12 May 2000 : news summary:

Inter. Organisations, Agencies & Partnerships

‘Two countries, double standards‘, DT, 4/5/00
~ Attacks the Commonwealth’s hypocrisy in its policy regarding Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

‘Closing the digital divide – the Commonwealth’s role‘, CC, 1:2000
~ Keith Yeomans argues the Commonwealth’s role in reducing the digital divide between member states.

‘Help for poorer WTO members‘, FT, 4/5/00
~ WTO agree to special procedure for poorer members.

‘EBRD decision looms‘, T, 8/5/00
~ EU ministers to agree on new head for European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Economic Development

‘Take a stand on economy with Mugabe, Mbeki urged‘, DT, 5/5/00
~ S. African businessmen warn of the adverse effects that Zimbabwe’s crisis is having on the economies of the region.
Also: ‘Soft-pedalling Mbeki risks all as rand tumbles‘, ST, 7/5/00

‘Asia’s leaders call for measures…‘, SB, 7/5/00
~ Financial leaders meet to find ways of reducing regions poverty.

‘It’s an unfair world‘, The Economist, 6-12 May 2000
~ Income differences are getting wider in Argentina, part of a survey of Argentina.

Aid & Debt

‘After the flood‘, G, 5/5/00
~ How can we guarantee that pledges of aid are honoured?

‘Short blames OECD for lowest aid figures‘, G, 4/5/00
~ DFID’s low aid budget blamed on "statistical quirks".

‘The state of humanitarian aid‘, DI Updates, No. 3, 2000
~ Looks at the UN’s forthcoming Global Humanitarian Assistance 2000 report.

Health

‘Mbeki’s opinion on Aids stuns experts‘, T, 5/5/00
~ President Mbeki’s dissident opinions on Aids shock experts.

‘Africa’s Aids fate hangs in balance‘, OBS, 7/5/00
~ Report on Aids advisory panel set up by Mbeki.

‘Vision 2020: The right to sight‘, WHO Press, 19/4/00
~ Update on the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness.

‘Economic costs of malaria…‘, WHO Press, 25/4/00
~ Africa’s economies severely affected by costs of malaria.

Education

‘African education tests its benefactors‘, G, 5/5/00
~ Letter from Clare Short regarding the World Education Forum.

‘Let’s give these children the key to success‘, T, 9/5/00
~ Glenys Kinnock appeals for education to made a priority.

Government

Various, 4/5/00
~ Clare Short vindicated as MoD are criticised for Mozambique response.

‘Under the Volcano‘, G, 5/5/00
~ Report criticises the British government’s response to Montserrat crisis.

Various, 4/5/00
~ Military sales to Zimbabwe are halted.

Business, Trade & Development

‘Insurer piles on ethical standards pressure‘, EXP, 8/5/00
~ Friends Provident to influence blue-chip companies, such as M & S, to improve their ethical standards with regards to their own policies and those of their suppliers.

‘Globalisation must have an ethical dimension‘, IND, 11/5/00
~ Globalisation needs a supporting ethical framework for it to succeed claims the president of the Global Ethic Foundation.

‘How big business starves the poor‘, DT, 11/5/00
~ Edited version of Dr Vandana Shiva’s lecture broadcast on BBC Radio 4 as part of the series of Reith lectures. See the radio and TV listings on pg 4.

‘Battling for business in Abuja‘, CC, 1:2000
~ Report on the Commonwealth-Nigeria Investment Conference which focused on inward investment opportunities.

‘Indian PM on Globalisation‘, DI Update, No. 3, 2000
~ Indian PM expresses concerns over globalisation.

‘How do we stand?: People, Planet & Profits‘, The Shell Report 2000
~ Including chapter on Shell’s sustainable development performance which looks at the design and implementation of a sustainable development management framework (SDMF) and the development of key performance indicators. For details go to
[ www.shell.com/shellreport ]

‘Rand sinks to record low as investors take fright over Zimbabwe‘, FT, 10/5/00
~ Foreign investors anxiety as Zimbabwe’s crisis impacts on S. Africa.

‘UK companies sell toxic soap to African women‘, IND, 11/5/00
~ UK produced soap sold in Africa linked with serious medical conditions and environmental degradation.

‘Brazil hunts for new national champions‘, FT, 4/5/00
Rising foreign investment drives Brazil to create its own multinationals.

Environment

‘The great Green con-trick‘, MoS, 7/5/00
~ Dr Patrick Moore, former president of Greenpeace, attacks the extremists who, in his eyes, have taken over Greenpeace.

‘Of ‘feet’ and ‘steps’ – commuting doesn’t have to be car-based‘, TWNF, April 2000
~ Not-for-profit organisation, SUSTRAN, initiative to promote sustainable transport in parts of Asia.

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