In Barbados, small island take on big dimensions

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Hope and Horror, two twenty-foot tall puppets, stood discussing conservation at the entrance to the Village of Hope, an exhibition and display area constructed as part of the contribution of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the United Nations Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, held here from 25 April to 6 May 1994.

Hope, made mostly of gracefully flowing sailcloth and natural materials found on the beach, represented the best of nature and the human spirit. She was patiently educating Horror, who was largely constructed of discarded auto parts, a broken television and other refuse as a representation of greed, suspicion and selfishness.


At the entrance to the Village of Hope, an exhibition and display area constructed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the United Nations Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, two giant puppets, named "Hope" and "Horror," greeted conference participants. Hope, at right, was made of sailcloth and natural materials, symbolizing nature and the human spirit, while Horror, at left, was made of discarded auto parts, a broken television and other refuse as a representation of greed, suspicion and selfishness.

"Haven't you heard of reduce, recycle, reuse?" Hope asked. "You could cut back now on the water you use, on the number of car trips every week, and maybe repair something so as not to throw it out and buy new."

"I would, but my neighbor won't, so I can't," Horror answered. "He'll just use what I tried to save. I'm better off to get it first."

Though simplistic, this dramatized conversation about how to balance environmental concerns with market competition reflected well the kind of difficult issues confronting the participants of this Conference, which was organized to examine the unique vulnerabilities of small island developing states and low-lying coastal areas, review current trends in their social and economic development, and recommend a program of action for long-term sustainable development.

Among the specific results of the Conference were:


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