The Future of Genetic Resources: South faces critical choices

THE countries of the South may have to take some crucial decisions this year in order to preserve their most precious wealth - their genetic resources. The decisions have to be taken in order to resolve the conflict and tensions between two international agreements, the UN Biodiversity Convention (CBD) and the TRIPS agreement of the WTO, which have an important bearing on the earth's biodiversity and genetic resources.

• Article 27.3(b) of the TRIPS Agreement: Review options for the South (Cecilia Oh/TWN)

• Patenting life is owning life (Tewolde Egziabher)

• No scientific basis for patenting under TRIPS Article 27.3(b) (Dr Mae Wan Ho,Dr Terje Traavik)

• Legal and practical perspectives on sui generis options (G.S. Nijar/TWN)

• Time period for enacting sui generis laws on plant variety protection (G.S. Nijar/TWN)

• The OAU draft law and convention: A model for protecting community rights and access (Cecilia Oh/TWN)

• Declaration by the OAU/STRC task force on community rights and access to biological resources

• Of power affirmed to men and of safety denied to life (Tewolde Egziabher)

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