MD Dominique Strauss-Kahn, for a decision-making ministerial council that they fear might delay the basic reforms they want. Developing economies feel that unfair distribution of members' quotas favouring developed nations, undermines the IMF's legitimacy.
The idea of a council was first proposed by an outside panel led by former South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel as a way to bring more political weight into IMF decisions.

Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu has condemned the recent trashing of streets by striking municipal workers, saying that their behaviour does not advance the cause of unionism. The striking workers profess to be exercising their rights, he says, but in doing so, they infringe on other people's rights.
Speaking at a TREE anniversary dinner in Durban, Tutu said that many people had died for rights and freedom in South Africa, and questioned whether this was the freedom that was fought for.
Tutu also raised concerns about affirmative action and expressed dissatisfaction with how it was implemented.

Also making headlines:
President Jacob Zuma promises to visit service delivery protest hot spots.
New National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele says that the Democratic Alliance twisted his words regarding a moratorium on crime statistics.
The US says that it is prepared to help address Africa's food problems with sustainable solutions.
And, the World Health Organisation maintains its estimate of two-billion H1N1 cases by the time the pandemic ends.
That's a roundup of news making headlines today.