SciDev.Net Weekly Update (22 - 28 October 2012)

Biodiversity targets, Indian Bt trials, Arabic translations, and more
	Oct 29, 2012

Biodiversity and the poor Implementing biodiversity targets without further marginalising the poor will require a deeper understanding of the links with poverty and livelihoods, says T.V. Padma. Editorials Biodiversity protection needs community input  A pledge to increase support for biodiversity targets in developing countries is welcome, but care for indigenous people is vital too.  EN | ES | 中文 More EDITORIALS  News Committee advises halt to Indian Bt crop trials  An expert panel, appointed by the Supreme Court of India, has recommended a ten-year moratorium on all Bt food crop trials.  EN  Climate change mitigation 'far cheaper than inaction'  Developing a low carbon economy will be far cheaper than responding to climate change in an ad hoc fashion, says a global report.  EN | ES  Women 'under-represented' in emerging nations' S&T  Women are scarce in sectors such as engineering and physics, and their role in leadership positions is marginal too, says a report.  EN | ES  Biodiversity meeting calls for more science-based information  The Convention on Biological Diversity meeting also urged caution in fields such as synthetic biology.  EN | ES  Earthquake aftershock forecasting 'must be improved'  Researchers are calling for more reliable aftershock forecasting after a Sumatran 'megaquake' this year caused other large earthquakes as far as Japan and Mexico.  EN | ES  Gulf states to discuss closer political union  Ministers of the Gulf cooperation council have agreed to discuss a closer union — modelled after the European Union — which could harmonise regional R&D.  EN  First virtual science newsroom launched  The World Conference of Science Journalists has started a virtual newsroom to boost science journalism in Africa and the Middle East.  EN Other News Cook Islanders grow sustainable food using 'aquaponics'  EN  Science journalism network for East Africa launched  EN  India expands its biodiversity databases  EN  Gender gap in agriculture 'must be addressed'  EN  Study finds high levels of depression in Haitians  ES  Latin America ‘lacks health policy research’  ES More NEWS  Opinions Arabic translations of science need a quality boost  Poor translations undermine efforts to promote science in Arab countries, says science translator and lecturer Ehab Abdelrahim Ali.  EN  More OPINIONS  Features The rise of African science journalism  Science journalism in Africa is making remarkable progress, with widespread improvements in the quality and quantity of science in the media, reports Esther Nakkazi.  EN  More FEATURES  Science for the Arab world: lost in translation Clear guidelines and better quality control for Arabic translations will help promote science in Arabic-speaking countries, says science translator and lecturer Ehab Abdelrahim Ali. Catch up with SciDev.Net's blogs Read our live blog from GCARD2, and catch up on our blogs from AidEx2012 and COP11.