| |
| 2000, July 8–14 |
| |
| The Thirteenth International AIDS Conference was held in Durban, South Africa, with discussions focusing on treatment plans and ways of controlling the spread of the disease. Pres. Mbeki softened earlier criticism of Western medical assessments of AIDS. In a related development on Dec. 1, Pfizer Inc. of the U.S. promised to provide $50 million in AIDS medications for treatment of the disease in South African clinics. | 1 |
| |
| Dec. 5 |
| |
| In South Africa's local elections, the ruling ANC won only 59 percent of the vote while the newly formed Democratic Alliance (DA) carried 23 percent. The significant success of the DA indicates the possible emergence of a true two-party system in South Africa. | 2 |
| |
| Dec. 10 |
| |
| Continuing the international pursuance of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, delegates from 122 nations met in Johannesburg, South Africa, and agreed to a treaty that would ban 12 highly toxic chemicals that have historically proved detrimental to humans and the environment. While many industrialized countries had already imposed bans on some of the discussed substances, this was the first globally collaborative effort to ban them worldwide. In order to take effect, the treaty was to require ratification by 50 countries. | 3 |
| |
| |
