From bionet2@igc.org Sun Oct  1 11:28:01 2000
Date: Tue, 26 Sep 2000 09:43:14 -0400
From: Stas Burgiel - BIONET Information Services 
To: "List-Server, BIODIV-CONV" 
Subject: Harvard Meeting on Biotechnology & Precautionary Principle

A report of a meeting held this past weekend by Harvard University's Center
for International Development on biotechnology and the precautionary
principle is now available. The report can be found at
	http://www.iisd.ca/sd/biotech 

Other materials including program and background views are available at
	http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidtech/

<<>>

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE GLOBAL 
ECONOMY: SCIENCE AND THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE

22-23 SEPTEMBER 2000

The International Conference on Biotechnology in the Global 
Economy: Science and the Precautionary Principle took place 
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, from 22-23 September 
2000. Organized and hosted by Harvard University's Center 
for International Development (CID) and the Belfer Center 
for Science and International Affairs, the conference 
attracted over 200 participants from governments, industry, 
non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, and 
research and academic institutions. The conference is part 
of a series of events addressing key policy issues related 
to biotechnology and globalization, with support from the 
Rockefeller Foundation. The meeting aimed to explore the 
policy and practical implications of applying the 
precautionary principle in the field of biotechnology, 
specifically with regard to: practical, theoretical, 
historical and cultural aspects of the principle; previous 
applications in international environmental and trade law; 
the various definitions of the principle's use in 
international discussions and negotiations; and social, 
economic and political implications of the principle in 
developed and developing countries.