If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy for review by the BRIDGES staff to resources@ictsd.ch . Submissions of publications to ICTSD’s documentation centre would also be welcomed (see mailing address below).
"Foreign Direct Investment and Environmental Impacts - Is the Debate Over". By Kevin R. Gray in REVIEW OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 11 (3, 2002): 306-313. This article addresses the academic and political debate surrounding the environmental impacts caused by the introduction and competition for foreign investment. Although there is considerable anecdotal evidence that environmental standards are either driven down or not improved, the data is not consistent enough to substantiate any definitive trends. However, lack of conclusive information does not negate the pressures States feel to modify their environmental regulatory requirements to induce FDI, the author concludes.
"The precautionary principle and ecological hazards of genetically modified organisms." By Mario Giampietro in AMBIO 31 (6, 2002): 466-470. This paper makes three points relevant to the application of the precautionary principle to the regulation of GMOs. i) The unavoidable arbitrariness in the application of the precautionary principle reflects deeper epistemological problem affecting scientific analyses of sustainability. This requires understanding the difference between the concepts of "risk", "uncertainty" and "ignorance". ii) When dealing with evolutionary processes it s impossible to ban uncertainty and ignorance from scientific models. Hence, traditional risk analysis (probability distributions and exact numerical models) becomes powerless. Other forms of scientific knowledge (general principles or metaphors) may be useful alternatives. iii) The existence of ecological hazards per se should not be used as a reason to stop innovations altogether. However, the precautionary principle entails that scientists move away from the concept of "substantive rationality" (trying to indicate to society optimal solutions) to that of "procedural rationality" (trying to help society to find "satisfying" solutions). Available at http://ambio.allenpress.com/ambioonline/?request=get-toc&issn=0044-7447&volume=031&issue=06.
"Abstract Options for World Trade Organization Involvement in Food Aid." By Linda M. Young in THE ESTEY CENTRE JOURNAL OF EDITORIAL INTERNATIONAL LAW AND TRADE POLICY, Volume 3 Number 1, 2002. WTO members have presented diverse positions on food aid issues to the current round of negotiations on agriculture. Some members desire increased disciplines on food aid, while others are adamant that the WTO needs to fulfill past promises and meet the current need to increase the food security of developing countries. Underlying this debate are questions about the role of the WTO in food aid issues. It is proposed that a new, more cohesive institution for food aid be adopted to partner with the WTO. To view this journal, visit http://esteyjournal.com.
"The WTO post-Doha Agenda: issues and challenges" THIRD WORLD RESURGENCE 141/142 (May/June 2002): 24-62. Collection of ten articles examining the post-Doha work agenda and reasons for its alledged "lopsidedness". Content: The WTO post-Doha agenda: squeezing the south under an inequitable work programme (Martin Khor); The Singapore issue (Martin Khor); Developing countries call for principles and procedures for WTO Ministerial Conferences (Chakravarthi Raghavan); Prominent speakers criticize ‘new issues’ at official WTO symposium (Cecilia Oh); NGOs call for EU transparency in trade talks on services; US farm subsidies a blow to poor countries (Hardev Kaur); US farm bill 2002: its implications for world agricultural markets (Joseph Stiglitz); US farm bill sparks widespread criticism (Lean Ka-Min); US steel tariffs spark global concern (Martin Khor); Rethinking trade policy and the multilateral trade system (Martin Khor).
"U.S. Farm Policy and the WTO: How Do They Match Up?" By Chad E. Hart and Bruce A. Babcock. THE ESTEY CENTRE JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND TRADE POLICY 2 (1, 2002). The debate over a new farm bill has focused on how to spend an additional USD73.5 billion in funding for the agricultural budget over ten years. The House of Representatives, the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senators Cochran and Roberts (supported by the Bush Administration) have each proposed a structure for the next farm bill. A critical question becomes whether these proposals conflict with U.S. commitments to limit subsidies under the WTO agreement. This paper explores this issue and concludes with a discussion of the future direction of U.S. farm subsidies and new WTO agreements. To view this journal, visit http://esteyjournal.com.
Electronic Resource
NEW WTO TRADE ROUND: TALKING TRADE - WHAT’S GOING ON? Transcript from an Internet chat hosted by the European Commission on 21 November. European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, the Egyptian Trade Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali and WWF held an Internet chat. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions in all eleven official languages of the European Union thanks to the assistance of a team of interpreters. It was also possible to follow the whole discussion in English. An edited version of the transcripts presenting the questions with their answers for easy reading will be made available soon. To view this transcript, visit http://europa.eu.int/comm/chat/lamy9/index_en.htm.
Position Vacancy
UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATION (FAO). The FAO is looking for a Senior Programme Officer under the Resources and Strategic Partnerships Unit. The position is for a fixed term of three years. Specific duties will include: responsibility for the overall management and monitoring of the implementation of FAO’s policy of cooperation with Non-Governmental Organisations; prepare strategic papers and evaluations regarding NGO/CSO participation in FAO policy for and participate in major interdisciplinary initiatives to ensure civil society involvement; to develop, monitor, and document field programmes in partnership with NGO’s in close collaboration with FAO technical units and field offices; as well as others. Qualifications include: an advanced university degree in social sciences or related field; ten years of responsible professional experience in international or national organisations in working with the non-governmental/ civil society sector in the field of development; and a working knowledge of two of the following languages: French, English, Spanish. For further information, contact: Resources and Strategic Partnerships Unit (TCDS) - FAO Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome ITALY - Fax No. +39 06 570 55175.