Rio de Janeiro

        Rio +20   

"We defend women’s rights to equality, autonomy & freedom in all the territories where we live, particularly in our bodies, which are our first territory.”       
- from the Brazilian Women Declaration to Rio+20

Rio + 20 is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Earth Summit. 

Christ The Redeemer picture credit : A&A http://www.artandarchitecturesrl.info/ Art & Architecture
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I did not go there for the Rio + 20 but I have been to Rio de Janeiro.
Rio de Janeiro, for me, is one of the most beautiful places on the planet with the widest beaches, with the last remaining lush forests, with very interesting, artistic & beautiful people protected metaphorically by the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer. Like the Philippines, the picture of their poor stares you in the eye & not hidden at all as the informal settlers can be found in terraced settlements. Because, they hold the most wild parties & entertainment in their multicultural & magical world, it is said that Brazilians are not taken seriously by the so called sane & sober world. 

So, I am kind of interested in how Brazil fared as host & how the Rio + 20 is ushering as to the future. The conference accounts sound dismal. The world’s women’s movement is not particularly ecstatic and in the words of my friend, Zonibel Woods, “From the start of the negotiations, gender equality and women’s human rights, including reproductive rights, have continuously been challenged by a few governments, claiming that [these] had nothing to do with sustainable development." Indeed, how can half of the world not matter for the future of all. 

The big thing in Rio + 20 was called the “green economy” debate. In a nutshell, the debate is about the political economy of sustainable development & the future of our planet as defined by various players. The players there on our behalf were the rich & poor countries, governments, the market or the private & business sector, the environmentalists, the scientists, the indigenous peoples & all the organized people working to make our planet sustainable. 

Dean Tony la Vina of the Ateneo School Of Government shares with us that the narrative of the Philippine position is “a tool and mechanism to achieve sustainable development…. We envision a green economy approach that pushes the development of the country towards inclusive and sustained growth.” What is the green economy approach of the Philippine government? Big words actually: “ (a) Ensure food security; (b) Promote investments to bolster its natural capital; (c) Ensure environmental integrity and ecological resilience through enhanced and sustained ecosystem goods and services; (d) Encourage sustainable consumption patterns; ((e) Eco-efficient resource use in the transport, energy, waste and water sectors; and (f) Create climate-resilient agriculture and industry sectors. “ The above framework has been translated to Philippine programs in the past twenty years & as recently revisited for Rio + 20, still needs improvement. 

What do we do on the ground as citizens? Ann Marie Manhart asked me to spread her words, “we don’t need a Rio + 20 : walk, cycle, take the jeep, bus or car pool, sign up for renewable energies, plant a tree, a flower, a forest, a meadow, eat local food, support local businesses, video conference instead of flying halfway around the world for a conference, write your government, join your government, listen to scientists, invest in education, fix your water, drink less bottled water, recycle, reuse, consume less & live more….”

And in the run up to the next election, vote wisely, too, for the near & far future of our planet.

(Credits: picture above on Rio beach & skyline is from Marlene Ramirez with thanks)