"We have a shared concern for the harm done to the public welfare by the international investment regime, as currently structured, especially its hampering of the ability of governments to act for their people in response to the concerns of human development and environmental sustainability."
Excerpt from an important statement by academics on the continued and coming threats of an aggressive agenda (of which Canada is a big proponent) for proliferation of bilateral investment treaties. (In Canada, Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements - FIPAs). For a short primer on FIPAs also see this new resource from CCIC produced with guidance from the CCIC Investment reference Group.
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Why is it that in spite of half a century of development cooperation, the gap between the people of our planet in terms of wealth and wellbeing only has increased? Is it a matter of efficiency of aid? Could it be that development cooperation has become a goal on its own, rather than an instrument to promote social and economic justice? 
