NEWS

Social Movements in Discussions Towards Rio+20

28/10/2011

On 20^th October, leaders of social movements, civil society and a range of organizations that are part of the Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (Associação Brasileira de Organizações Não Governamentais: ABONG) gathered in Salvador to reflect on Rio+20 – the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.  Rio+20 will be held in the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil from the 4^th to 6^th June 2012.  The meeting served as an initial reflection about the formulation of Bahian proposals for the Rio+20 Conference’s People’s Summit for Social and Environmental Justice in the Protection of Forests. All discussions are currently concerned about the issue of social movements having a real voice and visibility at the Conference.

“We are seeking space for our demonstrations and we want to ensure that our proposals are able to influence agreements” stated Renato Cunha, Coordinator of the Environmental Group of Bahia (Grupo Ambientalista da Bahia: Gambá).  Renato Cunho initiated the discussion about climate change in the context of the Green Economy and reminded participants about the need to form a Bahian participation committee.

Augusto (Caju) Santiago, the CESE advisor responsible for monitoring this area, reaffirmed the importance of monitoring the event for society, particularly for traditional peoples and communities such as Indians and Quilombolas.  Caju considered Rio+20 to be an opportunity to strengthen communities’ struggles to guarantee their territories, especially since their ways of life and territorial management are exemplary for the preservation of the environment and in mitigating the effects of climate change.  Consumer society needs to know more about this, in order to recognize the service provided by traditional communities.

“We develop methodologies so we can reflect with the communities, so they can plan for the future and organize themselves towards participation in these diverse forums,” stated Caju.  He noted that changes in energy paradigms begin with changes in consumer patterns and that, one way or another, we are all involved and affected.

Jose Carlos Zanetti, also an advisor for CESE’s environmental projects, reminded us of Leonardo Boff’s position which argues that while life and the planet Earth recreate each other, the most pressing environmental issue of the day is the survival of the human species, which needs to rethink its patterns of consumption.

Brainstorming about the theme and dissatisfaction over input from the public authorities will continue in future meetings to consider local proposals for Rio+20.

The event was promoted to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ABONG – Organizations in Defence of Rights and Common Goods, and formed part of the Spring for Life Campaign annually promoted by CESE, which this year addresses the issue of Environmental Justice.

For more information about Rio+20 go to its official civil society site: http://rio2012.org.br [in Portuguese] or the official Conference site: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/ [in English].

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