Editor,
After the events of the past year, and with the ongoing post-Sept. 11 dialogues regarding U.S. foreign policy and our internal state of affairs (patriotism vs. tolerance, security vs. civil liberties, etc.), it seems that discussion of the environment and matters of sustainable growth and development have fallen to the wayside. This is truly unfortunate.
In less than one week, the U.N. World Summit on Sustainable Development opens in Johannesberg, South Africa. As the follow-up event to the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 10 years ago, this event is being called by many our last chance to get it right. Last because, after the unmet promises and outright failures of the Rio Conference and the low expectations as to what will be accomplished in Johannesberg, any further efforts on a global scale have been deemed unprofitable. Last because, starting now, the world economy (including the demand for resources) is expected to double every 25 years.
Last because, in the 20 years since these global-scale issues began to garner public attention, things have only worsened - in fact, worsened so alarmingly that it may already be too late to stem the tide: epidemics of disease and hunger, floods and droughts, and destruction of natural habitat that will effect human, animal and plant life in every corner of this little blue planet.
So, of course, George W. Bush has opted not to represent us at what may be the last Earth Summit. Does anyone have anything to say about that?
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Ian Field
UNM student
