Search

Social movements play a key role in advancing climate justice. This article analyses three case studies and examines the role these movements play in implementing climate justice by mobilising communities, raising awareness, and advocating for policy change. It discusses how grassroots activism challenges power structures and drives change, highlighting three examples of movements in Commonwealth countries: Seed Mob in Australia, the Karachi Bachao Tehreek campaign in Pakistan, and RuralRevive in Namibia. By mobilising diverse stakeholders and leveraging media and technology, social movements advocate for systemic transformation and community resilience. However, they face constraints in driving transformative change. This paper advocates for greater recognition of their role in shaping climate justice discourse and practice while acknowledging their limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the existence and use of disaster risk management laws across the Commonwealth. It commences by considering approaches to risk management and disaster response. It reviews international and regional disaster law, policy and tools. The paper examines national disaster risk management laws through the lens of a typology of laws, based on the complexity and scope of the disaster risk reduction and response system. It makes recommendations for Commonwealth countries relating to review of disaster laws, implementation of international frameworks, and the inclusion of disaster risk reduction, recovery, climate change, quality standards and the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in disaster laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A steady decline in major party support in Commonwealth nations has resulted in changing parliamentary compositions, including the growing prevalence of minority government. Such situations pose new questions for notions of government legitimacy within Westminster systems. For instance, is negotiation with cross-benchers an example of government illegitimacy? What is the legitimate role of non-ministerial members when the composition of parliament gives them the final say on the enabling legislation for public policy? What is the legitimate response of the public sector regarding policy-making in the context of minority government? In this paper, we reflect on how a ‘marginal member’ concept can provide new insights into such issues and their implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As 2004 opened Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of India and President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan met in Islamabad. The most serious attempt to achieve a settlement of the Kashmir problem for decades was under way. Pakistan made other news. Two attempts were made on Musharraf's life and the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb confessed that he had been responsible for the proliferation of nuclear weapons to Iran, Libya and North Korea. In the wake of Zimbabwe's withdrawal from the Commonwealth the political situation there remained deadlocked. Tuvalu told a climate change meeting that it would be the first country to go under the waves. And the first train to cross Australia north-south made its maiden journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]