2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003,
2002,
2001,
2000,
1999,
1998,
1997,
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1995,
1994
LEADERSHIP NEEDED FOR EARTH SUMMIT
24 Aug 2002
The UK still has time to provide political leadership to make the Earth
Summit a success Friends of the Earth said today in response to a downbeat
interview in today’s Financial Times with Margaret Beckett.
Margaret Beckett, who will be the only UK Minister at the talks for
the duration of the Summit, said that:
- She was worried that the Summit would lead to exhortations rather
than concrete results.
FOE says - The UK itself has been pushing for voluntary
controls on big business rather than binding agreements.
Friends of the Earth has been leading a coalition of environment
and development groups in calling for an agreement to develop a new
treat on corporate accountability.
- It was “disingenuous” to expect Tony Blair to be
spending time on the “nitty gritty of negotiations”.
FOE says - Tony Blair famously rolled up his sleeves to
get involved in the nitty gritty of the Northern Ireland peace process
to achieve a breakthrough. The security threats
posed by global poverty and environment degradation are huge;
as US Secretary of State Colin Powell said “sustainable development
is a security imperative.” Tony Blair also spent considerable
time travelling around the world before Trade talks
in Doha to push governments to sign up to new
free trade agreements.
- Environment and development groups should be critical and
supportive rather than just critical. They should recognise the role
of big business.
FOE says - Friends of the Earth has recognised that business
can be a force for good but many multinational businesses cause huge
environmental and social damage and ignore the rights of local communities.
See
www.radioearthsummit.org
for numerous examples of corporate abuses. We will not shirk from
pointing out the Government’s lack of endeavour on getting good
agreements from the Summit.
Mike Childs, Earth Summit Coordinator for Friends of the Earth, said:
“The Earth Summit desperately needs leadership if it is to successfully
deal with the global threats posed extreme poverty and environmental
degradation. It is clear that Margaret Beckett does not want to
play this role. Tony Blair can provide global leadership,
but to do so he must go the Earth Summit earlier and stay longer.
If he doesn’t give this leadership we can only assume that
he is more concerned about protecting his friends in big business and
not upsetting George Bush. The world cannot afford for the
Summit to be killed of by the USA.”
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
