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World Conservation Congress, Barcelona, 5 - 14 October, 2008 oct 8, 20083

II needneed YourYour Money…!Money…!

Hilmi Toros Those were the questions a select group of ministers, NGO leaders, corporate chiefs, international organisations and the Since climate change is now a demonstrated fact, rather than a academia divulged into on Tuesday in a closed session at make-believe worst- selling fiction of a few years back, money the IUCN World Conservation Congress at Barcelona. IPS is needed to forestall it and cure its ills. Terraviva gained entry into the private powwow on the under- Lots of money - an estimated $250 billion a year is needed standing that participants will not be identified or quoted, so as for both adaptation and mitigation. It is a figure which is more to allow them to speak their minds freely more as individuals than ten times the available as well as the spent amount. than big wigs with long and impressive titles. Will it come? If yes, from where? And who to whose coffers? Continued on Back Page

For full coverage of the IUCN World Conservation Congress, visit www.ipsterraviva.net By Ramesh Jaura Senior Correspondent Globalisation is killing languages

Armies That Don‘t Kill? Future is drawing the fo- cus at the IUCN World Con- servation Congress. So, why not visualise a world in which the armies of the world do not kill for a regime change here, and for a wealth of resources there, but protect planet earth from man-made and natural disasters? Believe me. This is pre- By Zoltán Dujisin language, and the culture it repre- A keen audience asked whether cisely what a blue-ribbon sents, becomes endangered. linguists had any right to act on behalf panel of retired admirals When Victoria Huancho Icahuate, “Globalisation is leading to a of indigenous people to save their and generals from the U.S. from the Peruvian village of Mu- simplification of cultural diversity languages. “Most linguists doing this armed forces is doing. Cer- nichis, died in the late 1990s, she took and is responsible for a large part kind of work are not taking a mis- tainly not behind closed the Munichi language with her. By of indigenous languages becom- sionary approach,” replied Margaret doors as some sort of alche- 2010, half of the world’s 7,000 lan- ing disadvantaged socially and Florey from Australia’s Monash Uni- mists. They introduced their guages could share the same fate. In economically in relation to majority versity. “What we find is a complex formula to the global media 1990, the northern Pomo indigenous languages,” Loh said. “Language is of anger and dispossession. People the vehicle of cultures and we are gathered in Barcelona on language vanished from California’s themselves are showing a deep con- Lake County. In the same region and losing cultures.” cern about their languages.” Monday. year, the Shasta language also disap- “What’s happening with languages Through her experience in the The formula is simple. peared and left behind the Shasta has a lot to do with urbanisation and Eastern Indonesian Islands, she Climate change presents people speaking only English. what happens to people when they developed an indicator that looks a serious national security “The languages declining most abandon their traditional environ- at intergenerational transition and threat which could impact rapidly are those with fewer speak- ment,” added Luisa Maffi, the Presi- can show whether a language is Americans at home and ers,” Jonathan Loh, from the Zoo- dent of Terralingua, an international being threatened with the passing military operations abroad, logical Society of London told NGO. The last decades, and in gen- of time. heightening global tensions. participants at a seminar on World eral the last century, has witnessed Speaking to IPS, Florey said lan- A Dutch reservist flanked to Cultural Diversity. “Most languages a massive migration from rural to guages can’t be saved by institutional urban centers as industrialisation and intervention. Despite the importance say the formula applied to all have increased in the absolute num- ber of speakers, but overall diversity global economic restructuring forced of regional and national cooperation, the world’s militaries. has been reduced,” he said. Current- agricultural populations to adapt to a she claimed, allowing communities All that needs be done ly only 300 languages are spoken by new economic reality. to address the problem themselves is to integrate national-level more than a million people. Chinese, New generations who grew up in is a way out. “Family contacts are security consequences of Hindi, Spanish, English, Bengali, cities quickly lost interest in their na- the best way to get all generations climate change into national Arabic, Portuguese and Russian lead tive language and were more likely to involved, you don’t need experts to security and defence strate- in that order. feel attracted to leading international do this work,” she emphasised. gies. Before the U.S. ceases More than half of the world’s languages. “It’s not even a problem On the need to save dying lan- to be a super power, it should known languages are spoken by caused by the fact that people have guages, Loh and Maffi argued that commit to a national and less than 10,000 people, and 85 to learn new languages. There have both biological and cultural diversity per cent of the world languages are been countless multilingual tradi- are at risk, even as both are inextri- international role to avoid indigenous ones – the most vulner- tional societies, this is the rule rather cably linked. “There is a matter of significant disruption to glo- able. To give empirical weight to than the exception,” Maffi said in justice in the protection and per- bal security and stability. their claims, speakers presented reference to New Guinea, an island petuation of traditional knowledge,” indicators that help detect when a home to almost 1,000 languages. Maffi said.

2 Save a hippopotamus, and get development Julio Godoy Zanuzzi

Back in 1998, the 17 farmer and

hunting communities of Wechiau, Fernanda living along the Black Volta River in Ghana had neither schools nor drinking water or electricity. Now, ten years later, the nearly 10,000 people who constitute the Wechiau communi- ties have them all. And that thanks to their decision, back then, of preserving the environment for the hippopotamus population living in the river. Chielinah Bandanaa, leader of the Wechiau community, is attending the IUCN World Conservation Congress to tell the story of his people and their efforts to preserve the Black Volta River hippopotamus’ habitat, and the economic benefits they have been reaping ever since, as consequence. Bandanaa: look what a hippo can do for you On behalf of the Wechiau commu- nities, Bandanaa also received the Equator Prize, a prestigious interna- The hippopotamus sanctuary is also world, “are humbling and inspiring Islands, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, tional award given to outstanding local homeland to over 500 other animal spe- examples of what grassroots commu- Micronesia, Indonesia, Vanuatu, and efforts in the tropical countries, to re- cies, and to numerous medicinal plants, nities are doing along the equator, to Cambodia in the Asian Pacific ocean duce poverty through conservation and and is managed by a board representing preserve biodiversity and simulta- region, and from the Democratic the sustainable use of biodiversity. the Wechiau communities. neously alleviate poverty.” Republic of Congo, Zambia, Kenya, The prize is given by the Equator “Soon after the creation of the re- He explained that the Equator Senegal, Namibia, Tanzania, and Initiative, a coalition of civil society serve, we started to reap some gains Initiative’s work is based upon one Ghana in Africa. organisations, business, governments from the project, especially tourism,” simple fact: “The world’s greatest In Aranayaka, in the Kegalle and communities, which, together Bandanaa said. “With those gains, concentrations of biological wealth district in south-eastern Sri Lanka, with the United Nations, help build and the support of our development are found in the tropics, in countries Damayanthi Godamulla started in the capacity and raise the profile of partners from the industrialised world, that also have some of the highest 1996 the Community Development grassroots efforts in the environmental especially in Canada, we could then levels of poverty. The good news is Centre (CDC), with the aim of conservation. built schools, drill holes for drinking that communities are charting a path preserving traditional vegetables, water, and even installed solar panels towards sustainability, creatively using especially yams and tubers, threa- HIPPO-BENEFITS to tap sun into electricity.” biological resources for food, medici- tened by oblivion. “Since then, we Bandanaa told TerraViva that after Wechiau’s talented, needy children ne, shelter and improved livelihoods have rediscovered 58 varieties of the Wechiau communities decided to now even get scholarships that finance in ways that raise incomes and protect very nutritious, tasty yams and roots, preserve the hippopotamus habitat, their studies and keep them from having the environment.” that our ancestors used to grow, and they had also to adapt their way of to join the adults in work as it happens The Wechiau communities were which had almost disappeared from life. “We are hunting and farming in so many other communities. one of the 25 grassroots groups that the daily diet of our communities, people, and we did our hunting and Erika Harms, executive director were awarded the Equator Prize Achala Adikari, member of the CDC, farming in precisely that area, where of sustainable development at the for 2008. Other prize winners are told IPS. the hippopotamus lives,” he said. United Nations Foundation, said indigenous groups from Colombia, Adikari is attending the congress “Now, we have to hunt and farm the Wechiau communities, and a Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Ecuador to receive the Equator Prize on behalf somewhere else.” hundred similar projects around the in Latin America, from the Solomon of the CDC.

3 Conservation includes people

Rahul Kumar mountain. Activities like these are extre-

Zanuzzi mely humiliating to the local people.” Conservationists have not changed The NGO, which conducted a colla- their ways, says Marcus Colchester, borative investigation with its partners to Fernanda director of the Forest People’s Program- inquire more about the situation of the in- me, a UK-based organisation working digenous people, finds that little progress with indigenous people. “Ever since has been made in Cameroon to secure the national parks and protected areas were rights of forest communities and most introduced, people’s rights have been conservation organisations, even donors violated. Their lands have been taken and the government have done nothing to away and they have been rendered protect the people’s rights. In Cameroon, poor,” he says. barring one national park, the pygmies He said that at the Durban Parks suffer repression from the forest guards who prevent them from hunting and Congress, held in Durban in 2003, con- Lasimbang: we are no threat servationists had committed themselves may even, sometimes, burn their huts. In to a new paradigm of conservation Thailand, hill tribes have been declared which would respect the rights of indi- from a community-based organisation when people talk about sustainable illegal residents in the watershed conser- genous people. Under this plan, no new in Malaysia said: “We find that the management policies, our knowledge, vation zones and the government plans parks would be established without their management plans of all national parks the traditions and culture has to be taken to relocate them soon. consent, forced resettlement would be consider indigenous people as threats into account and it has to be respected But on a positive note, speakers men- strictly eliminated, indigenous people and these people have been relocated in because we have the knowledge to tioned that the governments are slowly would be involved in the management the name of eco-tourism, development manage out ecosystems in an environ- recognising the need for collaborative of protected areas and would get a share and community forestry.” mentally-friendly manner.” management, but they are still not ready in the benefits. The Forest People’s Programme Illustrating the point that the culture to accept and implement such concepts. “We wanted to see if the govern- estimates that almost half of the nearly of the people gets affected due to deve- The NGO has urged the governments to ments and their policies, conservation 100,000 protected areas overlap with lopment and tourism projects, Lasim- honour the Durban commitment as well organisations changed, but we found those areas where the indigenous bang said: “One of the communities in as put an end of human rights abuses. It that the policies remain on paper. We people live. Malaysia has a sacred mountain where also wants a composite dialogue to take find that protected areas are still being Adam Ole Mwarabu Lemareka from no one from outside the community is place between the various stakeholders run in top-down ways,” he said. Tanzania said that the people who have allowed to go. But under pressure, the and that conservation should be done At a press conference by various indi- been traditionally living in forests have government has opened up that area in a manner that it achieves its overall genous on Tuesday, Adrian Lasimbang been the masters of environment. “So, and allowed tourists to even climb that aims.

Q&A Claudia A. McMurray, Assistant U.S. Secretary, Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

Rahul Kumar look at environmental resources population, timber harvesting for economic benefit. and new development projects Give us an overview of – particularly energy projects. We your environmental plans in Any major ecological con- have now strengthened our laws Africa. cerns in Africa? related to energy projects. We have initiatives in many We came across an iron-ore The US is the second-biggest African countries and providing project in Gabon being devel- market for illegal trade in wildlife training to people, helping them oped by the Chinese for which products, after China, because make policies regarding protecting they were developing a hydro- of its large immigrant population. their forests and wildlife. Gabon power plant right in the middle Despite strong enforcement, only has developed 13 new national of a forest. This would have about 10 per cent of the illegal parks in the last five years since flooded and destroyed the forest. management policies and certi- trade is seized in the US. We we engaged with that country. We But communities are becoming fication programmes so that the have also made two public ser- spent about $80 million in Congo conscious about such projects forests are not over-exploited. vice announcements with Har- on conservation. We are trying and the local people took up the rison Ford and British-conser- to prevent wildlife trafficking as issue with their government. Also How are you preventing il- vationist Jane Goodall to create becoming an economic resource China is actively procuring timber legal wildlife trade in the US? awareness among our people on for marginalised people by pro- from a number of countries. Lo- The US wildlife is not un- environmental protection. The moting tourism and developing cal NGOs and governments in der threat due to illegal trade idea also is to raise the profile of agriculture so that people do not such cases will have to develop but it is because of increasing conservation issues.

4 Do it my way: Mining company to environmentalists Zarina Geloo companies exploit local communities An example of Rio Tinto’s foresi- of hand written notes, which he did as well as degrade the environment. ght was his own employment. “Rio not even look at. “Listen, learn and It was a group of unlikely be- After watching a particularly horrific Tinto forecast long before others engage” he advised fellow mining dfellows that met at IUCN’s World presentation from a Philippino environ- knew that it had to start looking at companies. And, “for goodness sake, Conservation Congress’ meeting on ment group, Cochrane made no apolo- the environment (including plant deal with local governments who indigenous people and the extractive gies on behalf of the mining industry species) and they hired me, can represent communities.” industry. but he did say that mining companies you imagine, an anthropologist in a To governments, Cochrane said Consider the contrast. Conserva- should not be lumped together. mining company”. they should be more forward thinking tionists made powerpoint presenta- With no false modesty, he distan- He added that, unlike other mining and plan for development activities tions, had elaborate maps and graphic ced his company from other mining companies, Rio Tinto had declined to like resettling people when conside- images of environmental degradation companies, saying Rio Tinto -the invest in the Philippines. He did not ring mining investment. due to mining. On the other hand, world’s largest coal mining com- mention, however, past accusations He had some advice for environ- British-Australian mining giant Rio pany- was probably one of the best of human rights and environmental mental activists too: he wanted them Tinto’s professor Glynn Cochrane in the extractive industry: it made abuse by non-governmental groups to be intermediaries between com- had just a sheet of handwritten notes profits while maintaining its safety, such as Friends of the Earth, a mem- munities and mining companies. He and a lot of advice for environmen- ethical business, social and environ- ber of IUCN. felt that at the moment, they were just talists and governments. mental responsibility with an eye on In contrast to slick presentations advocates and there was no one to act The issue at heart was how mining sustainable development. by environmentalists, he had a sheet as a facilitator between the two. Barbie dolls talk science Zarina Geloo servation and health. They show these films in villages and explain Taking the jargon out of sci- to people about the impact of ence and letting it fly - literally environmental degradation. An from the trees is what Dr Nalini example of successful grassroots Nadkarni did when she created communication was how INCEF the Tree Top Barbie doll - outfitted took the message about the Ebola with a safety helmet, a crossbow, virus to the outskirts of Congo. a notebook and measuring tape American NGO, Earth Gauge - she swings from tree to tree uses weather forecasts to provide gathering data which she shares people with information that they with people. can use. Debbie Slider said the The goal of the Tree Top organisation tells people how Barbie is to raise consciousness they can harvest rainwater or among young people about the why flooding has occurred in importance of forest canopy their area. organisms and interactions. Nad- Cristina Mittermeier from the karni was part of a panel of sci- International League of Conser- entists who are using innovative vation Photographers said her ways to communicate complex organisation was using ethical and difficult science messages to of forest canopies. The group effort towards conservation. photography to promote environ- a fatigued public. A simple aim is reconnects people with their re- Cynthia Moss from the In- mental and cultural conservation to cut out the jargon. ligions texts that talk about how ternational Conservation and among people. “We believe that Nadkarni works with Interna- trees and uses these enviro- Education Fund (INCEF) said awe-inspiring photography is a tional Canopy Network (ICAN) religious messages to reinforce her organisation uses digital powerful force for the environ- which facilitates communica- messages about protecting for- literacy to communicate. Using ment, especially when paired with tion among individuals and in- ests. In an interesting initiative, local capacity, people are trained the collaboration of committed stitutions working in research, American prisoners are being to produce short films in their scientists, politicians, religious education, and conservation trained to harvest moss as an languages with messages on con- leaders and policy makers.”

5 Indigenous People: Zanuzzi

We too matter No top down Fernanda conservation Stanislaus Jude Chan believes modern institutions can learn from and be “inspired” by traditional Indigenous people from across methods of water management, es- the world found the IUCN’s World pecially with the “increasing water Conservation Congress the right demand and the shortage of current forum to discuss their traditional water supply to meet demands.” practices of adaptation to climate Driven by necessity, traditional change. communities have been found to Despite their distinct cultural be innovative in their management differences, the delegates shared of natural resources. For example, a common message they brought Mizyed traces the roots of the mod- asked the audience on Monday. “subverts the canon of nature”. from their corners of the world - ern-day cistern back to traditional And in their deep reverence for na- Kenyinke Sena, from the Indige- conservation is not just a top-down communities in Palestine and Jordan, ture, traditional communities might nous Peoples of Africa Coordinating responsibility and it will have to where these were used to help in ag- hold the upper-hand over modern Committee, believes that govern- taken into account the voices of the ricultural irrigation and the watering societies. ment policies also contribute to the indigenous people as well. of livestock. In a study of the indigenous ruin of nature. Many believe that opening a line “How can ‘modern’ or ‘western’ Khasis community in India, Patri- The nomadic Ogiek and Maasai of dialogue between various com- science both respectfully embrace cia Mary Mukhim, from the Indig- tribes in Kenya, for example, had munities and policy-makers could traditional knowledge systems and enous Women’s Resource Centre, strict “taboos against interfering with play a big role in conservation efforts. also strengthen them?” Ashish Ko- said that the effects of climate the environment” and “adapted their Buthaina Mizyed, from the IUCN thari, Founder of India-based envi- change have worsened because lives to the natural environment, not REWARD Programme in Palestine, ronment action group Kalpavriksh, “globalisation exerts pressure” and the other way round”.

Congress Steering Committee confirms deadline for submitting new motions to the Congress: 10 October, 2pm

During the Congress, motions may only be submitted by Council or delegates from members in good standing. These motions must be co-sponsored by five members. To be considered, the text of new motions are to be submitted electronically to [email protected] by the deadline: 2pm on 10 October. The principal sponsor and four co-sponsors must confirm their sponsorship of the motion in writing at the Resolutions Help Desk before the deadline.

Motions submitted at Congress must be consistent with the objectives of IUCN and not repeat decisions of a prior Session of the World Congress, except in those instances where the underlying issue has not been resolved and/or there remains a need for further action. In addition, new motions can only be approved if: a) the subject is new, b) urgent, c) could not have been foreseen, d) arises out of deliberations of the World Congress, or e) responds to matters on the agenda.

6 By Hilmi Toros Two to tango - Senior Correspondent financial crisis and climate change

By Ramesh Jaura forestation. However, it already is suffering huge Enter the global finan- economic losses due to Resilience… cial crisis. Exit climate climate change.” In a world where billions of change? That lingering “Countries in the region dollars are made by big busi- apprehension is not shared and its citizens - particu- ness, and lost by big banks, by Pamela Cox, the World larly the extreme poor - are don’t knock down biodiversity- Bank’s vice president for the most vulnerable to the based “micro-enterprises.” Latin America and the effects of climate change. It Caribbean. “I am an op- is cruel and ironic that those They live with nature. They live timist,” she says, adding people who are the least off nature and care for it. that the global financial responsible for causing the In the hands of ten or less turmoil will not push cli- Pamela Cox: Braving problem are also the most simple workers per enter- financial collapse mate change action into a corner. vulnerable and the ones with least prise, they are living proof Money already on the table will be resources to adapt,” she said. that small can be beautiful. used to invest in clean technologies In a speech to the Peterson In- Repercussions from climate And, it appears, in crises they for the countries in need. stitute for International Economics change impacts will be felt world- are also far more resilient This is underlined by the fact that in Washington, Zoellick said: “The wide unless significant action was than some high-flying finance leading industrialised countries had G-7 is not working. We need a bet- taken soon to reduce global warm- gurus whose limousines now pledged, five weeks ago, more than ter group for a different time. For ing and mitigate its effects. Cox resemble ambulances – taking noted that the region includes five six billion dollars to the two ‘climate financial and economic cooperation, them to wellness centres. investment funds’ (CIFs) that the we should consider a new Steering of the world’s ten most bio-diverse A workshop at the IUCN board of executive directors of the Group including Brazil, China, In- countries – Brazil, Colombia, Ec- World Conservation Congress World Bank had endorsed last July. dia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, uador, Mexico and Peru - and the displayed how folks in Africa The CIFs are a pair of international South Africa, and the current G-7.” single-most biologically diverse have gained access to high- investment instruments designed to Presenting a preview of the World area in the world, the eastern slope value markets in the North with provide clean technologies to the Bank report, Cox said Latin America of the Andes. developing countries and to test was neither responsible for the finan- More than 50 per cent of the their “ethically produced anti- innovative approaches to climate cial crisis nor was it a main source world’s tropical forests are in Latin aging cosmetics.” Or people change. contributing to global climate change. America, along with 65 per cent of in Bangladesh shifting from The CIFs are not confined to But the effects of both were being felt the tropical forest biomass. “Con- normal cumbersome bricks Latin America and the Caribbean, by countries across the region. serving these forests is critical not to cement-based hollow-brick but on demand these will benefit the “For those countries working with only for protecting biodiversity (less weight, less energy use), countries of the region as well, Cox the World Bank, it has become part but also for sequestering carbon or Vietnamese adding a tourist said. She was in Barcelona to launch of the solution in fighting climate and mitigating climate change,” site to a quarry are making the a preview of the World Bank’s “flag- change while fostering economic Cox said. difference. ship report on climate change in growth,” Cox said in an interview The World Bank report depicts The workshop shows that Latin America” at the IUCN World with IPS TerraViva. She shared the some gloomy scenarios for the right products, right people, countries of Latin America and the Conservation Congress. frustration of many of the region’s the right profit motive and right leaders about the present financial Caribbean as a result of the effects of Another reason for her optimism, trade opportunities lead to she said, was the call by World mayhem, but she emphasised that global climate change, particularly money that can withstand most Bank president Robert B. Zoellick the region was better prepared to related to the Andean glaciers, which of the cyclical ups and downs for a fundamental overhaul of the confront it due to diversified trade have been retreating and some might of financial uncertainty. multilateral system. The way the relations, an improved fiscal posi- even completely disappear over the Looks as if nature and world tries to solve its economic tion, and steady economic growth next 10-20 years. Even the Amazon problems needs to be rethought in recent years. rainforest may shrink by 20-80 per small business can co-habit amid the global crisis, including Referring to climate change, she cent due to temperature increases profitably. turning the Group of Seven into a said: “The region is only produc- between 2.0 and 3.0 centigrade, In fact, the Congress mar- Steering Group that empowers rising ing about six per cent of global triggering “desertification” over vast ried them. For a happy life economic states, Zoellick had said greenhouse gas emissions and just areas of South America, impacting thereafter? just a day earlier. over 10 per cent if we include de- even North America.

7 Cars: Two sides of the same coin

Stanislaus Jude Chan ce,” said Graham Smith, senior vice- president of external and environmental The contrast between the REVA car affairs, Toyota Motor Europe. “Our TerraViva is an and the Toyota Eco-Driving display holistic approach is designed to create independent publication at the IUCN World Conservation value for both Toyota, as a sustainable of IPS-Inter Press Congress cannot be more striking. business, and for the communities in Service news agency. While the lonesome REVA has been which we live and work,” he added. The opinions expressed tanning itself outside the congress Spurred by the impending launch in TerraViva do not venue, getting towed around once in of its Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles, which Toyota and REVA: necessarily reflect the a while, the Toyota pavilion boasts of boasts of technological advances to Unequal race editorial views of IPS or an attractive high-tech simulator that enable further energy savings and the official position of any has become one of the most popular more driver comfort, Toyota aims to of its sponsors. exhibits at the congress so far. sell more than one million hybrid cars This edition is the product The dissimilarities do not end there. annually by 2010. Having sold close of a partnership between The India-based REVA Electric Car to 1.6 million Toyota hybrid vehicles IPS and IUCN. Company (RECC) plays a proverbial to date, the Japanese car-maker esti- David to the Goliath Toyota, one mates it has already saved the earth of the juggernauts in the world’s from some 7 million tonnes of carbon Publisher car manufacturing industry. While dioxide emissions since the inception Mario Lubetkin REVA’s solitary representative at of its hybrid cars in 1996. Managing Editor the congress has proved to be excep- But the REVA takes environment Alejandro Kirk tionally elusive, Toyota’s army of tucked unremarkably under the car’s conservation a step further. Running immaculately-dressed executives pull windscreen wiper. on an electric battery, the fully electric Editor no punches in trying to win the hearts Regardless of the differences, both car releases absolutely no harmful gases Rahul Kumar of participants. The Toyota European car-makers share a common vision into the atmosphere. Able to be plugged Senior Correspondents Sustainability Report 2008, launched - to provide an environmentally- into any commonly-found 15-ampere Ramesh Jaura on Tuesday, is a 84-page, perfect- friendly alternative to conventional socket, the REVA’s battery consumes Hilmi Toros bound public relation masterpiece, petrol guzzlers. just 9 units of electricity for a full char- while REVA offers a simple single- “We are fully committed to growing ge. Unfortunately, it only allows the car Reporters Zoltan Dujisin page handout with the car’s technical our business profitably, while enhancing to run for up to 80 km before having to Zarina Geloo details – listed only in Spanish – and our social and environmental performan- stop for another charge. Julio Godoy Stanislaus Jude Chan

Photographer Climate Change: I need Your Money… Fernanda Zanuzzi Continued from Page 1 a “global compact” on finances as coordinator of the closed session, Video the entire gamut of climate change conceded to an interview to Terraviva Ana Libisch The conclusion of the wide-ranging comes under review at Copenhagen and went on the record. Matías Paparamborda give-and-take - money will be scarce, in December 2009 at the climate His view, based on close liaison Illustrations although could be found from gover- change conference. The parties of with the funders, is that cash is tight Omar Galindo nments, international bodies and the the UNFCCC will meet for the last – and will be tighter due to the current corporate word – even if all are under time at a government level to review financial crisis. “If government treasu- Art pressure from the current fiscal meltdo- the Kyoto Protocol which runs out in ries bail out banks, that money is not Cristina Pozzobon (Editor) wn afflicting the once-untouchable and 2012 and present a new pathway on going to be replaced,” he says. The Rosana Pozzobon unaccountable financial and banking climate change. business world, which was expected Web systems of the Western world. Currently, there exists a prolifera- to finance 80 per cent of funds, may Yuri R. Padilla If finding the cash is a daunting pro- tion of financing, however small or have to rethink. blem, an equally critical one will soon big, with one complaint being that the On the future prospect for hard Editorial Assistant arise - who will spend it and how? The receivers have too many givers – and cash, Vogt said, much depends on the Claudia Diez de Medina meeting heard the need for a mecha- spend too much time talking at the “global compact,” that is being thra- Project Manager nism with some sort of a coordinated, expense of action. shed out now. “It must have binding Susan Alexander if not unified, command to trickle the Another criticism is that some high- commitments on both targets and cash down to our suffering ecosystems profile funding on climate change is finances,” he stressed. in a “measurable, reportable and veri- a re-hash of old commitments, rather Yet, he feels that the urgency of © 2008 IPS-Inter Press Service fiable” manner. than the required and promised new combating the ills of climate change is As the Kyoto Accords expires ones. After the closed session, Erich sinking in and that “after some political www.ipsterraviva.net [email protected] in 2012, there may be a need for Vogt, a senor IUCN official and the posturing,” there will be money.

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