27th Aug: Getting our bearings27 August 2002
At last! - my passport
to the Earth Summit
to the Earth Summit
Hello again. We are now half way through day two and I could already do with a couple of matchsticks to prop my eyes open.
The days are long here.
Inside the Summit...Just as we thought, big business is completely taking over the summit with all the talk being about trade. This is causing bitter divisions between Northern and Southern governments. But we had a little fun today.
We produced a spoof document on trade in the same style as the chairman of the summit, then sat and watched as the delegates devoured its contents, while looking a little bewildered to be reading something that actually talked about making the world a better place!
NGOs demanding access to the Earth Summit
Meanwhile, on the outside...
Meetings of a different intensity are taking place. This morning I joined the group who are working on the final details of our Hear Our Voice art action on Sunday.
One of the 5,000 Hear
our Voice statues
our Voice statues
It's incredibly exciting watching all the remaining loose ends being tied up.
By way of a 'warm up', photos of our little figures may soon appear all over the conference centre with the slogan Who's voice is missing? to highlight the fact that lots of people are being excluded from this summit - or have simply decided not to bother turning up....Mr Bush?
I nearly didn't make it back in time to write this today. A few of us borrowed a car in an attempt avoid the disastrously slow bus system around Jo'burg. However, having confidently used the sun to navigate our way home, we were embarassed to realise we were travelling north rather than south! (We'd forgotten we're now SOUTH of the Equator!!!)
We have strategy meetings going on well into this evening - hopefully over a beer or two!
Don't let big business rule the world!
Love Sarah
Sarah Donnelly, our Policy and Campaigns Co-ordination Assistant is sending daily updates direct from the Earth Summit.
© Friends of the Earth
