The big story, starting next week: trade

Trade is about to be the main issue in the news: this month, trade ministers from member countries of the WTO will meet in Hong Kong to discuss the future of international trade. A search on Technorati makes me think that the blogosphere hasn't quite caught up with that fact yet.

So, let's get ahead of the curve and freshen up our facts on trade. As usual, the BBC has an outstanding coverage. I especially like this feature showing some statistics on poor countries and trade.

On a lighter note, after Brad Pitt, another star gets into the fair trade bandwagon: Chris Martin, from Coldplay (and the blogging has begun). I'm glad to hear this, although I have to disagree with one of his comments: "The debt cancellation agreed at the Gleneagles gathering was “tremendous”, he said." Maybe at first glance, but some countries have cut back their aid budget in other sectors to make up for the cost of this debt cancellation. Careful what you ask for: you got debt cancellation, not an increase in aid...