JOHANNESBURG/LONDON, 26 August — As the Earth Summit opens in Johannesburg today, too much fashionable opinion in the rich world has already decided that it is a waste of time and money. Simply because 60,000 people are attending, the argument seems to run, and simply because no binding treaty will emerge from the deliberations, it is all pointless.
But this gathering of 160 governments, thousands of journalists and thousands more pressure groups and lobbyists is far from pointless. In the absence of a world government capable of decreeing and enforcing like the Chinese regime a one-child policy across the globe, today’s summit is the only way the people of the world can make progress toward a sustainable way of life.
Demonstrations have so far marred the pre-summit sessions and South Africa warned demonstrators yesterday to obey the law.
Pope John Paul led appeals for the 10-day summit to safeguard the planet but there was widespread concern that the world leaders and thousands of delegates will not succeed. (The Independent)
