Author: Shiro Armstrong

-The G-8 summit in Hokkaido this week kicks off today. Although Fukuda needs a breakthrough on climate change to boost his low popularity, it is looking less likely.

-The next meeting in the six party talks look to go ahead later this week in China. Bush, landing in Japan for the G-8 has pledged not to ignore the abduction issue which has started becoming a distraction from the G-8 summit and it sounds like it’s falling on deaf ears anyway. Bush has lifted sanctions against North Korea under the Trading with the enemy act and has told Congress he will remove the North from the list of State sponsors of terror but it won’t be easy.

-Ross Garnaut released the draft Garnaut Report on climate change last Friday and I caught the weekend media bonanza as I flew back yesterday. Analysis on the Review and the reactions coming this week on the East Asia Forum by an expert. My favourite quote from Ross in response to the government now saying the report is only one input into their decision making (at the Press Club):

I’m just one input into the Prime Minister’s thinking and he’s just one input into mine.

-An internal, supposedly secret World Bank report says biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75%, slightly higher than the US government claim of 3%. For background see past posts here and here.

-Finally, a little slow to link to this but great some research that suggests you don’t need a crisis for structural reform.