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Friends of the Earth International opposes the proposal to include investment rules in the WTO, particularly ahead of the 2003 Cancun Ministerial Conference. The organization argues that investment agreements, such as the failed Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) and NAFTA's Chapter 11, undermine the ability of governments to implement environmental and social policies. It claims there is no empirical evidence that foreign direct investment leads to equitable development and urges the WTO to reject 'procedural modalities' for investment talks and reform existing rules like GATS and TRIMS that already restrict national policy space.

The document argues that WTO negotiations on environmental services, investments, agriculture, and intellectual property could undermine the ability of states to protect indigenous rights. It highlights risks such as the privatization of water, the displacement of communities by industrial agriculture, and the potential for WTO dispute mechanisms to penalize governments that prioritize indigenous land rights over foreign investment.

The report examines the impact of transgenic maize, specifically the Bt 176 variety, in Spain. It argues that the Spanish government has failed to implement adequate monitoring and prevention plans, leading to genetic contamination of organic crops and the development of pest resistance. The document claims that transgenic maize does not provide the promised yield increases and poses risks to non-target species and human health through antibiotic resistance markers. It concludes that Spain is uniquely permissive within the EU and calls for a halt to transgenic cultivation until a comprehensive legal and safety framework is established.

The report examines the global landscape of GMO import regulations, noting a concentration of commercial acreage in the US, Argentina, Canada, and China, while many developing nations face regulatory blockages. It details the stringent regimes in the EU and Australia/New Zealand, the more flexible approach in the US, and varying levels of adoption and restriction in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The document further analyzes potential conflicts between these national regulations—specifically regarding traceability, labelling, and the precautionary principle—and WTO agreements such as the SPS, TBT, and GATT, as well as the influence of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

The report examines GMO import regulations in the EU, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, comparing them against WTO agreements. It highlights the tension between the EU's stringent traceability and labelling requirements and the more permissive approach of the US, while analyzing how the 'precautionary principle' and 'substantial equivalence' impact trade disputes.

The document analyzes the rise of investor-state arbitration under Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), noting a significant increase in cases compared to NAFTA's Chapter 11. Using ICSID data, it highlights pending cases that challenge government emergency measures in Argentina, tax policies in Burundi, and environmental regulations in Mexico and Peru. It also examines disputes over water privatization in Bolivia and Argentina, and the risks of using opaque, ad-hoc arbitration rules (like UNCITRAL) which can lead to conflicting rulings and a lack of public transparency, potentially undermining the legitimacy of the process and hindering the ability of developing nations to manage foreign investment.

The document argues that the combined influence of International Financial Institutions (IFIs), Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) creates a mechanism that forces developing nations toward the privatization of water services. It asserts that while privatization is presented as a universal solution for water scarcity, it often fails the poor and marginalized, as seen in South Africa and Bolivia. The text emphasizes that access to water is a fundamental human right, and that international legal frameworks can 'trap' governments by making liberalization irreversible and exposing them to costly international arbitration (such as through ICSID) if they attempt to re-regulate or reverse privatization to protect public health and human rights.

The document is a participant list for the 10th IAI Conference of the Parties, held in June 2003 in Boulder, Colorado. It identifies representatives from various national agencies, universities, and research institutes across the Americas, including the USA, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Jamaica, Panama, and Uruguay, as well as IAI staff and observers.

The document argues that the State of Chile violated the fundamental rights of the Mapuche-Pehuenche communities of Ralco-Lepoy and Quepuca Ralco through the construction of the Ralco hydroelectric plant, which led to the destruction of ancestral lands, cemeteries, and ceremonial spaces. It contends that domestic legal remedies in Chile have been ineffective, illusory, or subject to unjustifiable delays, thereby satisfying the requirements for the admissibility of the petition before the IACHR. The text further argues that the project was economically inefficient and driven by the monopolistic interests of the company Endesa rather than public interest. Additionally, it details systemic discrimination against indigenous peoples in Chile's political and judicial systems, including the use of anti-terrorist and state security laws to criminalize indigenous demands.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has updated its Scientific Agenda to better reflect regional interests and the evolution of global change research. The agenda is organized into four broad themes: understanding climate variability in the Americas, conducting comparative studies of ecosystems and biodiversity, analyzing changes in the composition of the atmosphere and waters, and investigating the human dimensions and policy implications of global change. The IAI aims to promote cooperative research and information exchange to understand the integrated impact of past, present, and future global change on regional and continental environments in the Americas.

The IAI Executive Council (CE) met in June 2003 to address administrative, financial, and scientific governance. Key outcomes included the creation of a nomination committee for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), the renaming of the Financial and Administrative Working Group to the Financial and Administrative Committee (FAC), and the proposal of a debt-swap mechanism for member countries with arrears. The Council also approved the IAI's New Scientific Agenda and an annual report for submission to the Conference of Parties (CoP X), while postponing a planned 8% increase in member contributions until the following year.

The IAI Science Agenda establishes a framework for collaborative research in the Americas, focusing on climate variability, ecosystem comparative studies, chemical composition of the environment, and the human dimensions of global change. It aims to advance understanding of the integrated impact of global change on regional and continental environments to inform public policy and sustainability.

The report examines the adoption and effects of first-generation GMO crops, noting that while RR soybeans facilitate no-till farming and replace some toxic herbicides, they are associated with 'yield drag' and increased herbicide volumes. It warns that high selection pressure in Argentina increases the risk of weed resistance and shifts. Additionally, the document highlights emerging concerns regarding glyphosate's impact on soil microbial communities, specifically the increase of Fusarium fungi, and the impairment of nitrogen fixation in soybeans.

The document analyzes the rapid expansion of transgenic crops in Argentina, particularly the glyphosate-tolerant (RR) soybean, which grew from less than 1% of soybean area in 1996-1997 to over 90% by 2000-2001. This growth is attributed to a combination of macroeconomic reforms, the adoption of no-till farming, and specific institutional factors that lowered seed costs and prevented patent enforcement. While RR soybeans created a "win-win" scenario of increased production and employment, other transgenic crops like Bt corn and Bt cotton saw limited adoption due to higher costs and technology fees. The report highlights a significant illegal seed market and argues for stronger national biotechnological research and regulatory oversight via CONABIA to ensure future competitiveness and biosafety.

The report analyzes the challenges Chilean producers face in accessing 'green markets' in the European Union, specifically focusing on organic wine and sustainable forestry. It identifies significant barriers including complex, multi-layered certification systems, EU subsidies for domestic organic producers, and a lack of systematic market information. Domestically, Chile suffers from a lack of a coherent national strategy for organic agriculture, insufficient technical training for small producers, and a lack of a solid internal market. The document recommends the creation of a Sustainable Trade and Innovation Centre, the pursuit of mutual recognition for certification schemes, and coordinated government action across multiple ministries to support sustainable exports.

The document examines the proliferation of bilateral and regional investment treaties, highlighting how they limit the ability of host states to regulate for public health and the environment. It critiques the investor-to-state dispute settlement mechanism for its lack of transparency and the use of 'indirect expropriation' claims to challenge environmental laws. The author recommends that new governance principles for foreign direct investment in hazardous activities ensure public transparency in arbitration, public consultation on host government agreements, and a commitment by companies to abide by evolving environmental and health legislation.

The report 'Failing the Challenge' by Friends of the Earth International criticizes Shell for prioritizing short-term profits over human rights and environmental protection. It documents a pattern of pollution, health crises, and human rights abuses across several countries, including Nigeria, South Africa, the US, and the Philippines. The authors argue that Shell engages in 'greenwashing' by using PR to mask its continued expansion of fossil fuel production and its failure to hold itself accountable for local damages. The report calls for changes to UK company law to ensure corporations are legally responsible for their global impacts.

The 18th SAC meeting focused on reviewing the IAI's scientific agenda, managing Core Research Network (CRN) projects, and planning future funding calls. Key outcomes included the formation of working groups to rewrite the scientific agenda, the recommendation of a new Small Grants Program (SGP) with a US $600,000 budget, and the appointment of Walter Fernández as the new SAC President. The committee also discussed collaborations with the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP).

The document examines the tension between the protections granted to foreign investors under Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) and the human rights obligations of host states. It highlights a surge in investor-state disputes, particularly in the water and sewage sectors in Latin America, where the 'right to water' may serve as a legal defense for state regulation. The paper argues that current BITs are largely silent on human rights and lack transparency, which may lead to 'regulatory chill' or the prioritization of investor rights over public interest. It suggests reforms, including the inclusion of minimum human rights responsibilities for investors and the potential use of human rights courts to resolve investment disputes.

The document outlines several objections to GM oilseed rape trials in Scotland, citing poor trial design, the risk of creating herbicide-resistant 'superweeds', and the potential for genetic contamination of non-GM crops. It highlights the dangers of the 'Liberty' herbicide (glufosinate), alleging it causes birth defects in animals and poses a threat to wildlife in Munlochy Bay. Additionally, the submission discusses risks to bees, including horizontal gene transfer and antibiotic resistance, and warns that the use of the cauliflower mosaic virus promoter could lead to new diseases. The authors conclude that the trials are flawed and the crops are economically and environmentally unviable.