If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy or review by the BRIDGES staff to smohan@ictsd.ch.
STAKEHOLDER ATTITUDES TOWARD GMOS IN THE PHILIPPINES, MEXICO, AND SOUTH AFRICA: THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC TRUST. By Philipp Aerini and Thomas Bernauer of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (World Development Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 557-575), March 2006. This paper investigates the perceptions and interests of stakeholders in Mexico, the Philippines and South Africa in the public debates on the risks and benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in developing countries. A survey has showed that local stakeholders in these countries tend to have pragmatic views towards the use of GMOs and that there is a trend towards political polarisation that is linked to the transatlantic dispute on GMOs. The paper argues that it is also the increasing competition for public trust that can explain why European stakeholders have been so successful on influencing regulation of GMOs in developing countries. Academia may also be crucial in abating political polarisation and in the facilitation of pragmatic political action.
AN ANALYSIS OF TRADE RELATED INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD AND THEIR EFFECTS ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. By Guillaume P. Gruere (International Food Policy Research Institute, February 2006). This paper reviews current trade-related regulations of genetically modified (GM) food and discusses their effects on developing countries. There is a large heterogeneity in current import approval and marketing policies of GM food worldwide. At the international level, the harmonization efforts are led by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the World Trade Organization. While internationally harmonized guidelines for safety approval have been finalized, the paper shows that there is no clear consensus on labeling regulations for GM food, and there is an increasing risk of conflicts among international agreements. With a focus on Japan and the EU, it also shows that the effects of international and domestic trade related regulations critically depend on the type of traded products and their intended use: food and unprocessed products are subject to more stringent regulations than animal feed and processed products and identifies the main spillover effects of national and international regulations on developing countries’ policy making.
DNA FOR PEACE: RECONCILING BIODEVELOPMENT AND BIOSECURITY. By the Canadian Program on Genomics and Global Health and the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, February 2006. This report calls for a global network of scientists to both promote biotechnology research to fight disease, hunger and poverty, especially in the developing world, and to keep vigil against the misuse of biological science. The authors say that promoting the positive uses of biotechnology will help fight bioterrorism by building a global network of experts who can spot attempts to misuse the science. They stress the potential of such approaches as molecular diagnostics, recombinant drugs, new drug and vaccine delivery systems, bioremediation to clean up pollution, sequencing pathogen genomes to find disease control, female-controlled protection against sexually-transmitted diseases, bioinformatics, nutritionally enriched genetically modified crops and combination chemistry.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. By the WTO Secretariat (IP/C/W/368/Rev.1), February 2006. In an update to its much shorter 2002 paper, this document produced by the WTO Secretariat reviews the relationship between WTO rules on intellectual property rights and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and different opinions and positions. The paper reflects upon the past eight years of discussion on the issue within the WTO and is divided into three major sections: general views on the relationship between the TRIPS agreement and the CBD; patentability of generic resources and the CBD; and the TRIPS agreement and prior informed consent/benefit sharing.
STATEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES AND TRADE. By the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperative Associations (JF Zengyoren) — Japan. This paper, submitted as a civil society document to the WTO, urges WTO Members to acknowledge that sustainability is the basis of fisheries and that trade liberalisation of fish and fishery products, currently being negotiated at the WTO, should pay due respect to the conservation and management of fish stocks; to review the impacts on fishery resources caused by trade in fish and fish species and, if appropriate, establish a mechanism for conducting environmental impact assessments before taking measures to liberalize trade in fish and fishery products; and requests them to ensure that excessive liberalization of trade should not pose any threat to the culture and traditional value of fisheries and fishing communities.
THE IMPACT OF REACH ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH. By the European Commission, 15 February 2006. The latest study on the draft REACH legislation (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) assesses the potential benefits of REACH for the environment and humans who are exposed to chemicals via the environment. This study comes as a contrast to other more economic studies done on the impacts of REACH. The study concludes that the draft REACH legislation on chemicals could save the EU billions of euros in water treatment and other environmental costs such as sewage treatment.
NATURAL RESOURCES HIGHLIGHTS #2. By id21 of the Institute for Development Studies, University of Sussex, February 2006. Natural Resource highlights is published annually by id21 to help communicate international development research to policymakers and practitioners worldwide, on agriculture, conservation, fisheries, forestry, land rural development, and water. Issues covered include tribal rights and conservation practice, environmental management and the millennium development goals, fisheries, community forest management and timber trade and other relevant topics.
ELECTRONIC RESOURCE
THE NATURE VALUATION AND FINANCING NETWORK. Coordinated by Wageningen University, the aim of the network is to stimulate the development and exchange of practical tools for proper valuation of the goods and services provided by ecosystems, so that decisions concerning economic development are made with the full understanding of all the costs and benefits involved.The site offers important features such as a publication database which gives the users the opportunity to both download and upload information, a case study database allowing users to scroll through ongoing case studies, discussion platforms where users can communicate through an online platform and national platforms, specifically tailored to a certain country.
VACANCY
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND TRAINING, AFRICAN TECHNOLOGY POLICY STUDIES NETWORK. ATPS is seeking an African professional with a doctoral degree interested in providing overall intellectual and administrative leadership to the development and implementation of research, capacity building, and policy advocacy programmes. The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya and would be reporting to the executive director of the network. Interested and qualified candidates should send a cover letter of interest and their CV to hr@atpsnet.org no later than 31 March 2006.