Nov. 14, 2002:

Campaign for Leadership Update

Have you seen the Joburg Statement?  Several US NGOs at WSSD in September drafted the statement as an assessment of the US Government's role at WSSD.

Boell sponsors all day event

Mark your calendar for an all-day event on November 21, sponsored by Heinrich Boell Foundation at AAAS:  After Johannesburg:  Where Do We Go From Here?

October 8, 2002:
"The Convention on Biological Diversity: A Ten Year Report Card"
The 7th International Wildlife Law Conference examines this topic at Washington College of Law, American University, Friday, October 18.

US News Coverage of WSSD Protests
The Center for Environmental Health has links to media coverage of the Americans who protested during Powell's speech, as well as a photo of the Powell protest in Joburg that appeared in the press.

"Booby Traps at Rio + 10"
by Naomi Klein, The Nation, Sept. 16, 2002

WSSD Special Reports
23 pages of links from tidepool.org

Powell Defends U.S. at World Summit
September 4, The Washington Post

Powell fears "unholy trinity" ahead of Earth Summit
(from Reuters)

October 7:
Wetlands 2002
Today through Wednesday, in Indianapolis is the Wetlands 2002 conference.

October 1:
Values Caucus Meeting Announcement
“Reflections on the WSSD In the Light of the Millennium Declaration Values-A Community Discussion"
Thursday, October 3 in New York 1:15 - 2:45

September 27:
Building a National Campaign for Leadership on Sustainability

Want to get engaged and help chart a path to sustainability within the US? Here's how:
- Join the USCPC-Discuss list and contribute to strategy discussions.
- Sign on to the US NGO statements.
- Join a CitNet working group.
- Stay informed through the USCPC-News announcements list.

September 25:
Next Steps meeting Thursday, US NGO planning meeting Friday

Join us Thursday, September 26 from 2:30 - 4:30 pm for "Making Sustainability a National Priority: Next Steps After Johannesburg", an open and informal discussion; all are welcome. See announcement for details.

On Friday, we will followup our US NGO strategy process with "Building a National Campaign for Leadership on Sustainability" from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon. US NGOs interested in collaborating must RSVP (conference call is also available). See announcement for details and RSVP info.

September 23:
Over 80 US NGOs send statement to Bush, draft new Joburg analysis

During the World Summit, 87 US NGOs endorsed a collective message, known as the Bali statement, and sent it to President Bush (and Sect. of State Powell), expressing their displeasure at the lack of leadership on sustainability exhibited throughout the WSSD process.

A second collaboratively-drafted document by US NGOs, the Joburg statement, highlights the demonstrated lack of commitment by the US to address the critical needs of the planet.

US NGOs: Endorse the Joburg Statement now!

September 22:
At WSSD, Bush Administration, not Powell the problem

The CitNet press release produced at WSSD [PDF] explains the context of the banner protests during Colin Powell's speech in Johannesburg and suggests that the protests were not directed at Powell's comments, but at the systematic degradation of social and environmental protection and international cooperation by the administration during the past two years.

September 12:
Did you go to the World Summit in Johannesburg? What was your CO2 and clean water impact?

Make your visit have less negative effect on the environment! Go to www.climatelegacy.org and www.waterneutral.org and buy a certificate to offset your CO2 emissions and water usage during the Summit. (Donations raised will fund renewable energy, clean water, and sanitation projects in South Africa.)

August 14:
Citizens Guide to the World Summit updated

The Citizens Guide to the World Summit recently was significantly updated and revised. Meant as both an introduction to the Summit for US citizens and a reference tool for experienced NGOs, much of the content is also relevant for journalists needing to quickly aquaint themselves with the Summit.

August 5:
UN WSSD Officials on Tour of US Cities

Nitin Desai, Secretary-General of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and Jean Claude Faby, a UN Foundation representative, are visiting four cities this week as part of a speaking tour sponsored by the Better World Campaign and UN Foundation. We urge you to attend, and call local journalists asking for World Summit coverage in your local news as well. See below for details:

• Desai's US Tour: Press Release [PDF]

• Monday, Aug. 5: Chicago Agenda [PDF]

• Tuesday, Aug. 6: Minneapolis Agenda [PDF]

• Wednesday, Aug. 7: Denver Agenda [PDF]

• Thursday, Aug. 8: Houston Agenda [PDF]

July 24:
CitNet member testifies at Senate hearing on environmental treaties

The Senate held a joint hearing Wednesday of the Committee on Environment ad Public Works and the Committee on Foreigh Relations. John Dernbach, a CitNet member, spoke, providing a review of US implementation of international environmental treaties, available on the Senate website. (Dernbach is also the editor of an upcoming book, Stumbling Toward Sustainability, which examines US efforts since Rio.)

July 15:
Powell speaks on sustainable development

On Friday, the Stade Dept held an invitation-only multistakeholder conference, "Making Sustainable Development Work: Governance, Finance, and Public/Private Cooperation". Secretary of State Colin Powell's keynote speech, generally was along the lines of other US administration officials (rah-rah snippets of "economic growth and partnerships will cure all that ails"). There were a few nuggets that US civil society could highlight, pursue, and critique to push the discussion further.

One such example is an admission, of sorts, that we are not yet sustainable as a country: "[...] I spent part of my life working with young people who were in need, young people here in the United States, young people who need sustainable development just a few blocks from here. And as rich as we are, as powerful as we are as a nation, we still have pockets of poverty, pockets of people who are living in despair and wondering whether or not their nation cares about them. We have to deal with that."

No mention, however, of the increasing number of people who are wondering whether or not their nation cares about its citizens' best interests and future on a global level. (Our record on multilateral agreements and actions appears to tell a different story than the rhetoric.)

He also uses "development" and "sustainable development" interchangably, which we all know is unacceptable (until significant shifts in mainstream development happen). And the mention of "the reality is that it is trade and private capital flows that will make the real difference that are more, more, much more significant" and that "growth, growth, growth is the key to raising people out of poverty" just clearly shows the simplicity of the administration's conceptualization of the problem, their primary focus on developing foreign (as opposed to local domestic) investment opportunities, and a general lack of awareness of the complex interconnectedness of our planet's systems (both natural and human) which create and perpetuate poverty.

July 2:
CitNet is a partner in the Civic Alliance to Rebuild Downtown New York, convened by the Regional Plan Association. A town hall event is planned for July 20th. See the above link for more details.

June 25:
CitNet media working group forming! In response to discussion at the last US delegation briefing, we have formed a working group to discuss tactics for influencing media coverage of WSSD. We will meet following the NGO strategy discussion Thursday to discuss the working group. If you are interested and cannot attend, email us. (People outside DC are encouraged to join!)

A lot of events in DC this week! A sustainable agriculture briefing at USDA is scheduled for Thursday, June 27 from 1:30-3:30 PM. (This does slightly conflict with the US NGO strategy discussion from 11-2PM.)

Interested in forestry issues? A sustainable forestry briefing in DC on Wednesday, June 26, will present some experiences of nonindustrial private landowners, community-based groups, and Indian tribes in promoting and implementing
sustainable forest management practices on the ground.

From May, but you may have missed it, the State Department has a vision statement for WSSD, in which they outline their platform for Johannesburg.

June 24:
Don Brown, a long time CitNet member, has written a new book, "American Heat: Ethical Problems With the United States Response to Global Warming". It's an honest expose of a timely topic, and he is generously donating all royalties to CitNet, so make sure you buy a copy!

Update - More details on Thursday's brown bag NGO Strategy meeting in DC are available. Please RSVP! (At the moment, there will be no call-in, although that might change.)

Friends of the UN, Southern California Council on Environment & Development, and a number of other organizations are hosting the Southern California Town Meeting For UN Earth Summit II this Saturday, June 29th from 8 AM-5 PM.

The New York State Energy Plan released Wednesday
commits to a statewide goal of reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, development of a GHG emission registry, and renewable energy targets.

June 21:
Gail Karlsson provides a report from Bali on the energy and climate change discussions at WSSD PrepCom 4, posted in the Energy & Climate Change working group area.

June 20:
Not good for Taco Bell, but good enough for Bolivia? A Bolivian NGO has reported that Starlink GMO corn has been found in food aid shipments from USAID. (The genetically modified corn is unapproved for humans due to it's potential to create allergies; Starlink was in the media last fall when it was found to have been accidentally included in several food products sold in US supermarkets.)

The Global Justice Action Summit starts today in Missoula, Montana, organized by Partners for Global Justice and Sustainable Communities. Continuing through the weekend as a lead-in to the G8 meetings next week, highlights include Friday's Festival of Sustainability, Self-Sufficiency, and Simplicity and a two day Sustainable Transportation Caravan for Peace and Fellowship using bicycles, electric and hybrid vehicles, biodiesel buses, and carpooling.

June 19:
Help us chart the direction of US NGO strategy up to Joburg and beyond. CitNet has set up a listserve for US NGOs interested in collaborating on a national strategy for sustainability. Read the announcement email for more info or simply request to join the USCPC-Discuss listserve now.

This Friday in New York City, join Green Map for their "Powers of Ten" event celebrating the ten year anniversary of the Green Apple Map. June 21, 5-8 PM

CitNet has scheduled an NGO Strategy Discussion for Thursday, June 27th from 11:00 to 2:00 pm at National Wildlife Federation in DC. Contact us at 301-770-6375 if you wish to attend. (Please note, this is an NGO-only meeting, there will be no government delegation members present.) More info and an agenda coming soon...

International Forum on Globalization is hosting a briefing in Washington, DC, entitled "Globalization: The Road to Johannesburg - What's At Stake?" o Wednesday, June 26.

June 18:
The latest official text of the Draft Plan for Implemnentation from the PrepCom 4 (June 12) [PDF] is on the WSSD website. Pay attention to the text in bold brackets - those sections are what governments couldn't agree on in Bali. These will be quite contentious in Johannesburg; it's also where NGOs should be focus ing their lobbying efforts.

June 13:
Are you subscribed to the USCPC-News listserve? It's a newsletter that distills the latest WSSD-related news and events to those relevant for US NGOs. Subscribe today! (There's also archives of past issues available.)

On June 6th at WSSD PrepCom 4, US NGOs released a statement, "What Should We Do About the United States?", which is critical of the poor leadership the US has played in the Summit process, and questions whether the US itself measures up to the "good governance" philosophy it is advocating for other countries. Quoting from the statement, "Most [Americans representing civil society] here in Bali to promote sustainable development are frustrated and embarrassed with the actions and attitudes of our government. Instead of representing our interests and concerns, we find our current government defending the interests and agenda of big business."

June 11:
Stay tuned! CitNet will be organizing a strategy discussion in the next few weeks to brainstorm how to get the public and media engaged in and aware of sustainability in the runup to WSSD. Discussion of a national campaign for leadership will also be on the agenda, thanks to the Bush administration's disappointing lack of foresight and inability to make responsible decisions for our future at PrepCom 4...

PrepCom 4 for the World Summit has wrapped up in Bali; it's fairly clear now that Australia, Canada, and the US are not interested in any strong government commitments of substance in Johannesburg, judging by their actions in Bali. Links to summaries and commentaries are available on the SDIN site...

June 7:
Listening to a little rich birdie in his ear? Or simply ignoring the facts? Days after the EPA releases a report blaming humans for global warming and acknowledging changes have already begun, President Bush rejected the report, flippantly calling it a product "put out by the bureaucracy".

In related news, both the European Union and Japan ratified the Kyoto Protocol this week, while Australia joins the US, saying no to Kyoto and Alberta threatened to sue if Canada signs on. Only a few smaller countries, expected to sign on, are now needed for the treaty to go into effect.

Britain's environment secretary criticizes US policy on global warming and agricultural subsidies as "short term step[s] in the wrong direction".

O'Neill gives address on development strategies for Africa at Georgetown after 12 day Africa tour with U2's Bono (AllAfrica via OneWorld)

Coming on the heels of Bush's call for a Department of Homeland Security, a global human rights group, in an article entitled "Bush's War: The fallout on women and families", argues that "there is no such thing as national security--for security to be genuine, it must be global." (MADRE via OneWorld)

Ministers struggle to wrap up Earth Summit talks (Reuters via Common Dreams).

Paul Krugman weighs in with a look at US energy policy in light of this week's EPA report on global warming with a NY Times op-ed entitles "Evils of Access". He suggests that the Bush Administration learned nothing from last year's energy crisis in California, and looks at the parallels between the threat of terrorism and global warming and the dangers of following preconcieved agendas crafted by contributors.

Another NYT op-ed by Eileen Claussen, "The Global Warming Dropout", explores how the US is increasingly out-of-step not only with other industralized countries, but with American citizens as well.

June 6:
Attend the upcoming Coal Summit in Charleston, WV on June 20-22. See event announcement for more information.

May 23:
Need to contact someone in the Administration about sustainable development issues? If you try to figure out who to contact blind, it can be quite a challenge. (A national office for sustainable development would help there!) CitNet has obtained permission to post a list of the US Government interagency focal points for various cross-cutting and sectoral issues related to sustainable development [XLS]. We hope you find it useful!

Now available to CitNet members: the US government's Country Profile Report for WSSD [PDF: 660K]. This won't be posted to the UN's website for a few weeks. The State Dept. has graciously given CitNet permission to distribute it to those we're actively engaged with. It's quite long, at 205 pages, but since it's broken down into chapters (see TOC below), you probably will only be interested in 10 or 15 pages of it, depending on what issues interest you. This is also available as a ZIPped version of the original 1.1MB Word document [ZIP: 380K].

For those following the World Summit process, PrepCom 4 in Bali, Indonesia starts in a few days. Some new info has been posted on the SDIN website (sdissues.net). SDIN is a great way to get in touch with others working on the issues surrounding the upcoming Summit. The site will be updated throughout the PrepCom, which ends June 7th.

CitNet organized a NGO strategy meeting, followed by a consultation with the US delegation in Washington last Thursday. Prior to the meeting, CitNet working groups were consulted to develop specific questions and comments for the delegation [PDF].

April 19:
Several new links on the CitNet Energy & Climate Change Working Group page today.

Erich Pica's presentations on the Green Scissors Campaign (HTML or PPT) and Tax Shifting 101 (HTML or PPT) are online. These were presented at the February 28th Sustainable Production and Consumption Issue Forum, organized by CitNet.

April 18:
The UN, UCLA Burkle Center of International Relations, USC Sustainable Cities Program, the UN Foundation and a range of civic groups will host an evening WSSD symposium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 24, about the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the crucial issues it will address. Speakers include UN Under-Secretary-General and Secretary-General of the Johannesburg Summit Nitan Desai, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, economist Hernando de Soto, and others.

The National Preparatory Commitee of Indonesia for PrepCom IV has launched a website at www.baliprepcom.org to assist those who will be attending. (PrepCom IV will be held 27 May to 7 June 2002 in Nusa Dua, Bali.)

Have you seen the Sustainable Development Issues Network for 2002 yet? This network was set up to help facilitate issue-oriented NGO strategies for the World Summit.

A new presentation, "The Global Health Threat of Persistent Organic Pollutants", by Karen Perry of Physicians for Social Responsibility, is online. This presentation is from the Citizens Forum on Health and Environment (PDF, meeting agenda) in January.

Need to determine who is the focal point in the US government on an issue you work on? CitNet has received a preliminary list of contacts for the US interagency processes related to sustainable development. We currently trying to get permission to post the list online, but in the interim you can email or call us for contact information on a specific issue. (info@citnet.org, 301-770-6375.)

The official US Country Profile Report for WSSD is complete, though not yet online. At 214 pages, it's also rather long! (All governments are required to submit these to WSSD; some are only 2 pages.) We will link to it once online at the UN website. (CitNet working group members should have already received a notice on getting an advance copy of the report - contact us if you didn't.)

March 21:
Are you a youth going to NYC for PrepCom 3? If so, definitely check out the Youth Summit on Sustainable Development, next Friday to Sunday (March 29-31), organized by SustainUS.

March 15:
The latest edition of the USCPC News is out. If you didn't receive it by email on Friday and would like to, sign up at the USCPC-News list subscription page.

March 14:
The US CPC and CitNet have organized a US citizens consultative meeting for Friday, March 15 at 10 AM entitled, "Preparing for PrepCom III: The US and the Global Review of Progress". RSVP is requested, but not necessary to attend.

A Dialogue on Sustainable Development on March 26th is being organized by Sustainable DC. RSVP is required.

March 7:
The Senate energy bill is gathering a lot of attention as a vote nears. For those who still haven't weighed in on the issue with Congress, Deling Wang has written a summary on the impacts of various amendments to the energy bill and which she thinks you should ask your Congressperson to support.

March 5:
This Wednesday, a Citizens Forum on Globalization, Corporate Accountability, and US Progress Toward Sustainability will be held by CitNet and the USCPC in Washington. See forum details for more info. RSVP is required!.

February 26:
CitNet and the USCPC is sponsoring a Citizens Forum on Sustainable Production and Consumption in Washington, DC this Thursday, Feb. 28. See details for more. RSVP is required.

February 13:
The Pinchot Institute for Conservation, USDA Forest Service and the Roundtable on Sustainable Forests, will host a participatory workshop on implementation of the UN's IPF/IFF Proposals for Action, on Feb. 22 in DC. An immediate RSVP is requested.

The Roundtable on Sustainable Forests is also sponsoring two Brown Bags on National Report on Sustainable Forest, scheduled for Feb 26 and 28, DC,. RSVP requested.

February 11:
The official documents from PrepCom 2 (in HTML format) are posted in the Citizens Guide to the World Summit.

February 7:
A summary report from January's "Changing Power in New York" event is now online. (This event was jointly sponsored by UNA-NYC and CitNet.)

Interesting PrepCom Events: If you're attending PrepCom 2, we've posted a selected list of side events you might find interesting on the Citizen's Guide to the World Summit homepage.

January 12, 2002:
"Changing Power in New York: Energy Options for National Security and Environmental Protection", a panel discussion, will be held in New York City on Thursday, January, 17.

"Preparing for PrepCom II: The US in the Global Review of Progress", an NGO consultation with US government, will be held Friday, January 18th in Washington DC.

The Secretary General's Report (PDF) has been released for WSSD's PrepCom 2. This will be the basis of discussion and dialogue in January and February at PrepCom 2.

 

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