| |  | |  Rio+20 success depends on how governments act, UN's Ban says The largest event in United Nations history, the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development, could deliver a future that promotes economic growth while preserving the environment, but much depends on governments, said Ban Ki-moon, secretary-general of the world body. "If these actions are not implemented, then this will merely be a piece of paper," he said. The Guardian (London) (6/20), AlertNet/Reuters (6/20)     
|
|  | "For the past week, delegates from nearly every UN member state have been poring over a document that will enshrine the official outcomes of the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development." UN Dispatch | |
- Rio+Social spotlights new media, sustainability
The Rio+Social gathering Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro served as an antidote to pessimism enveloping negotiations at the Rio+20 summit, bringing together leaders in technology, social media and government to address how new media might be used in solutions to some of the world's looming problems. "If we destroy our environment, we destroy ourselves," said Ted Turner, chairman of the United Nations Foundation, a co-host of the event. ITWeb.co.za (South Africa) (6/20) - Before Rio 1992, there was Brundtland
Some of the leading voices in global development have lined up to recognize Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of Norway, and a member of The Elders, for her role in bringing about the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. "She's the mother of the idea of sustainable development. ... She is, in a way, the godmother of everyone who thinks about the world's future," said Timothy E. Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation. Views And News From Norway (6/20) - U.S. said to stifle UN report critical of Rwanda
The U.S. is being accused of blocking the release of a United Nations report that reportedly links Rwanda to the supply of fighters and weapons in support of the rebellion being led by Bosco Ntaganda -- a renegade general wanted by the International Criminal Court -- in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. A spokesman for the U.S. mission to the world body said the report's findings were still being examined. ForeignPolicy.com/Turtle Bay blog (6/20) - Money, militants stand in the way of ending polio
The sidelining of polio-vaccination teams by the Taliban in northwest Pakistan is the latest setback in global efforts to eradicate the disease. Another threat is a $945 million shortfall in funding as 2.7 million children await immunization in six countries, according to the World Health Organization. The Guardian (London) (6/20) - UN's Ban: Go beyond self-interest on sustainability
Sustainable economic policies mean thinking beyond one's self-interests and consumption, said Ban Ki-Moon, secretary-general of the United Nations. "For too long, we have ... behaved as though we could indefinitely burn and consume our way to prosperity. Now is the time to rise beyond narrow national interest," he said at the Rio+20 conference. Bloomberg (6/20) - Red Cross evacuations in Syria stalled by fighting
The Red Cross and Red Crescent are being stymied in efforts to evacuate hundreds of wounded, sick and elderly civilians trapped by fighting in the Syrian city of Homs. The U.S. and Britain are reportedly offering President Bashar Assad protection from prosecution in exchange for his participation in United Nations-backed peace talks that ostensibly would see him eased from power. BBC (6/21), The Wall Street Journal (6/20), The Guardian (London) (6/20) - Thousands of global citizens gather through Rio+Social to address sustainability challenges and build a better world
On June 19, Rio+Social catalyzed a global, online conversation among corporate and digital media leaders, civil society, celebrities, and government representatives to share solutions for pressing global challenges such as access to energy, affordable health care, a clean and safe environment, and education. By leveraging technological innovations that have become available since the original Earth Summit in 1992, Rio+Social is a critical step in opening this dialogue from the closed-door meetings of Rio+20 to people all over the globe. Read more. - Rio+Social "6-Minute Speech" unites world vision for a sustainable future
Severn Cullis-Suzuki, an environmental activist, spoke to the world at Rio+Social, delivering a crowdsourced vision for a sustainable future. The speech was formulated through the "6-Minute Speech Project," a platform for a worldwide dialogue around the Rio+20 summit, in support of the UN's theme of "The Future We Want." The project empowered people around the globe to submit their vision for a better world. Read more. |
 | Key Sites
| | |
This SmartBrief was created for ELECCION@YAHOOGROUPS.COM
| Advertise With Us | Amy DiElsi
Director for UN Foundation Communications
United Nations Foundation
1800 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
(D) 202-419-3230
(C) 202-492-3078
(F) 202-887-9021
www.unfoundation.org | | | | About UN WIRE | | UN Wire is a free service sponsored by the United Nations Foundation which is dedicated to supporting the United Nations' efforts to address the most pressing humanitarian, socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the world today. |
| | | | | | | Recent UN Wire Issues: - Wednesday, June 20, 2012
- Tuesday, June 19, 2012
- Monday, June 18, 2012
- Friday, June 15, 2012
- Thursday, June 14, 2012
| | | Lead Editor: James daSilva
Contributing Editor: Bryon MacWilliams
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004 | | | | | | © 1999-2012 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information | | |
As young people weigh in with their impressions of the ongoing Rio+20 conference, a documentary series, 
Governments of poor countries that sell off portions of their ecosystems for nominally green business initiatives such as biofuels production, carbon offsets and ecotourism are increasingly finding that they are poorer, according to an analysis of research. 
No comments:
Post a Comment