Danish

Uncovering ‘GreenWash’
Process
Highlights
In order to write this report, FEU organised a Workshop that was held on
April, 29 of 2002. This was done in collaboration with the Environmental Studies
Committee of Argentina Council for International Relations (CARI). Different
representatives of NGOs, Sustainable Development Secretariat and Environmental
Policy attended this event.
The objectives of the Workshop were: to present and analyse the format of the
report, agree on topics to cover, analyse the national context related to sustainable
development and elaborate civil society recommendations to Johannesburg
2002 and sustainable development.
It was decided to use format that appears in the Argentina National Report for
WSSD. Also, those issues discussed in the Chairman’s Document and considered
appropriate, were included.
These sections were agreed on Action Recommendations in working groups.
Specifically, the four principal areas were: (a) Social and Economic Dimensions,
b) Development Resources Conservation and Management, c) Strengthening of
Major Groups and d) Means of Execution. The following concepts were discussed:
poverty, consumption, globalisation, strengthening of major groups and
their relationship with sustainable development, free access to sound technologies,
international approval models for local development etc.
The discussion looked at strengthening the civil society of Argentina at
Johannesburg Summit. This offered the possibility of deliberating the roles they
should fulfil towards sustainable development.
This exchange session resulted into the first NGOs Rio+10 National Report
Draft. It was distributed to the national network of about 600 organisations, to
give them the possibility to make contributions and comments to the document.
1. Social and Economic Dimensions
The struggle poverty and Human Health Protection must be promoted in Argentina.
The current social situation is extremely serious. The high poverty
rates, unemployment reaching shocking records, liberal economic policies and
adjustment plans implemented in the country are obstacles to sustainable development
and poverty eradication.
It turns out to be extremely important to keep moving towards integration
through governmental and nongovernmental actors dialogue (domestic as well
as local level), thus, a better co-ordination will lead to new alternatives and
concrete results.
Recommendations were outlined in relation to the promotion of alternative
production methods. The importance of community participation, strengthening
of local and base organisations was emphasised.
It is important to focus on the solutions to environmental and social problems.
The eradication of poverty, building and consolidating an equitable society,
promoting new productive and development models are issues to be addressed
by society.