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Political Economy Briefing: MENA Uprisings - Key Issues

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The Middle East North Africa uprisings have been spreading fast. What implications do they have for Southeast Asia? We focus on the issue of youth unemployment and underemployment. 

  • An era of vulnerability, with soaring commodity prices
  • Ageing regimes face political unrest, deadly protests
  • Youth unemployment and social media play a key role, but protests spread to include all

Download here: POLECBrief_MENA Uprisings_Jan11

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Newsletter 27 October 2010: Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil - NGO and Downstream Perspectives, Part II

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Why we need the RSPO

  • WWF says we are using 1.5x of our planet's ability to replace resources - sustainability is about survival
  • Supportive stakeholders of the RSPO are averse to reputational and market risks
  • Should governments be invited to the RSPO? HCV regional mapping may signal closer cooperation
  • Economic incentives as a possible best solution to sustainability

Download here: Newsletter_October10_03

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Newsletter 26 August 2010: Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil - The Grower's Perspective, Part I

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Sustainability of the RSPO - the 7-year itch?

  • The RSPO will face competition from the upcoming ISPO standard
  • Take up of CSPO has lagged and its premium has fallen from USD 40/mt to USD 6/mt
  • NGO campaigns against oil palm growers have been escalating
  • Internal RSPO issues have yet to be resolved, including its procedures and its resources
  • How to 'save' RSPO? We have some ideas, from the growers' perspectives

Download here: Newsletter_Aug2010_02

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Newsletter 03 Aug 2010: Sustainable Palm Oil Policies - EU biofuels trade restrictions and Indonesia's new national initiatives

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EU RED - Will a trade complaint be made?

  • EU RED excludes nearly all palm oil bio-diesel from its biofuel incentives system, from 5 Dec 2010
  • A challenge could take 1 - 2 years, depending on the strategic option chosen
  • Indonesia steams ahead on its own with announcement of five key initiatives to enhance its sustainability efforts

Download here: Newsletter_Aug10_01