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The document contains the minutes of the Twenty-First Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on September 8-9, 2005, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The meeting focused on the transition to a new Director, the approval of the second round of the Collaborative Research Network (CRN II) program, and strategies to increase the institute's visibility and policy relevance across the Americas.

This policy brief series by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and IUCN examines the intersection of international trade, foreign aid, and security. It argues that current global trade rules and aid practices often exacerbate instability and conflict in developing countries by promoting economic dependence on volatile primary commodities, maintaining inequitable market access, and supporting unaccountable regimes. The document proposes a shift toward 'conflict-sensitive' policies, including the restriction of 'conflict resources,' the promotion of transparent natural resource revenue management, and the implementation of responsible business conduct to prevent the funding of violent conflicts.

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.

This document is a list of action items from the 21st Executive Council (CE) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on September 8-9, 2005. It records decisions regarding administrative modifications, the formation of an ad hoc group, the management of the IAI newsletter, and the planning of future meetings in Venezuela.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes draft provisions for the protection of traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions/folklore against misappropriation, specifically within the context of the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Intergovernmental Committee (IGC). The document argues that current draft provisions lack sufficient focus on the intellectual property (IP) system, which is where misappropriation primarily occurs. It advocates for a legally binding international instrument and specific IP-related measures—such as disclosure requirements and stricter patentability criteria—to prevent the illegitimate granting of IP rights over TK.

This action list documents the decisions and elections made during the Twelfth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Conference of the Parties (CoP), held on May 5-6, 2005, in Montreal, Canada.

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) proposes alternative methods for calculating member country contributions to its Core Budget, comparing the current Organization of the American States (OAS) scale against United Nations (UN) and International Council for Science (ICSU) scales.

This document records the decisions made during the Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Montreal, Canada, on May 5-6, 2005. The meeting focused on administrative elections, budget approvals, procedural rule changes, and the appointment of a new IAI Director.

This document is a list of participants for the 20th Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC) Meeting, which took place in Montreal, Canada, on May 2-3, 2005.

The Report of the CRN-I Program details the outcomes of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research's (IAI) Collaborative Research Network (CRN) program, which operated from 1999 to 2003. The program invested approximately US$10 million across 14 grants to foster multidisciplinary, international research networks focused on global change phenomena in the Americas, with a strong emphasis on scientific capacity building and policy relevance.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) presents its Core Budget Request for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, proposing a total budget of $1,012,405. This represents a net increase of $74,086 over the previous year's expenses, driven primarily by rising personnel costs and inflation in Brazil.

Minutes from the 19th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 29-30, 2004. The meeting covered scientific program updates, financial reports, administrative challenges regarding local staff in Brazil, and the announcement of the Executive Director's resignation.

The report documents the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from June 30 to July 2, 2004. The meeting focused on administrative transitions, including the search for a new Executive Director, the approval of the 2004/2005 budget and annual program, and the election of members for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Executive Council (CE).

This 2005 IISD report analyzes the impact of EU trade policy on conflict in the developing world. It highlights a contradiction: while the EU uses 'soft power' initiatives (like FLEGT and the Kimberley Process) to curb conflict resources and 'carrots' (preferential access) to encourage good governance, its structural policies—such as massive agricultural subsidies and the push for reciprocal Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)—can undermine economic stability and fuel conflict. The report warns that commodity price volatility and the 'resource curse' further destabilize low-income countries, and recommends that the EU conduct conflict assessments of trade agreements and reduce agricultural subsidies to promote global peace and sustainable development.

This 2005 IISD report examines food security as a fundamental human right, moving beyond simple supply metrics to include distribution and individual access. It evaluates four strategies for achieving food security: food self-sufficiency, trade liberalization, food sovereignty, and multi-functional agriculture. The report argues that while trade can stabilize supply, it can also undermine local production and increase vulnerability. It concludes that a pragmatic approach combining flexible trade rules with national policy space and sustainable agricultural practices is necessary to ensure long-term food security.

The report analyzes the impact of bilateral trade agreements on copyright and access to knowledge, noting that agreements involving the U.S. often impose protections (such as 70-year terms and anti-circumvention of TPMs) that exceed multilateral standards. It also summarizes IP disputes in the WTO regarding pharmaceutical compulsory licensing and genetic resource disclosure, as well as tensions at WIPO over the Substantive Patent Law Treaty.

The action list from the first day of the Eleventh Meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP) on June 30, 2004, details the election of the Bureau, agenda modifications, and the accreditation of 16 member delegations.

This briefing outlines the action list from the second day of the Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on July 2, 2004. The document records approvals regarding the IAI's budget, annual program, and administrative procedures, as well as the appointment of members to the Executive Committee (CE), the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and a search committee for a new Executive Director.

The Action List from the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 30 and July 2, 2004, records the administrative and governance decisions made by the member countries. Key outcomes include the election of the Bureau and Executive Committee, approval of the 2004/2005 Annual Program and budget, and the establishment of a recruitment process for the IAI Director.

This document is a list of actions and decisions recorded during the Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 30 and July 2, 2004.