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The Road to Johannesburg 2002 after September 11, 2001
Join the online forum at http://www.worldsummit2002.org
During six days, November 19-24, the Heinrich Boell Foundation and UNED
Forum will hold an online forum to discuss the implications of September 11,
2001 on the Johannesburg process. We have invited eminent intellectuals from
all over the globe to contribute short opinion articles as "Think Pieces" to
start the debate. Technical details how to join the debate can be found at
the bottom of this text.
The terrorist attacks of September 11 seem to have changed world politics
dramatically. New and unexpected alliances are forged, the priorities of
governments are reassessed, public attention is focused on the threat of
terrorism. A global "war against terrorism" seems to be unleashed, that is
geared to stay with us the coming years.
What do these developments mean for the road to the World Summit on
Sustainable Development? This UN Summit will be held in Johannesburg (South
Africa) in September 2002, ten years after the historical Rio Conference on
Environment and Development, and one year after the attacks in New York and
Washington.
Still, preparations for the Summit go on apparently untouched by the recent
events. But if everything changes, can the Johannesburg Summit and its
preparatory process remain untouched?
September 11 and its aftermath pose a whole set of new questions:
- Will the shock create a new climate of international co-operation between
North and South, East and West, thus creating a fertile ground for a new,
"global deal"?
- Will the terrorist attacks shift media attention, and priorities of
governments away from the issues of poverty, environmental degradation and
globalisation that are the centre of the Johannesburg agenda? Will the
climate of an unfolding "global civil war" ultimately lead to the failure of
Johannesburg 2002, symbol of global co-operation?
- Does the Johannesburg agenda need a re-framing, for example in terms of
(environmental) security or the provision of global common goods, peace
being one of them?
- Johannesburg was partly conceived as a global response to the challenges
of globalisation. How will the globalisation debate and the
anti-globalisation movement be affected by the recent developments?
- How can civil society engaged in the preparations towards Johannesburg
2002 react on the new developments? What are strategies to make the World
Summit a success under these new circumstances?
The Heinrich-Boell Foundation and UNED Form, both organisations active in
the Johannesburg process, joined forces to create a space for a global
debate on these questions. We wish to contribute to create a common
understanding on the significance of the recent developments for the
Johannesburg process.
The Online-Forum will be moderated by Jasmin Enayati, UNED Forum.
REGISTRATION: To subscribe to the forum, either send an email to
[log in to unmask] or visit
http://www.worldsummit2002.org/forum/roadtojoburg.htm and click the
'Subscribe to the forum' link on the web page. Follow the instructions given
there. You will receive an email, which you need to confirm. You can then
contribute to the debate and receive the moderated web-postings by email.
Alternatively, participants can switch their settings to receive all
postings of one day in a single email.
To contribute (starting from November 19), subscribed members can either
enter the forum online at
http://www.worldsummit2002.org/forum/roadtojoburg.htm and make contributions
via the web site or send their contributions to [log in to unmask]
After approval through the moderator, your email will then automatically be
posted to the web site and sent to all other members.
DOCUMENTATION: The final report, which will contain the initial articles
("Think-Pieces") and possibly some selected contributions, can be ordered
from [log in to unmask] and will be disseminated to policy-makers and
interested persons. The report will also appear on this website.
