If you have a relevant resource (books, papers, bulletins, etc.) you would like to see announced in this section, please forward a copy for review by the BRIDGES staff to Hugo Cameron. Submissions of publications to ICTSD’s documentation centre would also be welcome (contact Matteo Rizzolli).
2001 HANDBOOK OF STATISTICS ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT. Published by UNCTAD, December 2001. UNCTAD has just released its handbook of statistics that keeps track of trends in world trade, the global economy and development. Available in three formats: print, CD-ROM and online. The CD-ROM presents the full time series of data, in some cases going back as far as 1950. The report is also available online at: http://stats.unctad.org/. For further information contact Henri Laurencin, tel: (+41-22) 907-5734, fax: 907-0048, email: henri.laurencin@unctad.org.
SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND BANKING - THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AND THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET, by Marcel Jeucken, Published by Earthscan Publications (UK) and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Environment and the Rabobank Group, 2001. The book answers two broad questions: why is the financial sector crucial to achieving sustainability and why does sustainability pose threats and opportunities to banks? From a systematic assessment of major banks around the world, the book presents a comprehensive account of current best practice, an analysis of the differences in approach and performance, and recommendations of actions and policies for improved performance that will contribute to sustainable development. Further information is available at: http://www.sustainability-in-finance.com.
PROTECT OR PLUNDER? UNDERSTANDING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. By Vandana Shiva, Published by Zed Books, December 2001. The author argues that the Western-inspired and unprecedented widening of the concept of intellectual property does not in fact stimulate human creativity and the generation of knowledge. Instead, in the view of the author, intellectual property is being exploited by transnational corporations to increase their profits at the expense of the health of ordinary people, especially the poor, and the age-old knowledge of the world’s farmers. For further information contact: Mohammed Umar, Zed Books, 7 Cynthia Street, London N1 9JF, tel (+44-20) 7837-4014, fax (+44-20) 7833-3960, email: sales@zedbooks.demon.co.uk.
NEGOTIATING THE TRIPS AGREEMENT: INDIA’S EXPERIENCE AND SOME DOMESTIC POLICY ISSUES. By Julius Sen, Published by CUTS, December 2001. The paper finds that many of the lessons that can be drawn from India’s experience with the TRIPs negotiations are the same as those that can be drawn from the negotiations more generally and true for many other countries. It goes beyond a narrow analysis of events relating strictly to the negotiations during the Uruguay Round and looks at the negotiating context in which these negotiations took place. Further information is available online at: http://www.cuts.org; or by contacting Bipul Chatterjee: email: cuts@cuts.org.
HANDBOOK OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, December 2001. The handbook contains the full texts of the Convention, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the decisions of the Conference of the Parties from 1994 to 2000. It presents all the most important information about the Convention and the Protocol, including a description of the background to the Convention and its institutional arrangements, a guide to the decisions adopted and a guide to ongoing activities in relation to particular Articles and thematic areas. The accompanying CD-Rom contains the electronic book (e-book) of the Handbook. Further information available at: http://www.earthscan.co.uk/asp/bookdetails.asp?key=3557.
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES
NEW WWF WEBSITE ON SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTS (SAS) AND TRADE. The new website addresses the potential economic, developmental and environmental implications of trade and investment agreements. Available at: http://www.panda.org/balancedtrade. For further information contact: Mireille Perrin, WWF, Gland, Switzerland; tel: (+41-22) 364-9026, or Claudia Saladin, WWF USA; tel: (+1-202) 778-9774.
WORLD BANK TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT GATEWAY. The new release of the World Bank website allows users to access a concise selection of resources on current and emerging issues; stay up to date by receiving email alerts when new content is added; upload articles and other materials; be listed in a directory and network with other members; search and publicize events. Visit http://www.developmentgateway.org/node/137197.
POSITION VACANCY
RESEARCH FELLOW ON BIODIVERSITY, CENTRE FOR PHILOSOPHY OF LAW. The Centre for Philosophy of Law in Belgium is seeking a Research Fellow to work on its Biodiversity empirical investigation and related theoretical issues on international regimes. Research will focus on the mechanisms of intellectual property rights as organised by the UPOV Convention in order to meet its objectives with regard to the protection of biodiversity and its interaction with other international regimes such as WTO, UPOV, FAO’s International Undertaking and the Biodiversity Convention. Research Fellow candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant academic discipline or be very close to completing their degree, with solid training in theory and research methodology. It is a 12 months fellowship with the possibility of renewal (from one to four years). Candidates should send a letter of application, CV, and writing sample to: Professor Jacques Lenoble, Director of the Centre, Centre for Philosophy of Law, College Thomas More, Place Montesquieu, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, or by email to Lenoble@cpdr.ucl.