Some headlines to start your evening off right:

• The government of Himachal Pradesh announced at a three-day international conference this weekend that they are drafting a master plan for the development of backpack tourism in the state through strategic public private…

The Equator Initiative has recently opened nominations for the biennial Equator Prize, which “recognizes outstanding local efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.”  According to iGovernment, the prize “showcases some of the most innovative community work of the present…

Select headlines of interest:

• Rs.61 crore sought for strengthening road and drainage facilities

TIRUCHI: The Tiruchi Corporation has sought Rs.61 crore from the Government for strengthening the roads and drainage network in the city, especially in the suburbs, the Mayor, Sarubala R.…

From PSD Blog — World Bank Group:

A new health insurance plan will enable the poor in India to buy health insurance for less than 10 cents a month, and it will cover natural disasters including Tsunamis.

The new program is a…

Update: PSD Blog just announced that a new tsunami insurance will be specifically designed for the poor. See post above.

While anyone who has watched Al Gore’s riveting documentary An Inconvenient Truth understands the potentially catastrophic effects climate change could have on…