In mid-June, governments from around the world will converge on Rio de Janeiro for a major environmental conference that aspires to come to major new agreements for saving the planet's fast-declining ecosystems. Since the event comes 20 years after a landmark 1992 environmental conference, this one is called Rio+20.
Unfortunately, the conference is almost certain to be a bust because there are no signs that the world's governments are willing to entertain any significant new approaches to environmental protection, least of all ones that would genuinely protect the commons; it would be too economically disruptive and require shifts of power to the 99%. So the chief task of Rio+20 will be to create the appearance of change. Early indications suggest that the only green solutions to get any traction will be those that would help develop or expand markets for addressing environmental problems. In other words, a green rebranding for more of the same.
In anticipation of this likely outcome, a British anti-poverty campaigning organization, the World Development Movement, has taken the official logo for the event and created a few creative alternatives. WDM has also launched a "micro-blog" about the need for a "real green economy." Also check out the People's Summit Rio+20 web portal. Don't say that you weren't warned.
Recent comments