Worldwatch Institute, Embassies of Brazil, South Africa Co-Host Background Briefing on World Summit on Sustainable Development

7/23/2002

From: Susan Finkelpearl, 202-452-1992 ext. 517, e-mail: sfinkelpearl@worldwatch.org, or Susanne Martikke, 202-452-1992 ext. 541, e-mail: smartikke@worldwatch.org, both of the Worldwatch Institute

News Advisory:

What: From Rio to Johannesburg: World Summit on Sustainable Development

Who: -- Honorable George Miller (D-Calif.), member, United States Congress -- Alan Larson, undersecretary for economics, business, and agriculture, State Department -- James Connaughton, chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality -- Nitin Desai, UN Secretary-General of the WSSD -- Jan Pronk, special envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the WSSD -- Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, minister plenipotentiary, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN and Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau of the Preparatory Committee for the WSSD -- Xolisa Mabhongo, political counselor at the South African Permanent Mission to the UN

Expert Panelists: Brian Halweil, Worldwatch Institute; Dr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna, Woods Hole Research Center; Sandra Postel, Global Water Policy Project; Nancy Alexander, Citizens Network on Essential Services; and John Waugh, World Conservation Union

When: Thursday, July 25, 2002 -- 2:20 - 5:30 p.m.: Government perspectives with Q&A; Expert Panel with Q& A -- 5:30 - 7 p.m.: "Passing the torch" ceremony and reception

Where: Brazilian Embassy, 3006 Massachusetts Ave, NW Reception hosted by the Embassy of South Africa, 3101 Mass. Ave., from 5:30 p.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS WITH SPEAKERS, CONTACT: -- Susan Finkelpearl, 202-452-1992 ext. 517, or sfinkelpearl@worldwatch.org -- Susanne Martikke, 202-452-1992 ext. 541 or smartikke@worldwatch.org

From August 26 - September 4, leaders from most countries on earth will gather in Johannesburg, South Africa for what could be the most important meeting of the century -- The World Summit on Sustainable Development. It is a meeting that has the potential to find agreement and set countries, rich and poor, on a new course to protect our natural environment and the six billion people who inhabit it.

The Summit's theme "People, Planet, Prosperity" aims to find ways of ensuring a global deal on the implementation of programs for poverty eradication, sustainable development and human security. A successful Summit could put the world on the path of a sustainable future, striking a balance between environmental protection, social and economic development.

One month and one day before the World Summit opens in Johannesburg, the Worldwatch Institute and the Embassies of Brazil and South Africa will co-host a briefing in Washington D.C. bringing together WSSD-focused officials from three governments, the UN, as well as experts in the five fields that will be addressed at the Summit-biodiversity, energy, water, agriculture, and aid, trade and globalization.

This event will provide a thorough background to the Summit, its issues and why governments and people from around the world should seize the opportunities that this momentous occasion presents.

To attend the symposium please send the following information to Susanne Martikke of the Worldwatch Institute at 202-296-7365 (fax) or smartikke@worldwatch.org: name, affiliation, phone/fax, and e-mail. Martikke is reachable by phone at 202-452-1992, ext. 541.