business – Generation Change https://blogs.dw.com/generationchange Whether they are campaigning for free press in Zimbabwe, helping provide clean water in India, or offering free music lessons to underprivileged kids in the UK, young people all over the world are making a difference. Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:49:27 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Young organic farmer fights for her land https://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/2014/01/young-organic-farmer-fights-for-her-land/ Tue, 14 Jan 2014 13:31:58 +0000 http://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/?p=4659 We like buying “organic” food because it sounds like it must be better for our health and for the environment. Admit it – buying “organic” makes us feel good.

But in Germany, young organic farmers like Julia Bar-Tal don’t feel good about the rising price of the land they need to produce the local organic products their peers want to buy.

Julia and other young farmers blame multinational and German companies for buying up land for speculation purposes. This has led to price increases – especially in eastern Germany – of up to 300 percent.

Julia helps run an organic farm collective outside of Berlin with 14 other farmers. Her farm is successful, but she says she can’t expand because the land has simply become too expensive. So she and her group have decided to fight back. She is a leader in a movement that aims to enlist the help of customers who buy organic food to stop industrial giants from bidding up the price of land.

Listen to the report by Michael Scaturro in Berlin:

Julia Bar-Tal wants to raise awareness for the landgrabbing problem among the people who buy her food (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Julia Bar-Tal wants to raise awareness for the landgrabbing problem among the people who buy her food (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Hello up there! (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Hello up there! (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Julia's farm is not far from urban Berlin (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

Julia’s farm is not far from urban Berlin (Photo: Julia Bar-Tal)

 

]]> Turning trash into treasure https://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/2011/11/turning-trash-into-treasure/ Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:57:57 +0000 http://blogs.dw.com/generationchange/?p=775 It’s a dirty but lucrative business. Solomon Tetteh works in the waste processing sector in Accra. He holds a university degree, but Solomon was not able to find a job. At first, his friends were not really supportive when he dreamed about building up his own business. Now, a year later, he is not only self-employed, he has also managed to create jobs for several garbage men, giving them the opportunity to support their families. Solomon also promotes environmental awareness in Ghana by distributing free garbage cans in schools. He wants young people to learn early how to separate garbage and leave the land clean.

Turning trash into treasure with a new business initiative

Solomen Tetteh has a knack of turning trash into treasure

Vist onmedia.dw.com/english to see Richard Ocloo, Janehin Stephen and Bazuaye Darryl’s video report about Solomon.

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