I hope you are all doing exceptionally well. Please let me know if you will be in BeNeLux, Germany, or Switzerland during the Christmas break. Maybe we can meet up for a Gluehwein / vin chaud.

For all of those who are interested in Trade and Development issues: I would like to share the product of my work at the South Centre in Geneva with you. Check out:

www.southcentre.org or directly go to

http://www.southcentre.org/publications/AnalyticalNotes/Agriculture/2007...

All the best whereever you are,

David

a bit of self-advertisement:

One of my earlier essays has just been published in the Journal of the Brussels School for International Studies (BSIS). If you are interested in international law regarding the use of force and methodological approaches to it, you can access the paper at the journal's website:

http://www.kent.ac.uk/brussels/journal/currentpage/2006.htm

Best regards,

David

check this out if you haven't yet. It's hilarious.

Best,

David

we finally managed to rent the bar in the basement of Tscharnergut so that we can have our well deserved party this Friday, starting at around nine o'clock.

Please bring drinks for yourself and food if you anticipate to be hungry at some point during the night.

Once you will have arrived at Tscharnergut (Waldmannstr. 15) and have entered the building, go all the way downstairs. You should hear the music by then the latest.

Hope to see you all there!

David

"The Power of Nightmares - The Rise of the Politics of Fear" - an enlightening BBC documentation on the parallel rise of US neoconservatives and Islamic extremists - in three parts.

Available at: www.video.google.de/videosearch?q=The+power+of+nightmares

Enjoy!

PS: For those of you who find this recommendation culturally insensitive or politically incorrect: I will later claim that I was on morphine when I wrote this entry

Research:
With regard to more in-depth research, I think I have mentioned the www.worldtradelaw.net website in class before. It provides you with commentaries and summaries on all DSB cases, has a limited online library, refers to all major trade law journals on the market, and updates on all major events....etc. etc.

Model WTO:
On another note, the student organisation Oikos at the University of St. Gallen in the north of Switzerland organizes a simulation of WTO negotiation procedures in ST. Gallen and Geneva each year. It normally takes place in June. Interested students should check out www.modelwto.org .

Have a nice weekend.

Since Aziz - being assured of my personal respect for this move - supported Aya as a vice rep after both received the same amount of votes, Aya is - surprise, surprise - elected to fulfil Manolo's functions if he should not be, for whatever reason, be able to do so.

Please let me make a short remark concerning those who might think that the whole issue is of minor importance: From the last five years of experience at four different universities, I have at least learned one thing: There have ALWAYS been and there ALWAYS will be 'issues' which come up at some point in time, sometimes of less, sometimes of crucial importance.

These 'issues' need to be communicated between students and teachers or administration by one voice on behalf of the students in a most topical but firm manner. I am sure that this is also most appreciated by those who we are - through our reps - talking to. That is why I am more than glad that we are represented by such a strong, well-balanced team for the rest of the academic year. Please let us, once necessary, make use of the service the two generously offered to us, in order to improve 'things' for us, the institute and the upcoming class of Milies.