Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 2 • Number 19 • 11th December 2002
Events
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. 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.
Coming up in the next two weeks
9-13 December, Geneva, Switzerland: SIXTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE BASEL CONVENTION. This meeting will provide an opportunity for sharing ideas and building partnerships between governments and organizations focused on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Exhibition stands will also be available to groups that wish to present material pertaining to the subject matter. During meetings, provisions and annexes will be made to the Basel Convention concerning the monitoring and movement of hazardous wastes. For further information, contact: Secretariat of the Basel Convention; tel: (41 22) 979-8218; fax: 797-3454; email: sbc@unep.ch; Internet: http://www.basel.int
9-17 December, Geneva, Switzerland: FOURTH SESSION OF THE WIPO INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE. For further information, contact WIPO; tel: (41 22) 338-9111; email: WIPO.mail@wipo.int; Internet: http://www.wipo.org/documents/en/meetings/2002/igc/index_4.htm.
11-12 December, Abuja, Nigeria: HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON THE FUTURE OF FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA. Organised by the NEPAD steering committee, the African Development Bank and the FAO. Discussions will focus on the role of the regional economic organisations and how to secure their commitment to agriculture, particularly in agricultural trade facilitation, food safety measures to protect the consumers in Africa and to promote agricultural trade, and regional support to national food security and agricultural development efforts. For further information, contact Mafa Chipeta, FAO, tel: (+39) 3481552743: email: mafa.chipeta@fao.org or Madhy Bamba, FAO Regional Office for Africa, tel: (+233) 24319157; email: madhy.bamba@fao.org; Internet: http://www.fao.org/english/newsroom/news/2002/11920-en.html.
12 December, Brussels, Belgium: EU PUBLIC MEETING. The European Commission is hosting a public meeting to discuss the Mid-Term reports for the current sustainability impact assessment (SIA) studies of proposed WTO Negotiations (Sector Studies for Market Access, Environmental Services and Competition; and Preliminary Overview of Potential Impacts of the Doha Agenda). For further information, contact: Ms. Kacimi; email: fatiha.kacimi@cec.eu.int
12-13 December, Delmenhorst, Germany: SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. Organised by the European Climate Forum (ECF) and the Research Group SPEED (Scientific Pool of Environmental Economic Disciplines). For further information, contact: Dr. Ottmar Edenhofer; tel: (49 0 331) 288-2619; fax: 288-2640; email: ottmar.edenhofer@pik-potsdam; Internet: http://www.european-climate-forum.net/
13-17 December, Cairo, Egypt: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES FOR CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIODIVERSITY OF GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE IN ARID AND SEMIARID ZONES. Organised by the Third World Network of Scientific Organizations. The focus of this conference will be on best practices in developing countries for science, for public policy and management, for increasing the participation of local people in decision-making, and for improving partnerships and capacity building. For further information, contact: Helen Martin; fax: (39 040) 224-0689; email: info@twnso.org; Internet: http://www.ictp.trieste.it/~twas/TWNSO_Cairo.html.
14-16 December, Islamabad, Pakistan: SECOND SOUTH ASIA WATER FORUM. This event will focus on the following themes: Groundwater in South Asia, Dams and development, Groundwater, poverty and IWRM, and Gender participation in groundwater management. For further information, contact: Karamat Ali; tel: (92 42) 920-2226; fax: 920-2485; email: s.pwp@cgiar.org ; Internet: http://www.gwpforum.org/servlet/PSP?iNodeID=204&itemId=2622
18-20 December, New Delhi, India: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT, AND EARTH CARE POLICIES. The second International Conference of the Bhoovigyan Vikas Foundation, closely following on the heels of the WSSD, proposes to discuss issues pertaining to Sustainable Agriculture, Water Resources Development, Earth-Care Policies and fusion of technologies for sustainable agricultural development. For further information, contact: M. Moni; tel: (91 011) 436-2790, 436-0975; fax: 436-4873; email: bhoovigyan@rediffmail.com; Internet: http://www.bhoovikas.nic.in
Other forthcoming events
2-7 January, Hyderabad, India: ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM. Organised by WSF India. This forum is for participants who are "opposed to imperialist globalisation as well as religious sectarian violence, and have a commitment to democratic values, plurality and peace." The intention behind ASF is that the event will provide an inspiring space where movements, organizations, groups, and individuals will come in from all over India and Asia to carry the message of the World Social Forum. For further information, contact: tel : (011) 622-1870; email: wsfindia@vsnl.net; Internet: www.wsfindia.org.
10 January, Paris, France: EUROPEAN SEMINAR ON FINANCE, ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Organised by UNEP. This seminar will be an opportunity for participants to obtain and exchange information specific to the finance, insurance and investment sectors in the areas of: environmental risk management; corporate responsibility of financial and insurance institutions; asset management in the context of Sustainable Development. For further information, contact: Kiki Lawal at UNEP FI: tel: (41 22) 917-8253; fax: 917-8076; email: kiki.lawal@unep.ch; Internet: http//unepfi.net
13-15 January, Leuven, Belgium: SYMPOSIUM ON HISTORY AND FOREST BIODIVERSITY - CHALLENGES FOR CONSERVATION. The symposium will focus on the effects of history on the species composition and richness of forests. For further information, contact: Sofie Bruneel, Laboratory for Forest, Nature and Landscape Research, Catholic University of Leuven; tel: (32) 1632-9721; fax: 1632-9760; email: sofie.bruneel@agr.kuleuven.ac.be; Internet: http://www.agr.kuleuven.ac.be/lbh/lbnl/forestbiodiv/
30-31 January, Brussels, Belgium: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: OPTIONS FROM LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES. The conference will bring together representatives of developing countries, scientists, representatives of the biotechnology industry, non-governmental organizations involved in development, governmental and international organizations, education and media specialists, and European citizens (in particular the younger generation). For further information, contact: Mrs White-Branagan; email:Margaret.White-Branagan@cec.eu.int; Internet: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/conferences/2003/sadc/index_en.html
3-7 February, Nairobi, Kenya: 22ND SESSION OF THE UNEP GOVERNING COUNCIL. For more information contact: Mr. B.A. Miller, UNEP, tel: (254 2) 62 3411; fax: 62 3748; email: millerb@unep.org; Internet: http://www.unep.org/governingbodies/.
3-7 February 2003, Chiang Mai, Thailand: 3RD WORLD CONGRESS ON MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS FOR HUMAN WELFARE: "From Biodiversity through Science and Technology, Trade and Industry to Sustainable Use". Organised by Wocmap III. For further information contact: Wocmap III, email: secretariat@wocmap3.org; Internet: http://www.wocmap3.org
3-7 February, Guatemala City, Guatemala: CONTRIBUTION OF CRITERIA AND INDICATORS TO SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGMENET- THE WAY AHEAD. Organised by the National Forest Service of Guatemala, in cooperation with the ITTO, FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland and the US Government. For further information, contact: tel: (502) 379-9838; fax: 379-9830; email: cici2002@inab.gob.gt; Internet: http://www.inab.gob.gt/