The Lubin Files

Artwork in the Plenary Hall - Mirko Basaldella

Sometimes, we get questions about the various works of art housed here at headquarters.

We found the following information about the artwork on the ceiling of the Plenary Hall.  It was made by the artist Mirko Basaldella, sometimes known as Mirko.

David Lubin's 100th (a video)

The Archivio Storico has a link to this video (in Italian) from 1949, of the ceremony held at Villa Lubin in Villa Borghese to commemorate David Lubin's 100th birthday.

Survey related to plant genetic resources and intellectual property rights

The author featured in our last post, Muriel Lightbourne, also wrote

"Survey on the concurrent implementation of the FAO Treaty on plant genetic resources and of intellectual property rights." Intellectual Property Quarterly, 2:1 (2006), 131-148.

This article reports on the results of two questionnaires sent to 121 people and institutions, including academics, NGOs, professional bodies in the fields of plant breeding and legal protection of seeds, national and international agricultural organizations, and major seed companies.  The questions (some on defining intellectual property rights violations, others on research exemptions and other topics) themselves as well as the responses are interesting.

To obtain this article, please contact us at fao-library-reference [at] fao.org.

Intellectual property rights and plant genetic resources

A library patron recently requested Muriel Lightbourne's 2005 article, "The FAO Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources: Do All Roads Lead to Rome?" (Journal of International Business and Law, vol. 2, 2005, 15-24.)  The article examines the impact of intellectual property rights on the implementation of the treaty on plant genetic resources.  Some say that the treaty constitutes a direct challenge to private property.

(The treaty was updated in 2009, and that version is available in full-text online.)

To obtain this article, please contact us at fao-library-reference [at] fao.org.

26th McDougall Memorial Lecture

The twenty-sixth annual Frank L. McDougall lecture took place during the FAO Conference earlier this month.  Mr. Olivier De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered the lecture.  

World Summit on Food Security wrapped up

The World Summit on Food Security wrapped up on November 18, 2009.  Participants issued this declaration.  FAO has posted links to audio and transcripts of individual statements and speeches. See images of the Summit here.

Petition to end world hunger

The World Food Summit of Heads of State and Government will take place in Rome from November 16 - 18.  The organizers of the summit are campaigning to spread awareness of the global problem of hunger.  They urge you to lend your voice to movement by signing this petition.

In addition, a 24-hour hunger strike is being coordinated to show solidarity with the 1 billion people in the world today who face food insecurity.  The Director-General of the FAO, Jacques Diouf, will participate in the hunger strike, which will take place from 19:00 GMT on Friday, Nov. 13 to 19:00 GMT Saturday, Nov. 14.  Supporters of the campaign are invited to participate.

V11 countries adopts carbon declaration

The 11-nation group called the V11 issued a challenge yesterday at the Climate Vulnerable Forum, held in the Maldives.  Articles in BBC news online and tcktcktck describe their call for developed nations to pledge 1.5 percent of their Gross Domestic Product for climate action in the developing world.  The V11 will present their declaration at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen next month.

Marion Nestle books on display

Dr. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, public health, and sociology at New York University, delivered the 6th George McGovern lecture on World Food Day here at FAO.   For this occasion, the US Mission to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture donated some highly regarded books by Dr. Nestle to the David Lubin Memorial Library.  These titles are currently on display in the library:

• Food politics: how the food industry influences nutrition and health -
  
  • James Beard Foundation Book Award winner, 2003, literary category;
  • Association for American Publishers Award winner, 2003 (outstanding professional and scholarly title in nursing and allied health);
  • World Hunger Year Harry Chapin Media Award winner, 2003
• Safe food: bacteria, biotechnology and bioterrorism -
• • San Francisco Chronicle Best Books of 2003
  • Daniel E. Griffiths Research Award winner, NYU Steinhardt School,
• What to eat
  
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society Books for a Better Life Award winner, 2007, (Wellness category);
  • James Beard Foundation Book Award winner, 2007, reference category;
  • Amazon.com editors' Top Ten Books of 2006, Health, Mind, and Body
• Taking sides: clashing views on controversial issues in food and nutrition

What carbon offsets pay for

Locals in the southeastern part of Brazil are being paid not to cut down trees, according to this article from The Economist.  Inspectors will visit the area to make sure the trees are still alive, and if they are, money will be credited to the debit card accounts of locals.

The funds come from carbon offsets paid by polluters in developed countries.

This strategy is known as “avoided deforestation” or “reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation” (REDD).  The David Lubin Memorial Library's catalogue lists several items on this topic.