So, that's it, the negotiations have ended, a deal is on the table, and I'm on the airport in Tokyo on my way back to New York. It has certainly been a couple of intense weeks, and there is just so much to digest.

First of all, the deal on the table is very weak, and no one is particularly happy about it. However, all the negotiators are extremely happy that they were able to reach an agreement at all, thereby not further weakening the already shaky position of the WTO.

Civil society is not happy about the deal. They are claiming developed countries have only given up a little in form of cutting export subsidies, while developing countries have had to give up a lot in form of opening up their public services (such as water and education) to foreign investment and privatization.

Outside yesterday there was another protest march against the WTO. 900 protesters (most of them Korean farmers) had been arrested in the early morning, so they were not able to participate. The demonstration was peaceful, and it was another powerful display of international solidarity, with more than 5,000 participants.

The negotiations will go on until April next year, when the new deadline for reaching a full deal has been set. It remains to see whether this deadline can be kept (the WTO hasn't been too good with deadlines so far), but it is important for civil society to keep monitoring the situation, even though it will disappear from the public attention.

I will write more about my thoughts on youth participation in the WTO once I get some distance to it all.

It's Sunday morning here in Hong Kong, and there is a strange sense of anticipation in the WTO center. What will happen on the inside, and what will happen on the outside? Inside - negotiators are desperate to reach some sort of agreement and achieve a breakthrough in the negotiations. Outside, the demonstrations are becoming increasingly violent and there is a large number of police officers in the streets.

Yesterday a draft text was presented and every word and comma is being scrutinized by delegations and NGOs. It is hard to pinpoint exactly what is keeping the negotiators to reach an agreement, but as usual the blame-game is being played. US is blaming EU, EU is blaming US, developing countries blaming US and EU for not letting go on specific issues, EU and US blaming developing countries for not having a balanced approach to the negotiations.

It is amazing how fast the information travels from the inside to the outside. Victoria Park, the gathering place for demonstrators, gets the updates as soon as they reach the NGO center, and the information helps determine the mood and intensity of the demonstrations.

Yesterday the demonstrations were the most violent so far, and depending on the outcome of the negotiations, we can expect even more violent demonstrations today.

The security around the center has been tight, and many exits and entrances have been closed, even for delegates. The next few hours will be very intense for everyone involved. I can really sense how important the outcome of this conference is to everyone, compared to the sometimes dull negotiations at the UN. The impact on people's lives are very direct and real, which is why people are taking to the streets to ensure their voices are heard.

Greetings from Hong Kong, straight from the WTO ministerial conference…….kind of stuck inside the conference hall…… protests are going outside…… The situation is tensed ……. And am sure it is boiling few blocks away from here (among the government delegations) as the real negotiations are going on, after the draft text came out this afternoon……..the remaining few hours would be extremely important, critical and decisive as these decisions would determine how the world trade and development scenario would move, in the days to come.

It has been an amazing experience for me to participate in this MC6 HK, furthermore the youngest participant ever from Nepal to participate in WTO ministerial; however, it is really distressing to have direct experience how the developing countries are bullied by the developed countries. Among others, the day before yesterday I was at the press conference of the US by Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) and when the issue of ASEAN countries’ stance on Trade in General Services was asked he bluntly said “it would be a mistake” as if the developing countries can’t decide what how to have policy space for their countries and their citizens.

Earlier on the 14th when the ministerial started, dozens of farmers tried to swam towards the WTO conference venue……. And this is because trade policy have not worked positively in different parts of the world, especially in the poor countries and they want their voices to be heard when decisions are made…... I met one farmer from the US and he was saying it was only the large farmers and corporations benefit from the US Agricultural subsides….. farmers like him are being thrown out of their own farmlands….

It is interesting to note diverse opinions even within the UN organizations. Supachi (former WTO DG, now Sec General of UNCTAD) was worried that free trade was being unpopular among the citizens of US and EU. While, Salli Shetty, UN Millennium Campaign Director said “there should be fair trade rules…….peoples’ voices should be there when these decisions are made and their voice is simple: they want adequate food, water, education, respect and dignity.”

Hope this ministerial ends in positive note……

Greetings from Hong Kong, straight from the WTO ministerial conference…….kind of stuck inside the conference hall…… protests are going outside…… The situation is tensed ……. And am sure it is boiling few blocks away from here (among the government delegations) as the real negotiations are going on, after the draft text came out this afternoon……..the remaining few hours would be extremely important, critical and decisive as these decisions would determine how the world trade and development scenario would move, in the days to come.

It has been an amazing experience for me to participate in this MC6 HK, furthermore the youngest participant ever from Nepal to participate in WTO ministerial; however, it is really distressing to have direct experience how the developing countries are bullied by the developed countries. Among others, the day before yesterday I was at the press conference of the US by Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) and when the issue of ASEAN countries’ stance on Trade in General Services was asked he bluntly said “it would be a mistake” as if the developing countries can’t decide what how to have policy space for their countries and their citizens.

Earlier on the 14th when the ministerial started, dozens of farmers tried to swam towards the WTO conference venue……. And this is because trade policy have not worked positively in different parts of the world, especially in the poor countries and they want their voices to be heard when decisions are made…... I met one farmer from the US and he was saying it was only the large farmers and corporations benefit from the US Agricultural subsides….. farmers like him are being thrown out of their own farmlands….

It is interesting to note diverse opinions even within the UN organizations. Supachi (former WTO DG, now Sec General of UNCTAD) was worried that free trade was being unpopular among the citizens of US and EU. While, Salli Shetty, UN Millennium Campaign Director said “there should be fair trade rules…….peoples’ voices should be there when these decisions are made and their voice is simple: they want adequate food, water, education, respect and dignity.”

Hope this ministerial ends in positive note……

Activtist,are on their way from Victoria Park to the Convention Centre, their intension is to storm the WTO, yesterday they breached the barricades, they know that No deal is better than a Bad Deal! and they believe it enough to sacrifice themselves. Do I feel like a sitting duck? The mood is intense; the riot police are all geared up, shields, munitions, dogs, parades. . God help us all

The Final Countdown

There seems to be no compromise on either side, deadlock..... The draft ministerial text has just been released. Like everyone else in here I am anxiously scrutinizing the text, wondering if once more the WTO will fail us. For too long the WTO has undermined developing countries sovereign rights to pursue development according to their terms and according to what in their judgment is to the greatest benefit of their citizens. The exploitation must stop! In a few short hours we will know the fate of millions of our brothers and sisters plagued by poverty and dying of HIV/AIDS. In a few short hours we will know if there is any future for the WTO

In solidarity,

The last couple of days here in Hong Kong I have focused on what is happening on the inside of the convention center where the negotiations are taking place. That is, wherever I have access as an NGO representative. There are two buildings in the center, one where the negotiations are taking place and one where the press and NGOs have their bases. Therefore, in order to talk to delegates we have to wait for them to come out to us, which is something many do but I'm sure they are not looking forward to it :)

But also within the "delegate building" there are closed off areas. The green room, which got its name from a room in the WTO building with green walls, is the wholiest of the wholiest. This is where the real negotiations are taking place, and there's only around 20 people in there at all times. Many countries are excluded from this room, and this is an issue where the WTO has drawn a lot of criticism, due to the lack of transparency and the exclusion of marginalized countries. The negotiators claim, however, that this is the only format that makes it possible to reach a consensus.

To ensure representation in the "green room" countries go together in so-called blocks - groups of countries that share the same interests. For example, most African countries have gone together and agreed to be represented by Zambia in the green room (this position rotates among members, normally every 6 months). This means, when the Zambian delegate goes into the green room to face US and EU negotiators, he has a mandate from most African countries to represent their issues as well.

In the NGO building there are briefings, panel discussions, press conferences, etc, throughout the day among civil society and the press, all while we're waiting for the last updates from the negotiations. There are ususally lots of interesting stuff going on, but updates from the negotiations quickly get the attention by everyone through the word of mouth.

In the NGO center there's a computer room, and this is also a place of hectic activity. People are busy emailing, printing and copying statements and position papers, updating websites and blogs (as I am doing right now), and generally updating each other on the state of negotiations.

That's all for now...

WTO MC6: Whose Trade Organization?

When WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy addressed us yesterday at the Inaugural Session of the WTO Sixth Ministerial Conference, he said he was impressed with the outstanding work Hong Kong had done to prepare for the conference. "The facilities, the logistics and most importantly, the hospitality have been quite extraordinary," he said.

He noted reaching agreement in the WTO is difficult because it is a bottom-up process. "It takes more time, it is more burdensome and cumbersome, but I am convinced it remains the best way to take decisions that impact directly the lives of billions of people."

Difficult as this process may be, he said, "even immensely difficult decisions can be taken in the WTO. What is needed are negotiators that are bold, open-minded and prepared to take some risks."

Hong Kong offered to host this conference because the Government recognized that it would become a key staging post to the successful conclusion of the multilateral trade negotiations under the Doha Development Agenda - and it wanted to play its part in the collective effort to realize the round's ambitions.

This week we are at a historic juncture, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to alleviate the suffering and pain of poverty and HIV/AIDS for millions of people across the globe. Our actions here; our responses to the challenges confronting our societies will have strong bearing on the very survival and sustainability of mankind. Make Trade Fair!

In solidarity

On the eve of the WTO summit in Hong Kong, Russian and British youth joined a videoconference to discuss how Russia can benefit from its WTO accession.

Around 30 young people involved in various youth projects and pursuing their studies in economics or public administration were able to talk about the world trade regime and how it might affect Russia once it joins WTO, with their counterparts in the UK. The event was organized by Oxfam GB, TakingITGlobal-Russia, Peace Child International and Global Development Learning Network programme administered by the World Bank as part of the global campaign against poverty. The global coalition - GCAP, marked the third White Band day by putting the spotlight on trade injustice.

The videoconference opened with an engaging presentation by Liz Stuart, Oxfam trade policy expert who is currently in Hong Kong as part of delegation putting pressure on the world leaders to get a fair trade deal for poor countries. Liz explained that rich countries at the summit will demand very harsh conditions for liberalizing poor countries’ economies without any meaningful concessions on their part. As an example she cited Tonga forced to reduce its tariffs on main agriculture products from 75% to 15%- a very serious commitment with irreparable consequences for poor farmers in Tonga. Therefore, Liz explained, the longer a country waits to join the WTO, the harsher the conditions for acceding it are likely to be.

Anna Sidoruk, a consultant from Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, made a presentation on the current status of Russia’s WTO negotiations, followed by a presentation by the World Bank trade economist David Tarr. The flurry of questions from London and Moscow followed, as young people were eager to find out more about the likely impacts on domestic industries, employment, poverty and household incomes. Comparisons with other countries’ experiences were debated: such as China’s accession to the WTO, comparison with Venezuela and its innovative social programme to invest part of windfall oil money into human capital as the main asset of the country’s future. Young Russian students highlighted the unfortunate blessing of Russia with abundant natural resources, saying that the gains are reaped by the elite while a significant proportion of population live in near poverty.

As Russia’s markets for goods and services opened up to both foreign investment and competition, the young people present wondered how Russia would be able to build a diverse, vibrant economy whose
benefits were widely distributed.

"We (organizers of event) were delighted to see how intellectually challenging the dialogue was. The young people present engaged the senior experts on trade from Oxfam GB, the World Bank, Russia's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and CEFIR with smart, effective questioning. You could feel that the atmosphere in the room was charged with ideas, hopes and challenges. Russian youth were eager to discuss how Russia could gain a better place in the world trading regime, developing a diverse economy with opportunities for all rather than becoming dependent on energy provision whose benefits might be limited to a small minority." – says Nicholas Colloff, country programme manager for Oxfam GB in Russia.

After the exhausting day on Sunday, I was happy to have a "day off" on Monday. We finished the workshop, so I moved into the hotel in Hong Kong where I'll be staying for the rest of the week. I dragged my luggage on the MTR (subway/tube/underground), not a good idea in rush hour. I have to say, though, in general it's a pleasure to ride the subway here in Hong Kong - so organized, so efficient, so intuitive, so few rats. New York MTA, please come learn.

Later on Monday I went to the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, where the Ministerial is, and got familiarized with the place. It's really huge and the facilities are hi-tech, a stark contrast to the ageing UN building. Still, you always wonder with all the money going into these huge conferences if it's really necessary, and if the money wouldn't be better spent on actual development.

I also met a few young activists from Norwegian NGOs. They have a very good working relationship with the Norwegian delegation, and they invited me to join the next meeting. It'll be a good story for the documentary.

If yesterday was quiet, today was a very eventful day. A few of us wanted to go to the opening of the conference at 3pm, and since there were only 200 seats reserved for NGOs we had to line up at around 10.30 in order to get the pass at 11.15. From there we went to Victoria Park, where civil society groups gathered for the big demonstration taking place later. Our group had been asked to perform the African dance again, so we all went up on stage and did our thing again (yes, even I danced to African drums...).

The picture above is of the Korean farmers who later clashed with the police and jumped in the water to try to swim to the conference venue. They were pretty peaceful at this stage.

I met with the GCAP delegation, and talked to a few people I know from New York. I helped to hand out a few white bands to the crowd, although it's almost like preaching to the choir. The white bands need to go out to regular people, people in business areas, people in community centers, etc, not to already engaged activists.

At 2pm, we had to make a decision between attending the opening session of the conference, or participating in the demonstration. Most chose to stay for the demonstration, but Connie, Faith (both from Kenya) and I headed back to the convention centre. We felt after spending 1 hour in the line to get the pass, it would be too bad to miss it.

I wasn't allowed to bring the camera in with me, which turned out to be a missed opportunity for some good footage. The chief executive of Hong Kong (yes, they call him, the head of state, the chief executive) spoke first, heavily promoting a free trade agenda. Then Pascal Lamy, head of WTO, spoke, and the action started.

A group of NGO-reps stood up and marched towards the podium. They were quickly blocked by security guards, so they ended up staying just 2-3 meters from where I was sitting. They had posters saying "WTO kills farmers" and were shouting anti-WTO slogans. The security guards, obviously to avoid a scene, decided not to confront them and push them out, but let them stay where they were until they had delivered their message. Double click for video

The interesting thing was that Lamy did not hesitate for one second, and just kept on talking making only a tiny reference to the noise and disturbances in the room. He was obviously prepared for such events and had planned to not stop the program no matter what activists came up with.

The protesters were eventually escorted out, peacefully, and the program resumed. After it finished, Connie and I took the opportunity to mingle with all the ministers and delegates in the room. Connie met a whole bunch from the Kenyan delegation, while I looked for Norwegian-looking people but could only find Swedes. Such a disappointment...

It had been a long day, so I went back to the hotel relatively early to relax and catch up on work and news. I watched the incident from the conference on several news channels, but could not see myself there. Tomorrow I'm invited to a daily briefing with the Kenyan delegation at 8am, but don't know if I'll make it...

Phew, what a day! This morning Kumi Naidoo of GCAP was speaking to us at the workshop, and I happened to be in the reception when he arrived, wearing the excact same T-shirt as he was. I took him to the conference room and got a chance to chat a little bit. He is really a down-to-earth and appoachable guy, and he seemed to be well aware of GYAN and the work we do.

He spoke to us about GCAP and the background of their campaigning (aid, trade and debt). He is a very effective speaker - he knows exactly what to emphazise, where to pause, and when to loosen up with a joke. I guess he has done the GCAP-speech so many times that he has learnt how to deliver it perfectly. He is also very good at presenting complex issues in a straight-forward manner.

The key point from his speech, except for the GCAP-message, was that it is essential to include and involve young people in the trade movement, and that the issues should be presented in a simple, not simplistic, manner. He also said that young people are not "contaminated by experience" and should therefore be given a space in all types of decision-making.

After his presentation I was supposed to interview him for the documentary, but as usual with people like Kumi he was in a rush to another meeting and had a cab waiting. He was still generous enough to give me 5 minutes, so I was able to ask him the key questions I wanted.

The next thing on the agenda was to participate in the demonstration in downtown Hong Kong organized by the Hong Kong People's Alliance, a network of civil society organizations. Before we left, we were warned that it might become violent if certain groups decided to take action. I brought the camera with me, ready to document.

Despite the warnings, the demonstration were very peaceful. Around 5,000 people participated, and it was more like a carnival or a parade through the streets. People dressed up in costumes, played music, and shouted slogans. There were lots of police around, but they never interfered, unlike stories I've heard from previous demonstrations.

At night there was a cultural event in Victoria Park, a large space (withouth grass) in the middle of Hong Kong. It was really amazing to be there. There were dances, music acts, plays, and more, from a very diverse group of people, but all still connected by the common cause, which was really inspiring to be a part of.

To top of an amazing day, our group from the workshop got up on the stage and performed an African rhythm dance. (To those who know me and my rhytms: No, I didn't participate, I taped it...). Led by Lamin from the Gambia, and accompinied by Fillipino drummers, he encouraged everyone to join the dance. In the end, the whole crowd followd Lamin's lead and danced in a circle in front of the stage. Fantastic...!

Below is a short video clip of the warm-up for the performance. Double click for video

An exciting day in Hong Kong. We started the day with a workshop on what to expect inside the WTO. An experienced Oxfam-campaigner shared her experiences in lobbying on the inside, and a long-time activist gave us some tips on what to expect on the outside. The lessons I took with me was that in order to lobby effectively, you need to do your homework and come prepared. It also helps if you have some information to share with the delegates, perhaps on statements from other governments, so it becomes an exchange of information (or fair trade...).

But, here as everywhere, it is the personal relationships that matter. If you are able to build up a certain sense of trust among the delegates you are trying to lobby, they will listen to you and share information with you.

Later today we joined Oxfam Hong Kong in their Big Noise Day. It was mostly an event for the media, and it featured a giant farmer and a giant bowl of rice being carried through the busiest shopping street of Hong Kong. There were also a couple of symbolic stunts, including the one you can see below (smashing the trade box - smashing the current trade agreements). Double click for video

I have my doubts about how effective these kinds of stunts are and if the the money and resources going into it are worth it. I guess we'll see tomorrow how much the media actually covered it.

And about media, I did quite a lot of filming for the documentary we're planning today. I got a lot of good shots from the march, and I have to say I enjoyed the competition between all the people filming. We were always looking for the next best shot and the best position for it, and although the experienced media people were smarter than me, I could run faster...

At night all the participants of the Oxfam workshop went out to eat, and after three days of a strict Chinese diet I was happy to go to Pizza Hut and have some good old pizza. Tomorrow Kumi Naidoo, the director of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is coming to speak at the workshop, and I have scheduled to interview him for the documentary right afterwards.

Must sleep...

After the first two days of the workshop on trade justice, organized by Oxfam Hong Kong and Oxfam IYP, I have to say I have learned a lot about trade and its local ramifications. It's great to meet with and learn from people who are doing on-the-ground work and can tell the tale on how global trade rules affect their daily lives.

I am not at all a trade expert, but have always considered trade to be a very important part of the Millennium Development Goals (trade, although vaguely worded, is one of the targets on MDG 8). Still, the overall effects of trade are clearer to me now than before. It was especially interesting to listen to Connie from Kenya (who is a Regional Focal Point for the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS) and how important these trade negotiations (through TRIPS) are to the access to medicine for HIV/AIDS victims.

We also had a bunch of interesting speakers today. Walden Bello (see picture), a well-known man within civil society and the director of Focus on the Global South, gave us an overview of the problems neo-liberalism has faced over the last few years, in addition to an appeal for the young people to help derail the WTO. An interesting speaker for sure, although I don't completely agree with all of his ideas. I especially reacted when he literally celebrated the suicide of a Korean farmer, which more or less led to the collapse of the WTO talks in Cancun in 2003. Even if the outcome was good, I don't think talking about suicide as effective activism is the right way to go.

I also have take my hat off for a presenter from India, who managed to turn the topic "Issues of governance in the Indian rice chain" into a really interesting and engaging presentation!

At night we went into the city of Hong Kong for the first time. We had dinner at a restaurant by the harbour with an amazing view of the Hong Kong skyline, and we also got a chance to chat among ourselves in a more informal setting, which is always good.

I talked with a few people about our plans for a youth caucus, and a strong point against it is that we shouldn't let the WTO benefit from and promote our official participation (look! we have young people involved) when our voices are most likely to be diminished. Also, a lot of youth groups are already working to change the WTO from the outside, and it could be limit their chances of affecting the WTO if there is an official youth caucus.

I still think there is a case for trying to engage in a more effective dialogue with the WTO and try to promote change from the inside. With effective coordination and collaboration between the various groups we can push for change from all angles.

I also had a long and interesting chat with Sanushka, who is coordinating the workshop, about youth activism in general. I asked her about the question that's been bothering me the last few months: how do you get the average young person sufficiently inspired to make a lasting and substantial contribution to positive social change? No quick solution was found, but we discussed a few ideas.

Well, it's late and I have a long day ahead of me. More to follow!

So I arrived at the airport in Hong Kong last night. and Oxfam Hong Kong, who is helping to organize the workshop on Trade Justice, had graciously arranged for pick-up and transportation from the airport to the hotel. I was relieved, cause after almost two full days with minimal sleep I wasn't looking forward to venturing into the Hong Kong night looking for our hotel.

I also met two of the other workshop participants, from Australia and Nepal, and got a chance to chat a bit about our expectations for the workshop. At the hotel, I had to wake up and meet my roommate for the next few days, Gabor from India. He is into environmental issues, and I was surprised to learn how much environmental groups are mobilizing for the WTO ministerial. I thought all environmental groups would be focused on Montreal and the climate change discussions right now, but it makes sense that they are here as well.

This morning I got to meet a few more workshop participants as well as May and Sanushka from Oxfam IYP, who are organizing the workshop. I have met May before in NY, and it was nice to meet Sanushka in person after all the emailing. We had a little chat abour our plans here in Hong Kong, but nothing substantial as of yet.

As for our plans for a youth caucus, I can see it's going to be a bit of a challenge. Some groups, and rightly so, are reluctant to join an official WTO Youth Caucus as long as the undemocratic structures of the WTO remain. They don't want be associated as an official WTO affiliate, thereby "validating" the work of the WTO.

I completely understand and agree with this position, but I believe it is important to work on transforming the WTO from several angles. By having an official youth caucus with more access to the WTO Secretariat and to government delegates, we'll have more opportunities to present our suggestions for increased youth participation and for democratic reform of the WTO.

It's a difficult balance to hold, and it will be interesting to see in the next few days what people think of the concept. Tonight we're meeting for the first time with all the workshop participants, and I really look forward to participating in it.

The picture is of Connie from Kenya and Michelle from the US, on a hunt for ethernet cables in the nearby mall.

So, I'm leaving for Hong Kong tomorrow, and I'm starting now to really feel the excitement and anticipation of traveling. Hong Kong is such an amazing and fun city, and to go there for the WTO Ministerial adds an extra touch of purpose to it. I'm also a bit nervous for the things we want to achieve while we are there - I don't know exactly what to expect.

I'll be in Hong Kong with Luis Davila Ortega and Emily Freeburg, two friends and colleagues here in New York. However, they only arrive next week, so I'll be on my own initially for the first week. The main objectives of our trip is to:
- build relations with the WTO Secretariat in order to create a permanent space for youth participation
- establish relationships with government delegates for future advocacy work
- connect to other youth groups and explore the possibilities of creating a youth caucus
- provide updates from inside the negotiations through this blog and and through newspaper articles
- get as much interesting video footage as possible for a documentary

The first days when I get there, I will participate in a workshop on trade justice organized by Oxfam International Youth Parliament (IYP). The concept, content, and participants of the workshop all look very interesting, and I'm excited to meet so many young people dedicated to trade justice.

I'll be bringing a big camera with me, and to be honest I am pretty nervous about handling it. I don't have any extensive experience in filming, except for a totally amateur film me and some friends made a looooong time ago. I have, however, picked up a few tips on how to make an interesting film, both from the excellent documentary by TIG from WSIS and especially from the video on youth activism on the MDGs which I helped compile and edit. We'll see how it goes - hopefully it will be an intense learning process.

I also hope to connect to the Norwegian delegation in Hong Kong. I have discovered earlier at the UN that speaking Norwegian is an excellent tool for getting the attention of Norwegian government delegates. I think they're so amazed that someone else but them speaks Norwegian that they're happy to have a little chat. It will be especially useful since Norway will be one of six major facilitators of the negotiations, thereby playing a very important role.

Well, that's it for now, I will try to update this blog daily, depending on how much internet access I will have in Hong Kong.