STWR - Share The World's Resources

The global economy needs to be reformed to ensure that nasic human needs are secured around the world, and the United Nations is currently the only international body through which such fundamental change can be facilitated.

Together, the IMF, World Bank and WTO form the backbone of the modern world economy. However, these institutions are not democratic or representative of the global community, particularly the majority world which still lives in poverty. As a result, international trade, finance and development policies are skewed to benefit the economically dominant countries that represent a small minority of the global population.

Many Developing countries are left with little choice other than to compete for trade in international markets, leaving them trapped between a rock and a hard place.

"In order to tackle climate change it is necessary for policy makers to re-examine key aspects of the global economy such as the pursuit of economic growth at all cost; unhealthy export-orientated agricultural practices; biased trade and finance structures; unsustainable over-consumption; and the excessive influence of multinational corporations on the economic and social life of the global public" - Rajesh Makwana.

The United Nations and the United States government estimate that by 2015 at least 40 per cent of the world’s population (3 billion people) will live in countries where it is difficult or impossible to get enough water to satisfy basic needs.  

A response to Mohammed Mesbahi's article - the Tsunami, the Brandt Report and other matters - from Christine Edwards of the Department for International Development.

The new study, published in Nature by a team from the University of Oxford¹ is considered to provide the most comprehensive and realistic estimates on malaria to date. Researchers now estimate that there may have been up to 660 million clinical cases in 2002 alone (over 1 million new cases each day), doubling existing WHO estimates for Africa and more than tripling estimates for countries outside of Africa.

These are the words of India's Finance Minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, as he unveiled this year's budget. In his previous budget, Mr Chidambaram pledged billions of dollars for the poor and to assist farmers. This year his budget continues to take an 'anti-poverty' approach as he provides a further boost to spending on primary education and heath care services.

Despite outright rejection by the Bush administration, the Kyoto treaty came into force this week. Altogether 128 member states have ratified the protocol to reduce greenhouse emissions over the next 7 years to levels below those of 1990.

STWR would like to express our deepest sympathies for all those affected by the Asian Tsunamis. We urge all individuals and governments to give generously to the relief operation and to maintain their levels of commitment to aid over the crucial months and years ahead.