BASEL CONVENTION FAILS TO MOVE ON BAN AMENDMENT
The Basel Convention’s seventh Conference of the Parties (COP-7), which took place from 25-29 October in Geneva, succeeded in affirming that toxic ship dumping is to be controlled, but failed to make progress on securing the entry into force of the Ban Amendment. The Amendment was negotiated by the third Conference of Parties in September 1995 in an effort to give the Convention greater force. If ratified, the amendment would ban hazardous wastes exports for final disposal and recycling from OECD countries to non-OECD countries. However, a number of countries, including Australia, the US, Canada, Japan, and the UK, as well as various organisations, such as the International Chamber of Commerce and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) oppose the ban.
Advocates argue that most developing countries cannot manage hazardous waste and that countries will only stop the production of such wastes when they have nowhere to offload it. Critics counter this argument by saying, inter alia, that some developing countries, especially in Asia, may have better capacities for environmentally sound management of wastes than certain OECD members. Furthermore, a ban would most likely not resolve cases of illegal traffic in hazardous waste nor assist in the creation of waste treatment and recycling capacity in developing countries. The critics also question the need for the ban as the Convention already allows countries to prohibit the import of any waste they declare hazardous under domestic legislation. Regarding the trade implications of the amendment, a study commissioned by the International Council on Metals and the Environment raises concerns that the ban might be "GATT-inconsistent and trade-disruptive", arguing that it would discriminate between countries where the same conditions may prevail. Thus far, 44 countries have ratified the Basel Ban Amendment, and 62 are needed before it enters into force.
For daily reports and summary of COP-7, see IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
"Basel Convention Export Ban Amendment: A Business Perspective," ICC RELEASE, 1 November 2004; "The Basel Convention," GREENPEACE TOXICS CAMPAIGN; "The Seventh Meeting Of The Conference Of The Parties To The Basel Convention," LINKAGES, 29 October 2004; "Toxic Ship Dumping To Be Controlled: Greens Declare Victory Over Shame of Shipping," BAN/GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE, 29 October 2004; "The Basel Convention Export Ban Amendment: Arguments Against Ratification," ICME.
UN REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THREATS TO ARTISANAL FISHERIES
Greater privatisation, export orientation and subsidies of the fishing industry have jeopardised the right to food of poor fishing communities worldwide, according to a recent report by UN Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights. Despite attempts over the last two decades to address fishery-related issues, such as the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, a number of factors are leading to the loss of livelihoods and access to food of poor fishing communities. The UN report says that developed country subsidies to their fishing fleets and fishing industry, estimated to be at least US$15 billion annually, lead them to demand greater access rights in developing countries, resulting in control over former traditional fishing grounds. Also, the report suggests that inequities in bilateral fishing negotiations can lead to the neglect of equity concerns and potential impacts on poor fishing communities, artisanal fishers and small-scale fisheries. Poorer countries also have less capacity to monitor their fisheries and government budgets in this area may be constrained by "globalised economic policy". Moreover, the drive towards privatisation — going hand in hand with the assumption that market-based trade in quotas (as in the ITQ, "individual transferable quota") is necessary to prevent overexploitation — has resulted in the exclusion of traditional fishing communities from access to their marine resources, even though it is often large-scale fishing that is most responsible for overfishing. The report goes on to note that with the increasing popularity of fish farming over marine catching, the required capital-intensity of fishing is increasing and thereby excluding small-scale fishing communities. Fish farming can also have harmful environmental effects, it suggests, particularly in cases such as large-scale shrimp farming which is most often unsustainable and, as noted by the Indian Supreme Court, can result in loss of access to safe drinking water. The report concludes by reminding governments of their obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the right of all people to food, and in particular to ensure that the transformation of the fishing industry does not threaten the food security and livelihoods of the poor.
"Rights And Resources Of Artisanal Fishing Communities Should Be Respected, Says UN Report," SUBLEGALS, Vol. 10, No. 13, 29 October 2004; "The Right To Food," UN, Interim Report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights, September 2004; "Sri Lanka: Deep Sea Fishing Policy Threatens The Livelihood Of One Million Fisher Folk," FIAN, 9 October 2004.
FOOD INSECURITY LINKED TO DECLINE IN TRADITIONAL FOODS
Thousands of food producers gathering in Turin, Italy, for the "Terra Madre: A World Meeting of Food Communities" from 20-23 October voiced concerns that the decline in traditional food production was posing a serious threat to food security in a world where hunger affects 846 million people and 35 countries suffer from food insecurity. Nguyen Van Vinh, from a Vietnamese rice growing community, called on farmers to cooperate with governments to confront the globalisation process that has forced farmers to cut prices. "We are among the leading producers of rice in the world, but we sell at 30 cents on the dollar per kilo," he noted. Globalisation was also thought to impact on the decline in traditional food production by influencing consumer preferences, causing many younger people to prefer "junk food" to traditional dishes. Monitoring the effects of globalisation and trade liberalisation on local markets, supporting the production of traditional foods and diversifying economies were raised among possible solutions to these problems. Participants also suggested that governments advocate the consumption of highly nutritious, indigenous cereals and grains, which are also resistant to extreme climate and disease. The meeting was initiated by the "Slow Food" movement, which aims to promote gastronomic culture, develop taste education, conserve agricultural biodiversity, and protect traditional foods at risk of disappearance.
"Development: Traditional Foods In Fight Against Hunger," TERRAVIVA, 3 November 2004; "Slow Food Launches Terra Madre: A World Meeting of Food Communities," SLOW FOOD, 26 August 2004; "A Politically-Charged Food Fest," IHT, 22 October 2004.
JOINING FORCES TO STRENGTHEN SUSTAINABLE WOOD TRADE
WWF’s Latin American branch of the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) and International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Latin America and Caribbean Small and Medium Enterprise Facility, a member of the World Bank Group headquartered in Washington, DC, have joined forces to develop environmentally responsible wood trade in Latin America, with a special focus on Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Peru. The two organisations intend to launch pilot projects linking manufacturers, traders and forest managers committed to the business of sustainable forestry. The pilot projects have been developed in compliance with the World Bank’s Revised Forestry Strategy, which stresses "integrating forests into sustainable economic development, harnessing the potential of forests to reduce poverty, and protecting vital environmental services and values". WWF and IFC hope the pilot projects will help indigenous communities and landowners to partake in sustainable forest management instead of engaging in illegal logging. Other goals include improved business management and production of project participants and greater finance and investment opportunities within supply chains. According to Atul Mehta, director of Latin America and the Caribbean at IFC, "Forging strategic local partnerships is a pivotal part of the facility’s technical assistance strategy. By collaborating with key local stakeholders, the facility is able to carry out its work program more efficiently and effectively while building local capacity and increasing the sustainability of its projects."
"IFC and WWF To Enhance Sustainable Forestry Trade," WWF-US, 29 October 2004; "Sustainable Forestry Trade Enhanced in Latin America," ENS, 2 November 2004.