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Daily Archives: June 16, 2016

UN Report – The Rise of Environmental Crime

Nellemann, C. (Editor in Chief); Henriksen, R., Kreilhuber, A., Stewart, D., Kotsovou, M., Raxter, P., Mrema, E., and Barrat, S. (Eds). 2016. The Rise of Environmental Crime – A Growing Threat To Natural Resources Peace, Development And Security. A UNEP- INTERPOL Rapid Response Assessment. United Nations Environment Programme and RHIPTO Rapid Response–Norwegian Center for Global Analyses.
“The slaughter of elephants and rhinos has raised awareness of the illegal trade in wildlife. We are facing mass extinction and countries are losing iconic wildlife species. However, the scope and spectrum of this illegal trade has widened. Criminals now include in their trafficking portfolios waste, chemicals, ozone depleting substances, illegally caught seafood, timber and other forest products, as well as conflict minerals, including gold and diamonds. The growth rate of these crimes is astonishing. The report that follows reveals for the first time that this new area of criminality has diversified and skyrocketed to become the world’s fourth largest crime sector in a few decades, growing at 2-3 times the pace of the global economy. INTERPOL and UNEP now estimate that natural resources worth as much as USD 91 billion to USD 258 billion annually are being stolen by criminals, depriving countries of future revenues and development opportunities. Environmental crime has impacts beyond those posed by regular criminality. It increases the fragility of an already brittle planet. The resulting vast losses to our planet rob future generations of wealth, health and well being on an unprecedented scale. They also compromise our ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. An additional by-product of environmental crime is that it undermines peace. It is not surprising that the UN Security Council has recognized the serious threat to security posed by environmental crime, with UN reports pointing to armed groups and potentially even terrorists sustained through the spoils of this rising criminal industry. However, an enhanced law enforcement response can help address this worrying trend. There are significant examples worldwide of cross-sectoral efforts working to crack down on environmental crime and successfully restore wildlife, forests and ecosystems. Such collaboration, sharing and joining of efforts within and across borders, whether formal or informal, is our strongest weapon in fighting environmental crime. But to meet the scale of this threat, a broad-ranging, targeted effort must be put forward so that peace and sustainable development can prevail…”

The Road to Orlando: Jihadist-Inspired Violence in the West, 2012-2016

Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point – June 16, 2016, Author(s): Sam Mullins Abstract: “This analysis of 47 cases of jihadist-inspired violence carried out in Western countries between January 1, 2012, and the June 12, 2016, Orlando attack sheds light on the evolving terrorist threat. The data shows that the Syrian civil war and the… Continue Reading

Persistent heat across globe makes a baker’s dozen for the record books

“May 2016 broke last year’s record for the warmest May on record for the globe by 0.04 degrees F, according to scientists from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. The more than yearlong heat streak also resulted in other new global heat records. The seasonal temperature (March–May) for the globe was the highest for this… Continue Reading

Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution

Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution: “This report from the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health examines the impact of exposure to air pollution across the course of a lifetime. The report starkly sets out the dangerous impact air pollution is currently having on… Continue Reading

GAO Report – Federal Student Loans

Federal Student Loans: Education Could Improve Direct Loan Program Customer Service and Oversight, GAO-16-523: Published: May 16, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 15, 2016. “Education has multiple mechanisms to oversee servicers, but key weaknesses limit its ability to manage the Direct Loan program. First, while Education has made improvements in how it tracks borrower complaints, it… Continue Reading

CRS – When Are Violent Crimes Federal Hate Crimes?

CRS Reports & Analysis Legal Sidebar When Are Violent Crimes Federal Hate Crimes? 06/14/2016 “The shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando has generated interest in the scope of the federal hate crime statute, 18 U.S.C. 249, enacted in 2009. Section 249 establishes two distinct federal crimes. Section 249(a)(1) outlaws violence committed because of the… Continue Reading

New insights into callback likelihood for unemployed job applicants

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Peter C. Fisk – You applied for a job but got no response. How come? “A recent study may help to answer that question. Henry S. Farber, Dan Silverman, and Till von Wachter conducted the research and reported their findings in “Factors Determining Callbacks to Job Applications by the Unemployed: An… Continue Reading

India was the third-largest energy consumer after China and the United States in 2013

EIA Report – “India was the third-largest energy consumer in the world after China and the United States in 2013, and its need for energy supply continues to climb as a result of the country’s dynamic economic growth and modernization over the past several years. India’s economy has grown at an average annual rate of… Continue Reading

CRS – Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and Homegrown Violent Extremism

CRS Insight – Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and  Homegrown Violent Extremism, Jerome P. Bjelopera, Specialist in Organized Crime and Terrorism, June 13, 2016 (IN10299). “Domestic terrorism cases differ from ordinary criminal activity in key ways. Most importantly, unlike ordinary criminals—who are often driven by self-centered motives such as profit and tend to opportunistically… Continue Reading