David Bailey is a journalist based in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Is modern society in decline?

06 Feb 2024  |  www.sciencemeetsreligion.org  |  English  |  Crime

The article examines the widely held belief that modern society is in decline, addressing concerns such as crime, environmental degradation, and moral decay. It presents data showing improvements in various areas like crime rates, life expectancy, and poverty reduction, while acknowledging ongoing challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, and social issues. The article argues that both science and religion can play roles in addressing these problems, emphasizing the importance of education and stable family structures.

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Environmental Issues Crime Societal Decline Religious Influence Economic Inequality

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Based out of the city of Medellin, I have covered Colombia and Latin America for a wide range of media outlets including the Miami Herald, the Independent, the Toronto Star and Sky News. I work predominantly in print, but have also produced videos, photography and multimedia work and have done TV ...

Verdict Approaches in Landmark Murder Trial in the Peruvian Amazon

19 Mar 2024  |  insightcrime.org  |  Spanish  |  Environmental Crime

Environmental activists and indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon await the verdict in the Saweto murder case, which has become a test of impunity surrounding environmental crimes in Peru. The trial for the 2014 murders of indigenous Asháninka leaders Edwin Chota, Leoncio Quintisima, Jorge Ríos, and Francisco Pinedo is in its final stages, with a verdict expected on April 11. The accused, alleged illegal loggers Eurico Mapes Gómez and the Atachi Félix brothers, and timber businessmen José Estrada Huayta and Hugo Soria Flores, had been previously convicted with 28-year sentences, but the conviction was controversially overturned on a technicality. The case highlights the increasing violence against those defending the Amazon and the struggle for justice amid systemic challenges.

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Environmental Crime Murder Trial Indigenous Rights

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Nathalie Bertrams is a freelance journalist, photographer, and National Geographic Explorer known for her in-depth reporting on environmental conflicts, human rights and social justice issues, mainly across Africa. Her work has been featured in prominent media outlets, including The Guardian, ...

Environmental journalist based in Pucallpa, Peru. Dedicated to report on indigenous peoples, Amazonia and environmental issues, with more than 30 years of experience.  My experience covers environmental, social and public-private management fields, environmental and social impact assessments in ...

After 6 years of reporting threats, Quinto Inuma Alvarado, Kichwa leader, is murdered

30 Nov 2023  |  ibrehaut.lamula.pe  |  Spanish  |  Environmental Protection

Quinto Inuma Alvarado, a Kichwa leader and environmental defender from the Santa Rosillo community in San Martín, Peru, was murdered despite years of reporting threats and seeking protection. The article highlights the ineffective state mechanisms in place to protect indigenous leaders and environmental defenders, criticizing the Ministry of Justice and other state bodies for their lack of action. The piece underscores the ongoing struggles of indigenous communities against illegal logging and coca cultivation, and calls for real commitments from the state to ensure the safety and rights of these communities.

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Crime Environmental Protection Indigenous Rights

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James Brooks is a journalist based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Alaska commercial fisherman could get 6 months in prison for trying to kill sperm whale

07 Nov 2024  |  www.adn.com  |  English  |  Crime

Federal prosecutors recommend a six-month prison sentence, a $25,000 fine, and a one-year commercial fishing ban for Alaska fisherman Dugan Paul Daniels, who pleaded guilty to attempting to kill an endangered sperm whale. Daniels' actions, driven by frustration over the whale damaging his fishing gear, are unprecedented in Alaska and possibly nationwide. The incident, which occurred during the COVID-19 office closures, violated the Endangered Species Act. Additional penalties include community service and supervised release, with potential monitoring if Daniels resumes fishing.

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Environmental Law Crime Wildlife Conservation

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Bárbara Camargo is a journalist based in La Habana, Cuba.

Series 'Aruanas' has scenes filmed in Cubatão

16 May 2023  |  jornaldaorla.com.br  |  Portuguese  |  Environmental Crimes

The new season of the successful Globoplay series 'Aruanas' features scenes filmed in Cubatão, showcasing the city's suitability for audiovisual productions. The series, starring Débora Falabella, Leandra Leal, Taís Araújo, and Lázaro Ramos, filmed in various locations within the municipality from January to March 2020. 'Aruanas' focuses on the investigation of environmental crimes by women leaders of an NGO and is a co-production of Globo and Maria Farinha Filmes. The series is available on Globoplay and airs on television every Tuesday. Cubatão has also been a filming location for other productions, including reality shows, films, and music videos.

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Environmental Crimes Television Series

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Sam Cowie is a journalist based in São Paulo, Brazil.

Factions threaten quilombola communities in the Amazon's 'cocaine corridor'

24 Aug 2023  |  infoamazonia.org  |  Portuguese  |  Organized Crime

Quilombola communities in Barcarena, Pará, are being threatened by drug trafficking factions, particularly the Comando Vermelho, which has established dominance in the region. The traffickers use the community for drug distribution and storage, leading to violence and environmental destruction. The strategic location of Barcarena's port, Vila do Conde, facilitates cocaine shipments to Europe. The article details the impact on local communities, the spread of organized crime, and the involvement of corrupt officials in facilitating drug trafficking. Large-scale drug seizures and the expansion of criminal activities into environmental crimes, such as illegal mining and deforestation, are also highlighted.

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Environmental Crime Organized Crime Drug Trafficking

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I am an experienced freelance writer and editor. I am the autor of "Cura Espiritual: Uma Investigação", a book about spiritual healing, and "Chico Xavier", a biography about the medium Chico Xavier, the most famous religious personality in Brazil. My best work is on science and health. But I´ve ...

Illegal timber from Amazon carbon credit projects reached Europe, U.S.

01 Dec 2024  |  Mongabay Environmental News  |  English  |  Environmental Crime

An investigation by the Brazilian Federal Police has uncovered a large-scale illegal timber operation linked to carbon credit projects in the Amazon, led by Ricardo Stoppe. Timber from these projects was exported to Europe and the U.S., involving companies like Costa & Durães and Madeiamazonia. The operation, known as Operation Greenwashing, revealed Stoppe's involvement in land-grabbing and illegal logging, affecting Indigenous territories. The timber laundering scheme allowed illegal wood to enter the legal market, exacerbating deforestation and environmental damage. Additionally, Stoppe's group is under investigation for cattle laundering, further highlighting the environmental and legal violations in the Amazon.

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Environmental Crime Illegal Logging Carbon Credits

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Enos Denhere is a distinguished freelance investigative journalist from Zimbabwe, renowned for his insightful reporting on a wide array of topics impacting both his home country and the broader African continent. With over a decade of experience, Denhere has developed a reputation for his ...

Illegal wildlife trade cripples Africa’s GDP

13 Sept 2023  |  Southern Eye  |  English  |  Environmental Crime

The illegal wildlife trade, valued between US$7 billion to US$23 billion annually, significantly impacts Africa's GDP. This trade, driven by sophisticated criminal networks, involves high-demand products like elephant ivory, rhino horn, and pangolin scales. Poaching, exacerbated by political instability, poverty, and corruption, severely affects various species and ecosystems. Zimbabwe, facing high unemployment, sees locals resorting to poaching for survival, further complicating wildlife conservation efforts. International and local organizations are working to combat this issue through community engagement and stricter law enforcement.

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Environmental Crime Illegal Wildlife Trade Poaching

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Gabriele Di Donfrancesco is a freelance journalist and fixer based in Rome, Italy, focused on investigations and stories on environmental crimes, housing, religion, politics, and social justice.

He has covered Italian affairs for US and UK news outlets, including the Daily Dot, Jacobin, Euronews,...

Italian utility in hot water for draining a picturesque lake to send water to Rome

09 Dec 2023  |  Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists  |  English  |  Environmental Crimes

The article discusses the environmental crisis faced by Lake Bracciano in Italy, which began to dry up in 2017 due to water diversion by the Acea Group to supply Rome during a drought. The local residents have stopped the company from further draining the lake and are now taking legal action for environmental crimes. The trial could set a precedent in Europe for public awareness of environmental crimes related to water use. The article also touches on the broader issues of water management, frequent droughts, and climate change affecting the Lazio region's water sources, including Lake Bracciano, which serves as an emergency water reservoir for Rome.

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Environmental Crimes Water Management Climate Change

simone di meo is a journalist based in Naples, Italy. He has been dealing with issues such as Italian and international mafias for years; secret services; domestic and international terrorism; subversion; justice and politics.

Sea Dates Become a Criminal Affair

31 Jul 2023  |  www.panorama.it  |  Italian  |  Environmental Destruction

A major operation in Naples has exposed the illegal trafficking of sea dates, a delicacy bought at high prices by restaurateurs and celebrities but whose fishing devastates coastal and marine environments. The investigation led by the Torre Annunziata Prosecutor's Office resulted in 18 arrests out of 113 suspects, revealing a network involving lawyers, notaries, entrepreneurs, and even a chef who cooked for Jeff Bezos. The Coast Guard, using drones, uncovered the operations of the 'datterari' who caused significant environmental damage. The investigation also uncovered a broader commercial network extending to various regions in Italy and even France.

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Crime Environmental Destruction Illegal Fishing

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Ileana Fernández is a journalist based in Alajuela, Costa Rica. She works for The Tico Times as a journalist and as a communications associate in a Law Firm. Her Law Degree and experience as paralegal and lawyer, have given her the skills to produce and write high-quality news, with an in-depth ...

Costa Rica Looks to Get Tough on Organized Environmental Crime

22 Sept 2023  |  The Tico Times | Costa Rica News | Travel | Real Estate  |  English  |  Environmental Crime

The Frente Amplio party in Costa Rica has proposed a new bill to combat organized environmental crime by strengthening existing laws and increasing penalties. The bill aims to address illegal activities such as logging and wildlife trafficking by allowing the use of tools from the Law against Organized Crime. It proposes reforms to the Wildlife Conservation Law, the Fishing and Aquaculture Law, and the Law for the Protection, Conservation and Recovery of Sea Turtle Populations, increasing penalties for crimes committed by organized groups. The bill seeks to provide the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office with enhanced legal tools to investigate and prosecute these crimes.

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Environmental Crime Legislation

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Ana Gonzalez is a filmmaker/journalist with experience in more than 20 countries. She has collaborated with media outlets such as the BBC, Atlas Obscura, NatGeo, TIME, Al Jazeera, Mediaset and others. In 2021, her documentary “Flamenco Queer” was released by The New Yorker with support from the ...

Four investigated for alleged irregularities in the management of biosanitary waste

12 Jan 2024  |  cadenaser.com  |  Spanish  |  Environmental Crime

The Guardia Civil of the Region of Murcia has conducted 'Operation Fake Manager' to investigate the final destination of hazardous waste, leading to the investigation of four employees of a company, including its administrator, for alleged document falsification and fraud. SEPRONA officers immobilized over 6,000 kilograms of biosanitary waste and found that the company offered services to clinics and tattoo centers without proper authorization. The investigation began following a complaint from a hazardous waste manager about falsified control and tracking documents. The company allegedly collected payments in cash and falsified documents, leading to economic losses and credibility issues in the sector. The investigation revealed that the company accumulated over six tons of hazardous waste, which was immobilized by the regional environmental authority.

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Environmental Crime Waste Management

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Abhaya Raj Joshi is a journalist based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Joseph Katachie is a seasoned business development professional, speaker and entrepreneur fluent in both languages( English, and French) boasting a decade-long tenure in the field. Presently employed by USAGM/Voice of America, Joseph adeptly oversees and orchestrates strategic partnerships, ...

Solutions journalism in the fight against natural crimes

08 Feb 2024  |  www.usagm.gov  |  English  |  Environmental Journalism

A workshop on environmental journalism was held in Gabon to equip journalists and media professionals with skills to effectively report on nature crimes through a solutions-focused approach. The workshop aimed to raise awareness, promote positive change, and inspire actions to address and mitigate environmental issues and crimes.

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Nature Crimes Environmental Journalism

Raphael Lima is a journalist based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Report reveals how environmental crime profits in the Amazon are laundered

06 Nov 2024  |  igarape.org.br  |  English  |  Environmental Crime

A report by the FACT Coalition highlights that a significant number of environmental crime investigations in the Amazon fail to trace financial flows, with 76% of the 230 cases analyzed involving front and shell companies. This is attributed to deficiencies in the anti-money laundering systems of foreign countries.

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Environmental Crime Money Laundering

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Mariel Lozada caraqueña, actualmente viviendo en Santiago de Chile.

Satellite Tools to Investigate Deforestation

01 Oct 2023  |  gijn.org  |  Spanish  |  Environmental Crime

Satellite imagery is being used to monitor deforestation in the Amazon, with significant findings in Peru and Bolivia. Mongabay Latam has utilized these tools to identify deforestation patterns and illegal activities, supported by organizations like Global Forest Watch and GIJN. Key investigations revealed extensive deforestation by Mennonite colonies in Peru and sugarcane plantations in Bolivia. The article provides a guide for journalists on using satellite tools for environmental crime investigations, emphasizing pre-investigation, field planning, and data analysis.

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Environmental Crime Deforestation Journalism

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Diing Magot is a dedicated journalist with a passion for feature stories, current news, and health-related reporting. With a keen eye for detail and a talent for content creation, Magot excels in interviewing and gathering information, adeptly transcribing stories from Arabic to English to reach a ...

Why wildlife crimes are easily committed in South Sudan

01 Jun 2023  |  Oxpeckers - Investigative Enviromental Journalism  |  English  |  Wildlife Crime

The article investigates the prevalence of wildlife crimes in South Sudan, highlighting the country's struggle to enforce its Wildlife Act and prosecute offenders. Despite the existence of the Act, the enforcement capacity is limited, and wildlife crimes such as poaching and trafficking remain rampant. The article details the challenges faced by the Ministry of Wildlife in tracking and prosecuting cases, exacerbated by the country's recent civil wars and economic hardships. It also touches on the involvement of military and security officials in poaching activities. The article mentions efforts to combat wildlife crimes, such as the establishment of wildlife offices and community sensitization, but notes that lack of funding hampers these initiatives. The story is part of the #WildEye Eastern Africa project, supported by InfoNile and the Earth Journalism Network's Biodiversity Media Initiative project.

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Environmental Conservation Wildlife Crime Illegal Poaching Wildlife Trafficking Legal Enforcement

Mary Mundeya is a journalist based in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Former poacher turns to environmental activism after prison sentence

01 Oct 2023  |  The Independent  |  English  |  Environmental Activism

Nollen Muleya, a former poacher from Hwange, Zimbabwe, turned to environmental activism after serving a prison sentence for illegal possession of ivory. Muleya, who was introduced to poaching as a quick way to earn money, was arrested in 2017 and sentenced to nine years in prison. Released in 2021 through a presidential amnesty, he now raises awareness against wildlife crime with support from organizations like the Community Action for Wildlife Conservation Trust. Muleya aims to promote sustainable natural resource management and prevent others from engaging in wildlife-related offenses. This article is part of the African Conservation Journalism Programme, funded by USAID and implemented by Space for Giants.

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Crime and Rehabilitation Environmental Activism Wildlife Conservation

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Filippo Poltronieri is a journalist based in Rome, Italy.

Rome is the Capital of Environmental Crimes

25 Jul 2023  |  RomaToday  |  Italian  |  Environmental Crime

Over 30,000 environmental crimes were reported across Italy, with 2,642 in Lazio, placing it fourth among regions with traditional mafia presence. Rome leads as the top province for environmental crimes, surpassing Naples and Bari. The Legambiente report highlights 58 corruption investigations related to environmental issues between August 2022 and April 2023, with the highest number in Sicily.

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Environmental Crime Mafia

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Imane Rachidi is a journalist based in The Hague, The Netherlands, and covers in a multimedia format different news subject in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Spain.

EU allies with Brazil, Costa Rica, and Panama in an operation against illegal timber trafficking

12 Dec 2023  |  euroefe.euractiv.es  |  Spanish  |  Environmental Crime

Authorities from the European Union, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Panama conducted 226 inspections as part of an international operation against environmental crimes, including illegal logging, smuggling, document fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. The operation, which included Spain, resulted in the seizure of Burmese timber valued at 12,000 euros and two maritime containers of Brazilian wood valued at 67,000 euros. Europol highlighted the severe impact of illegal timber trade on deforestation and climate change, noting that it generates around 7 billion dollars annually. The operation was coordinated by Europol from The Hague and involved authorities from several EU countries as well as law enforcement from Brazil, Costa Rica, and Panama.

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Environmental Crime Illegal Timber Trafficking International Cooperation

I'm a journalist based in Bogotá, Colombia with three years of experience in broadcast and investigative journalism. You can watch some of my TV pieces on these links: 

1. Regresaron a la zona de tragedia - ****

2. Fiscal de fiscales en aprietos por correos agresivos a columnista - ****

3. ...

Coltan, gold, and clandestine airstrips: the loot with which armed groups bleed Guainía

12 Dec 2023  |  es.mongabay.com  |  Spanish  |  Environmental Impact

The Puinawai Reserve in southeastern Colombia is severely impacted by illegal gold and coltan mining, controlled by armed groups such as FARC dissidents and ELN. Satellite images from 2023 reveal significant deforestation. The illegal mining operations have led to environmental degradation, including deforestation and contamination of water sources. The minerals are trafficked through complex networks involving local and international actors. Despite efforts by authorities, the illegal activities continue, driven by high international demand for coltan, essential for electronic devices. The situation highlights the intersection of environmental destruction and organized crime in the Amazon region.

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Organized Crime Environmental Impact Illegal Mining

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Senanu Tord is a video journalist and a documentary filmmaker who reports on a wide range of issues across Africa. He is originally from Ghana and reports in English but speaks and understands basic French. He has worked in many English-speaking African countries and some francophone countries ...

The Inside Story - Nature Crimes | Episode 124

28 Dec 2023  |  www.voanews.com  |  English  |  Environmental Crimes

Investigates environmental crimes in Ghana, focusing on individuals breaking laws designed to protect the environment.

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Environmental Crimes

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Anchal Vohra is a Beirut-based TV and Print journalist. She is a freelance Correspondent for AJ English and a writer on the Middle east for Foreign Policy. She also contributes to the Times, the Atlantic, the Telegraph, the New Statesman, and Berlin Policy Journal. Ms Vohra has been Deutsche Welle ...

Ecological Murder Could Soon Be Illegal

16 May 2023  |  Foreign Policy  |  English  |  Environmental Crime

The European Union is considering making ecocide, the destruction of ecological systems, a crime. Activists are pushing for this legislation, which would hold corporations accountable for environmental damage. The European Parliament has already voted to recognize ecocide as a crime, and discussions are ongoing to include it in the EU's environmental crime directive. If successful, this could lead to ecocide being added to the International Criminal Court's list of crimes. However, there are challenges from industry lobbyists and disagreements among supporters about the definition and implications of ecocide. The proposed penalties include imprisonment and fines, with the hope that the stigma of ecocide will deter environmental destruction.

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Environmental Crime Ecocide Climate Change

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