by Piyaporn Hawiset
27 June 2002
The United Nations has failed to help developing countries achieve sustainable development because the world body is dominated by giant multinational companies. Chanida Chanyapate, a senior associate of Focus on the Global South, said the UN, an organiser of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, favoured influential industries at the expense of small farmers, women and ethnic groups. The summit, also known as Rio+10, would be held on August 26-September 4, 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mrs Chanida, who took part in the meeting in Julne of the UN's preparatory committee for the summit, said the talks, held on Indonesia's Bali, had focused on trade and investment to accommodate the interests of developed countries and failed to discuss principles of sustainable development.
"We could no longer trust the UN because it is apparent that they could not resist multinational companies, which have taken over the UN's meetings and turned sustainable development into trade issues," she said.
There was no longer any difference between the Earth Summit and the World Trade Organisation, where negotiations focused on economic concerns of developed countries, she said. Srisuwan Kuankajorn, a member of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council, said the UN failed to convince developed countries to commit financial aid for programmes in line with Agenda 21, a blueprint for sustainable development adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
"According to Agenda 21, developed countries have to allocate 0.7% of national income to support sustainable development programmes in Third World countries. However, only 0.2% has been allocated so far," he said. Mr Srisuwan also urged the Office of Environmental Policy and Planning (OEPP) to publicise a report reviewing Thailand's performance in achieving sustainable development. The report would be presented at the Johannesburg summit.
"The OEPP should allow non-government organisations to take part in the drafting process. It would be a shame if the country's report presents only successful stories towards sustainable development and disregards its failures," he said.
Ampon Kittiampon, an inspector of the Agriculture Ministry, said that at Rio+10 Thailand should call on developed countries, particularly the United States, to stop practising unfair policies that hinder developing countries' efforts to achieve sustainable development. He cited the US Farm Bill, which would boost crop subsidies for American farmers in the next 10 years. The bill would affect farm crop exports from Thailand because subsidies to US crops would distort world prices of farm products.
"This kind of legislation would destroy the livelihoods of farmers in developing countries. It also reflects Washington's disregard of the well-being of Third World people. This is obviously contrary to Agenda 21," said Mr Ampon.