Story Earth Introduction

 Despite advances in technology and science;  There are in poverty, illiterate and unemployed  1/5 live in poverty, most are women and children and 40,000 children die each day

 Human activities are having severe irreversible impact on nature and the living conditions of all species on the planet  Global warming, depletion of the ozone layer, lack of clean water, loss of biological diversity, deforestation are all signs of global crisis

 Traditional cultures have lived in harmony with the environment for thousands of years in balance with the environment  Cultural values include respect for the natural world and its often considered irrational to abuse any aspect of the environment

 Isolation of many traditional cultures required them to adapt to ecological factors  As a result these communities are most affected by environmental degradation  Many live in areas rich in natural resources and development has resulted in these communities being denied access to their traditional land and water rights

 Exploitation of the natural resources during development disrupts the environment and endangers traditional ways of life  Legal and institutional changes that follow develop add pressure on traditional communities; social discrimination, cultural barriers, and exclusion from the decision making process leave them marginalized and vulnerable to “cultural extinction”

 The World Commission on Environment and Development 1983  Sustainable Development theory; the process of change that can satisfy the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.  Strategy for global change requires a focus on the close link between ecology and economy, between environment

Sustainable development  Broad political participation is needed at all levels; international, national, local  All people must have the opportunity to influence and control their own lives and the living conditions of their families  The private sector also has responsibility for the environment and must work in a democratic way to protect resources

International Cooperation  Solidarity among nations to prevent conflict  Address underlying causes of conflict; poverty, injustice, violation of human rights  Conflict is the cause of instability

International Priorities  Fight against poverty  Growth not based on natural resource exploitation  Environmental concerns must be integrated into each aspect of economic planning, performance and accounting  New environmental agreements and investments in countries to reduce atmospheric pollution and deforestation

Poverty  Elimination of poverty is required for sound environmental development  Resource flow from rich to poor is a precondition for the eradication of poverty  This requires changes in international economic relations and patterns of production and consumption

Global Economy  Undeveloped countries in poverty rely on exporting natural resources and low prices make it impossible for resource management  Globalization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank create crushing debt and flow of wealth to developed nations at the expense of the poor and the environment

 Poor undeveloped nations are influenced by global economic policies, but unable to influence them  Unequal international relations leads to exploitation

International Goals  Link economic growth to human development ;  Equitable distribution of goods both within and among nations  Redistribution of assets, including land and income  Widespread health and social services  Equal access to education

International Goals  Traditional cultures have vast knowledge and experience in managing complex ecological systems for sustainability  Recognition and protection of traditional rights to lands and other resources in their own terms is critical  Protection of traditional organizational structures as a vehicle to give voice in decision making process at all levels

 Protection of traditional rights should be accompanied by positive measures to enhance the well-being of traditional communities in ways appropriate to the life-style of the groups in question.  The historical marginalization of traditional cultures is a symptom of a cycle of development that neglects both human and environmental considerations.

 Preserving native cultures and restoring native ecosystems is a priority in global environmental protection.