Trade Observatory docs

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Title A-Z Z-A	Author A-Z Z-A	Date 1-9 9-1
Civil Society Recommendations for the UN Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis		June 25, 2009
54k Document summary This UN Conference must be the beginning of a process for systemic change, crisis resolution and economic justice between developed and developing countries and economies in transition.
Senate Report on Wheat Speculation Calls for Regulation	IATP	June 24, 2009
149k Document summary A report issued today by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found that excessive speculation by commodity index traders drove up wheat prices and disrupted the market. The report confirms the urgent need for new regulatory safeguards on excessive speculation in commodity markets, according to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.
A Better Future for Food and Energy: Reforming Commodity Futures Markets	Steve Suppan	June 22, 2009
229k Document summary This fact sheet argues for better regulation of commodity markets.
New Keystone XL Pipeline Application	Keystone	June 11, 2009
492k Document summary Keystone's application to build another pipeline to the Gulf Coast.
Large-scale land acquisitions and leases: A set of core principles and measures to address the human rights	Olivier De Schutter	June 11, 2009
270k Document summary United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Mr. Olivier De Schutter, issued a set of eleven principles on the human rights challenges of transnational large-scale land acquisitions or leases, referred to as “land grabbing.
Many Crises, Many Meetings, No Connections	Jim Harkness/IATP	June 10, 2009
3254k Document summary IATP powerpoint presentation at side meeting in Bonn, Germany on climate change and agriculture.
Agriculture and Climate Adaptation	Third World Network	June 10, 2009
18k Document summary A powerpoint presentation by Third World Network at the climate change meeting in Bonn, Germany.
Climate Change and Agriculture	Doreen Stabinsky/Greenpeace	June 10, 2009
544k Document summary Greenpeace powerpoint presentation at the Bonn, Germany meeting on global climate change.
Cairns Group Ministerial Communiqué	Cairns Group Ministers	June 9, 2009
39k Document summary Cairns Group Ministerial Communiqué from the 33rd Ministerial Conference, held in Bali, Indonesia 7 - 9 June, 2009.
International Food Assistance	Government Accoutability Office	June 4, 2009
159k Document summary Local and regional procurement provides opportunities to enhance U.S. food aid, but challenges may constrain its implementation.
UNCTAD Public Symposion paper	Steve Suppan	May 30, 2009
222k Document summary Spikes in food and energy prices in 2007-2008 contributed to a conservatively estimated increase of 100 million food insecure people between 2006 and 2008, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. This paper reviews one factor in food and energy price volatility—financial speculation in commodities futures markets—and proposes options for stronger regulation.
Global Food Responsibility: The European Union and United States Must Chart a New Path	IATP and CIDSE	May 19, 2009
935k Document summary The U.S. and the European Union have a particular responsibility to address the global food crisis. This report outlines how they could play a constructive role.
Summary of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES Act)	Committee on Energy and Commerce	May 18, 2009
88k Document summary Summary of the Waxman/Markey Clean Energy bill in the US House of Representatives.
The countdown to Copenhagen:climate change, agriculture and global food security	Mariann Fischer Boel	May 11, 2009
37k Document summary An outline of the European Union's position on agriculture and climate presented by the member of the European Commission Responsible for Agriculture and Rural development.
Securing Water and Food security through a rights based approach (in a Climate Challenged World)	Shiney Varghese	May 5, 2009
559k Document summary The dramatic convergence of multiple crises—global warming, hunger and depletion of natural resources such as water—compels us to shift from the dominant industrial agriculture model and consider a new way forward. Because agriculture is multifunctional (i.e., food, feed, fibers, biofuels, medicinal products, environmental services, landscape amenities, social and cultural values), it could play a critical role in addressing global challenges related to climate, water, social justice and food.1 This year, three major international meetings (amongst others) seek to identify solutions to the water, food and climate crises: the World Water Forum (March), the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (May) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (December). The time is ripe to identify the interconnections between the three crises and develop complementary policy options and action steps.
Inputs for UNCTAD Public Symposiom 2009.pdf	Steve Suppan	May 1, 2009
138k Document summary Spikes in food and energy prices in 2007-2008 contributed to a conservatively estimated increase of 100 million food insecure people between 2006 and 2008, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. This paper reviews one factor in food and energy price volatility—financial speculation in commodities futures markets. Futures prices are used as benchmarks for cash prices of commodities and hence affect the price of consumer and industrial goods. Policy options for international cooperation toward regulating these markets are outlined.
National Farmers Union's Climate Change Position	National Farmers Union (NFU)	April 27, 2009
1136k Document summary National Farmers Union supports a national mandatory carbon emission cap and trade system to reduce non-farm greenhouse gas emissions.
Shrinking My Water Footprint	Shiney Varghese/IATP	April 22, 2009
194k Document summary An Earth Day commentary on global water use.
G-8 Ag Ministers' Support for Free Trade and Biotech Undermine Progress to Eradicate Hunger	IATP	April 21, 2009
152k Document summary At the first ever G-8 Farm Summit in Treviso, Italy, agriculture ministers pledged earlier this week to work toward alleviating poverty and hunger and to encourage sustainable food production.
Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit On Climate Change	Indigenous Peoples' Global Summit on Climate Change	April 21, 2009
47k Document summary Climate conference focusing on impact of climate on Indigenous people in Anchorage, Alaska, April 2009.
Food Stocks, Strategic Reserves and Supply Management: Which Tools for Agriculture Policy to Manage Price Levels and Volatility?	IATP and nine other organizations	April 20, 2009
161k Document summary Invitation for event organized at the FAO.
Grain Reserves	Dr. Daryll Ray	April 20, 2009
1533k Document summary Powerpoint presentation given at the Food and Agriculture Organization.
Hunger: Is the G-8 Ready to Clean Its Plate?	Anne Laure Constantin/IATP	April 16, 2009
196k Document summary This weekend, agriculture ministers from the G-8 will gather in a beautiful castle above the city of Treviso, in central Italy, to discuss the global food crisis. Missing among the scheduled gala dinners, aperitifs and wine tastings are those most affected by the food crisis, as well as a clear understanding of what has gone wrong.
“Land Grabbing” by Foreign Investors in Developing Countries: Risks and Opportunities	Joachim von Braun and Ruth Meinzen-Dick	April 2, 2009
216k Document summary The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) report says countries such as China, Korea and the United Arab Emirates are buying or leasing agricultural land to help meet their own food needs.
The G-20's Opportunity on Commodities Exchange Regulation	Steve Suppan/IATP	March 31, 2009
238k Document summary When the Group of 20 heads of state meet later this week in London to discuss responses to the global financial crisis, one item directly affecting global food and energy security will be missing from the agenda: the regulation of commodity exchanges.
Report on protectionist measures	Pascal Lamy	March 26, 2009
374k Document summary REPORT TO THE TPRB FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS AND TRADE-RELATED DEVELOPMENTS
Letter to President Obama on Speculation	IATP and 180 organizations	March 24, 2009
24k Document summary A letter signed by over 180 faith, farm, food, hunger and developments organizations to President Obama calling on him to address excessive speculation in commodity markets.
World Water Forum - Istanbul Statement	Governments at the Fifth World Water Forum	March 22, 2009
762k Document summary Final ministerial declaration at the conclusion of the fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul.
Integrated Solutions to the Water, Agriculture and Climate Crises	Shiney Varghese/IATP and Heinrich Boll Foundation	March 16, 2009
913k Document summary This report outlines the connections between the water, agriculture and climate crises and makes concrete recommendations on how these challenges at be addressed at the international level.
Integrated Solutions to the Water, Agriculture and Climate Crises	Shiney Varghese	March 16, 2009
768k Document summary Responding to the water, food and climate crises requires an integrated approach toward more sustainable practices in agriculture, finds a new IATP report by Shiney Varghese.
The Canadian and Mexican WTO Challenges to U.S. Country of Origin Labeling	Steve Suppan/IATP	March 15, 2009
289k Document summary A short backgrounder on U.S. Country of Origin labeling and potential challenges by Canada and Mexico at the WTO.
Agriculture and Climate Change: An Agenda for Negotiation in Copenhagen	Gerald Nelson	March 1, 2009
454k Document summary Suggested negotiating outcomes for Copenhagen from IFPRI.
Comments to the UN Commission on Reforms of the International Monetary and Financial System	Steve Suppan/IATP	February 28, 2009
273k Document summary Comments on how the UN system could better regulate commodity speculation.
Letter to Obama on trade policy	U.S. House representatives	February 26, 2009
19k Document summary More than 50 House Democrats plan to send a letter to President Obama as early as today urging a revamping of U.S. trade policy, including overhaul of existing and pending trade pacts as well as the "broken U.S.-China trade relationship" and import-safety standards.
Executive Summary Dialogue of the Americas on Agrofuels and Agribusiness: Building Alternatives Based on Food and Energy Sovereignty	Alexandra Strickner	February 19, 2009
314k Document summary Executive Summary Dialogue of the Americas on Agrofuels and Agribusiness: Building Alternatives Based on Food and Energy Sovereignty
Statement of IATP at Tri-National Livestock Producers Meeting	Dennis Olson/IATP	February 13, 2009
11k Document summary Statement at trinational livestock producers meeting in Billings, Montana calling for the renegotiation of NAFTA.
Statement of the Confederation of Mexican Hog Farmers at the Tri-National Livestock Producers Meeting	Alejandro Ramirez Gonzalez	February 13, 2009
9k Document summary Statement at the tri-national livestock producers meeting in Billings, Montana calling for the renegotiation of NAFTA.
Statement of WORC at trinational livestock meeting	Gilles Stockton/WORC	February 13, 2009
10k Document summary Statement of Gilles Stockton of the Western Organization of Resource Councils at the trinational livestock meeting in Billings, Montana calling for the renegotiation of NAFTA.
Statement from the Canadian Farmers Union at the Trinational Meeting of Livestock Producers	Canadian Farmers Union	February 13, 2009
9k Document summary Statement from the Canadian Farmers Union at the Trinational Meeting of Livestock Producers in Billings, Montana calling for the renegotiation of NAFTA.
Statement of the Peasants Democratic Front of Chihuahua at Trinational Livestock Producers Meeting	Victor Quintana	February 13, 2009
105k Document summary Statement of the Peasants Democratic Front of Chihuahua at Trinational Livestock Producers Meeting in Billings, Montana calling for the renegotiation of NAFTA.
Statement of Food and Water Watch at Trinational Livestock Producers Meeting	Patty Lovera	February 13, 2009
9k Document summary Statement of Patty Lovera of Food and Water Watch at Trinational Livestock Producers Meeting in Billings, Montana on the renegotiation of NAFTA.
Welcoming a New Day on Trade and Globalization Policy	Citizens Trade Campaign	February 5, 2009
149k Document summary A letter to the U.S. Congress signed by 340 organizations on the need for a new U.S. trade policy.
WTO mission report by Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food	Olivier de Schutter	February 4, 2009
176k Document summary The report seeks to explore the relationship between the agreements concluded under the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), particularly the Agreement on Agriculture, and the obligation of the Members of the WTO to respect the human right to adequate food. It is based on the mission of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food to the WTO.
Food Speculation: The Main Factor of the Price Bubble in 2008	Peter Wahl	February 1, 2009
115k Document summary Publication by World Economy, Ecology & Development
Betting Against Food Security: Futures Market Speculation	Steve Suppan/IATP	January 28, 2009
274k Document summary A fact sheet on the role of speculation in threatening global food security.
Report on the Madrid High Level Meeting on Food Security for All	Olivier de Schutter/UN Special Rappauteur on the Right to Food	January 28, 2009
191k Document summary A review of the Madrid meeting and thoughts about next steps toward a global response to ensure food security.
Mobilizing Political Will to Eradicate Hunger	IATP	January 27, 2009
144k Document summary The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s Alexandra Spieldoch and Anne Laure Constantin attended the Madrid High-Level Meeting on Food Security for All. This is IATP's statement at the conclusion of the meeting.
REPORT TO THE TPRB FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS AND TRADE-RELATED DEVELOPMENTS	Pascal Lamy	January 23, 2009
260k Document summary REPORT TO THE TRADE POLICY REVIEW BODY (TPRB) FROM THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL ON THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRISIS AND TRADE-RELATED DEVELOPMENTS
Energy Justice in Native America and the Next Administration	Honor the Earth, Intertribal Council on Utility Policy, Indigenous Environmental Network, International Indian Treaty	January 21, 2009
210k Document summary When considering energy production, resource extraction, housing and energy efficiency, it is essential that the incoming administration take into account the disproportionate impacts of climate change and energy development on American Indian reservation and Alaska Native villages, and the potential for catalyzing green reservation economies.
Gaza Under Fire: People Killed, Life Shattered, Land Occupied	Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC)	January 18, 2009
245k Document summary Amid all the destruction in the recent military action, it was little reported that the Israeli military apparently seized huge amounts of farmland to use as military bases.
Carta abierta de organizaciones de la sociedad civil de los EEUU al presidente electo Barack Obama para urgirle en cumplir su promesa de renegociar el TLCAN y para poner un alto a la antidemocr�tica ASPAN	60 civil society organizations	January 5, 2009
63k Document summary Carta abierta de organizaciones de la sociedad civil de los EEUU al presidente electo Barack Obama para urgirle en cumplir su promesa de renegociar el TLCAN y para poner un alto a la antidemocr�tica ASPAN.
Una amplia gama de organizaciones civiles de los EEUU hacen un llamado al presidente electo Obama para que la renegociación del TLCAN sea una prioridad inmediata	60 civil society organizations	January 5, 2009
89k Document summary Alrededor de sesenta organizaciones y redes de los EEUU enviaron una carta al presidente electo Barak Obama urgiéndole a cumplir las promesas hechas durante su campaña para renegociar el TLCAN, como una primer paso hacia la creación de un modelo alternativo que coloque a los pueblos y el medio ambiente por encima de las ganancias de las corporaciones globales.
A Blueprint for Legislative Action	U.S. Climate Action Partnership	January 1, 2009
974k Document summary Repport from members of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (“USCAP”), a coalition of over 30 businesses and nongovernmental organizations that has called for Congress to pass legislation to address the climate change threat.
New Trade Rep. Must Fix Broken U.S. Trade Policy	IATP	December 19, 2008
158k Document summary President-elect Barack Obama's choice for the next U.S. Trade Representative, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, must fix a broken U.S. trade policy, which has caused enormous harm to farmers, workers, communities and the environment, according to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.
Call to Action on the Food Crisis	U.S. Food Crisis Working Group	December 15, 2008
23k Document summary An outline of specific actions to address the global food crisis.
Agrocombustibles: Oportunidad o Peligro?	Informe de Conferencia Berlin 2007	December 13, 2008
184k Document summary Informe de Conferencia sobre Agrocombustibles organizado por IATP y otros grupos en Berlin, Diciembre 2007
Closing Statement of the International Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Climate Change	Presented by Mr. Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network	December 12, 2008
95k Document summary The Shared Vision of this Climate Change Convention must observe and implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007. As the UNFCCC is a process under the umbrella of the UN system, the denial of full and effective Indigenous peoples’ participation in the UNFCCC discussions is an affront to those rights granted only a year ago. It is urgent that the UNFCCC be amended as soon as possible to make its process and provisions consistent with the spirit and intent of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and allow Indigenous peoples to express their views on all aspects of the Convention.
World Public Opinion and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights	WPO	December 9, 2008
3223k Document summary 25-Nation Poll Finds Worldwide Support for Principles in Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Most Favor UN Taking a Larger Role in Promoting Human Rights.
Especulaci�n en las bolsas de materias primas: riesgos a la seguridad alimentaria y la agricultura	Steve Suppan/IATP	December 8, 2008
266k Document summary Resumen del estudio, �Especulaci�n en las bolsas de materias primas: riesgos a la seguridad alimentaria y agricultura.�2 Conjuntamente con algunas reflexiones sobre medidas propuestas para reglamentar el mercado oculto (shadow market) de especulaci�n.
Dec. 2008 draft NAMA modalities	Amb. Wasescha	December 6, 2008
622k Document summary New version of draft NAMA modalities
Dec. 2008 draft agriculture modalities	Amb. Falconer	December 6, 2008
978k Document summary The four documents circulated by Amb. Falconer have been compiled here into one single document
Poland's Framework Position on GMO's -- They say no, again.	USDA -- GAIN	December 4, 2008
40k Document summary The USDA ranting about Poland saying no to GMO's. .
Lessons from NAFTA: Food and Agriculture	R. Dennis Olson/IATP	December 2, 2008
125k Document summary NAFTA has been the blueprint for U.S. trade policy and regional and global trade pacts. But it has also had a number of negative consequences.
U.S. Congress letter to Pdt Bush	Rangel, Baucus, Grassley, McCrery	December 2, 2008
112k Document summary Panel leaders warn against quick action on Doha deal
Indigenous Peoples Stament on Climate Change	International Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change	December 1, 2008
39k Document summary Statement of the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change (IIPFCC) to the 29th Session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA), during the 14th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP14) of the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Tar Sands US Infrastructure Development	Paul Blackburn	December 1, 2008
1365k Document summary A look at the supply-side of the US infrastructure in relationship to tar sand oil production.
The Time is NOW: Lessons from farmers adapting to climate change	Action Aid	December 1, 2008
654k Document summary Strategies for addressing the serious problems of climate change on food production in the developing world. Prepared for distribution at the COP 14 meeting in Poznan, Poland, December, 2008.
Letter to President-elect Obama on the food crisis	U.S. Food Crisis Working Group	December 1, 2008
21k Document summary A letter to President-elect Obama calling for him to address the global food crisis.
Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2002-2006	Dev kar and Devon Cartwight-Smith	December 1, 2008
1219k Document summary Global Financial Integrity (GFI) is pleased to announce the completion of its groundbreaking report “Illicit ,” This report is the first comprehensive analysis and measurement of the pattern and quantity of money exiting developing countries by way of illicit activity done with the most recent economic data available.
G20 position on sensitive products	G20	November 27, 2008
18k Document summary G20 position on sensitive products