US NGOs, citizen and public interest groups are asking for your signature to a statement addressing critical priorities and concerns about the positions and actions of the U.S. government at the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa this month. Originally produced and delivered at a press conference last month in Bali, Indonesia at the final preparatory meeting for the Summit, the statement responds to the question asked throughout the two weeks of the meeting: "What are we going to do about the United States?"
IMMEDIATE RELEASE (please forward!)
July 26, 2002
US NGOs ASK: "WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE UNITED STATES?"
Groups encouraged to sign NGO Statement for World Summit on Sustainable Development
Washington, DC - US NGOs, citizen and public interest groups are asking for your signature to a statement addressing critical priorities and concerns about the positions and actions of the U.S. government at the upcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa next month. Originally produced and delivered at a press conference last month in Bali, Indonesia at the final preparatory meeting for the Summit, the statement responds to the question asked throughout the two weeks of the meeting: "What are we going to do about the United States?"
This question, repeating an informal comment by Chairman Emil Salim during the meeting, reflects the frustration of people seriously concerned with a decade of increasing environmental degradation, deepening poverty, and corporate irresponsibility not effectively being addressed by world leaders, especially the United States. At the same time, the US administration is presenting itself as a global leader in sustainability and good governance, bending the definition of sustainable development to fit its own agenda of deregulation, privatization, voluntary approaches by corporations, and a refusal to ratify and support key international environmental agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol and Biodiversity Convention.
Therefore, US groups working for the public interest want to make it clear to the news media and the American people that they are seriously concerned about the lack of leadership by the US government on sustainable development, as seen in both its policies and its performance at the Summit.
The signed statement will be sent to President Bush and Secretary of State Powell just before the Summit begins.
To add your organization or name to the NGO statement: "What Are We Going to Do About the United States? A Call for Leadership on Sustainability" go to
and also the official UN website for the WSSD at www.johannesburgsummit.org
Author
Anonymous (not verified)
