United Nations

UN Signs On Diversity

The Australian | By Cathy Pryor | October 20, 2003 THE UN body on arts and culture, UNESCO, has adopted a resolution aimed at protecting cultural diversity from globalisation at its general conference which wrapped up in Paris on the weekend.

UN Steps Up Action On Traditional Knowledge

The Lancet | By Clare Kapp | October 11, 2003 In a delicate balancing act between developing and industrialised countries, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has agreed to intensify efforts to protect traditional knowledge and genetic resources, but stopped short of committing to a full international treaty.

UN: Lack Of Development Thwarting Creation Of Democracy (part 2)

M2 PRESSWIRE | October 9, 2003

UN: Lack Of Development Thwarting Creation Of Democracy (part 1)

M2 PRESSWIRE | October 9, 2003 The lack of development in poor countries was thwarting their best efforts to create legitimate democracies and socio-economic well-being, representatives of several nations told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) as it continued its general debate this afternoon.

Sixth International Cocoa Agreement Comes To Force

ICTSD Bridges | Ocotober 8, 2003

The Quiet War Over Open-Source

Washington Post | By Jonathan Krim | August 21, 2003 Every day now, it seems, we do battle with technology. If it isn't spam, it's worms. If it isn't the worms, it's viruses, or hacking, or identity theft. Sometimes, it's the gadgets and software we buy that are still too hard to use.

18th Session of the Global Biodiversity Forum

ICTSD | August 16, 2003

Boom Bubble of 1990s Leaves 50 Nations Poorer

Reuters | By Evelyn Leopold | July 8, 2003 The boom of the 1990s left some 50 nations worse off than they were 10 years earlier, jeopardizing pledges by world leaders to cut poverty in half by 2015, a major U.N. report said.

UN Commission to Set New Safety, Trade Standards on Food Security

Agence France Press | June 26, 2003 Experts from around the globe are to gather under UN auspices next week to adopt new standards in food safety, with biotechnology, intensive farming and refinement becoming major public health issues, the UN's food and agriculture agency said.

Trade Pact on Gene-Altered Goods to Take Effect in 90 Days

New York Times | By ANDREW POLLACK | June 14, 2003 A new global treaty that imposes restrictions on exports of genetically modified seeds, animals and crops is set to take effect, injecting a new element into already heated international disputes over agricultural biotechnology.