What happens when people from the private sector, academia, journalism and activism join forces to pitch ideas for solving a social problem? Although we cannot claim that they always find an answer, what we do know is that these encounters, called “civic laboratories”, address a collective need to change society for the better. This month, […]
From 2010 to 2015, Hivos was involved in CoCooN (Conflict and Cooperation over Natural Resources in Developing Countries), a WOTRO-financed programme dedicated to finding new ways to end the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. CoCoon brought together scientists, indigenous leaders and environmental activists from several Amazonian countries to conduct research. Participants investigated the legal possibilities […]
Walking into a room in Uyuni Bolivia and not feeling cold is an unusual experience. With an average June temperature below zero degrees Celsius, the air feels chilly even at massive events. Nevertheless, this 2nd of June, during the forum “Royal Quinoa: Towards a Participative Agenda in Bolivia”, a wave of warmth spread throughout the […]
Waking up to the news of a friend’s death is sadly quite common in Honduras. The chances increase exponentially, however, if this friend dedicated his or her life to the defense of natural resources, human rights or belonged to the LGBTI community. On June 3rd, we faced this reality once more when we learned about […]
Right before dawn on April 26, Hivos General Director Edwin Huizing put on a pair of colorful glasses and gazed at dozens of people who waited silently in their seats. His intention was to lead them in symbolic time travel to the year 2020. “I have the privilege to take you to the year 2020,” […]
Right before dawn on April 26th, Hivos General Director Edwin Huizing put on a pair of colorful glasses and gazed at dozens of people who waited silently in their seats. His intention was to lead them in symbolic time travel to the year 2020. “I have the privilege to take you to the year 2020,” […]
On March 19th, Hivos joined Earth Hour from South America. Instead of turning the lights off, the intention was to shine a bright light on an urgent matter and invite thousands of people to take a virtual tour of the mangroves of the region’s Pacific coast. We are talking about the harvesting of black cockles, […]
On this International Women’s Day, a day meant to pay tribute to and support women and their achievements everywhere, we unfortunately are also mourning the tragic murder of a world-renowned environmental and human rights defender Berta Cáceres, killed in her home by unknown assailants shortly after midnight on March 3rd. Berta Cáceres was the coordinator and co-founder […]
Indigenous representatives and environmental activists came to the Netherlands to report on the conflicts between indigenous communities in the Amazon and the oil companies active in the area. Aurelio Chino, leader of the Peruvian Quechua communities along the Pastaza River, and Humberto Piaguaje, leader of Ecuador’s Secoya indigenous tribe, made their voices heard in the […]
Historic is the only word to describe the Cultura en Movimiento (Cultures in Motion) congress, the first meeting of the actors who give life to the arts and culture in Bolivia. More than 300 people, including artists, cultural agents, academics, activists and authorities in the area participated in the event which took place in October […]
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights published a sentence in the López Lone and others vs Honduras case in favor of three judges and a magistrate who, in their fight for democracy and rule of law, were dismissed from their positions for dissenting against the coup that took place June 28, 2009 in Honduras. This […]
The Bolivian Amazon provided the stage for the third international meeting of “Sharing Socio-environmental Monitoring Systems”, attended by indigenous representatives from Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador. The event, supported by Hivos, was held from October 25-29 in Rurrenabaque (Beni) with the aim of intensifying exchanges amongst the monitors, technicians and civic organizations working on environmental […]