Press release - 7 June, 2002
Filthy Three monster depicts main obstructors to Earth Summit progress: George Bush (USA), John Howard (Aus) and Jean Cretien (Ca).
As these two weeks draw to a close, the Johannesburg Summit is
sinking in a sea of indecision and intransigence. The question the
world is asking is - how did the governments let us down? Was it
incompetence or was it sabotage?
Hardly any country can leave Bali without embarrassment. The
list of guilty parties is a long one, but it starts with the three
who shamelessly hijacked the process in Bali: the United States,
Australia and Canada. They are abandoning their responsibilities to
their citizens and to poor people across the world.
The United States' cynical and coercive approach to the process
has been outrageous, but entirely consistent with its recent record
of stalling progress and using strong arm tactics in United Nations
negotiations.
The European Union, "led" by Spain, portrayed itself as the good
guy in the face of US stubbornness but was hardly convincing. It
delivered rhetoric, but few real commitments.
It has been embarrassing to watch this process, to see different
nations and blocs single-mindedly pursuing their own narrow
interests at the expense of poor people and the planet's
future.
The system of horse-trading, back-room deals and bullying by
powerful blocs is becoming common practice in international
negotiations. Rarely has it produced so little by way of firm
results. We have been appalled to watch governments renege upon
commitments made at Rio 10 years ago. And the unwillingness of
powerful countries to align international trade rules with
sustainable development is undermining the chance of reaching any
meaningful agreement. If we emerge from Johannesburg with an
agreement that sets us back pre-Rio, we will have lost more than
ten years. Governments will lose the confidence of the world that
they have the will to save it.
So where do we go from here? We and many other NGOs have worked
honestly and openly to make this process work. We are not giving
up. The Rio Principles, Agenda 21 and the agreements reached since
must be made to work - the world's future is at stake. Now we call
on Heads of State and Government to demonstrate real commitment to
get this show back on the road.