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Third World Resurgence #186 (FEBRUARY 2006) This issue’s contents:
Global rules on access and benefit-sharing of biodiversity take shape in Granada meeting By Chee Yoke Ling The latest round of negotiations held in Granada, Spain in January on an international agreement on access and benefit-sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity reflected the all-too-familiar tensions and conflicts between the developed and developing countries. In the face of the intransigence of the rich countries, developing countries displayed a strong show of unity and as a result, a draft agreement with a structure and core issues has emerged. Chee Yoke Ling sets out the background to these negotiations, the contentious issues which dominated the Granada talks and the unresolved tasks ahead. The really tough issues By Elpidio Peria While developing countries have rightly asserted their right to the benefits from the utilisation of genetic resources, they have not properly addressed the issues of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities in this regard. This failure has been seized upon by developed countries as a wedge to divide developing countries. In highlighting the need for developing countries to redress these critical issues, Elpidio Peria also stresses that these countries should seek alternatives to the current intellectual property regime if they truly desire to close the development gap with the West. New report points to widespread biopiracy in Africa By Chee Yoke Heong A new report exposing rampant biopiracy in Africa was released at the Granada meeting. Chee Yoke Heong highlights some of the findings of this report which made a strong impact on the participants. Renewed calls to ban 'Terminator Technology' By Lim Li Ching As governments gathered for the Convention on Biological Diversity Working Group meeting in Granada, indigenous peoples, farmers' groups and NGOs renewed their calls for an international ban on 'Terminator Technology', because of its serious threat to livelihoods, food security and agricultural biodiversity. CBD's Terminator Technology moratorium reaffirmed, but weakened Although the CBD Working Group meeting in Granada reaffirmed the UN moratorium on the controversial Terminator Technology, other new recommendations adopted at the meeting may serve to open the door to its later approval. Is there space for indigenous peoples in the negotiations on access and benefit-sharing? By Jennifer Tauli Corpuz There is a strong need to accord to indigenous peoples full and effective participation within the CBD process to ensure that their rights are fully protected in a legally binding international regime on access and benefit-sharing. An essential prerequisite to this, argues Jennifer Tauli Corpuz, is the opening up of more dialogue between indigenous peoples and the countries of the South. ECOLOGY India's 'second Green Revolution': A recipe for disaster? By Parshuram Rai In January, the Indian Prime Minister called for a 'second Green Revolution' in the country's rural sector. Parshuram Rai argues that, far from energising and transforming agriculture, the move will spell the end of family farms and rural livelihoods. ECONOMICS Undue Northern corporate influence on global trade talks By Sanya Smith A report by a leading development NGO has charged Western corporations with using their economic might to push for international trade rules that hinder, not help, poor countries. WORLD AFFAIRS 1 Unabated crisis in the Philippines: What is the way out? By Victoria Tauli Corpuz The Philippines has become a byword for crisis as the country is buffeted by yet another environmental catastrophe while the political and economic turmoil deepens. Victoria Tauli Corpuz analyses her country's malaise. Tony Blair's legacy By Jeremy Seabrook Tony Blair's legacy is a consequence of his unswerving self-abasement before George W Bush, says Jeremy Seabrook. Nuclear proliferation: A gathering storm By Conn Hallinan As the Iranian nuclear crisis simmers on, Conn Hallinan reminds us that the central problem in halting nuclear profileration lies in the failure of the major nuclear powers to honour their commitment under the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to phase out their nuclear weapons. Under pressure, East Timor signs rotten oil deal By Jon Lamb After three years of bullying and stand-over tactics by Canberra, East Timor has been pressed into accepting a lopsided agreement with Australia governing the development of oil and gas resources that rightfully belong to the Timorese. HUMAN RIGHTS Enemies of the state Free speech and Japan's courts By David McNeill Japanese democracy took a huge step backwards with the arrest and conviction of three people for distributing anti-war fliers. WOMEN The impact of HIV and AIDS on women in Zimbabwe By Mary Sandasi and Noleen Cherewo Heterosexual sex remains by far the most common mode of HIV transmission in Zimbabwe and is globally a huge problem. There is now a need to begin to talk about its gender-related aspects, as unfortunately, the AIDS epidemic has impacted one sex more than the other. VIEWPOINT Secular Arabs detest hypocrisy too By Omar Barghouti Must European Muslims fall victim to a genocide before their European societies recognise the need to extend to Islam the exceptions to free speech that others enjoy? For subscription and enquiries: THIRD WORLD NETWORK Tel: 60-4-2266728/2266159; Fax: 60-4-2264505; Email: twnet@po.jaring.my
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