Stories written by Gustavo Capdevila

RIGHTS: Disfiguring Disease Linked to Right to Food

Noma, an ulcerous disease whose name comes from a Greek word that means "to devour" because it literally eats away at malnourished children's faces in just a few months, is found in the developing world, mainly in Africa.

RIGHTS: UN Anti-Racism Committee Concerned for Indians in Peru

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) expressed concern this week over the treatment received by indigenous communities in Peru.

TRADE: WTO Report Chose “Serendipitous” Topic

The central focus of the WTO annual report - the tricky balance between the need to protect national production and the negative economic impacts of such measures during times of crisis - was actually chosen before the current meltdown, but turned out to be just what the doctor, or the world trade body, ordered.

HEALTH: Flu Pandemic Declared; Poor Countries at Highest Risk

The cautious tone taken by World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan when she declared an H1N1 influenza virus pandemic Thursday was only modified when she expressed concern over the potential effects of the virus in developing countries, and among young pregnant women in particular.

LABOUR: Colombia Still Undisputed Leader in Trade Unionist Murders

Colombia has long been the world leader in murders of trade unionists – a dubious distinction that it seems in no danger of losing, according to a new report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

HEALTH: Swine Flu – Caught Between Health and Profits

The first step towards a massive global health prevention mechanism, under which billions of people around the world could be vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza virus – while a handful of transnational pharmaceutical corporations raked in the profits – was taken Tuesday parallel to the World Health Assembly.

HEALTH: Voices of Alarm and Moderation at WHO Meet

World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan issued a warning about the danger posed by the H1N1 flu epidemic, while health ministers from several countries recommended avoiding excesses when it came to remarks about a potential pandemic.

TRADE: More Openness, No Major Changes in US 'Return' to WTO

The new U.S. administration’s first appearance on the WTO scene demonstrated "a willingness to engage in dialogue, and greater openness," but in substance "it did not show major differences with the past," said one negotiator, commenting on U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk’s visit to this Swiss city.

Barbara Prammer, president of the Austrian parliament Credit: Petra Spiola/Austrian parliament

Q&A: ‘Anti-Crisis Stimulus Packages Must Take Women into Account’

Progress has been made on gender issues in almost all countries, and everything possible must be done to keep the economic crisis from leading to a "backlash," warns Barbara Prammer, president of the Austrian parliament.

HEALTH: WHO Sends Flu Meds to Developing Countries

Poor countries facing the greatest threat from the spread of the H1N1 flu virus – popularly known as "swine flu" – will begin to receive shipments of Tamiflu, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced.

RIGHTS: Racism Conference Recovers from Bad Start

The United Nations racism conference regained its momentum Tuesday with the approval of the final declaration, leaving behind the unpleasantness of the first day, when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a divisive opening speech.

RIGHTS: Racism Conference Caught in the Crossfire

The United Nations racism conference, trapped from its rocky start between the caution of Western countries and the inflamed speech of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, could still avoid failure, say independent experts.

RIGHTS: Muslim Concessions Bring Breakthrough on Racism Text

The United Nations anti-racism conference will begin next Monday in a climate of uncertainty, despite last-minute diplomatic negotiations that managed to iron out differences that separated at least two blocs: Western and Muslim states.

ECONOMY: Coffee Weathering the Crisis

Former Costa Rican president Rodrigo Carazo (1978-1982) said that at times of global recession, economies like that of his country, dependent on what he called "dessert" exports - like bananas or coffee - would be hit the hardest because they are among the first products people stop buying when money gets tight.

DISARMAMENT: Cluster Bombs Used by Russia, Georgia

The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticised Russia and Georgia Tuesday for using cluster bombs during their week-long conflict in August, in a statement apparently also directed at a coalition made up of Brazil, China, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea and the United State, which want to continue producing and exporting the lethal weapons.

POLITICS: The U.S. Is Back in Geneva

United States diplomats are back in force at the U.N., after having distanced themselves from the world body for several years. This week they contributed to successful mediation between Georgia and Russia, although they did not help resolve a stalemate on gay rights.

DEVELOPMENT: Swiss Aid Growing Despite Depression

The global economic and financial crisis has raised questions about whether the level of official development aid from the rich world will be maintained in future, at a time when the needs of the developing and emerging countries are growing as a result of the crisis.

RIGHTS: Cuba Passes U.N. Review with Flying Colours

The United Nations Human Rights Council report on the status of human rights in Cuba reflected solid support for Havana from an ample majority of countries, but also took note of objections raised by a smaller number of governments.

Alain Bihr Credit: Alternative Libertaire

Q&A: Crisis Could Lead to ‘Revolutionary Change’

As the economic crisis bites deeper, a revolutionary outcome may be possible, in the view of French academic Alain Bihr. Everything depends on citizens' capacity for struggle, he told IPS in an interview during events at The Other Davos, in this Swiss city.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: Davos Under Fire

One of the few indicators on the rise at this time of economic and financial crisis is the level of repudiation expressed about those responsible for the disaster, and about the institutions sponsoring them.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: Makers and Shakers of the Post-Crisis World

Of all the questions raised by the global economic crisis, one that is by no means insignificant may be answered this week: How will the pressure groups that influenced the policies that led to the present chaos adapt to the new world situation?

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