David Korten: A Plea for Rio+20: Don't Commodify Nature

[marmar]

from YES! Magazine:



A Plea for Rio+20: Don't Commodify Nature
David Korten: Indigenous wisdom reveals a path to the future that does not include a buy-out of the earth's natural systems.

by David Korten
posted Apr 24, 2012



“Time is life.”

With these three words, Karma Tshiteem, Secretary of the Bhutan Gross National Happiness Commission, ended his brief description of Bhutan’s distinctive approach to economic development. It caught my attention because of the striking contrast to our common Western phrase, “Time is money.”

The event I was attending was a small international gathering primarily of indigenous environmental leaders. I was privileged to be among the few nonindigenous writer-activists invited to join them.

Tshiteem was seated to my left. Winona LaDuke, program director of Honor the Earth and a celebrated Native American environmental author and activist, was on my right. Tom Goldtooth, global environmental leader and executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, sat directly across from me. Next to him was Pablo Solón, former Bolivian Ambassador to the United Nations. Pablo was a principal driver behind the 2010 World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth in Cochabamba, Bolivia. .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/david-korten/a-plea-for-rio-20-dont-commodify-nature

[BrendaBrick]

1. K&R - Along these same lines...

"Elders Alert: Achieving Sustainable Development for All - The Road to Rio" 1-30-2012:

At the first landmark Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, world leaders committed themselves to promoting a new form of development – 'sustainable development' – that would not only be measured in terms of economic growth, but would also take into account social equity and the protection of the environment.

Twenty years later, our political systems have failed to deliver the integrated action that is so urgently needed – the vision is yet to become a reality.

In this Alert, The Elders call for bold action to address the fundamental challenges facing humankind, and suggest three proposals they hope will be endorsed by world leaders at the ‘Rio+20’ Conference on Sustainable Development.

Link: http://theelders.org/article/elders-alert-achieving-sustainable-development-all-road-rio

Another related website: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/

Music Video: Paul Revere & The Raiders: Indian Reservation

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