Philip James, Barry Popkin, David Stuckler, Sabrina Ionata, Boyd Swinburn: five of the WN commentators on the UN NCD Summit and what to do now

Access Rio2012 spirals banner here

The UN Summit on prevention and control of chronic diseases takes place this month in New York. What's it all about, and what now and afterwards, until 2020? The main commentary in World Nutrition this month is by Association Council member Philip James. In summarising the reasons and preparation for the Summit, he also points out some of the pitfalls on the way to its final Political Declaration, a late draft of which was published and examined last month.

Philip James, whose illustrious career includes his chairing of the WHO study group responsible for its '797'report on diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases, also contributes to a second commentary on the UN Summit this month. This takes the form of short communications usually from Association members. These include (left to right, above), Barry Popkin, authority on obesity with special knowledge of China; David Stuckler, recently of the Harvard School of Public Health, co-author of a study on the impact of philanthropy on public health policy; Sabrina Ionata, Association general secretary; and Boyd Swinburn, co-director of the International Obesity Task Force. Contributors have been asked to respond to a short series of questions, designed to encourage the move towards rational policies and effective actions that really will prevent and control non-communicable diseases.

Rio2012: our banner

Every month our general secretary Sabrina Ionata, with support from colleagues in Rio, brings us news about our Rio2012 congress. This month she tells the story of the congress banner. Here it is.

Its spirals follow the original concept of the New Nutrition Science project, whose emphasis on the social, economic and environmental, as well as the biological and behavioural dimensions of nutrition is also a theme of Rio2012. Read all about this, and remember please that the closing day for submission of abstracts is the last day of this month – 30 September.

Development for whom?

This month we publish the twelfth column written by Claudio Schuftan. Its theme is the new philanthropy, of whom in our field by far the most remarkable and influential example is Bill Gates, whose Foundation was launched in its present form in 1999, the year before the inauguration of the UN Millennium Development Goals. In common with his colleagues in the People's Health Movement, Claudio believes that all forms of charity are inherently problematic. And the Gates Foundation? He cites a paper published earlier this year of which David Stuckler is a co-author. This points out that with the acquisition of the holdings of Warren Buffett, the Gates Foundation is the biggest single shareholder in Coca-Cola and in Kraft Foods. What is the significance of this and other aspects of plutocratic philanthropy? Claudio reckons this is a question we had better go on asking, so as to come up with some agreed answers that will guide our views and work.