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WIPO COMMITTEE CONSIDERS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, FOLKLORE PROVISIONS
WIPO COMMITTEE CONSIDERS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, FOLKLORE PROVISIONS The World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) convened from 1-5 November in Geneva to consider a set of draft provisions outlining policy objectives and core principles for the protection of traditional…
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WTO RULES GROUP DISCUSSES NEXT STEPS TO CURB FISHERIES SUBSIDIES
WTO RULES GROUP DISCUSSES NEXT STEPS TO CURB FISHERIES SUBSIDIES At an informal meeting of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules on 3 November, WTO Members discussed a new proposal by Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, New Zealand, the Philippines and Peru on a comprehensive approach to disciplining fisheries subsidies (TN/RL/W/166). The proposal stirred some debate, with…
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CEC REPORT ON GM MAIZE IN MEXICO SPARKS CONTROVERSY
CEC REPORT ON GM MAIZE IN MEXICO SPARKS CONTROVERSY The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) on 8 November released a controversial report entitled "Maize and Biodiversity: The Effects of Transgenic Maize in Mexico". The report examines likely effects of current and future uses of transgenic maize, as compared to non-transgenic maize production, on…
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IUCN CONGRESS: EXPLORING TRADE AND BIODIVERSITY LINKAGES
IUCN CONGRESS: EXPLORING TRADE AND BIODIVERSITY LINKAGES The urgent need for greater coherence and interaction between trade and environment policy-making processes emerged as one of the main calls for action throughout the workshop "International Trade - Friend or Foe of Biodiversity?". The workshop was organised as part of the IUCN - World Conservation Union -…
- In Brief
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World Bank Warns of 'Silent Forests'
A World Bank report released on 19 November — entitled “Protecting Asia’s Biodiversity: From Crouching Tigers to Hidden Langurs” — calls attention to the environmental degradation resulting from East Asia’s economic growth. The report concludes that uncontrolled logging and illegal wildlife markets create ’silent forests’ completely devoid of wildlife. The report notes that…
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Kyoto Clock Set for February
On 18 November UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan received the Russian Federation’s instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, thus triggering the 90 day countdown to the entry into force of the climate change agreement. “This is a historic step forward in the world’s efforts to combat a truly global threat,” said Annan. The Protocol will…
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Costa Rica Proposes Action on Tropical Products at WTO
On 17 November, Costa Rica, on behalf of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela, presented a proposal at the WTO on tropical products and products providing an alternative to illicit narcotic crops. During the week of 15-19 November WTO Members convened in informal and formal meetings to continue talks…
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AARHUS Convention: Extending Public Participation to GMOs
The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) Working Group on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) met from 18-20 October in Geneva, Switzerland, for a last-ditch attempt to resolve how to incorporate GMOs into the Convention through a…
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Implications of Biotechnology in Sub-Saharan Africa
A working paper by Kym Anderson and Lee Ann Jackson released by the World Bank Group in September concludes that there is a large potential for economic gains from using genetically modified (GM) crop technology in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The gains stem mostly from nutritionally enhanced GM wheat, according to the report. The estimated benefits…
- Events
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Events
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. at the IUCN World Conservation Congress will be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok, Thailand. The full Programme is available on the WCC3 website. IUCN-ICTSD 21 November: LINKING CONSERVATION PRACTICES AND TRADE POLICY. A Training…
- Resources
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Resources
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 Heike Baumüller. TARGETING OF TRANSFERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: REVIEW OF LESSONS AND EXPERIENCE. By David Coady, Margaret Grosh and John Hoddinott (World Bank and International Food…