A Raw Deal for Rice Under DR-CAFTA. The Free Trade Agreement between the United States and the Central American countries together with the Dominican Republic (DR-CAFTA) threatens the livelihoods of thousands of rice farmers in Central America. It opens the door to massive subsidized US rice exports at prices below the cost of production. If the Agreement is ratified and implemented, a flood of subsidized rice will displace thousands of Central American producers from the market. Only a few export and import companies will reap benefits. The dependence on food imports that DR-CAFTA will provoke may also worsen current levels of food insecurity for Central American countries. Oxfam fears that the implementation of DR-CAFTA will have a negative impact on poverty reduction in the Central American region.

By Oxfam USA, US.

International Development Policy Resource.

Small Scale Gold Mining in Cambodia. Oxfam America has published Cambodia's first ever report on small-scale gold mining in Cambodia. The report was written by Mr. Sieng Sotham, the Director of the Department of Geology, General Department of Mineral Resources, Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy. This report examines four of the nineteen known gold deposits. Using these four case studies the report illustrates the issues involving the use of toxic chemicals, the socio-economic factors and the lack of effective legislation.

By Oxfam USA, US.

International Development Policy Resource.

Undermining Access to Medicines: Comparison of Five US FTAs. The US government is using bilateral and regional free-trade agreements (FTAs) to impose unnecessarily stringent intellectual property standards on developing countries that go beyond World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. These new higher standards favor the short-term commercial interests of US pharmaceutical companies, at the expense of public health in developing countries. Oxfam has analyzed a selection of key US FTAs: The provisions in these agreements go far beyond the obligations required by the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The new "TRIPS-plus" obligations in the FTAs close off the public health safeguards available to WTO members under TRIPs and will restrict access to affordable medicines in developing countries.

By Oxfam America, US.

International Development Policy Resource.

Weathering the Storm: Lessons in Risk Reduction from Cuba. Cuba is a case study in successful disaster risk reduction. At the national level, Cuba's disaster legislation, public education on disasters, meteorological research, early warning system, effective communication system for emergencies, comprehensive emergency plan, and Civil Defense structure are important resources in avoiding disaster. At the local level, high levels of literacy, developed infrastructure in rural areas and access to reliable health care are crucial for national efforts in disaster mitigation, preparation and response. Weathering the Storm: Lessons in Risk Reduction from Cuba presents a comprehensive overview of the Cuban model of risk reduction in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, and explores what may be adapted from this model in other countries. The report focuses on specific recommendations for Central America. By Martha Thompson with Izaskun Gaviria.

By Oxfam America, US.

International Development Policy Resource.