COMMENTARY:9/1/02
THE UN “SHREKS” PLANET EARTH
Joan Veon
The
cover of the newest TIME magazine which features a frog says it all, “How
to Preserve the Planet and Make This a Green Century.”Here
at the World Summit for Social Development, thirteen thousand delegates
from 190 countries and representatives from nine major groups such as the
G77, European Union, OPEC, Contact Group on Water and Sanitation, Caribbean
Community, etc. are meeting to discuss and hammer out strategy for the
21st Century.
The
very modern and well-equipped Convention Center here in Johannesburg has
ample space for three plenary rooms where the delegates to the conference,
representatives from the major Groups and non-governmental organizations
are meeting.In addition, there
are numerous smaller rooms for all kinds of meetings and workshops from
all kinds of groups and organizations.
The
flurry of activity makes one think it is finals week at a major university.Everyone
who is anyone in the world with regard to the United Nations, its vast
infrastructure of agencies and committees as well empowered governmental
advisers; CEO’s from major interested multinational corporations and close
to 700 non-governmental organizations are here.
The
tone is decidedly “communistic” as President Thabo Mbeki and World Summit
for Social Development Secretary-General Nitsin Desai invoked words like
“solidarity” and“transfer of wealth.”Another
well worn phrase is a “reinvigoration of international solidarity and partnership.”Meanwhile
the attitude of many non-governmental organizations is blatantly militaristic.
Major
side and parallel meetings include: The Global People’s Forum which brings
together the 700 NGO’s to discuss the same points in the document as the
delegates and the Science Forum which is a partnership between the South
African Department of Science and Technology along with the International
Council for Science and the World Federation of Engineering organizations.
Duly
elected congressmen and senators from all over the world meet to discuss
key global issues at the Parliamentarians for Global Action-PGA.The
fact that they meet in plenary fashion comprises, in essence, a “global
parliament” of their own.These
key individuals push though global issues in their own countries that support
the United Nations and its agenda.In
the U.S. while Congresswoman Constance Morella and Congressman James Leach
have been extremely active, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, George Miller,
James Greenwood and Earl Blumenauer along former governor of California
Jerry Brown who is now mayor of Oakland, will participate.Here
in Johannesburg, PGA will concentrate on Clean Air and Clean Water that
will bring together members of parliaments from over 100 countries with
leading environmental experts, NGOs and business leaders.
Another
major meeting is The World Business Council for Sustainable Development
begun in 1991 to get businesses involved in the Rio Earth Summit.CEO’s
of General Motors, Cargill, Dow Chemical, DaimlerChrysler, Shell, Conoco
and Sony are just some of the 160 corporations that are incorporating sustainable
development into all of their manufacturing processes and corporate philosophies.Some
of the projects which they are involved in include:market-driven
mechanisms for countering global warming and reducing dependence on carbon
fuels and how to cut water wastage and urge greater acceptance of public-private
partnerships in supply water and natural resources to the general public.
They feel that the only hope for sustainability is to change forms of consumption.To
do so, they say, “we must innovate” through dialogues with NGOs and new
partnerships.
Then
there is IUCN that has over 75 countries as members, 100 governmental agencies
and over 800 non-governmental organizations.The
Union is a web of partnerships to manage and restore ecosystems and threatened
species.Their objective is to emphasize
the role of the environment, sustainable resource management and biodiversity
conservation in sustainable development.They
are sponsoring a weeklong conference called “Futures Dialogue”.On
Tuesday, there was a formal presentation at the IUCN of the Earth Charter
proclaiming the “architecture of the New International Order” which refers
to man’s relationship to nature and Mother Earth and a pagan centered value
system often referred to by Mikhail Gorbachev as a “new set of Commandments”
to replace those given to Moses by God.
Lastly,
I am told the word “shrek” as in the movie means “terror.”I
wonder if there is a connection?
