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15 Jul 2002
The sound of a mother crying, a scream of frustration, the sounds of clock ticking, a kookaburra calling, a beer bottle opening, the whirr of a chainsaw, a tiger's roar, the sound of silence. noises reflecting our world under threat on www.radioearthsummit.org
Thousands of people - including Radiohead singer Thom Yorke
and writer Arundhati Roy - will be sending sound messages to this year's
Earth Summit, via a new audio web-site launched by Friends of the Earth
on Monday 15th July at
www.radioearthsummit.org
Friends of the Earth has created the site to provide people around the
world with the chance to send a noise to the Summit, to show
world leaders that they want action taken to protect the environment and people
from exploitation by unaccountable global corporations. Individuals can choose a sound to send
to the Summit, or record their own noise or message to show how
their world is under threat.
Radio Earth Summit will also provide news, features and interviews with individuals from
around the world in the run up to the Summit, which takes place
in Johannesburg from 26th August to 4th September 2002.
Messages so far include a hard-hitting interview with the internationally-renowned anti-dam campaigner and
Booker prize-winning author Arundhati Roy, a message of support from Radiohead lead singer
Thom Yorke, and Ricardo Navarro of Friends of the Earth International talking about
the impact of corporations in El Salvador. Noises people have recorded and
sent in include the sound of the Sumatran gibbon, under threat from logging
activities in Indonesia, and the hissing sound of polluting gas, released by petrochemical
plants in South Africa [1].
".as a writer, it's not my home that's going under water, under the
dams in the Narmada, but it's my world view and as a writer,
my world view is more personal to me than my home." Arundhati Roy,
in an exclusive interview with Radio Earth Summit.
The sounds sent to the site will provide a soundscape for Friends of
the Earth International's (FOEI) giant art installation, on display outside the Earth Summit
[2].
Friends of the Earth is calling on world leaders meeting at the Earth
Summit to introduce a new treaty on global rules for big business [3],
providing protection for local communities and the environment. The call has already
received the support of NGOs and campaigners around the world - and the
environmental organisation is calling on politicians at the Summit to listen to what
communities and their representatives have to say.
Liana Stupples of Friends of the Earth, said:
"This Summit will be crucial in determining the future
of our planet. Either we choose to act and regulate our
behaviour - and this means regulating the behaviour of international
business - or we sit back and watch the gap between rich and
poor widen, while our natural environment is destroyed.
"The noises and messages of support on Radio Earth Summit reflect the
real issues at stake here. We are talking about the
threat to people's health from pollution; about
communities' livelihoods being destroyed by deforestation; about countries
under threat from climatic change.
"We want people to send their messages to world leaders via Radio Earth
Summit - but most of all, we want government leaders around the world
to listen to what they have to say and take action to protect
the planet."
Radio Earth Summit will broadcast on-line throughout the Summit, providing news and comment - with updates and more interviews added to the site every day. All audio from the site is downloadable and can be broadcast copyright free.
[1]Full details of all the messages of support can be found at
www.radioearthsummit.org - all material on the site is available for
downloading and can be broadcast copyright free. A transcript of the
interview with Arundhati Roy is available from the press office at Friends
of the Earth.
[2]Friends of the Earth International is working with local artists
and community centres in South Africa to build a giant art installation,
representing the struggle of individuals against corporate power. The
installation will be unveiled during the Earth Summit. Further information
from the press office at Friends of the Earth.
[3]For more information about Friends of the Earth's campaign for
corporate accountability - and for more information about the Earth
Summit, visit
www.foe.co.uk/earth_summit/
or contact the press office.
Contact details:
Friends of the Earth
26-28 Underwood St.
LONDON
N1 7JQ
Tel: 020 7490 1555
Fax: 020 7490 0881
Web: www.foe.co.uk/feedback.html
Media team
