Child mortality in Africa is decreasing more rapidly than expected. But the welcome success is a result of more effective policies, governments, and technology rather than aid. [The Economist]
Niger’s malnutrition crisis comes to a head just as leaders at the G8 begin talks on food security. The charity Save the Children says the situation has worsened and that it has moved into emergency response mode. [BBC]
A new biofuel plant in Mozambique is hoping to encourage the use of ethanol for cooking instead of charcoal. The country’s reliance on charcoal has wiped out its forests and been a cause of major health problems. [New York Times]
Greenpeace says that car companies—including BMW, Ford, and GM—are using Brazilian materials produced with slave labor and illegal logging practices. [The Guardian]
Hoping to create a sense of urgency for the need for sustainable development, the WWF has released its Living Planet Report ahead of the Rio +20 conference. [BBC]
