Focus on the Global South Site Sydication http://focusweb.org Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:55:58 +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-global-food-price-crisis.html by Walden Bello Originally posted by Women in Action and Pambazuka News (http://pambazuka.org/en/category/features/57228/print) Perhaps the most influential orthodox view on the causes, dynamics, and solution to the food price crisis was provided by Oxford University economist Paul Collier in an article that came out in Foreign Affairs[1] Collier, author of the controversial The Bottom Billion[2], asserted that the food price crisis stemmed from the increased demand for food in Asia, brought on by prosperity that was not matched on the supply side owing to three problems: The failure to promote commercial farming, especially in Africa, the ban against genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the European Union (EU), and the diversion of around a third of American grain to the production of ethanol instead of food. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was widely acknowledged that the world had enough food to feed some seven or eight billion and that hunger and malnutrition stemmed from unequal income distribution that translated into unequal access to food. By the turn of the millennium, the problem had become one of production. However, Collier’s diagnosis of the supply constraints left much to be desired. The diversion of corn to agro-fuel production was one cause that was certainly incontrovertible, but the other two factors he identified – the European ban on GMOs and the restraints placed on the growth of commercial agriculture – were questionable. Trends and Analysis - Article Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:50:49 +0100 http://focusweb.org/communications-officer.html FOCUS ON THE GLOBAL SOUTH Focus on the Global South is looking for a Communications Officer to be based in Bangkok, Thailand. This recruitment comes at a time when Focus is reviewing its communications generally. Focus is therefore looking for a candidate who will work with the Communications team in revamping and reinventing the Focus communications strategy and tools. Misc - Vacancies Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:27:20 +0100 http://focusweb.org/regional-integration-a-new-opportunity-to-face-the-crises.html?Itemid=145 International Conference of governments and social movements Introduction The core partners in the Regionalisms Programme organised a well-attended Regionalisms Workshop in Belem, which was framed in the context of the Global crisis. This Workshop, which included a substantive update and exchange of experience from regional networks from ASEAN, SAARC, SADC, Latin America and Caribbean and Europe, ended with a call to engage the governments on the issue of regions as a very important arena for addressing the global crisis. In a follow-up Caucus meeting, which consolidated the next phase of regionalisms work under the framework of the “People’s Agenda for Alternative Regionalisms”, the proposal was made to hold an International Conference in conjunction with the Mercosur Summit, due to be held in Paraguay in early July. Alternatives - Alternative Regionalism Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:51:12 +0100 http://focusweb.org/peter-kwong-lecture-series-on-china.html Download the pdf file of this announcement (administrator/index2.php?option=com_docman section=documents task=download bid=16) Go to the Focus Philippines Programme website (http://www.focusweb.org/philippines/content/view/312/46/) for more info Phillippines Programme - Announcements Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:20:51 +0100 http://focusweb.org/politics-failed-our-constitution.html by Jenina Joy Chavez, Julie delos Reyes, Herbert Docena, Aya Fabros, Mary Lou Malig, Mary Ann Manahan, Cathy Ordona, Qiqo Punzalan Simbol, Joseph Purugganan, Lourdes Torres and Walden Bello/Focus on the Global South Philippines Team 24 June 2009 On June 2, 2009, the House of Representatives outdid ignoble acts of the past by ramming through House Resolution 1109, (http://d.yimg.com/kq/groups/13338173/25246297/name/House-Resolution-No-1109%2Epdf) the Resolution that seeks to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly that will consider amendments or revisions to the 1987 Constitution. Aided by sheer numbers, the House majority not only successfully abbreviated the debate extremely crucial in such an important issue as tinkering with the basic law of the land, they also managed to strip the notorious resolution of dignity by voting viva voce. What is it in the Constitution that politicians find so objectionable that barely a decade after it was promulgated, the administration of then-President Ramos launched a campaign to revise it, even funding a Supreme Court-rejected ‘people’s initiative’ campaign through the Pirma (People’s Initiative for Reforms, Modernization and Action)? The campaign to change (revise or amend) the Constitution persisted during Estrada’s short-lived stay in office, and has blossomed during Arroyo’s over-extended presidency. Phillippines Programme - Statements and Declarations Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:05:58 +0100