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This article discusses the status of the Fairtrade and organic banana growing market in the Dominican Republic with a focus on the living conditions and alleged abuses of Haitian migrant workers. Topics include the decision by major grocery chains in Great Britain such as Sainsbury's and Waitrose to only source Fairtrade bananas in 2007, processes used to replace dangerous chemicals on organic farms such as natural pesticides, and the slums populated by illegal Haitain immigrants who work on the banana farms and who can't escape poverty due to difficulties in the process of obtaining visas.

This article discusses the potentially controversial and disappearing agricultural tradition of pastoralism in southern Ethiopia in the aftermath of severe famine and drought and government attempts to install more permanent, Western agricultural models. Topics include a discussion of government-mandated relocation and settlement plans in the Gambella Region of West Ethiopia, the decreasing availability of usable pastures for livestock grazing, and a desire by younger generations of pastoralists to adopt modernization.

The article discusses the effect of financial speculation on corn futures in the international commodity market on the rising prices of corn products in Mexico. It is noted that the price increases are particularly felt by poor Mexicans who rely on corn tortillas as a staple of their diet and to whom corn has strong cultural value. The rise in corn prices has also been attributed to crop yield losses due to the changing climate, the use of corn as feed for livestock, and the demand of the crop for biofuels production. It is argued that food commodities trading destabilises food prices in favor of short-term profits and will lead to nutritional crises in poor populations.

The article discusses government approval given to drilling companies in Great Britain to extract shale gas, an energy source that reportedly has a larger greenhouse gas footprint than coal. As the process relies on the extraction technique of hydraulic fracturing or fracking, concerns about water pollution also are discussed. Statistics are reported on shale gas reserves in Europe and the gas demands they would satisfy in Great Britain. The development of shale gas wells in the U.S. and associated aquifer contamination are described.

In this article the author discusses Russia's efforts to exploit the petroleum and natural gas reserves in the Arctic regions. According to the author, scientists and activists have urged caution, but Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin has vowed to develop the region, which includes offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling, the construction of sea terminals, and the promotion of a commercial shipping route. Topics include Putin's attitude toward environmentalism, the environmental impact of development and industrialization in Russia's Arctic territories, and Russia's history of oil spills and poor knowledge of habitats and biodiversity in its Arctic territory.

Rafael Vinoly Architects' ambitious proposal for a 40 million [pounds sterling] theatre in Leicester has gone over budget and fallen behind schedule after becoming embroiled in political confusion. The cost [...]

Sacked for being pregnant, passed over for promotion, frozen out for daring to leave the office before 9pm--this is the shameful reality faced by many women trying to forge a [...]

The article discusses the food industry and complex food production methods that have led to incidents of food contamination. Noted is a case of dioxin contamination in an egg product called liquid pasteurised egg used as an ingredient of processed foods. The complex international food processing chain underlying the reported contamination incident is defined noting product transfers from Germany to Holland to Great Britain. Economies of scale that underlie the growth of centralized food manufacturing are discussed. Market forces that drive the use of low-cost animal feeds also are discussed.

In this article, the author discusses the advantages of urban farming technologies such as aquaponics and aeroponics in urban farming. He mentions that aquaponics where fish and its wastes is used for the production of vegetables is seen in London, England and other cities. He adds that aeronomics helps to grow crops where land is scarce such as in Singapore. Urban farming can also be a profitable business as per the author.

Argues that the leftist groups in Great Britain should focus on small ideas in their formulation of agenda for the 21st century. Issues which should become the focus of the leftists; Enumeration of the issues which should concern the leftists.