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A statement from North American civil society organizations prepared for the Ninth Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF). The document outlines recommendations for global environmental governance, focusing on chemicals management, energy transition, and sustainable tourism, while emphasizing the specific responsibilities of North American governments and the vulnerability of the Arctic region.

This report examines the potential for integrating disclosure requirements into the global intellectual property (IP) system to ensure mutual supportiveness between the WTO TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It focuses on requiring patent applicants to disclose the origin of genetic resources and traditional knowledge, as well as providing evidence of prior informed consent (PIC) and benefit-sharing, to prevent 'biopiracy' and ensure equitable returns to provider countries and indigenous communities.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an update on the status of subsidy negotiations within the WTO's Doha Round as of November 2005. It analyzes the slow progress across agriculture, fisheries, services, and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM), noting that while fisheries have seen some conceptual movement, other sectors remain stalled due to technical complexities, political disputes, and a lack of consensus on definitions.

This briefing by Hubert Kabungulu Ngoy-K. analyzes the evolution of political trends and power dynamics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1990 to 2005. The author argues that Congolese political parties generally lack genuine ideology or social projects, instead operating through ephemeral alliances, 'cartellization,' and interests based on ethnicity, region, or personal gain.

This research paper examines the potential for European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to disrupt regional economic integration in Southern Africa, specifically within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The authors argue that the requirement for 'reciprocity'—where ACP states remove tariffs on EU imports—risks fracturing regional blocs because member states often have incompatible lists of sensitive products they wish to protect. The paper specifically analyzes the tension between the existing Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) between the EU and South Africa and the needs of the BLNS countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland), suggesting that SACU expansion could be a strategic alternative to mitigate these stresses.

These regulations, published under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003, establish the administrative and operational framework for special nature reserves, national parks, and world heritage sites. They detail prohibitions on biodiversity disturbance, rules for biological resource use, access controls, commercial activity restrictions, and the establishment of advisory committees and management plans.

This document is a facilitator's summary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) North American Regional Civil Society Consultation held on 28 October 2005. The meeting aimed to gather recommendations from North American civil society organizations to inform the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) and the preceding Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF). The consultation focused on three primary policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment.

An open letter from trade unions and civil society organizations to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy protesting the "undemocratic and deceptive" process used by the Chair of the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial statement. The signatories argue that the process ignores the lack of consensus on specific trade objectives and threatens the policy space of developing countries.

An open letter dated October 27, 2005, addressed to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy by a coalition of civil society organizations. The letter protests the "anti-democratic" methods used by the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial declaration, specifically criticizing the manipulation of the 'consensus' rule to include contested objectives while excluding agreed-upon safeguards.

An open letter from various civil society organizations to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, criticizing the undemocratic process used by the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial declaration. The signatories argue that the current approach redefines 'consensus' by allowing the Chair to include non-consensual elements while requiring full agreement to remove them, potentially undermining the policy space of developing countries.

This inaugural address by the National Director of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) argues that Africa's development depends on internal accountability, leadership, and a shift away from aid-dependency. The author highlights the rise of China and India as shifting global power dynamics and urges African states to implement industrial strategies to avoid a new 'scramble' for raw materials. The speech emphasizes the role of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the need for a vibrant civil society to hold governments accountable.

This RMI fact sheet presents several case studies of green building projects across residential, commercial, and urban redevelopment sectors, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable design, such as energy savings, increased property value, and reduced marketing costs.

An open letter from civil society organizations to the Member States of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), urging the adoption of clear, objective, and public guidelines for civil society participation and access to information ahead of the Thirty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the UPOV Council on October 27, 2005.

This briefing paper, prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in September 2005, provides background on international chemicals management for participants of the 7th Global Civil Society Forum. It details the challenges of global chemical regulation, the roles of various intergovernmental organizations and civil society networks, and the development of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).

This research paper examines the environmental and organizational impacts of the conflict between Maoist rebels and the government of Nepal from 1996 to 2005. It details how the breakdown of security has led to increased poaching and illegal resource extraction, while also noting unexpected positive effects like forest regeneration in certain regions due to depopulation and fear of violence.

This research paper examines the 450km international border between Lesotho and South Africa's Free State province. It analyzes the impact of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) patrols on local relationships, the dynamics of Basotho participation in the South African labour market—particularly in seasonal agriculture—and the economic role of cross-border traders.

This statement from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to Senator Olympia Snowe proposes a series of short-term measures to reduce U.S. demand for conventional crude oil by 5% to 9%. RMI argues that such a reduction would stabilize global oil prices by increasing excess capacity to between 2.5 and 3.8 million barrels per day, thereby mitigating the impact of price shocks and speculation.

This report chapter provides a military history of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), tracing its evolution from the liberation movements of the 1960s through the Angolan Civil War to its status as a peacetime national institution. It details the integration of three primary military wings—FAPLA, ELNA, and FALA—and the significant role of foreign intervention from the Soviet Union, Cuba, the United States, Zaire, and South Africa in shaping the conflict and the eventual formation of the FAA.

The document provides a brief overview of a report by John Makumbe regarding the improvement of civil society's engagement with parliament and the role of the opposition in Zimbabwe.

A joint statement from a coalition of environmental and health organizations urging the U.S. Congress to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) by passing implementing legislation that ensures timely action, respects state laws, and provides clear legal authority to the EPA.