Chad Murray Picture

The evidence presented in this paper, although only partial, suggests that the picture for developing countries as a whole is not necessarily problematic and certainly is less pessimistic than the mainstream ‘standards-as-barriers’ perspective. Indeed, rising standards serve to accentuate underlying supply chain strengths and weaknesses and thus impact differently on the competitive position of individual countries and distinct market participants. Some countries and/or industries are even using high quality and safety standards to successfully (re-)position themselves in competitive global markets. This emphasizes the importance of considering the impacts of food safety and agricultural health measures within the context of wider capacity constraints and underlying supply chain trends and drivers. The key question for developing countries is how to exploit their strengths and overcome their weaknesses such that they are gainers rather than losers in the emerging commercial and reg ... [Read More]

Article Alert, Archives--Electronic Advance Documents

This report summarizes a study carried out by WWF on the major irrigated crops and their respective water consumption in nine river basins (Niger River Basin and Lake Chad Basin; Zambezi River Basin; Indus River Basin; Mekong River Basin; Yangtze River Basin; Murray-Darling Basin; Great Konya Basin; Rio Grande Basin). The main aim of the study was to support WWF' Living Waters Programme by identifying a limited number of global agricultural commodities that have probable impacts on priority freshwater ecosystems through their overall use of fresh water. ... [Read More]

Article Alert, Archives--Electronic Advance Documents

Maintaining that women are the major casualties in armed conflicts, this AI report calls for global action to challenge both the violence and the failure of governments to prevent it. The report lays out the global picture revealing a systematic pattern of abuse repeating itself in conflicts all over the world including Colombia, Iraq, Sudan, Chechnya, Nepal and Afghanistan and in 30 other ongoing conflicts. Despite promises, treaties and legal mechanisms, governments have failed to protect women and girls from violence. ... [Read More]