Archive - 2005

Friday, December 30, 2005

BDNEWS, Dhaka
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/dec/30/busi.html

Speakers at a discussion Thursday said that international NGOs refrained from playing positive role to secure Bangladesh’s interests as a least developed country at the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Hong Kong.
The observation came at a discussion on ‘Reflections, Critique and Assessment for Future Actions of WTO’. Most of the NGOs which had participated in the Hong Kong meet joined the discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/dec/10/front.html

The LDCs@MC6, a platform of civil society organisations, will keep an eye on negotiators of the least developed countries as well as those from developed and developing countries during the sixth ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation scheduled in Hong Kong, December 13-18.
The announcement was made at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Friday.

Monday, December 5, 2005

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/dec/05/met.html

Speakers at a consultation meeting on Sunday urged the government to take initiative to stop endorsing the genetically modified food and seeds that pose threat to human health, environment and farmers.

1. The government of Bangladesh has drafted a law regarding giving Immunity to the World Bank from all legal procedures of the country, which will be presented in the next September session of the Parliament for its approval. The law will be named as The International Financial Organization (Amendment) Act-2004.
2. In order to operate in the partner- countries Word Bank has to follow an Article of Agreement, which has approval from its Board of Directors. As per this article a law in the name of The International Financial Organization (Amendment) Act-1972, is already exists in the country. Under this law, a variety of facilities have been made available for the World Bank. For example, World Bank does not need to pay tax to the countries for it's income and properties, no legal action can be taken against any staff if he or she carries any activities as per
the order of the world bank, no immigration laws can be applied for it's non-local staff.

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Staff Correspondent - Daily Star
http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/10/29/d51029060969.htm

Speakers at a study circle have condemned the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for its 'unjust and undemocratic' attempt to control agricultural issues.
Voice, a research and advocacy forum, organised the study circle titled 'WTO ministerial conference, agreement on agriculture and farmers' rights' at Haji Osman Ali School auditorium in Mymensingh on Thursday.
Chaired by KM Shamsul Alam, headmaster of the school, the study circle was attended by local civil society members, teachers, students, farmers, trade union leaders and representatives from professional bodies.

The speakers laid emphasis on opposing strongly the WTO-imposed unjust trade and role of multinational companies.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Staff Correspondent - Daily Star
http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/05/15/d50515060263.htm

The World Bank (WB) seeks blanket immunity in Bangladesh just to protect itself from any legal proceedings against its anti-people activities, speakers said at a discussion at the LGED Bhaban in the city yesterday.
The WB must not be treated as a UN organisation, as it is a banking institution, they said at the discussion organised by Alliance against World Bank Immunity in the wake of possible passage of The International Financial Organisations (Amendment) Act, 2004.
An amendment to The International Financial Organisations Order of 1972, likely to be passed in the parliament, will provide the Bank with "immunity from every form of legal process."
"The WB is eager for immunity as it is aware that its actions go against people's interests,' said Mohammad Zakaria of Action Aid Bangladesh.

Sunday, May 15, 2005

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/may/15/front.html

A government move to grant legal immunity to the World Bank is detrimental to the political and economic interests of the country and the citizens believing in national sovereignty and uninterrupted economic growth should, therefore, put up serious resistance against the move.
   The observation was made by different civil society groups representing economists, lawyers, journalists, development activists, industrial workers, human rights activists and peasant groups on Saturday at a seminar that came to consensus that the International Financial Organisations (Amendment) Bill providing legal immunity to the World Bank be withdrawn immediately.

Monday, May 9th, 2005

Staff Correspondent - New Age
http://www.newagebd.com/2005/may/09/nat.html

The Alliance against World Bank Immunity on Sunday brought out a procession from the Central Shaheed Minar, demanding of the government not to pass the International Financial Organisations Act that will grant blanket immunity to the multilateral lending agency.
Members of the alliance also held a rally near the High Court at the end of the procession.

VOICE is always looking for financial or material support for its programs. If you would like to support VOICE by making a donation, please contact us at exchange.voice@gmail.com for more details.
VOICE would like to set up four centers/ programs: Centre for Globalization Studies, Centre for Human Rights and Governance, Centre for Media, Communication Rights and ICTs, Centre for Research and Policy Advocacy which are identical with activities to achieve the objectives of the specific centers. Activities of these centers are built-in and relatively integrated.

Centre for Globalization Studies

The Centre for Globalization Studies emphasizes the people's right and critically analyzes the globalization process that goes against people’s choice and Empowerment. It aims at promoting public awareness and building consensus for citizen actions among the people-centered organizations to react over the process of monopolization, discrimination, deregulation and power abasement. Its main concern is to act on political economy related to global scenario and governance.

Centre for Governance and Human Rights

The VOICE Seed Houses

In early 2007, VOICE and local farmers formed an Action Group committed to improving their livelihood by creating a source of traditional seed varieties. Several months later, two demonstration seed houses were established in Mymensingh (about 120km north of Dhaka), including one directly adjoining VOICE’s satellite office there. An initiative of local farmers to revive and preserve local seed varieties, the seed houses are maintained and stocked directly by the farmers, who are also encouraged to take their skills and knowledge to their village and discuss the importance of seed preservation and local crop varieties with other community members.
This issue is not just about agriculture, it is about culture. If hybrid seeds take the place of local varieties, we not only lose ownership over our source of food, we also lose our culture. Local crops produced from local seed has a distinct taste particular to that region. Women also play a big role in food production by preserving and, the following year, preparing the seed. All this is being lost as IFI conditionalities open the market to hybrid seeds which discourage seed preservation and increase the farmer’s overhead costs. Farmers are becoming dependant on external markets for seeds to a large extent.