Pledges cheap

Toronto Sun ^ | August 28, 2002 | Peter Worthington

[Clive]

The most positive thing to be said about the largest gathering in the UN's history, under way in South Africa, is that it'll be a handsome boost to the Johannesburg economy.

A hundred world leaders, including our beloved Jean Chretien, are gathering in Jo'burg, along with 40,000 delegates and 6,000 of the world's press, for what's being billed as a "World Summit on Sustainable Development," whatever that is.

Reportedly, there's joy on the streets of Jo'burg.

Bars expanding for business; hookers arriving from neighbouring countries for round-the-clock service at brothels; private homes rented to UN types at small ransoms.

Money is rolling in -- and out.

What will be accomplished is anyone's guess. Actually it's not a guess at all. It's a monumental waste, like so much in Africa. Words, words, words.

Declarations of intent, promises never-to-be-honoured, protestations that something must be done. The usual UN rhetoric -- as there was a decade ago at the original "Earth Summit" held in Rio, where Hollywood and Green enthusiasts cheered politicians who pledged to save the earth. (Saved from what? From ourselves.)

This time around, the world leaders and their entourages will pledge to cut the world's poor by 50%; to guarantee fresh water and sanitation; to reverse the decline of wildlife, marine life, natural resources. All in a dozen years.

RESORT COUNTRIES

Pledges are cheap and meaningless -- witness preparatory meetings in Bali 18 months ago that were more declarations of intent and desirability. (Odd, isn't it, how wealthy countries like meetings in hot resort countries in winter).

This UN conference of scandalous proportions is mindful of the earlier meeting in South Africa on AIDS, which was mostly blamed on America or colonial powers or poverty. Little mention of lifestyles and promiscuity.

This time we have South African President Thabo Mbeki lambasting rich nations (i.e. white nations) for "global apartheid," which means a world split by affluence and need.

More whining about rich countries being to blame for poor countries, and how the former is obligated to help the latter. Until Africa shows some inclination to clean up corruption, end tyranny, stop blaming others, little will change.

Because apartheid ended in South Africa, Mbeki says the world now has a responsibility to make poor countries wealthier.

Oh? How about countries helping themselves? Most entrepreneurial countries would relish the world being rich and consuming what they produce. It doesn't work that way.

COMFORTABLE BOOST

As it stands, 100 world leaders, 40,000 UN delegates and 6,000 media with other people's money to spend will be a comfortable boost to the local South African economy, but that's likely the only benefit of the summit.

Curiously, the only countries that take this sort of conference seriously are the gimme countries -- the ones on the take -- and Scandinavian countries that don't demand accountability.

The Americans are a write-off, and will utter platitudes but are otherwise preoccupied these days with knocking off Iraq from their huge new base in Qatar.

Sometime this fall, when the weather cools, seems a likely time for President George W. Bush to try to whack Saddam Hussein, if a coup can't be provoked against the wily tyrant.

But that's another story for another day.

Whatever Bush decides on Iraq, all he need worry about is succeeding. Decisively. If it works, it is right; if it fails, it is wrong. Simple,eh?

Meanwhile, the UN summit in South Africa is more hot air, a boost to the local economy, and promises that cost nothing so long as they're ignored.

[Clive]

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[blam]

"As it stands, 100 world leaders, 40,000 UN delegates and 6,000 media with other people's money to spend will be a comfortable boost to the local South African economy, but that's likely the only benefit of the summit."

Your money!!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Perhaps we could make the UN a permanent gift to South Africa.