Rio + 20

Contents

Geneva, June 22 2012 - Press release
Rio + 20: We are the most powerful generation ever.

Rio, 22 June 2012
I am NOT going to have a challenging moment with my three teenagers back home.

Rio, 21 June 2012
We cannot wait for governments to lead. We have to tell them what will get votes.

Rio, 20th June 2012
What is the single one thing that stops people from making the difference?

Geneva, June 19th 2012
The draft outcome document is weak and vague – The International community must not jeopardise the achievements of the 1992 Rio Summit

Fortaleza, June 19th 2012
The capacity to relate to the daily life of many

Rio, June 18th 2012
Sandy beach or hangar-like conference center?

Rio, June 17th 2012
A race to the bottom??

Rio. June 16th 2012
So, that big UN conference on Sustainable Development you’ve heard so much about, Rio+20…

Rio, June 15th 2012
TDH : too small to change the world but big enough to make a difference.

Rio, June 14th 2012
The future that our children want will probably have to wait.

Rio, June 14th 2012
Can policy makers give due weight in the Rio+20 process to the views and opinions of the children and youths?

Press-Release - Geneva, 22nd June 2012

We are the most powerful generation ever

As the Rio+20 Earth Summit closes, youths have made it clear to Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and heads of states that they are the most powerful generation ever and that institutions have to adapt to make them the new center of gravity.

The final Declaration of the Rio+20 Earth Summit is lacking in ambition, urgency and political will.  There is very little that is new and the declaration mostly repeats promises made at previous Earth Summits, and in some cases omits key references.

“The declaration is out of touch with reality.  It neglects the majority of the population and the future generations” commented Ignacio Packer, Secretary General of Terre Des Hommes, at the closing of the Summit in Rio.

Some important doors have however been opened on some very specific issues, such as on the access to information and participation in decision making on which Terre Des Hommes advocates with the specific focus on inclusion of children and youth.

Terre des hommes has accompanied the Sustainability Development Summit from the perspective of child rights, in particular in lobbying for the establishment of ombudsperson for the rights of future generations.  Danuta Sacher, CEO of Terre Des Hommes stated: "It is disappointing that this point has been so very weakened in the final document”.

What governments could do here was the ideal dream: to have the opportunity to be the savors of the planet.  This did not happen but the Summit was not only about a Declaration.  Terre Des Hommes is returning with regained inspiration, strength, tenacity and connections to continue its focused efforts in the international advocacy arena and in its interventions in 1’200 projects in 72 countries.

IUCN, Stand up for your Rights and Terre Des Hommes are now joining forces on the initiative to strengthen the children’s right to a healthy environment in the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Addressing the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, Ralien Bekkers, youth representative said: “We are the most powerful generation ever: take us seriously”.

________

For more information please contact:
Terre des Hommes team in Rio
Ignacio Packer (Secretary General)
+41 79 282 84 03 or Urte Tegtmeyer on +55-21 / 83 82 26 69 (Press)
See also www.tdh.de/rio

Rio, 22th June 2012

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

I am NOT going to have a challenging moment with my three teenagers back home

For the closing of the Earth Summit I wrote today: “The declaration is completely out of touch with reality. It neglects the majority of the population and the future generations.”

I continued writing: “Terre Des Hommes is returning with regained inspiration, strength, tenacity and connections to continue its focused efforts in the international advocacy arena and in its interventions in 1’200 projects in 72 countries.”

So, this is it. The “final text” of the negotiating document “The Future We Want” has now been “adopted”.

Coool…

My teenagers back home are not going to be satisfied with that as an explanation. They are going to start challenging me on my ecological footprint and my absence from home. No worries.

In a process that started over a year ago, TDH (tdh/Germany) has mobilized resources and launched a campaign on ecological rights. Rio was one milestone. Not the destination.

Active in the Youth Blast (10—14th June), the People’s Summit (15-22nd June), the Rio+20 Sustainable Development Dialogue Days (16-19th June) and the Rio+20 Earth Summit (20-22nd June), TDH showed a very strong presence in terms of content and energy.

For what results?
1. Ombudsperson, or High Commissioner for Future Generations
TDH lobbied to have included in the Rio+20 Declaration the establishment of an Ombudsperson, or High Commissioner for Future Generations, to promote sustainable development. The final text reduced this roughly to an invitation for the UN Secretary General to present a report on this issue. The issue was finally watered down but remained in the text under paragraph 86.

The “friends of paragraph 86”, as we named ourselves, include the World Future Council which has the lead and Terre Des Hommes. We met yesterday in the RioCentro to strategize on the continuation of the lobbing for an Ombudsperson for Future Generations.

We did not get what we were hoping for but we do not come back empty handed and we have a strong momentum.

2. The right to connect with nature and to a healthy environment
TDH came to Rio to talk about the need to reinforce the normative framework on children and the environment. TDH promotes the initiative on reinforcing the Child Rights Convention with the right to connect with nature and to a healthy environment. Three weeks ago, TDH had a private audition with the Child Rights Committee to talk about this initiative.

We were heard at Rio and we got connected with other organisations who are already working on such an initiative or who are prepared to support it. Not just exchanges of business cards. Very pragmatically, we met several times these last few days to plan the next joint efforts.

Though attribution of results are always difficult, it seems fair to say that TDH is clearly on the picture for strong contributions on these two first points.

3. Youth participation
The inclusion of children and youths in the preparation of TDH’s participation to Rio+20, as milestone in a never ending process, has been challenging, complex, emotional, rewarding but unfortunately also disappointing. Policy makers did not give due weight in the Rio+20 process to the views and opinions of the children and youths.

This disappointment should not shed shadow to the powerful empowerment process of TDH which reached hundreds of children and youths in Germany and thousands in TDH projects on three continents. The six “TDH youths” who made the trip to Rio with the TDH team went through an incredible experience that will reinforce their capacities back home to “make a difference”. They are the leaders of tomorrow.

4. TDH’s contributions on NGO plate forms on MDGs and SDGs
TDH is involved in the thinking and the dialogue with the UN on several NGO platforms on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). TDH’s added value is to be child focused, led by field experience and by its capacity to move information between several platforms of dialogue. Under the leadership of the Berlin Civil Society, TDH is amongst the 12 major NGOs who dialogue directly with the senior staff of Ban Ki Moon on the MDGs. TDH is also part of the Beyond 2015 campaign and is in the task force on MDGs of the European platform of NGOs, CONCORD.

TDH cannot claim any attribution on the main points of the Rio+20 Declaration concerning the MDGs and SDGs but they are very much in line with TDH’s contributions in the NGO plate forms. To make it short, a key achievement in Rio is to have brought together the environment and development agendas (Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)).

5. Environmental issues on TDH’s agendas
In linking environmental issues and child rights, TDH Germany has opened an “avenue” for TDH movement. Environment and development are intrinsically linked and looking at the issue through the lenses of a child rights organization does not mean that we are becoming Greenpeace or to do some “greenwash”. Surely this “Rio + 20” milestone will stimulate some thinking within MOs and the TDHIF on thematic links to develop. Soon the inclusion of environmental issues in our work will be so clear cut that the organizational memory will forget when it wasn’t the case.

The human adventure of living four in a small room, working long hours fed by adrenaline, living together many intense moments makes this experience unforgettable. I am not aware of an indicator to measure “team building” in such a situation. I don’t know how to measure “gained experience”. Both are present.

Institutional visibility would also have to be assessed. Not only in terms of media appearances but also estimated in terms of recognition of TDH’s expertise.

This was like writing a report and I seem to have lost track that I was writing to post on my blog.

Most of you who have been reading my blog work for Terre Des Hommes. With my last blog posting, I take the opportunity to share a rapid initial analysis and… prepare some answers for my teenagers.

I thank you for the different comments I received during these ten days of blogging.

I am proud of working for this organization.

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General
Ignacio.packer@terredeshommes.org

Geneva, 21st June 2012

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

We cannot wait for governments to lead. We have to tell them what will get votes

The Rio+20 Earth Summit only has one day to go. Today, youths made it clear to Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and heads of states that they are the most powerful generation ever and that institutions have to adapt to make them the new center of gravity. The “Tdh youths” handed a banner with messages to Ban Ki Moon.

“Youths, you, are luckier than you really know. During the 20 years that followed the first Summit in Rio, almost no progress was made. If the world had solved all of the issues, your generation would not be offered the great opportunity of mending it. It is all for you.” These words by a very inspiring Jeffrey Sachs.

In 1992 at the Rio Summit, three wonderful treaties were signed (on desertification, climate change and biological diversity). They were well written, smart and far reaching and not one has been implemented. Governments have not been able to chain out the status quo. They have found themselves blocked in old process, old thinking and in short term allegiance.

What is required is imagination, a time horizon, a perspective, a new way of doing things which will not come from rooms of diplomats negotiating.

These treaties have been an industry for lawyers and not for the future. What is binding? What id verifiable? What can be monitored? Arguing during 20 years…

We need different ways of doing things. Pioneers do not ask permission to governments but invent new ways of doing things. Mohammed Yunus, founder of the Grameen bank, did not first read a text book. He first implemented his micro-credit scheme and then wrote the text book.

We cannot wait for government to lead. We have to tell them what will get votes.

At Rio+20, one of the most important steps concerns the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) put in the Summit Declaration as a call for world action. The SDGs are not a treaty. They are not stuck in legalism. We need to make these goals real by September 2013 and SDG number one is to finish the work of Millennium Development Goals on poverty.

The core of my children’s generation has a unique challenge. No other generation has ever been challenged to such a way. Youths, you don’t have time. You can’t wait for another 20 years. You have to move and to move fast. You have to take the lead and the older generations have to help you.

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General
Ignacio.packer@terredeshommes.org

Rio, 20th June 2012

What is the single one thing that stops people from making the difference?

The heads of states started their three day meeting to discuss the impact of humans on the natural world. With reference to the prepared Rio+20 Declaration, it is clear we are getting something, but it's equally clear we will not get what the planet needs.

In the plane back to Rio after the opening in Fortaleza (North-East) of a workshop on restaurative juvenile justice, time to reflect on all the individual and collective efforts of Terre Des Hommes siding with so many others to make a difference at this Earth Summit.

All this incredible determination goes beyond performing in our advocacy work. It’s about creating a life. A life for us. A life for our children and for the next generations.

Did any of you wake up one day and decide to change the world and create a world that ensures social justice for future generations? Did anybody wake up to be the modern Don Quichote de La Mancha of the environmental child rights?

For me it was more that I saw all of these young people who were changing the world already, and I wanted to figure out how they were doing it so I could learn. By working with NGOs like Terre Des Hommes, I have been confronted to highly innovative children and youths all over the world The most important lesson I take away from these experience is that we are all in the position to create change – regardless of education level or background.

Who of you doesn’t feel concerned by environmental degradation?
What is the single one thing that you believe stops people from making the difference in the world that deep down they want to?

I would bet that the biggest obstacle for most of us is probably that we don’t understand how much power we actually have to empower not only our own lives, but also the lives of others. Problems can be so overwhelming that we think, “I can’t do that” or “my contribution would make no difference”.

The year 2011 trigged an avalanche of popular struggles certainly much more original and vigorous than diffuse mobilizations in recent decades. The Arab spring, la Puerta Del Sol in Madrid, “Occupy Wall Street” which spread to so many places, the Andean protests and demands… The outrage at the political and social inequalities and injustices seem to be a common denominator in the vast majority of these people’s movements question the development perspectives.

You don’t want to take the streets?

There is more we can do and youths are increasingly giving us the example. Discussing with youths who participated in Rio to the Youth Blast, there is a lot to be said for not taking “no” as an answer. As Woody Allen famously said, “80% of success is showing up.”

Do you eat meat? Daily? Do you bike or walk to work? Daily? Do you buy intelligently and respect Fair Trade movement criteria? Daily?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not going to take you on the path that sustainable future is “no” consumption. No, it is about “smart” consumption. Well-informed consumers can do a lot for a more sustainable development. If you as a consumer will opt for environment-friendly products and are ready to share expensive goods rather than buying them, many of the environmental problems can be addressed. Conscious consumerism will change the way we live and what we desire.

You probably know exactly what to do as a consumer. You do not need to be told, do not need to discuss or negotiate. You know and you are most certainly committed to the protection of your environmental rights and those of our children
and of the children of our children
and of the children of the children of our children
and of the children of the children of the children of our children
and…

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General
Ignacio.packer@terredeshommes.org

Press release - Geneva, 19th June 2012

The draft outcome document is weak and vague – The International community must not jeopardise the achievements of the 1992 Rio Summit

On the opening of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, the international charity Terre des Hommes is concerned. “The draft outcome document is weak and vague and fails to respond adequately to the social and environmental challenges. It is unacceptable that the international community in such a dramatic moment regarding climate change, hunger and financial crisis shall jeopardise the achievements of the first Rio Summit in 1992 and for example ignore agreed principles such as the common but differentiated responsibilities and the polluters pay principle” said Danuta Sacher Chair of the Executive Board of Terre des Hommes (Germany) in Rio de Janeiro. “A particular concern for us, as a child rights organisation, is the deletion of the demand for an Ombudsperson for the rights of future generations, and we strongly appeal that it shall remain in the final declaration. Children now constitute more than half the world's population. Climate change and environmental degradations affect their life or put an end to it. Their rights and those of future generations must not be sacrificed to short-term economic interests and to calculations at national level. "

The draft outcome document is too vague and for example mentions just eight times the questions of future generations, compared with 30 references to the private sector.

Terre des Hommes supports the demand for sufficient and reliable financial resources to fight poverty and climate change and urges the international community to set up global sustainable goals. They should succeed to the MDGs and act as binding principles for all nations. Terre des Hommes welcomes the position of the EU and the German government to involve civil society and science in this process.

Fortaleza, 18th June 2012

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

The capacity to relate to the daily life of many

The Rio+20 text has yet to be signed by heads of government, but it seems that no changes will be made. It is a missed opportunity to change the world's development track

I left Rio on a short visit to TDH projects in Fortaleza. Out of this artificial life of panels and speakers to try to relate what is being discussed in the conference rooms with the daily life of many.

Fortaleza, 5th largest city in Brazil, is the state capital of Ceara located in Northeastern Brazil. As in other parts of Brazil, the” fiesta juninas” will celebrate the successful harvest. But the harvest is, once again insufficient due to the draught.

If you don’t have corn, what about fish? The local fishermen I spoke to this morning were well informed on the debate at Rio+20 on Oceans. They shared concern on how, over a period of a few years, they have to sail further away from the coasts to bring a catch.

TDH projects in the Cera state are on Restorative Justice. Part of the project activities I attended took place in the “community nucleo” and in the school. The project deals with disputes of a different type to the ones in Rio+20. With an emphasis on reparation, in taking responsibility for one’s actions and the active participation of all involved, the activities – described as restorative circles- have notable success in violence prevention and creating a culture of peace in the school and in the community.

Teachers and social workers have been following the Rio+20. Very pragmatically, they told me that their contribution is through the restorative approach in developing the respect of the human being and the respect of the public environment.

As seen in one of the schools today, one act of physical aggression can be rooted way back in a smaller misunderstanding. The restorative circle also involves violence prevention. The kids are immersed in a culture of violence. They are taught from a very early age that if they “get hit, they must hit back”. A complex problem tackled in a sustainable way to make sure the schools and communities become less violent.

One may find it useful to use restorative circles between mankind and nature.

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General
Ignacio.packer@terredeshommes.org

Rio de Janeiro, 18th June 2012

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Sandy beach or hangar-like conference center?

The new text for the Rio+20 Summit released this evening does not match the urgency and scale of problems. Tomorrow is the last day to get this text in shape before more than 110 world's leaders fly in for the Earth summit (20-22nd June).

I spent my day at the People’s Summit (15-22nd June) in Flamengo (Rio). Attending the Rio+20 Sustainable Development Dialogue Days (16-19th June) in RioCentro several days in a row has left me flat out.
At the People’s summit, participants come with speeches, placards, power points, reports, performance art, painting workshops and drums. Some are in jeans and T-shirt. Others in their local costumes with bows and arrows. Others with suits and business cards. Almost all are driven by the call of the People’s summit: "Come re-invent the world".

The energy levels are rising since the opening of the People’s summit three days ago. Volume and variety of music echoes across Flamengo while some participants dance, many more are in discussions about an alternative future.

The Rio+20 United Nations Dialogue Days taking place on the outskirts of the city has quite a different kind of energy. The conference takes place in a security-prone area in some air conditioning hangar-like conference center at RioCentro. A constant noise of electric appliances and conference rooms without windows don’t put participants in the best of energy conditions.

Beach or hangar? Quite different energies.

This reminds me of a birthday dinner my wife organised for me. One could easily spot “my” office friends flat out once the cake made it to the table and were just longing for an end to the evening. “My wife’s friends”, all yoga teachers, feng shui adepts, massage addicts… would have kept on discussing at the dinner table until early morning.

Having the right energy creates value and better conditions to deliver results. This is no rocket science.

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General
Ignacio.packer@terredeshommes.org

Rio de Janeiro, 17th June 2012

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A race to the bottom??

Fears are growing that a master plan to curve the world’s sick environment and end poverty is being diluted. The last text presented is more likely to be agreed but less likely to deliver sustainable development.

In the draft released this evening, the word “must” appears 3 times. “Encourage” is used approximately 50 times and “support” 100 times.

I was in the the People’s Summit this morning and the language used is more of “we demand” than “we encourage”.

People’s Summit : energy and determination.

Afternoon at the Rio Conference (RioCentro) where the EU Commissioner to the environment, Janez Potocnik, organized a dialogue with some 30 delegates of the European civil society to share the EU efforts in the dialogue for more vision, concreteness and inclusion of the civil society in monitoring systems. The struggle goes on.

Inclusion of civil society and more specifically of children and youths and the ombudspersons for future generations are amongst the main demands supported specifically by TDH. Yes, the struggle goes on in the Conference, media contacts, the corridors and the popular expression at the People’s summit.

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General
Ignacio.packer@terredeshommes.org

Rio de Janeiro, 16th June 2012

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

So, that big UN conference on Sustainable Development you’ve heard so much about, Rio+20…

So… Well, What exactly is going to come out of it, you might wonder? A very good question, glad you asked.

Far from business as usual, Danuta Sacher, Chair of tdh/Germany, spoke today at a side-event of the Rio+20 Conference. A group of 18 leading civil society activists and scholars from around the globe releases a joint report titled “No future without justice”. The report calls for fundamental changes to tackle the root causes of the multiple crises in the world and demands In presenting "No future without justice”, Danuta emphasized the aspect of human rights.

You can download the report "No future without justice” on
http://www.tdh.de/was-wir-tun/arbeitsfelder/aktuell-rio-20/aktiv-bei-rio-20/im-gespraech-in-rio/reflection-group.html

At the People’s Summit, along the beach, 40 km from the conference rooms, TDH youth and activists join the movement. A great event and part of a historical process of accumulation and convergence of local, regional and global struggles, that have anti-capitalist, classist, anti-racist, anti-patriarchal, anti-homophobic and other antis as frames.

Closer to the “classical power”, another version of the text for the Rio+20 Summit was issued this evening (Saturday) by the Brazilian host government after it assumed leadership of the talks from the UN. The text identifies poverty as the greatest challenge. With this wash-down text, pledges on boosting access to water and energy are going to be washed down.

The new text was not officially distributed to journalists and NGOs, despite the announcement at the RioCentro at the end of the day. The spokesman said then in front of hundreds of participants that the text was "accessible".

Directly linked to TDH efforts, the paragraph on the ombudspersons for future generations is out!!!! There will be a call tomorrow (Sunday) for it to be reintroduced into the text. Apparently, Brazil has not been able to explain their reasoning for its removal. The least we would expect is for this proposal to be allowed full discussion tomorrow.

Brazil has demonstrated leadership and progress in addressing poverty and inequality in its own country. It has just a couple of days before the Summit to demonstrate this leadership internationally.

After two years of talks it is insane one doesn’t have clarity on either the vision or actions that will be agreed to.

Very frustrated but not desperate. I just wonder at the end of today whether such summits provide any framework to safeguard the planet.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Praying day for many. Hope some inspiration will come with the “Cristo Redentor” keeping an eye on the discussions in Rio and on the world going by.

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General
Ignacio.packer@terredeshommes.org

Rio de Janeiro, 15th June 2012

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TDH : too small to change the world but big enough to make a difference

UN talks on sustainable development are encountering disputes, delays and diplomatic wrangling. Responsibility for the talks have now passed to the Brazilian government. Talks have to finish by Tuesday when some 130 heads of government arrive. It is going to be a long week end.

We can expect concentration on essential issues. It is the final hour. The paragraph 80 on the ombudspersons for the future generations is likely now to be kept in the final document to be presented to the governments at the Rio+20 Summit on 20th. The demands for ombudspersons has been one of the key demands of Terre Des Hommes. Thanks to those who supported the online petition.

http://www.tdh.de/was-wir-tun/arbeitsfelder/oekologische-kinderrechte/was-sie-tun-koennen.html

http://www.righttothefuture.org/RFHomeDE

It is the world's poorest children who have the most to lose from a weak outcome at Rio+20. We will get something, but it's equally clear we will not get what the planet needs to match the urgency of the challenge. With the leadership of tdh/Germany, TDH is really giving its contribution and will be able to measure its efforts over the past months (and more). As my title of today’s blog : TDH is too small to change the world but bit enough to make a difference.

Terre Des Hommes ran an official side event today on "Social Justice for Future Generations" in cooperation with World Future Council, Social Watch, and Earth Charter International.

Bellow the main messages brought forward by TDH in a packed full conference room showing the major interest of the topic TDH is working on.

Message 1 - Not protecting environmental child rights has direct and indirect effects on child survival. TDH works on innovative local solutions on the survival of the children of today and those of tomorrow.

Message 2 - Normative and institutional foundations of child rights protection need to be strengthened. This goes through child audits, ombudspersons for future generations, the 3rd Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child on a Communications Procedure (OP3 CRC) which provides a communications, or complaints, procedure for children…
Message 3 - There is a good case for the international recognition of an independent child right to a secure, healthy and ecologically sound environment.
Message 4 - Child and youth voices have to be meaningful, effective and sustainable.
Message 5 – We have to get out of our comfort zone and adapt our consumption patterns.

I can’t resist to share this cartoon with you. Though, as a speaker on the panel on “Social Justice for Future Generations”, I certainly did not feel to be in the situation of “an expert flown in”. TDH’s added value in these panel discussions is to be able to speak with reference to real individual situation, aggregated data and to field experience.

TDH teams were active at the People’s Summit and in lobbying work at the Rio+20 Conference. The theater caravan that left Copacabana in Bolivia on 26th May is heading to Copacabana in Rio and is due to arrive on Monday evening.

http://www.tdh.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/detaildarstellung/artikel/theaterkarawane-von-bolivien-nach-brasilien-fuer-oekologische-kinderrechte.html

In addition with meeting up with the Brazilian Association of Terre Des Hommes (ABTH), I had a gathering of Swiss the Brazil coordinators (Lausanne, Basel and Geneva). On Sunday we have a TDH Brazil MO meeting.

Longing to go and dance the samba but I wonder when I will find the time.

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General

Rio de Janeiro, 14th June 2012

The future that our children want will probably have to wait.

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Negotiators of the Summit on Sustainable Development Rio+20 have tried today to advance the draft final document. The beautiful title of the document, "The future we want", is full of holes and brackets, highlighting the many disagreements between the countries.

This document is supposed to be a future worth choosing that the world commits to at the Rio+20 Earth Summit to start in 5 days time. As many here in Rio, I fear that there couldn´t be a much bigger gulf between the future we want for our children and the document governments have been arguing over.

In speaking about the way forward, a long timer activist told me that compared to what is on the table now for Rio+20, Rio 1992 was a hippy love fest.

There is a real danger that Rio+20 will focus narrowly on low-carbon and 'green' technologies without tackling the bigger, thornier problems of global poverty and inequality. For the sake of millions of children who currently live in absolute poverty, Rio must embrace far more than technological fixes.

Tomorrow, at the Rio Conference itself, Terre Des Hommes is organizing an official side event on "Social Justice for Future Generations" in cooperation with World Future Council, Social Watch, and Earth Charter International. I will be taking the floor to talk about Children’s Rights and Rights of Future Generations and support Terre Des Hommes demands.

At the other side of town, the Tdh banners with messages prepared by children and youth will be displayed at the opening of the People’s Summit.

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General

Rio de Janeiro, 14th June 2012

Can policy makers give due weight in the Rio+20 process to the views and opinions of the children and youths?

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Hundreds of young leaders from around the world convergered until yesterday on the Conference of Youth for Rio+20 in Rio de Janeiro (Youth Blast) to share their skills and prepare for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20).

Youths at the “Youth Blast” : “It's time to reinvent the world”. “We are young but we are the future”. “We have dreams to make true”.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20) offers a unique opportunity for children and youth to make visible the challenges for them and for future generations.

Not a one shot gathering for Terre Des Hommes but a long term process which has brought to the different gatherings in Rio a strong delegation of youths and of field oriented professionals.

In this daily communication for a period of 2 weeks, I will share with you how Terre Des Hommes and of youths are trying for stakeholders to give due weight in the Rio+20 process to the views and opinions of the children and youths.

The Rio + 20 Summit starts in a week’s time. Negotiators have produced a mammoth, messy and expensive grab bag of regulations and demands. The unwieldy document covers everything from sustainable food strategies to codes of corporate responsibility to technology transfers. The emergency bargaining session a couple of weeks ago was intended, as a last-ditch effort, to bring some focus, energy and concision to the text.

We are not there yet.

Are policy makers able to integrate the dialogue with children and youths?
Are we going to be faced, once again, with a “tick the box youth and children involvement process” where youths expressed themselves but were not listen to?

Ignacio

Read more on http://www.tdh.de/

Ignacio Packer
Terre Des Hommes International Federation
Secretary General