Ellen Russell (CCPA)

Canada is not immune to the banking problems we see abroad, cautions “No More Swimming Naked”, a report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) written by Ellen Russell, that examines how banks work, why they are inherently prone to instability, and how banking crises spread—even to banks and banking systems that appear to be stable. Russell warns that current regulations did not eliminate problems with risk-taking and overconfident behavior among banks.

Caterpillars of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, feed on many different plants and pose a serious threat to cotton farming. (Photo by Gyorgy Csoka)

Pests are adapting to genetically modified crops in unexpected ways, researchers have discovered. The findings underscore the importance of closely monitoring and countering pest resistance to biotech crops, reported Daniel Stolte on the web site UANews (University of Arizona Office of Communications).

Rio2012 closure ceremony. (Mark Garten/UN Photo)

Governments show a reasonable satisfaction on the delicate balance achieved in the outcome document for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio2012). But many of them are also deeply disappointed with the lack of ambition in the section on the means of implementation, considered a step backwards by some negotiators, according to the analysis of the Third World Network (TWN).

Gro Harlem Brundtland. (Mark Garten/UN Photo)

Women rights organizations expressed deep disappointment and outrage over “The Future We Want”, the outcome document approved by the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio2012) held last week in Brazil, reported Inter Press Service news agency (IPS). “The omission of reproductive rights” is “a step backwards from previous agreements,” said former prime minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland.

According to IPS United Nations Bureau Chief Thalif Deen, the comparison with the 1992 Agenda 21 was inevitable.

Timo Lappalainen of KEPA, International Development Minister Hautala, Foreign Minister Tuomioja, and Matti Kohonen of the Tax Justice Network. (Photo: Eero Kuosmanen)

Tax evasion by multinational corporations causes difficulties to developing countries. The most common method for companies to avoid taxes is to abuse transfer pricing. Profits are transferred to tax havens or to countries with low tax rates. This issue was analyzed at a seminar in Helsinki organized by the Tax Justice Network, the Service Centre for Development Cooperation (KEPA, focal point of Social Watch) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs organised an international expert seminar in Helsinki.