What started with a ‘salty’ cup of tea ended with one couple losing their home to climate-change-induced rising sea levels. Solutions, like sea walls, restoration of mangroves, and water management, are too slow to stop the ruin of once-thriving coastal communities.

By Joseph Chamie
PORTLAND, USA, Mar 25 2025 – The 20th century ushered in the profound rise of the elderly. During the 21st century, the elderly as a result of their rising numbers and growing proportions of country populations will be increasingly impacting government policies, programs and expenditures.

Prior to the 20th century, the proportion of the world’s population aged 65 years and older was likely around 2 to 3%. By 1900, that proportion is estimated to have increased to approximately 4% with the elderly numbering about 66 million. By the middle of the 20th century, the world’s elderly proportion aged 65 years and older is estimated to have reached 5% and their number nearly doubled to 126 million (Figure 1).

Source: United Nations.

At the start of the 21st century, the percent of the world’s population who were elderly increased to 7 percent and they numbered about 422 million. Today the estimated percent elderly is 10 percent, double the 1950 level. The number of people aged 65 years and older in 2025 is estimated to be about 857 million, which is approximately seven times the number of elderly in 1950.

The world’s elderly are not only growing in number and percent of the world’s population, but they are also experiencing increasing longevity, a welcomed blessing for humanity.

In 1950, the life expectancies of the world’s population at ages 65 and 80 years were about 11 and 5 years, respectively. Over the subsequent decades, the life expectancies for the elderly increased, reaching nearly 16 and 7 years at the beginning of the 21st century. The life expectancies at ages 65 and 80 years today are estimated to be close to 18 and 8 years, respectively (Figure 2).

Source: United Nations.

Furthermore, the proportion of the world’s population aged 80 years and older, which was 0.6% in 1950, more than doubled to 1.6% by the close of the 20th century. Today the proportion of the world’s population aged 80 years and older has increased to nearly 2.1% and is expected to more than double to 4.6% by 2050 and double again to 9.3% by the year 2100.

The life expectancies of the elderly are also expected to continue rising in the years ahead. By the close of the 21st century, for example, the life expectancies at ages 65 and 80 years are expected to reach 22 and 11 years, respectively, or double the 1950 levels.

It is also noteworthy that as women generally live longer than men, a clear majority of the elderly are women. Today approximately 55% of the world’s 857 million persons aged 65 years and older are women. At older ages the sex imbalance is even larger. Among the world’s 170 million people aged 80 years and older, for example, about 62% are women.

Considerable diversity exists across countries in the life expectancies of the elderly. The estimated levels for 2025 among some developed countries, such as Japan, France and Australia, are approximately double the life expectancies of the elderly among some developing countries, such as Nigeria, Chad and Togo (Figure 3).

Source: United Nations.

For example, while Japan’s estimated life expectancies for the elderly in 2025 at ages 65 and 80 years are 23 and 11 years, respectively, the corresponding life expectancies for Nigeria’s elderly are 12 and 5 years.

Moreover, the differences among countries with respect to elderly life expectancies are expected to persist throughout the 21st century. By 2100, the projected life expectancies for Japan at ages 65 and 80 years are 30 and 16 years, respectively, versus 14 and 6 years for Nigeria at those ages (Figure 4).

Source: United Nations.

The rising numbers and proportions of the elderly combined with their increasing longevity have important economic, social and political consequences for countries and their citizens.

Perhaps the most evident consequence today concerns government financed retirement programs for the elderly. As the numbers and the proportions of the elderly increase, the retirement benefits for the elderly create financial strains on the viability of national programs.

Recognizing, understanding and preparing for the profound rise of the elderly will not only facilitate this historic transition but it will also contribute substantially to addressing its many important consequences

To address the increasing costs of national retirement programs, some governments are raising the official retirement ages in order to receive full benefits. Other governments are considering raising taxes and also reducing retirement benefits.

Another important consequence of the rising numbers and proportions of the elderly is their increasing needs for healthcare. Those needs lead to greater spending on medical care, long-term assistance and pharmaceuticals. And among the common health concerns of the elderly are heart ailments, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, urinary incontinence, social isolation, depression, hearing loss and falls.

In addition to medical care, many of the elderly, especially at the older ages, are in need of assistance, caregiving and help with activities of daily living.

In most developing countries the elderly usually reside with extended family members. In developed countries, in contrast, the elderly typically live with a spouse, followed by many living by themselves.

Without adequate government funding and services, people, in particular women, face increased pressures to provide care and assistance to their elderly relatives. In many instances, those pressures lead to strains, stresses and personal burnout for the caregivers.

The rising numbers and proportions of the elderly can also lead to political controversies among the different generations, especially regarding government expenditures, taxes, pensions and healthcare.

One increasingly important area of difference between the generations concerns the amount of government funds and resources that should be provided to the elderly versus to the young. In particular, the elderly and young adults are likely to have differing views regarding the appropriate balance of government resources and support allocated to eldercare versus childcare.

The elderly are more likely to back financial increases for pensions and limit spending on education. Also, the elderly are more likely to be politically conservative and emphasize tradition, customs and ritual. In contrast, young adults are more likely to be politically liberal, stress individual freedoms, and embrace innovation and changing social norms.

In sum, the profound rise of the world’s elderly that was ushered in during the 20th century is continuing throughout the 21st century.

As a result of their growth in absolute numbers and relative proportions of the world’s population coupled with their increasing longevity, the rise of the elderly is having significant consequences for countries and their citizens. Recognizing, understanding and preparing for the profound rise of the elderly will not only facilitate this historic transition but it will also contribute substantially to addressing its many important consequences.

Joseph Chamie is a consulting demographer, a former director of the United Nations Population Division and author of numerous publications on population issues, including his recent book, “Population Levels, Trends, and Differentials”.

By Esther Ngumbi
URBANA, Illinois, US, Mar 25 2025 – On March the 8^th, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. This year’s theme was “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” and called for actions that aim to unlock power and opportunities for women around the world by leaders across governments, corporate and private sector, academic communities, and civil societies.

Indeed, in a world where women make up almost half of the global population, unlocking women power and doors of opportunities will do much more than benefiting women. It will create thriving communities and societies and continue serving as the foundation of sustainable development and a  prosperous and peaceful society and world.

Arguably, the food, agribusiness and agricultural sector presents many opportunities that can be leveraged by women.   In the United States, for example, the agricultural sector which extends beyond the farm business, contributes around $1.537 trillion to the GDP.

Similarly, across many African countries, the agricultural sector is an important sector and contributor to African countries GDP.  Moreover, the African Development Bank forecasts that by 2030, the African food and agriculture market and economy will be worth $1 trillion.

Although the agricultural sector presents lots of opportunities, extensive evidence shows that women, particular in both the United States and African countries and other emerging countries, still face multitude of structural and gender-based barriers including low levels of formal education, limited technical skills, limited access to assets, finances, information, networks and resources including land.

So, what steps can be taken to break down the barriers and tap onto the opportunities the food, agribusiness and agricultural sector presents?

First, we must ensure that women have equal access and ownership to land that is central for agricultural production. There is evidence showing that women with strong property and land rights contribute to increased production and incomes. Additionally, research suggests that there are positive linkages between secure land access and ownership by women and improved incomes and human wellbeing and many economic benefits.

Second, we must ensure that women have access to information and financial resources they need to ensure that their agricultural practices and agribusinesses are resilient.

The agricultural sector is one of the sectors that continues to be vulnerable to climate change associated stressors including drought, flooding events and pest outbreaks.  With financial resources, women can adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, allowing their agricultural enterprises to thrive. Research has revealed the interlinkages between access to resources and adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices.

Creating resillience can further be enhanced by ensuring that women further adopt newer technologies including technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and robotics.

Third, efforts must be made to ensure that women who venture in agribusiness have access to credit and financial services, technical advisory and business support services and market and trade networks.

Governments can lead the efforts to ensure that legal and regulatory business networks are functional for women.  Some of the interventions that can be rolled out include bundled services that provide women with resources, credit, technical advice and networks they need to grow their enterprises.

Finally, we must continue celebrating and recognizing organizations and initiatives that have time and again continued to step up to empower women and break the multiple barriers that women in agriculture and agribusiness face. Organizations such as WomenFirst International Fund and Development in Gardening, for example have continued to empower women with positive benefits to communities and societies.

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa has several initiatives aimed at empowering women. The African Development Bank, Mastercard Foundation, The Tony Elumelu Foundation also have initiatives that seek to break down the barriers and tap onto the opportunities the food, agribusiness and agricultural sector presents.

Women play critical roles across the agricultural sector and agricultural value chain, as producers, agribusiness owners and employees.

Empowering them, unlocking their potential and opening multiple opportunity doors for them will go a long way, creating wins for women and societies at large while driving economic growth. Echoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres words, “When the doors of opportunity are open for women, everyone wins, and we all thrive”.

Esther Ngumbi, PhD is Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, African American Studies Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

By Mario Osava
RIO DE JANEIRO, Mar 25 2025 – Indigenous peoples in Brazil have won a new right: a share in the profits of hydroelectric plants that cause them harm when built on or near their lands. 

This was established in a preliminary ruling by Supreme Court Justice Flavio Dino, who on Tuesday, March 11, recognized this right for Indigenous communities living in the Volta Grande do Xingu (VGX), a 100-kilometer stretch of the Amazon’s Xingu River. Most of its water flow was diverted into a channel for electricity generation.

The ruling responds to a petition from seven Indigenous associations in the VGX and still awaits ratification by the other 10 Supreme Court justices by late March. However, approval is virtually certain, as it aligns with Brazil’s 1988 Constitution.

It took 37 years for this constitutional benefit to take effect because the National Congress failed to pass a law regulating compensation for the impacts of energy and mining projects on Indigenous lands, Justice Dino noted in his 115-point, 61-page ruling.

Now, 100% of the royalties that the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant paid to the federal government as compensation for water use will go to the residents of three Indigenous territories affected by the permanent “drought” in the VGX, home to 1,324 people according to the 2022 national census.

Lawyers representing the Indigenous cause estimate this amounts to around 210 million reais per year (approximately US$36 million at current exchange rates).

The funds will be used collectively for community benefit. Justice Dino specified purposes such as expanding the Bolsa Família (a direct income transfer program) in affected villages, sustainable development projects, improving educational and health infrastructure, territorial security, reforestation, and demarcation of additional Indigenous lands.

Wild fruits that feed fish now fall on dry land due to the reduced flow in the Volta Grande do Xingu in the Brazilian Amazon. Its waters were diverted for the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant’s channel. Credit: Mati / VGX

A Right for All

This right extends to other similar cases—though not to mining—as there is still no legislation regulating constitutional provisions ensuring affected communities’ share in profits from hydroelectric and mining activities in “border zones or Indigenous lands.”

Justice Dino also set a 24-month deadline for Congress to finally approve regulations for such cases.

“Royalties are a victory. For the first time, we’ve gained a benefit—all we’ve had so far are losses because of the Belo Monte dam,” said Gilliard Juruna, chief of the Miratu village of the Juruna people (who are reclaiming their original name, Yudjá, meaning “the river’s owners”).

“Since 2019, fish no longer reproduce normally in the Volta Grande do Xingu,” the Indigenous leader told IPS by phone from his village in the municipality of Vitória do Xingu. Like most Brazilian Indigenous groups, the Juruna use their ethnic name as their surname.

The reason is that Belo Monte’s operation “steals” too much water from the VGX, a U-shaped stretch. The original dam project, designed in the 1970s under Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964–1985), planned to flood 1,225 square kilometers of forest in the Volta Grande, including two Indigenous territories along its banks.

Stalled by Indigenous resistance and surplus energy from other large dams, the project was revived this century with a redesign to avoid flooding the VGX by diverting water through a channel.

But diverting enough water for a 11,000-megawatt plant (the world’s fourth-largest, operating at full capacity since 2019) has condemned the VGX to permanent drought, destroying the Indigenous and riverside communities’ way of life, which depended on fishing and river transport.

A constant legal battle pits Norte Energía, Belo Monte’s private operator, against environmental authorities demanding higher water flows in the VGX to ensure fish reproduction and ecosystem survival.

Court rulings have fluctuated, especially after environmental disasters and the expiration of Belo Monte’s operating license in 2021. The Brazilian Institute of the Environment now seeks to tie license renewal to a more ecosystem-friendly water flow schedule (hydrogram).

While awaiting renewal, the plant operates at only 31% capacity. Water releases for the river bend are dictated by power generation targets, ignoring the dehydrated stretch’s ecological needs.

The dehydrated or dried-up Xingu River forms small isolated ponds where trapped fish die. Before being diverted to supply the Belo Monte plant, it was connected to the river’s main flow. Credit: Mati / VGX

The Juruna lead an Independent Territorial Environmental Monitoring (Mati) initiative, tracking fish populations and other indicators based on water flow variations. Other Indigenous groups, riverside communities, and researchers also participate.

Their findings show that higher water levels from December to March (fish spawning season) are essential for life in the VGX. They’ve proposed a new hydrogram that, while not restoring natural flows, would mitigate current damage.

The piracema, the local spawning season for the inhabitants of the Xingu, must have enough water for the females to lay their eggs and for the fry to feed and grow. Without water, this process cannot occur, and sometimes—due to the sudden reduction in water flow caused by Belo Monte—the eggs or fry die on dry land, according to Josiel Juruna, coordinator of Mati.

“We’ll keep fighting for more water in the Volta Grande—for us, it’s life,” said Gilliard Juruna. But his people are adapting, turning to farming after commercial fishing collapsed. They are no longer commercial fishermen, only fishing for their own consumption—which is no longer guaranteed either.

The Juruna leader now grows cacao, whose price is on the rise, but they need technical support, irrigation, and fertilizers.

The compensation programs that Belo Monte is required to implement and fund, as a counterpart to harnessing the river’s energy potential, are not progressing. The company’s initiatives to support Juruna agriculture contribute little.

While schools are improving, and the village will have secondary education starting in 2026, there are no income-generating projects to replace lost fishing livelihoods, Gilliard Juruna lamented.

Though welcomed, royalties may further erode traditional Indigenous life.

One concern is that financial compensation could make it easier to license new hydro and mining projects, harming nature and Indigenous ways of life.

There have long been efforts to open Indigenous lands to destructive activities like mining—now under discussion in the Supreme Court, led by Justice Gilmar Mendes.

Royalties can encourage harmful projects to exploit mining and water resources in indigenous lands, “the most protected areas in Brazil”, agrees biologist Juarez Pezutti, a professor at the Federal University of Pará, who has participated in several environmental research projects in the Vuelta Grande.

Predatory activities in indigenous areas destroy their ecosystem services, cause social disasters, as seen in the Xingu, and lead to obesity, diabetes and other diseases, such as those that occur among Native peoples in the United States and Canada, whose territories are occupied by mining, he told IPS by telephone from Belém, capital of the Amazonian state of Pará, where Belo Monte is located.

Judge Dino is aware of these risks, which is why he insisted several times in his ruling that the decision on Belo Monte’s royalties “does not release any and all exploitation of the energy potential of water resources on indigenous lands.”

Such projects still require state approval and compliance with International Labour Organization Convention 169, which mandates free, prior, and informed consent from affected Indigenous communities.

By External Source
KABUL, Mar 25 2025 – Azar Shaimaa sits in grief, her voice trembling with sorrow as she recounts the devastating loss of her daughter, Benazir. A bright ninth-grade student, Benazir took her own life. Just three years earlier, Shaimaa lost her husband in a car accident.

Shaimaa now lives in a rented house in Kabul with her other surviving daughter. Forced out of her job as a high school teacher by the Taliban and without her husband as the sole breadwinner, Shaimaa has now been financially supported by her brother.

As she recounted the circumstances leading to Benazir, her daughter’s death, Azar Shaimaa could not hold back tears, and her voice was choking with resentment. She traced the root cause of Benazir cutting her own life short to the harsh and oppressive environment for women engendered by Taliban rule after they seized back power four years ago.

Ironically, the day we sat for the interview the Taliban had just published a new decree closing down medical institutions for girls – yet another nail in the coffin of women’s freedom. The medical institutions up to that point were the only ones left open to girls who wanted to continue their studies in medicine and midwifery.

“For women and girls in Afghanistan, life is like a prison,” Shaimaa says. “It has no meaning.”

A Systematic Erasure of Women’s Rights

Since regaining power four years ago, the Taliban have imposed a series of draconian decrees that have systematically erased women from public life. Girls are banned from secondary and higher education, women are barred from most forms of employment, and even simple freedoms—like visiting parks or speaking loudly in public—have been stripped away.

The consequences have been devastating. Many Afghan women and girls are battling severe mental health issues, with some taking their own lives, others disappearing into Taliban prisons, and those with the means fleeing the country.

The death of Azar Shaimaa’s daughter, Benazir, encapsulates the dire situation facing women in Afghanistan.

During eight years of marriage, Shaimaa said, God gifted her two daughters who she “raised with thousands of hopes and dreams”. She enrolled them at school, and they were both eager to learn, largely motivated by the fact she was herself a high school teacher. Benazir was the top student in her school from first to the ninth grade.

“She really wanted to complete her higher education at the Medical University hoping to specialize in surgery in order to serve her family and the people of her country,” Shaimaa boasts of her daughter.

“The day the republican government fell was a dark day for the women and girls of Afghanistan, and the darkness has continued until today”, Shaimaa tearfully laments. Shortly after assuming power in Kabul, the Taliban promptly banned girls from going to school until further notice. It greatly shocked her daughter, Benazir.

“She would wake up each morning counting down the minutes to the day schools would open for her to return”. “She would ask me, mother when will the Taliban open girl’s school again?” recounts Shaimaa.

Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. The Taliban’s relentless repression of women is creating a silent crisis, one that is pushing many young Afghan women to the brink. Credit: Learning Together.

A Desperate Struggle Against Despair

As months passed with no change, Benazir’s mental health deteriorated. Benazir became deeply worried about her future that she began show symptoms of mental decline. She would talk to herself for many days, her mother says. At a psychologist’s recommendation, Shaimaa enrolled her in a sewing center to keep her engaged, but it was no substitute for her true passion.

Benazir lasted only one week at the sewing centre, returning one day to declare that “Mom, I don’t feel like going to the sewing center anymore; I want to study”. It didn’t work because Benazir was solely focused on her education and achieving her dream in the future. She was waiting for the schools to reopen.

Unfortunately, one day everything boiled over. Shaimaa returned from the funeral of a relative to loud noises and people gathered around her house. She saw her daughter covered in blood. She had cut her wrists open with a razor blade.

”My daughter ended her life and left this world with a heart full of unfulfilled desires”, says Shaimaa mournfully.

“In spite of all the care and attention I gave her, I was unable to save her life, and I lost my daughter”.

A Call for International Action

The Taliban’s relentless repression of women is creating a silent crisis, one that is pushing many young Afghan women to the brink. Shaimaa is calling on the international community to act before more lives are lost.

Excerpt:

The author is an Afghanistan-based female journalist, trained with Finnish support before the Taliban take-over. Her identity is withheld for security reasons