Franciscans InternationalFaithbased Organisations Submit Statement for Rio+20 Conference
Creation is suffering because of peoples’ arrogance and greed for self-profit. Men and women do not own creation but are responsible for its care. Two important criteria for a more sustainable environment are ‘justice and the common good’. This is accordingly to the joint statement submitted by Franciscans International and other faith based organisations to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in preparation for the Rio+20 Conference in June 2012.
The ‘Green Economy’ is a concept that will be highly debated at the conference and an issue of serious concern for Franciscans. Franciscans share the ethical viewpoint that in a world with limited resources: “Green Economy should not be regarded as a particular type of economic system, but rather as a mechanism which addresses social and environmental issues for eradicating poverty.”
Thus one of the report’s recommendations is for: “all States to ensure that the shared benefits of the economy assure the common good and are not merely for personal profit.”
The FI Joint statement is just one of 627 submissions to UN DESA. The UN body will write the “zero draft” of the document to be made publicly available in January 2012. This will form the basis of the negotiation leading up to the final outcome document from Rio+20. In December FI will participate in meetings at the UN headquarters in New York to discuss the compiled submissions and the structure of the outcome document.
Read the FI Joint statement submitted to UN DESA in preparation for the Rio+20 Conference.
Read the 627 submissions sent by major groups and stakeholders to UN DESA.