China, Brazil, India, and nine other of the world's most biodiverse countries signed an alliance Monday to fight biopiracy and press for rules protecting their people's rights to genetic resources found on their land. The declaration — also signed by representatives of Indonesia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Peru, Venezuela, and South Africa — echoed complaints long voiced by Indians and environmentalists: that wealthy nations are "prospecting" for species in order to patent or sell them without offering concessions or benefits for local people.

The Netherlands has pledged US $100 million to an international trust fund for the Great Lakes region in Africa, the Royal Netherlands Embassy in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, announced on Friday.

The Bush administration yesterday at a hearing on Capitol Hill defended its contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, saying that the United States was the first nation to contribute to the fund and has so far made the largest contribution. But senators and AIDS activists urged the government to provide more resources, AP/Newsday reports.

As most of you know, the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance involved nine days of intensive and frequently difficult negotiation. Even after the Conference, there was a difference of views or perceptions that principally concerned the placement of several paragraphs in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and which delayed the issuance of the report of the Conference. Nevertheless, despite all of the obstacles that had to be overcome, the Conference was ultimately successful in negotiating a Declaration and Programme of Action by consensus. The report of the Conference was issued and is now before you.

Mike Moore, director-general of the World Trade Organisation, has urged developing countries to support proposals for WTO rules on competition and investment, telling them it is in their own economic interest. It is unusual for a WTO director-general to take a public position on such politically contentious questions. But Mr Moore says in an article in the Financial Times that an agreement on new WTO rules would benefit developing countries by helping them attract foreign direct investment, attack hardcore cartels, tackle corrupt procurement practices and lower export costs.

South Africa's fight against AIDS has be promised a lifeline after EU has approved of a R515-million in aid to be allocated to the Department of Health to strengthen primary health care and fight against AIDS.

WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Mike Moore has said that the new global trade round which was launched at Doha in November, would address the "obscenity" that while trade can offer hope to Africa's poorest nations, some richer countries have closed their markets to African exporters.

UNEP is coordinating the production of ten thematic papers for the Global Mountain Summit (BGMS Bishkek, Kirgystan, Oct. 28- Nov. 1, 2002), which will form the basis of the Bishkek Mountain Platform, an action plan for future sustainable mountain development. The themes of these papers are listed below. Leading international figures in sustainable mountain development have been commissioned to act as lead authors in order to prepare the first drafts of these papers. However, it is recognised that only with a much wider input and gathering of knowledge and best practices from mountain ranges in all regions of the world can these papers truly contribute to the future of sustainable mountain development.

The only way to really describe the World Social Forum (WSF), that just ended here in Brazil, is a global political "carnaval." Not that there was much of the glitter and hedonism associated with that most famous Brazilian street party which begins later this week. Rather, inside the conference halls and out, this astounding event--part political convention, part art and music festival, part intellectual gathering of social movements, was in a state of nearly perpetual celebratory protest for five days and five nights.

Leaders of 36 international companies have issued a "corporate citizenship" statement, committing them to making responsible behaviour a core part of their business and to forging close links with all their stakeholders. Against the background of the Enron scandal and continuing waves of corporate lay-offs, the chief executives of companies, including Anglo American, Coca-Cola, McDonald's and Siemens, will say that "ultimate responsibility (for corporate citizenship) rests with us as chief executives, chairmen and board directors".

The World Bank's clumsy attempts to censor its own researchers have resulted in stinging criticism by Bank staff. The latest edition of the World Bank Staff Association newsletter carries two editorials about Bank staff members who were disciplined after publishing separate articles in the Financial Times. Both have now left the Bank. The editorials question whether the Bank's "public image matters more than germane research findings" and complain about the Bank's internal governance mechanisms. These are important issues given the Bank's ever-expanding publication and training agenda.

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is launching a competition to support research on the changing balance between public and private sector funding of research, and its implications for developing country governments and research institutions. The competition is open to researchers throughout the developing world, and will award up to seven grants, with a maximum value of CA $80,000 each. Applications must be submitted by March 29, 2002, with final selection of grants to be completed by April 30, 2002.

English has always dominated the World Wide Web, but new studies show that language diversity is more and more of a trend online.

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has issued its first call for funding proposals from countries hard hit by the epidemics. Members of the new Board of the Global Fund held their first meeting on Monday and finalised procedures for the disbursing of funds.

Pact’s Community REACH, in conjunction with US-AID, is calling for applications to facilitate the flow of funds to organisations involved in the fight against HIV/Aids.

Britain is concerned by the wanton destruction of forests worldwide. British High Commissioner to Kenya, Mr Edward Clay, said the consequences of the destruction was a "global issue". "We have an interest in the way other countries look at the environment. Its protection is very important," Mr Clay told Environment Minister Joseph Kamotho at Maji House, Nairobi.

The US have blocked an agreement to increase drastically development aid to poor countries struggling to meet the United Nations' target of halving world poverty by 2015, according to the Financial Times, London.

Three members of the Treatment Action Campaign, (TAC) have returned to South Africa from Brazil carrying generic drugs manufactured for use in an AIDS treatment program in Khayelitsha. At a press conference, TAC and MSF explained that the drugs carried from Brazil were the second shipment of Brazilian drugs and that as of today more than 50 people are already taking the Brazilian medicines in Khayelitsha.

The Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa (CAF) is looking to appoint a Co-ordinator for the Corporate Services Programme.