Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest • Volume 7 • Number 19 • 28th May 2003
Events
For a more comprehensive list of events in trade and sustainable development, please refer to ICTSD’s web calendar. If you would like to submit an event, please email events@ictsd.ch.
Coming Up: 29 May - 4 June
26 May - 6 June, Geneva, Switzerland: THIRD SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS (UNFF-3). Delegates will discuss a variety of issues, including: means of implementation; progress in implementation, specifically related to economic aspects of forests, forest health and productivity, and maintaining forest cover to meet present and future needs; and common items. For further information, contact: Mia Soderlund, UNFF Secretariat, tel: (212) 963-3262, fax: 963-4260, email: unff@un.org, Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/forests.htm.
1-3 June, Evian, France: G8 SUMMIT. World Leaders will meet to discuss issues relating to globalisation. Among the proposed themes are solidarity, with particular emphasis on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and access to water for all. Other topics include government and corporate responsibility, security and democracy. For further information see: http://www.g8.fr/evian/english/home.html.
1-12 June, Bonn, Germany: 18TH SESSIONS OF THE SUBSIDARY BODIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE (UNFCCC SB-18). The Subsidiary Bodies will meet to continue negotiations on the institutional and implementation aspects of the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol. For further information, contact: UNFCCC Secretariat, tel: (49 228) 815-1000, fax: 815-1999; email: secretariat@unfccc.int, Internet: http://www.unfccc.int
2-3 June, Mexico City, Mexico: MONTERREY BRIDGE COALITION MEXICO ACTION SUMMIT. This meeting is aimed at leaders and stakeholders from around the world, allowing them to explore how increased food production to feed the rural poor can be made compatible with natural resource management and biodiversity stewardship. The participants will examine how international trade and domestic subsidy policies can be reformed to make sustainable development possible, and the summit will provide an action programme for cooperation between business, governments, multilateral institutions and civil society from developing and developed countries. For furrther information, contact: Monterrey Bridge Coalition, Future Harvest Foundation, tel: +1-202-223-1313; Internet: http://www.futureharvest.org/.
2-5 June, Brussels, Belgium: EUROPEAN GREEN WEEK CONFERENCE. The European Commission’s Environment Directorate-General is sponsoring a "Green Week" conference aimed at bringing together local, regional and national decision-makers, as well as environmental stakeholders including companies, industry associations and non-governmental organisations. Key environmental issues to be discussed include sustainable consumption and production, renewable energy, climate change and water. For further information, contact: EC/EDG; fax: +32-2- 29-69560; e-mail: mailto:env-greenweek@cec.eu.int; Internet: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/greenweek/index_en.htm.
4 June, Toronto, Canada: DRIVING THE RETURN ON RESPONSIBILITY - CEO STRATEGIES FOR THE 21st CENTURY. Organised by Corporate Knights Roundtable. Emerging social and environmental issues in business are creating a new leadership challenge for Canada’s corporate elite. Organised by Corporate Knights Roundtable Inc., "Driving the Return on Responsibility," is committed to helping Canadian firms find value creation levers through corporate responsibility. A major objective of the conference wil be to set 10 national goals for corporate responsibility in Canada. Join the business, government and NGO communities and Ralph Nader on 4 June at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. For further information, contact: Jordan Gold, tel: +1-416-305-2578; e-mail: jordan@corporateknights.ca; Internet: http://wwww.ckroundtable.ca.
4 June, London, UK: SEMINAR ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND JUDICIAL LEGISLATION: WHERE IS THE BOUNDARY? This is the final seminar in a series on "The Function of International Courts and Tribunals". Organised by the Centre for International Courts and Tribunals the seminar will be led by guest lecturer Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes from the University of Genova. Please confirm your attendance. For further information contact Heather Watson, tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 1439; fax: +44 (0) 20 7209 3468, Internet: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/laws/cict.
4-6 June, Montreal, Canada: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONGRESS (IEDC). The conference, entitled "Global Alliances," will bring competitors together and document the successes of those businesses that have achieved economic development. It will also provide current perspectives on the EU, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Europe, and the Pacific Rim. For more information, please visit: http://www.iedconline.org/InternationalCongress/index.html.
WTO Events
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.
4 June, Geneva, Switzerland: WTO COMMITTEE ON TRADE IN CIVIL AIRCRAFT.
Other forthcoming meetings
10-12 June, Carillo Puerto, Mexico: ZONA MAYA MEETING IN PREPARATION FOR CANCUN.The International Forum on Globalization (IFG) and the Organization of Communal Forest Producers of the Zona Maya (OEPFZM) are organising a meeting to prepare for the upcoming WTO Ministerial in Cancun, Mexico. The meeting’s agenda will focus on two objectives: to deepen the understanding among forest groups of the potential impacts of WTO on forests and to explore what can be done to impact WTO decisions in Cancun. To better know the emerging alternatives, and truly comprehend "what’s at stake," a visit to at least one forest community that has been FSC-certified will be organised. For further information contact Victor Menotti, IFG, tel: +1-415-561-3482; email: vmenotti@ifg.org.
23 June, Washington, D.C, US: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TRADE IN THE AMERICAS? LESSONS FROM MEXICO. This meeting is organised by WWF, the Texas Center for Policy Studies, Global Development and Environment Institute - Tuft’s University, Fronteras Comunes and Pesticide Action Network - Mexico (RAPAM). In this symposium, Mexican and US researchers will present their findings from two new reports on the social and environmental impacts of NAFTA. Through a series of case studies, panelists will discuss key impacts on Mexico’s economy and environment and present policy recommendations, particularly for the on-going CAFTA and FTAA negotiations. Several of the case studies are available at http://www.texascenter.org/bordertrade/reports.htm. For further information and to confirm your participation, please contact Priscilla Stephan, email: priscilla.stephan@wwfus.org.