Earth Charter
In September 2002, heads of state and government, national delegates, business people and members of non-governmental organizations gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. (Access the website at www.johannesburgsummit.org).
At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the international community adopted Agenda 21, an unprecedented global plan of action for sustainable development The hope is that the Johannesburg Summit will result in concrete steps to address issues about: poverty eradication; food security; water resources; participation in decision-making; environmental justice; protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples are just some of the facets of our work to promote the integrity of creation.
Reflection Questions on the Earth Charter
(for a group)
1. Begin by just reading the Earth Charter Preamble. Do you resonate with the challenges which are named. How can you move those challenges forward? Is there language in the Preamble that you find helpful, or not helpful? The first four principles of the Earth Charter are broad commitments. Principles 5-16, grouped as Respect and Care for the Community of Life; Ecological Integrity; Social and Economic Justice; and Democracy, Nonviolence and Peace, support the broader commitments with more specific action proposals.
2. In reading each principle, what from your experience or knowledge of the world situation comes to mind?
3. What are ways that this principle could be embodied individually, in your local chapter/group or community? What are local/global situations that need the application of this principle?
4. Name/learn about a local sustainable development issue in your community. Which Earth Charter principle(s) relate to the issue, and how? How would this situation change over time if the principle(s) were practiced as you envision?
5. Can you commit to the spirit and aims of the Earth Charter?
(Maryknoll)
The Summit presents us with an opportunity to increase our understanding of the critical and interrelated challenges facing humanity and the urgent need for commitment to sustainable development - a development that integrates economics, ecology and equity.
The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. Its vision recognizes that environmental protection, human rights, equitable human development and peace are interdependent and indivisible. Developed after a decade-long global conversation, the Earth Charter will be presented to governments in Johannesburg. Coordinating the dissemination of the Earth Charter is the Earth Charter Initiative www.earthcharter.org, an international movement whose purpose is to promote the study, use, implementation and endorsement of the Earth Charter by individuals, organizations, businesses and governments at all levels.
Read and discuss the Earth Charter, and endorse it http://www.earthcharter.org/endorse/index.cfm. Endorsement of the Earth Charter signifies an intention to use it in ways that are appropriate to your situation.
(Maryknoll)
South African President Mbeki opens Final Phase of World Development Summit
he conclusive phase of the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) held in Johannesburg (South Africa), was inaugurated this morning by the South African President Thabo Mbeki and the UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan. “It is now time for action”, said President Mbeki in his opening speech, addressing the 190 Heads of State and government officials to take firm action on poverty and the environment. “We can and we must take action all together to assure that there is a concrete and visible world process that eradicates poverty and lets humanity advance, at the same time protecting the ecology and our planet” added
Mbeki. "The matter rests with all of us gathered here," Mbeki told dozens of heads of state and government gathered in the plush Sandton convention
center, close to grim Johannesburg slums. Today will be characterized by the intervention of several other Heads of
State. There shall also be the presence of US Secretary of State Colin Powell, in representation of President George W. Bush.
The UK Prime Minister Tony Blair called for the industrialized world to open its markets to developing countries, particularly in agriculture. Schroeder, who faces re-election this month, has called for a major global effort to hold down the use of fossil fuels blamed for global warming. That has become a hot topic in Germany and Europe since devastating floods last month were blamed by some on man-made changes in weather patterns.
As world leaders took turns to speak, their ministers resumed negotiations on Monday morning to try to reach a final declaration by the official end of the summit on Wednesday. Agreement has already been reached on a range of energy issues, including provisions calling for the promotion of energy efficient technologies, the elimination of lead from gasoline, the reduction of the practice of flaring and venting of gas during crude oil production, and creating a level playing field so clean energy sources can compete.
But several basic issues are still in dispute, including proposals for a target for renewable energies, shifting subsidies for nuclear and fossil fuels toward renewables, and whether countries should launch "energy programs." A target for promoting renewable energy has also proved elusive. The European Union has proposed that countries attain the goal of using renewable energy for 15 per cent of their energy needs. But the United States maintains that since the cost of renewable energy is still more expensive than conventional energy sources, it is not always appropriate. However, there is resistance from the US and oil-producing states to calls from the European Union for a timetable on increasing the use of renewable energy. Developing countries also maintain that they do not want their development options constrained.
The special plenary sessions were intended to promote partnerships aimed at implementing projects in five action areas identified by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan which include water and sanitation, energy, health, agricultural productivity, and biodiversity and ecosystem management. In a major step forward to promote efforts to eradicate poverty and protect the environment, countries agreed to commit themselves to target of 2015 for reducing the numbers of people who lack access to proper sanitation. The new commitment on sanitation comes as a companion target to the already agreed upon goal of halving the proportion of people who lack access to clean water, which is one of the Millennium Development goals and which has been reaffirmed in Johannesburg. More than one billion people presently lack access to clean drinking water, and another billion people lack access to proper sanitation. The issue on sanitation remains open, in particular on the rights of contraception and abortion.
(MISNA)