Latest update May 12th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 29, 2010 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
The Environmental Community Health Organization (ECHO) was among the first to congratulate President Bharrat Jagdeo on his achieving the UNEP Award because we believe that it was historic and particularly significant to Guyana as a developing country. However, this award brings with it certain very serious responsibilities.
It is not often that, small nations, such as ours, are recognized for their contributions to the international community. In many cases, the voices of poor nations are not heard because they are poor and therefore have no ability to influence or shape the outcome of political actions on the international stage.
This also affects their ability to push ahead with development of their nations. Even when they are given a part to play, by the rich states, their performance is closely monitored to ensure that they are faithfully following the script, subtlety crafted by political and other actors of developed countries to advance their own interests.
Then too, the litany of internal problems and the negative national reputations and images which beset some poor and developing countries prevent them from even making an appearance on the international stage. Even if they do manage to show, the leaders of industrialized nations do not take them seriously.
This was precisely the case for some of the leaders, who attended the Copenhagen Conference late last year with long wish lists and came away almost empty handed. There should be more research on national reputation and international respect and development
Also, there are some political leaders, who are not very reluctant to rank economic growth and the preservation of the natural environment at the same level. In fact, there are quite a few, who seriously contest the view that climate change is caused by mankind’s actions.
In some cases, opposition to that view is informed and underpinned by national interests, and suspicion that climate change may be another strategy, by the developed nations, to hold back poor countries from pursuing the development they so desperately need.
The case of Saudi Arabia is a good one on climate change and national interest. At one time, that country denied the phenomenon of climate change and sought to hinder negotiations for cuts in greenhouse emissions, at the Copenhagen Conference in 2009. Saudi Arabia is the world’s leading producer of oil.
Doubts about the cause and effects of climate change are also informed by the concerns of executive boards and bosses of particularly multinational corporations and companies, who lobby influential politicians and fund research and other projects to prove that their operations are environmentally sound and even push for renewable sources of energy. Their real aim is to improve their bottom line. Nothing is wrong with a corporation improving its bottom line. However, when it is achieved at the expense of the health of the environment it could become a bit of a problem.
Historically, corporations have always behaved in a way that conflicts with the good health of the natural environment. From the days of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring to now, corporations have always protected their interests above all else. Today, oil and gas producers of fossil fuels are among the biggest companies that put pressure on politicians and environmental authorities to secure their interests and market shares.
So when President Jagdeo was given the LINEP Award, we at ECHO felt that it was a signal achievement not only for him but also for all Guyana. Politics aside, we would have to say that he has been doing a brilliant job, at advancing the Low Carbon Development Strategy, and advocating for environmental justice and combating climate change at the local and international level.
As an active environmental organization we remain steadfast and consistent on our position on the environment. We continue to make the point that even if the Low Carbon Development Strategy did not attract international momentary support (and it has) it would still be critical to the sustainable development of Guyana. We support it not merely for its economic value but its environmental utility and the general preservation of our biodiversity. Therefore, we will continue to support the incumbent and any President, or leader, for that matter, who demonstrates a positive and high regard for the health and integrity of the environment. We stand by that.
For us the environment is the basic and fundamental unit by which all things exist in their present physical state. It is what supports and sustains life here in time. It is a conduit through which we attain eternity. The experience of time and eternity is mediated by the physical environment. This is an important point because unless we understand and appreciate the indispensability of the environment to our very existence we would continue to treat it in a negative way and shrug off the reality of climate change and its consequences. Unless we understand that the health of the natural environment is imperative to our survival then the global biodiversity crisis, riots over food shortages, costly floods, earthquakes and other disasters, uncertainty of the future of mankind and indeed the entire planet will continue to engender a deep sense of insecurity and fear among the people of the earth.
Now that the UNEP Award is, here, with us, we believe that all Guyanese should challenge themselves to higher environmental accountability and standards. The question is can we do it. We believe, yes we can. But there are a few things we need to reflect on, a number of important things.
Here are two of them.
First, there is need for an ongoing aggressive public education programme. This is critical because people need to be informed and educated about the value of the natural environment and their roles and responsibilities in the wider national effort to preserve and protect its integrity. This education should be part of the curriculum in our schools.
Again, it should engage civil society and in particular institutions of trust and opinion leaders, at the community level. It must also take into account the cultures and rhythms of local communities. This is really important because unless residents are able to interpret the value of the natural environment through their realities then it would be difficult to persuade them to take actions that are compatible with a clean and healthy environment. Information and education bring knowledge. Knowledge facilitates empowerment. Residents in local communities need to be empowered to take responsibility for the state of their environment.
Second, the private sector has a fundamental role to play in sustainable development. Corporations and companies need to be more accountable for natural resources used in the processing of their products. There is need for a deeper sense of social responsibility among some members of the private sector. Look at the improper way some businesses dispose of their waste. Large heaps of waste bearing popular corporate brands, particularly fast food businesses could be seen on parapets and in waterways in and beyond the city. Then there is the problem of efficient utilization of energy, water and other resources.
Maybe the authorities would wish to consider putting in place an accounting system that would force companies to account for their impact on environmental capital, alongside financial statements. In many cases, companies report on profits but they do not say how their manufacturing and general business activities affected the environment or the communities in which they operate.
For example, in the mining sector, certain very harmful chemicals to the natural environmental are still being used. Who is measuring the impact of mercury on the environment? Where are the reports on its effects on the local communities in which miners are operating? If the answers to these and other related questions could be factored into the reporting format of mining companies then it would not only help the people in those areas but also improve the environmental accountability, stewardship, creditability and profitability of such businesses.
In sum, the UNEP Award established in 2004 and awarded to President Bharrat Jagdeo, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contribution to the environment, could also be used as a point of reference by which we all must continually judge our attitudes and actions towards the natural environment. It is not so much what others are doing but what we individually and collectively will do to ensure the protection and preservation of the environment, in the local communities in which we live. We must act now because time is not on our side. Act now!
Royston King
Executive Director
Environmental Community Health Organization
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