29th August: A tale of two cities29 August 2002
Side by side...
The Olievenhoutbosch squatter camp...
Today has been quite mind-blowing.
I went to visit one of the local communities who have spent the last few months making the papier mache figures for our Hear our voice art action.
Local children
They live in a squatter camp (Olievenhoutbosch) on the outskirts of Jo'burg.
Their one room homes are made from panels of corrugated iron and they have one water tap and two toilets between 3000 people.
We received an incredible welcome.
Many people in the camp were shocked to see white faces, but they were overwhelmingly friendly. One woman with a young baby explained that she often goes without food for three days at a time. It is impossible to describe how I felt.
Lucky and anger were among my emotions. It made me want to scream at the negotiators to open their eyes. While they quibble over a few words on bits of paper, thousands of people are suffering just moments away, and all over the world.
...but worlds apart
A short drive later I was back in the most plush shopping mall I have ever seen - in Sandton - next to the conference centre. Once again I was surrounded by shopaholics in designer clothes, eating in expensive restaurants. I can't see how this contrast is anything but completely unacceptable.
...and Sandton shopping mall
Inside the Summit today, the US made the laughable claim that they are the "world champions in sustainable development". How they can say this when they continue to be the greatest obstacle to any progress which would improve so many lives? It simply beggars belief.
Who's yet to have
their say?
their say?
They should watch out, because mysterious figures representing people who have yet to have their say, have begun to appear all over the place.
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
