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:
- The adoption of the Barbados Declaration, a two-part document
that affirms the condition and problems of small island developing
states; acknowledges their vulnerabilities to natural and
environmental disasters, pollution, and the effects of climate change;
and recommends the promotion of human resource development programs,
technical assistance, mechanisms for information sharing, and greater
assistance from the international community.
- The creation of a Program of Action that defines some fourteen
issues faced by small islands and low-lying coastal areas, and makes
specific recommendations for action at the national, regional, and
international levels.
- The strengthening of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS),
a group of 36 members and 5 observers, which now seems likely to
become a viable negotiating coalition in the United Nations system.
- A relatively new and high degree of cooperation between
governments and NGOs. NGOs were credited with keeping the human
aspect of sustainable development in the forefront of the Conference,
and language to that effect is evident in the Declaration.
(e-mail: 1Country@BIC.Org)
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