Monthly e-newsletter from Focus on the Global South, India


Content summary:

It is said that democracies are like wine; they mature with age. August 2007 marks 60 years of independence for Pakistan and India. Whereas Pakistan is ruled by a military dictator, India is being marketed for global capital as the 'world's fastest growing free market democracy'. In her article, Meena Menon argues that figures being advertised as signs of India's success such as GDP growth, FDI inflows and cell phone usage reflect the creation of immense wealth for the upper and middle classes. She also makes the important point that the democracy gap has widened in the country with disastrous implications for common people. We also carry a report on 2 events to mark the occasion.

A political crisis looms around the recently concluded Nuclear deal between the USA and India. The left parties on whom the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government depends for its continued existence has opposed the deal. The Government has dug in its heels. We carry a statement from the Left parties which views the deal in the context of an overall strategic tie up with the United States. They have called upon the government not to proceed further with the operationalising of the agreement, and asked for a parliamentary review. Importantly they are also asking for a Constitutional amendment for bringing international treaties and certain bilateral agreements for approval in parliament. We also have a statement from the National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM) on the Deal.

The WTO Doha 'Development' Round negotiations are back on track despite the recent failure of talks among the G4 at Potsdam and the expiry of the US President's Fast Track Authority in June 2007. The negotiations got a fillip with the release of draft texts for both agriculture and NAMA in July 2007. These developments in Geneva do not augur well for developing countries. A background note from Focus on the Global South, Food Trade and Nutrition Coalition-Asia and Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security gives an update.

Contents:

1.       NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS  
1.a. People's Tribunal on the Impact of the World Bank Group in India
1.b. Seminar at Centre for Urban Studies at Rachana Sansad College, Mumbai
1.c. Film screening, New Delhi, "The Lightning Testimonies": by Amar Kanwar
1.d. Presentation on Rise of China and India: Asia Society India Centre & India China Institute
1.e. Focus on the Global South International Course: Globalization and Social Transformation: October 15 - November 2.

2.        STATEMENTS/REPORTS
2.a. Left Parties Statement On the Indo-US Bilateral Nuclear Cooperation Agreement
2.b. Statement by Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy and Sandeep Pandey on the Indo-US Nuclear Deal
2.c. Democratic Aspirations of Pakistan - Public Meeting Report
2.d. 60 years of Independence of Pakistan and India celebrated - A Report
2.e. Peoples Media Initiative statement protesting attack on Outlook office

3.        ARTICLES
3.a. Whither WTO? Background Paper for National Consultation on "What the Doha Development Round means for India".
3.b. India - The Great Democracy Gap by Meena Menon