[A-List] Discord threatens to mar Earth Summit

[Mark Jones <markjones011@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Discord threatens to mar Earth Summit

Rows over Zimbabwe and protests are casting a shadow over the most critical
talks for a decade, reports Mark Townsend in Johannesburg

Can the earth summit achieve anything? Talk about it here or email us at
letters@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Worldview: Earth summit special

Sunday August 25, 2002
The Observer

The most critical environment talks for a decade were in danger last night
of being overshadowed by the growing row over Zimbabwe and threats from
protesters to shut down the summit altogether.
As criticism mounts over the appearance of Zimbabwe's President Robert
Mugabe at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg following his seizures of
white-owned farms, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change was
reported to be gearing up for mass protests in the South African city.
Elsewhere, anti-globalisation protesters reiterated warnings of potential
disruption in the week ahead.
Tension was mounting in Johannesburg yesterday as more than 10,000 police
were drafted in to circle the affluent northern suburb of Sandton - where
the conference is being held - and close to some of Africa's most squalid
slums.
The United Nations, which is hosting the summit, announced that although
Mugabe's appearance was a 'potential flashpoint' it would not consider
moving his address, which lies just an hour apart from Blair's speech in
the timetable for 2 September.
Of increasing concern, however, are the planned demonstrations from a
coalition of activists and non-governmental groups some of whose affiliates
want to close down the summit.
They say the violent protests which marred the trade talks in Seattle and
Genoa were 'inspirational'.
Last Wednesday 77 people were arrested in violent clashes in Johannesburg
following demonstrations by the Landless Peoples Movement.
There was further evidence of potential unrest yesterday when Greenpeace
said up to a dozen activists were detained during a protest at Africa's
only nuclear power station, near Cape Town.
African activists planning to march on Sandton on Friday say they will not
be deterred by 'repressive' police tactics.
Such warnings are the latest blow to hit the event - official title, the
World Summit on Sustainable Development - which is already beset by low
expectations and claims it will be little more than a talking shop.
Yesterday, world governments sat down together for preliminary negotiations
that could help determine whether the summit can avoid ending in bitter
recrimination.
'We hope for progress - but trade and financing are stumbling blocks,' said
one Asian delegate as he prepared for the talks.
However, environmental activists announced at a press conference yesterday
that they feared leaders of rich countries would be unwilling to tackle
problems affecting the globe's poorest continent, Africa.