To everyone who is a parent and to those who are yet to become or may never become parents, what is one of the first things that parents seek to teach their young children? What life lesson does every parent notwithstanding their culture, religion, level of wealth or any other distinction, seek to impart to every child as a cornerstone of being a good person, doing the right thing, living as a kind human being? Of course, that first life lesson all across the globe is simply to do no harm, do not kill or hurt another human being. And close behind that basic part of what it means to be human is this: Do not steal. Do not take what is not yours to take. But in a world where in every culture, every legal system, every religion, every set of moral principles, everywhere stealing is seen as wrong, a crime and something for which people should be punished, there sure is a lot of stealing going on. And very much as is the case with the murder of another human being if you murder one other person you will likely go to prison for life no matter where…...

Longstanding DS associate, Prof. Daniel Fitzpatrick of Monash Law School in Melbourne, Australia, has published a new book – Law, Property and Disasters : Adaptive Perspectives from the Global South, with co author Caroline Compton. Analysing the challenges posed by natural disasters and the mass movement of people, the book demonstrates that state-centred property law is ill-adapted to circumstances of mass human mobility. In a world affected by catastrophic disasters, the book develops a vision of adaptive governance for property in land. This book will appeal to a broad readership with interests in legal theory, property law, international development, refugee studies and natural disasters. It's a great book. Give it a read!...

DS Director Scott Leckie and DS associate Zeke Simperingham again visited Myanmar for a two-week DS mission in May 2016 to explore recent developments in the land sector, and the prospects for restitution forming part of the expanding peace process in the country.  With the new NLD-led government in power for the first time, the prospects for positive action within the land sector are noteworthy. DS worked together with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in developing recommendations for the British Government's aid agency DFID, and how the UK might best support land-related activities in the context of the peace process. Land is key negotiating issue between the government and the various ethnic negotiating partners, and will invariably form a key basis for the eventual conclusion of peace agreements in the future. DS will continue to expand its Myanmar HLP Initiative in the coming year with a variety of projects within the land sector, including a joint project with Landesa on climate displacement within the country. ...

  The Joint 'One House, One Family at a Time Project' in Chittagong, Bangladesh with our excellent partners YPSA has marked a milestone with the construction of the first houses now underway. The OHOF Project raises funds for new housing resources for particularly vulnerable climate displaced families in eastern Bangladesh. DS has raised funds for three houses thus far and hope that additional contributions will be added soon. The OHOF Project provides a direct way for people who want to directly assist people displaced by climate change to make a real and direct difference in their lives. Each house costs a total of USD 8300- which covers the costs for land, housing, amenities, solar panels, a well, registration costs and labour. 100% of all funds raised for the project go directly to Bangladesh for the construction of these homes. This project is compassion in action. If you care about climate change and the tragic displacement it is already causing, please join our movement! The five photos below show progress made thus far, with completion expected by the end of the year. Well done to Shahjahan at YPSA for managing this amazing process!...