What We’re Reading 2/9/10

Feb 9th, 2010 11:08 AM UTC
By Steve Wilson

Washington Post–Haiti earthquake relief efforts are still falling short
Nearly one month after an earthquake brought Haiti to a halt, the Washington Post reports that evidence is everywhere on the island that current relief efforts may soon fall short as the immediate emergency response phase fades. Despite the good intentions of the United States and the world community, weary relief workers say the coming weeks will severely test the resolve of those foreign contributors and the resourcefulness of a Haitian government that remains all but invisible. From surgery to shelter to sanitation to schooling, the needs are vast and the international commitment unproven.

AFP–Freeze on HIV spending sparks concern in Africa
U.S. plans to slow spending on treatment for HIV in several African countries has prompted concern on the continent that some of the gains made against the AIDS epidemic since 2003 could be reversed, the AFP reports. While PEPFAR, launched in 2003, originally focused largely on treating patients in the most urgent need, the program has started to shift away from emergency treatment. This switch in emphasis means that clinics are now being forced to turn new patients away, say some health workers on the ground.

Reuters–WTO’s Lamy says Doha deal still possible in 2010
A successful conclusion to the Doha round of global trade talks is still possible in 2010, but would need an injection of political energy, World Trade Organisation head Pascal Lamy said this morning. He said the upcoming G20 summit in Canada in June would be a key test of political will for the Doha round of negotiations. The Doha round of trade talks was launched in late 2001 to free up world trade and help poor countries prosper by opening up markets and cutting tariffs and subsidies in rich countries. But the 153-nation talks collapsed in 2008 over a dispute between the United States and Europe, and India and China, on protection for farmers in rich economies and shields for industrial goods coming from developing nations.

Reuters–Rapid city growth threat to Africa’s development: UN
Rapid and chaotic urbanisation is threatening sustainable development in Africa, the U.N said Monday, but taking steps to mitigate climate change could help tackle some of the problems of cities. The populations of large, fast-expanding cities in Africa, such as Lagos in Nigeria, are set to continue growing at annual rates of around 4 percent, putting pressure on the provision of housing and basic needs and services. The impact of climate change has exacerbated existing social and economic problems, forcing many farmers away from their villages to become “environmental refugees” in big cities.

NY Times–Ally for the Poor in an Unlikely Corner
The New York Times profiles Andrew Witty, the chief executive of the world’s second-largest drug company GlaxoSmithKline, saying that he is doing more for the worlds poor than any other leader of Big Pharma. I want GSK to be a very successful company, but not by leaving the population of Africa behind, Mr. Witty said. That tone is still rare in an industry once pilloried for keeping its prices up while millions died. But after Witty spent 10 years in Africa and Asia, he was inspired to change that. Among many other innovative practices, Witty has promised to keep the prices of all Glaxo drugs in poor countries to no more than 25 percent of what was charged in rich ones, and to donate one-fifth of all profits made in poor countries toward building their health systems.

Financial Times–Brazil enters fray for African resources
Brazil, South Americas largest economy, is stepping up its involvement in the scramble for Africas resources, the Financial Times reports. While Chinese and Indian commercial ties with the continent are more developed and have attracted greater attention, Brazils arrival in Africa is part of the same pattern that has seen the continents traditional partners in the west compete against a range of emerging market players for resources and influence. As a bloc, BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) trade with Africa has increased as a proportion of all the continents trade from 4.6 per cent in 1993 to more than 19 per cent in 2008. Economists estimate that by 2030, almost 50 per cent of Africas trade will be with the Brics.

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