EVENTS
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar at: http://www.ictsd.org/cal/index.htm. If you would like to submit an event, please email events@ictsd.ch.
Coming Up: 27 November - 3 December
26-27 November, Amsterdam, the Netherlands: ELECTRONICS RECYCLING SUMMIT. This senior executive Pan-European event will focus on delivering practical information for implementing the WEEE and RoHS directives and providing a competitive advantage through the collection, disassembly and recycling of electronics. For further information contact E.N.G. European Networking Group at tel +31 (0)20 305 0950; email: recycling@eng-nl.com; Internet: http://www.eng-nl.com.
26-27 November, New Delhi, India: SYMPOSIUM ON GM TECHNOLOGY. Gene Campaign is organising a national symposium on "The Relevance of GM Technology to Indian Agriculture and Food Security". A range of national and international experts will deliver talks on various aspects of GM technology and its application. Panel discussions will be held involving a variety of stakeholders. For further information visit: http://www.genecampaign.org.
27 November, Brussels, Belgium: SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED WTO MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS. This will be a DG TRADE Civil Society Dialogue meeting with the Institute for Development Policy and Management of the University of Manchester. There will be a presentation and discussion on the integration of its final report into policy-making. To register for the meeting email: belgin.bingol@cec.eu.int. To read the papers see http://idpm.man.ac.uk/sia-trade/Phase%203A/frontpage3A.htm.
27-28 November, Brussels, Belgium: 78TH SESSION OF ACP COUNCIL OF MINISTERS. The ministers will discuss revised regulations within the ACP Secretariat. They will also hear reports from Committees on bananas, sugar, and development finance cooperation. For more information see: http://www.acpsec.org.
27-29 November, Brussels, Belgium: GLOBAL PROGRESSIVE FORUM. The Global Progressive Forum will bring together more than 500 policy makers, leaders and representatives of non-governmental organisations, trades unions, businesses and academia from around the world for a three-day gathering in the European Parliament in Brussels, to launch a global reform process. As a new consensus-building initiative, this Forum is open to all, upon registration. The Forum will consist of two plenary sessions and eighteen round tables on global issues, such as trade and poverty and reform of the UN, with more than 130 speakers. For further details of the Global Progressive Forum and how to attend, visit http://www.pes.org/globalprogressiveforum or send a message to globalprogressiveforum@pes.org.
1-2 December, Amsterdam, the Netherlands: MAXIMISING THE POTENTIAL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. This event will focus on the theme of Establishing Sustainable Development within your organisation and gaining future opportunity through Public- Private Partnerships. The summit will examine how different industries succeed in incorporating sustainable development throughout the value chain and effectively engaging in public- private partnerships to achieve their sustainable development goals. For further information contact E.N.G. European Networking Group at tel +31 (0)20 305 0950; email: sustainability@eng- nl.com; Internet: http://www.eng-nl.com.
1-4 December, Berlin, Germany: MEETING ON THE SUSTAINABLE USE AND CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY: A CHALLENGE FOR SOCIETY. This meeting is organised by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. For more information contact the Ministry at tel: +49-228-81- 99-611; fax: +49-228-81-99-640; e-mail: meltem.cosar@dir.de; Internet: http://www.biodiversity-symposium.de.
1-5 December, Queensland, New Zealand: DEEP SEA 2003. Founding sponsors include the Ministry of Fisheries, New Zealand, Food And Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. This is an international conference where experts will discuss and debate the issues and future needs for science, conservation, and governance and management of the continental slope and deep seas. It will provide a forum for expert discussion on the objectives, constraints and influences on the conservation and management of the continental slope and deep-sea area. For further information, fax: (+64 3) 441-8127; email: deepsea@qdm.co.nz; Internet: http://www.deepsea.govt.nz/index.aspx.
1-12 December, Milan, Italy: NINTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (COP-9). The conference will continue deliberations from SB-18. For further information, contact: UNFCCC Secretariat, tel: (+49 228) 815-1000, fax: 815-1999, email: secretariat@unfccc.int, Internet: http://www.unfccc.int/.
WTO
An updated list of forthcoming WTO meetings is posted at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/meets.pdf. Please bear in mind that dates and times of WTO meetings are often changed, and that the WTO does not always announce the important informal meetings of the different bodies. Unless otherwise indicated, all WTO meetings are held at the WTO, Centre William Rappard, rue de Lausanne 154, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and are open to WTO Members and accredited observers only.
27-28 November, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT.
28 November, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF ALGERIA.
1 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY.
1 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES.
2 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY - CHILE.
2 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO WORKING PARTY ON GATS RULES.
2-3 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS.
3 December, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO WORKING PARTY ON DOMESTIC REGULATION.
Other Forthcoming
2-5 December 2003, Niamey, Niger: SUSTAINABLE DRYLAND AGRICULTURE SYSTEMS CONFERENCE. Partially supported by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the central theme of the conference is "Interactions between Estuaries, Coasts and Human Environment". The symposium will feature presentations and papers on agro-ecological production systems in areas where farmers strive to meet their family needs from small parcels of land in low rainfall regions. For more information contact: Arnie Schlissel, IPALAC; fax: +972-647-2984; e-mail: ipalac@bgumail.bgu.ac.il.
3-10 December 2003, Geneva, Switzerland: 24TH SESSION OF THE ECOSOC SUB-COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE TRANSPORT OF DANGEROUS GOODS. This meeting will discuss the transport of gases, explosives, and other dangerous goods. For more information, contact: UNECE Transport Division; tel: +41-22-917-2401; fax: +41-22-917-0039/89; e-mail: dominique.leger@unece.org; Internet: http://www.unece.org/trans/danger/danger.htm.
5-6 December 2003, London, England: WORLDFAIR - CHRISTMAS WITH A CONSCIENCE IN LONDON. Stalls are run by ethical traders, charities and co-operatives, offering shoppers a chance to buy their Christmas presents while helping communities around the world. There will also be live music and dance performances. This event is organized by Oxfam, War on Want, and World Development Movement. For more information, contact: Alex Burrow; Tel: +43 20 7354 4231 / +43 7957 861 379; Email: alex@millipedia.co.uk; Internet: http://www.worldfair.org.uk.
9 December 2003, Geneva, Switzerland: GLOBAL GOVERNANCE OF ICT: PUBLIC INTEREST CONSIDERATIONS. This workshop is presented by Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility on the occasion of the World Summit on the Information Society. It will bring together experts from civil society and other sectors to carefully consider both the current global policy architecture and realistic, balanced alternatives. For more information, see http://www.cpsr.org/conferences/WSIS/WSIS120903.html.