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Perspectives from the Developing World

Several speakers highlighted the growing concern that unsustainable practices of industrialized nations are being rapidly exported to the developing world.

Helena Norberg-Hodge of the International Society for Ecology and Culture described how economic globalization is undermining local cultures and the environment. She noted that even in remote regions of developing countries, when buying commodities such as butter and milk it is often easier to find imported products than locally produced goods. Trade policies so distort local commerce that they foster widespread homogeneity and erode cultural self esteem, Norberg-Hodge said. Everyone is trying to conform to standard stereotypes - one finds blond, blue-eyed Barbies the world over, for instance. We need new international trade agreements that will balance economic priorities with social and environmental priorities, Norberg-Hodge told those gathered.

Alicia Barcena, executive director of the Earth Council in Costa Rica, said four key insights she gained at the Rio Summit in 1992 deeply influenced her perspectives on the issues of consumption and sustainability.

• The North-South debate is over: The real debate is between rich and poor.

• The world has changed from an ideological and geopolitical framework to a geoeconomic framework, with much ensuing confusion.
• Technology and knowledge - capital - which were in the hands of the governments for a long time now are outside governments. In fact, the governments do not understand what is going on, and they have little control over technology.
• The nature of money is changing. Today, those who have access to electronics (communication) have access to money (capital). This changing nature of money poses a tremendous threat not only to developing countries but to all countries. Highly volatile capital is in the hands of very few people and institutions.

Barcena warned participants that the world is full of confusion and contradictions as we approach the end of the century. There is growing militarization along with apparent increases in democracy; more political freedom but also loss of economic choices; more religious freedom and yet increasing fundamentalism; and a crisis of government almost everywhere. She challenged participants to move toward Ran era of synthesis where we can put together religion, science, and values. She suggested several places to begin. Possibilities include reexamining the meaning of trade (we only need to trade that which is not depleting the natural capital); going back to the inconsistencies between GATT, Marrakech, NAFTA, and sustainability; and shifting to a focus on demand side management.

Above all, Barcena urged the conference participants to continue their work and to create a network to which organizations in developing countries could have access. Few are aware of efforts being designed, or even considered, in the United States to change patterns of consumption and move the nation toward a more sustainable path. People working on sustainability issues in the South need to learn of related activity in the North, she said, and would welcome the opportunity to share ideas, information, and expertise.