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PORRITT RIGHT TO SLAM GOVT

25 Aug 2002

Responding to criticisms made by Jonathan Porritt, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Sustainable Development Commission, Mike Childs, Earth Summit Coordinator for Friends of the Earth said:

“Jonathan Porritt is absolutely right to say the UK’s record on sustainable development is just not good enough. He’s also right to say that Tony Blair is blind to the failings of big business. The UK Government must do far more. Tony Blair could start by showing some leadership by going to the Earth Summit earlier and staying longer, rather than just popping by for 5 minutes. He could also commit the government to supporting the call for a corporate accountability treaty to prevent the social and environmental damage being causing by some multinationals. If Tony Blair doesn’t show leadership on this issue it’s not clear who will. Margaret Beckett seems more intent on talking down the Summit and being an apologist for the failings of George Bush.”

Friends of the Earth has produced five “key tests” for Prime Minister Tony Blair, to show that the UK Government is serious about making the Johannesburg Summit a success. They are

• Take your Environment Minister [achieved!]
• Attend for more than a single day and a photo opportunity
• Show as much global leadership on the environment and poverty as you are seeking to do over global security issues, because, as Colin Powell, John Prescott, Klaus Toepfer and many others have pointed out, sustainable development is crucial to our common security [1].
• Decide which voices matter – ordinary people or business lobbyists. Show that people and communities come first by backing global rules to govern the behaviour of multi-national corporations and give rights to local people and communities.
• Make sure US business and Republican lobbyists don’t get their way – insist that action to fight climate change is crucial to sustainable development. When in Johannesburg give public backing to the Kyoto Treaty.

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