CÚPULA DA AMÉRICA LATINA E DO CARIBE SOBRE ... - Funag

INTERVENÇÕES (VERSÃO ORIGINAL)
of the globalized economy of the XXI century. But beyond this, the crisis has
had a salutary effect by reminding us that the universe does not always have
to begin and end in Wall Street. We now have a unique opportunity to create
new patterns of investment and financial flows for our region and to develop
our own sub-regional and regional mechanism to further integrate our financial
markets.
In similar fashion, the food and energy crisis also provide an opportunity
for bold and new approaches. As net food importers, the choices of the
Caribbean countries have largely been governed by price rather than
geographical source of supply. But now the dramatic increase in the course of
transportation and inputs to production gives hope for the development of
new patterns of production and supply within our region. There are also exciting
opportunities for investment in agriculture within the Caribbean sub-region
using modern technology and production methods. Phytosanitary issues,
transportation, marketing, and distribution will be the main challenges in this
regard.
In the case of energy the escalation in world oil prices has given new
impetus to the search within our regional approach to energy security. Barbados
believes that in these efforts priority emphasis must be placed on new
technologies for the generation of clean energies, particularly renewable sources
of energy. In the Caribbean, significant efforts have been made to develop
solar, geothermal, and wind energy and, with the assistance of Brazil, in the
area of biofuels. We see the vital need to foster the notion of a green economy
not merely from the perspective of enhancing energy security but also as an
essential contribution to the fight against climate change and global warming.
The small island developing States and low lining coastal states of the
Caribbean basin are among the most threatened in the world by the adverse
effects of global warming and rising sea levels. We are already feeling the
consequences in the form of increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes
and other related natural disasters. For us, the battle is not about who caused
the crisis, but about how to make things better for the future and how to
cooperate through an aggressive global effort to stabilize and reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. It is about the adoption of supported policies to mitigate and
adapt and provide special assistance to the most vulnerable countries and
communities.
Mr. President, the challenges that face our Hemisphere are enormous,
but crises are often a catalyst for bold new thinking and collective action. We
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