The Cycle of Conferences - Earth Stewardship & the Middle East Peace Process (Geneva Accord)

The Long Path Out of Denial - Zionism, Heartache, and a New Vision of Israel and Palestine

A remarkable account by an ardent Zionist/psychotherapist of her struggle to break out of her mindset about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Abu Mazen's threat to withhold his candidacy in January's elections

Israeli and Palestinian views of implications for the peace process in the event of the possible absence of President Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen]from the scene.

Obama must try harder

After his magnificent speech in Cairo, Obama's Middle East peace policy earns an 'A' for vision but only a 'C' for action.

J Street’s Strengths, Weaknesses On View at First National Conference

J Street, the pro-peace-process political action committee and lobby that many pro-Israel hawks love to hate, demonstrated this week that it can pull off an overflow Washington conference, attract hordes of media, feed the passion of supporters and use new technologies to satisfy young activists. But that could be the easy part.

Grassroots group aims to break deadlock over Israeli settlements

One Voice hopes to open debate among Palestinians about land exchange, but finds resistance at West Bank meeting.

No global climate change treaty likely for up to a year, negotiators admit

No global climate change treaty likely for up to a year, negotiators admit. World's key industrialised nations say they have abandoned hope of legally binding deal at Copenhagen summit

Grassroots group aims to break deadlock over Israeli settlements

One Voice hopes to open debate among Palestinians about land exchange, but finds resistance at West Bank meeting.

A war crime whitewash

Condemnation of Goldstone's Gaza report does Israel no favours.

J Street Seeks the Fast Lane to MidEast Peace

Can the Middle East peace process be “wrapped up” in two years? Absolutely, if you believe as strongly as the 1,500-plus Jewish Americans gathered here this week for the first annual J Street conference on Middle East peace.

Canada sets aside its boreal forest as giant carbon vault

Canada sets aside its boreal forest as giant carbon vault. By banning logging, mining and oil drilling in an area twice the size of California, Canada is ensuring its boreal forests continue to soak up carbon.

Obama administration makes available $3.4B for developing a 'smart' electric grid

Obama administration makes available $3.4B for developing a 'smart' electric grid. President Barack Obama makes a pitch for renewable energy, announcing $3.4 billion in government support for 100 projects aimed at modernizing the US power grid.

China's vulnerability

China's vulnerability. Roger Harrabin examines the difficulties faced by China as it puts together a negotiating position for the Copenhagen climate conference.

Copenhagen 'backup' group meets

Copenhagen 'backup' group meets. Legislators from 16 major economies met on Saturday 24 October to seek consensus on a raft of climate-related policies ahead of December talks in Copenhagen.

Historic chance to halt the scourge of deforestation

Historic chance to halt the scourge of deforestation. One of the key parts of the Copenhagen climate agreement which the international community will try to construct in December is a comprehensive treaty aiming to reduce deforestation rates in the developing countries by at least 50 per cent by 2020.

Israel’s Religious Right and the Peace Process

It would be easy to describe the residents of the outpost of Amona as radicals...But what is disturbing about the settlers in Amona is not how distant they are from other Israelis, whether geographically or politically, but how connected. They are national-religious; that is to say, they are devout in their Judaism, but unlike many other religious Jews they believe equally fervently in the secular Zionist project. 

US bids for bilateral climate change deals with China and India

US bids for bilateral climate change deals with China and India. Fresh commitments may breathe life back into Copenhagen deal as India prepares to announce cap and trade scheme

Download a new book, The Best of Bitterlemons: Five years of writings from Israel and Palestine.

Bitterlemons.org is a website that presents Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints on prominent issues of concern. It focuses on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and peace process. 

Nobel economics prize won by first woman

Nobel economics prize won by first woman. A political scientist from Indiana University, whose work exploring how people come together to preserve their collective resources may provide important clues in the fight against climate change, has become the first woman to win the Nobel prize for economics.

Encountering peace: In the land of miracles, let's get real

Now that the NY Summit has come and gone, Netanyahu made his speech to the world, Abbas had his opportunity to speak his mind - is there any reasonable person out there who actually thinks a negotiated peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians is possible? 

US threatens to derail climate talks by refusing to include Kyoto targets

US threatens to derail climate talks by refusing to include Kyoto targets. Protocol seen as basis for Copenhagen negotiations but America refuses to be 'stuck with agreement 20 years old'

Nature Makes Us More Caring, Study Says : University of Rochester News

Nature Makes Us More Caring, Study Says : University of Rochester News. Paying attention to the natural world not only makes you feel better, it makes you behave better, finds a new study to be published October 1 in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

After the Summit

What we can understand from what happened in NY.

Green shoots in the desert

Green shoots in the desert. The Arab world no longer dismisses environmentalism as a western luxury. Abu Dhabi is leading the way in averting disaster

Fate of US climate bill casts shadow over Bangkok climate talks

Fate of US climate bill casts shadow over Bangkok climate talks. Evidence of 'clear movement' on domestic front would lend weight to UN climate talks in Bangkok, says US chief negotiator

A vision exists for Middle East peace – it's 423 pages long

Known as the Geneva Initiative, it is the only detailed proposal ever prepared jointly by people on both sides.

Google Earth launches climate simulator

Google Earth launches climate simulator. Al Gore stars in promo video for new emissions scenario features developed by Google Earth to coincide with Copenhagen climate conference

Geneva Initiative relaunches its grasssroots peace recipe

Talk about a settlement freeze distracts negotiators from the real issues - such as Jerusalem and refugees - that truly block the path to peace between Israelis and Palestinians, former Meretz Party leader Yossi Beilin told reporters in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

Now China lays down challenge to Obama on climate

Now China lays down challenge to Obama on climate. Beijing will raise the stakes in the race to agree a global climate change treaty by using a summit of world leaders in New York today to announce that China, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is ready to take new measures to cut pollution.

Why alternative energy sources such as biofuels, solar, and nuclear are not the magic ticket

Why alternative energy sources such as biofuels, solar, and nuclear are not the magic ticket. Michael Grunwald ponders some of the tough choices ahead.

Most vulnerable countries must stick together to be heard at climate talks

Most vulnerable countries must stick together to be heard at climate talks | Oxfam International. "Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and African countries have little power individually but together make up around 100 of the 192 countries represented at the climate talks. A grouping of this size can command the attention of the US, Europe and China. Only by working together can we ensure the climate deal meets the needs of the one billion people around the world who are least responsible for the climate crisis but who are being hit first and worst by its effects,” said Ziaul Hoque Mukta, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Oxfam in Bangladesh.