Focus on the Global South Site Sydication http://focusweb.org Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:58:00 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://focusweb.org/images/M_images/logo1-transparent.jpg http://focusweb.org Focus on the Global South Site Sydication http://focusweb.org/the-prince-of-denmark.html?Itemid=168 by Akbayan! Representative Walden Bello Like Hamlet, Shakespeare’s conflicted Prince of Denmark, China was caught between conflicting currents in Copenhagen. Its failure to manage these led to its biggest diplomatic debacle in years. Almost a month after the debacle at the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen (Conference of Parties or COP 15), the question of who scuttled the talks elicits fury and derision. Interestingly, in many accounts, President Barack Obama comes across either as a figure who valiantly tries to rescue a doomed conference or as a well-meaning head of state whose hands are unfortunately tied by the realities of US politics Climate Change - Articles Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:54:44 +0100 http://focusweb.org/the-china-asean-free-trade-area-propaganda-and-reality.html?Itemid=92 by Akbayan! Representative Walden Bello ON JAN. 1, 2010, the China-Asean Free Trade Area (Cafta) went into effect. Touted as the world’s biggest Free Trade Area, CAFTA is billed as having 1.7 million consumers, with a combined gross domestic product of $ 2 trillion and total trade of $ 1.3 trillion. Under the agreement, trade between China and six Asean countries including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore has become duty-free for more than 7,000 products. By 2015, the newer Asean countries, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, will join the zero-tariff arrangement. The propaganda mills, especially in Beijing, have been trumpeting the FTA as bringing “mutual benefits” to China and Asean. A positive spin on Cafta has also come from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who hailed the emergence of a formidable regional grouping that would rival the United States and the European Union. The reality, however, is that most of the advantages will probably flow to China. Trade Campaign - Article Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:04:08 +0100 http://focusweb.org/declaration-india-pakistan-conference-a-road-map-towards-peace.html India International Centre, New Delhi 10th - 12th January, 2010 The discussions in the India-Pakistan Conference: A Road map towards Peace over the last three days have shown how far the public sentiment in both India and Pakistan is inclined towards peace. The participating organizations from both sides of the border represent a vast constituency which is ready to work towards building enduring and sustainable peace between the two countries. We believe there is a real window of opportunity today, which must not be wasted. These ideas are presented here in a sincere effort to develop friendship and cooperation between the two countries. This conference is not a stand alone event. The participants resolve to work in groups on each of the areas that were identified in the sessions, to further the gains of the conference. India Programme - Article Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:14:18 +0100 http://focusweb.org/india-pakistan-conference-a-road-map-towards-peace-at-the-india-international-center-iic.html 10th - 12th January, 2010 Dear Friends, Greetings! A number of organizations and eminent people in India have got together to organise an ‘India-Pakistan Conference: A Road Map towards Peace’ at the India International Center (IIC) from 10-12 January 2010. Both India and Pakistan have, for the last 62 years, seen many ups and downs in bilateral relations and talk. But the current phase of composite dialogue was significant. Four rounds had been completed, and the 5th round was in progress. The last year’s attacks on Mumbai completely hijacked this scenario and brought the relationship between the two countries to breakdown point. This was further intensified by the war hysteria whipped up by the religious right wing in both the countries. India Programme - Announcements Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:38:01 +0100 http://focusweb.org/free-trade-bad-for-asean-warns-solon.html?Itemid=92 By Ma. Ceres P. Doyo posted on inquirer.net “ALL our fears have come true,” said Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello, reacting to the launch of the world’s biggest free trade area comprising China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Jan. 1 The China-Asean Free Trade Agreement (Cafta), lauded by governments as a spur to intraregional trade and investments, cuts import tariffs on about 90 percent of products and offers members access to a combined market of 1.7 billion consumers. Cafta is bigger than the European Union and the North American FTA in terms of trade value and population involved. But it has its detractors. “We have warned against the detrimental effects of free trade agreements with strong economic powers like China, Japan, the US and Europe,” said Bello. “Unfortunately, all our fears have come true. Trade Campaign - Article Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:36:08 +0100