Ever since 140 countries launched a new round of global trade talks in Doha last November, the backroom boys at the EU have been busy running a fine-tooth comb over their trading partners' economies. Just how busy they have been was revealed recently, when the extent of the concessions the EU is demanding from some of its trading partners was leaked to the Guardian.

The international community must give greater
attention and support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) around the
world, according to the nongovernmental refugee advocacy organisation
Refugees International (RI). In a statement issued on Thursday, the group
stated that its recent assessment missions "suggest that the international
community continues to struggle to provide protection and assistance to
IDPs".

AS Zimbabwe celebrates its 22nd independence anniversary on Thursday, many people are reflecting on how far they have gone in shaking off the shackles of colonialism. Drifting back 22 years or so to the colonial period is very easy after visiting some of the country's institutions. Bow-tied waiters still serve afternoon tea from ageing silver teapots engraved with the initials of King George VI of England at some institutions. Blacks are generally not welcome in such institutions. The racism is subtle with high fees and other demands designed to keep the doors firmly shut to black patrons.

The global battle to fight Hiv/Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis received a major boost when the US set aside $500-million for global Aids fund. The US says $300-million of it will be distributed immediately to help finance new programmes to tackle the killer disease.

The global battle to fight Hiv/Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis received a major boost when the US set aside $500-million for global Aids fund. The US says $300-million of it will be distributed immediately to help finance new programmes to tackle the killer disease.

Contributions to the Global Fund should be equitably shared among the countries whose citizens live the most comfortable and unthreatened lives. This means that the wealthiest countries, such as the US, should contribute considerably more than they currently do. But it also means that contributions should come from the likes of Australia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates ­ relatively wealthy countries that have not yet contributed a penny.

The United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Kenzo Oshima, and the Representative of the Secretary-General on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Francis Deng, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding in New York to improve UN efforts to respond to the severe crisis of internal displacement around the world, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Thursday.

The African Institute of Corporate Citizenship is hosting the first ever African Corporate Citizenship Convention over 24 & 25 April 2002 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

Foreign development aid to African countries has dwindled to its lowest level in at least a decade despite deepening poverty and the growing ravages of Aids in the region, new statistics compiled by the World Bank show.

The world’s governments have a unique chance to tackle the global education crisis and pave the way for universal primary education, Oxfam has said. The opportunity comes at the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC, April 18th – 21st, when Finance and Development Ministers will be considering the World Bank’s new action plan for primary education.

The accused at the Afro-Brazilian tribunal run at Porto Alegre during the second World Social Forum were the Brazilian government and its associated partners, including the governments of the G7 countries, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organisation, the world’s biggest banks and corporations and the Roman Catholic Church. The alleged crimes were those of genocide, racism and destruction of the lives of indigenous people and blacks over the centuries right up to the present.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has assisted in the publication of a guide to humanitarian law which aims to explain the rights of victims and humanitarian organizations in times of conflict, tension and crisis. Titled “The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law” the book presents humanitarian law in a new light: from the perspective of relief action carried out for the benefit of victims. By contrast, most books on humanitarian law explain the rules from the point of view of states and armed forces, the most powerful actors.

As the world's economy becomes more global, the amount and variety of imported products raises concerns about child labor, workplace health and safety regulations in factories that produce the clothes we wear, the shoes on our feet and the toys and sports equipment played with by our children. Most companies are still exploring these issues, trying to determine the best ways to avoid using factories where abusive workplace conditions could potentially put reputations and brands at risk.

According to press reports China and Central African Republic have signed an economic coopertaion agreement worth yuan (US $1.2 million).

According to press reports USAid will continue to assist South Africa's fight against Aids despite Mbeki's ''tragic'' stance on the disease.

In the 1990s globalization was the buzzword; it promises to become ever more important in the first decade of the 21st century. One view suggest that globalization can be dated back to the beginning of the 1980s, while a second view holds that globalization has a long history that can be traced to the 19th century, if not before. This work offers a categorization of types and stages of globalization that existed before the late 20th century. It also emphasizes the fact that globalization has non-Western as well as Western origins. The contributors bring their expertise to bear on themes that give prominence to China, South Asia, Africa and the world of Islam, as well as to Europe and the United States, and span three centuries. ISBN: 0712677402, 2002, Pimlico.

Funding proposals submitted to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have exceeded the resources available for this year, the Fund's spokeswoman told PlusNews this week.

Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is an annual global event led by Youth Service America with the Global Youth Action Network as its key partner, together with a consortium of 32 International Organizations and well over 100 National Coordinating Committees. The goals of GYSD are to:
*Highlight the ways that young people improve their communities through service 365 days a year
*Recruit the next generation of volunteers
*Promote the benefits of youth service around the world.

This e-conference will contribute to the global debate on CSR, and develop an agenda for future leaders by providing an opportunity for young people to express their view on the role of various stakeholders in promoting CSR. Each week, a new topic for discussion will be introduced. Each topic will be moderated by young people from developed, developing, and transition economies.

This article from the Rural Development Services Network spells out the political tensions around the Civil Society WSSD Forum....