These included guarantees of 50,000 new jobs and the construction of food-processing plants. The coalition criticizes the MAI for excluding developing countries from the negotiating table, and for undermining moves stemming from the 1992 Earth Summit to protect the environment and achieve sustainable development. The feathers of the African Grey Parrot are collected and sold. This has become a key economic resource for Ikodi villagers and one which is zealously guarded. Local laws forbid the trapping of parrots, the felling of palm trees and the use of firearms that might frighten the birds.
Poachers face a beating if caught.
Still, poaching remains a problem. The birds are highly prized by smugglers due to their ability to speak and whistle like a human. Ikodi is one of the few places where the birds are still numerous. Elsewhere numbers have dwindled due to poaching and tree-felling. The directive, due to come into force by May 2000 will allow recycled radioactive materials that expose people to less than ten microsieverts of radiation a year to be sold without seeking Eurotom permission.