What is the "RIO MINUS10 CAMPAIGN"?

Can we make a way to solve global environmental problems?

The World Summit on Sustainable Development will be held in Johannesburg, from August 26th 2002 to Septe mber 4th 2002. The summit is commonly known as "Rio Plus 10". It presents opportunities that governments and NGOs discuss the target and measures for sustainable development  next decade from the conference to solve global environmental problems every 10 years."A SEED JAPAN ", the international environmental NGO for youth, launched the campaign for this big conference. This is called "RIO-10(MINUS-TEN) CANPAIGN".

Why is this campaign called "MINUS"?

To what extent have the measures for the global environmental problems made progress for the past decade? In 1992 the Earth Summit adopted Agenda 21 for action to solve environmental problems. However for the past decade economic disparities between developed countries and developing countries have become wider. Besides, the United States still withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol on measures to prevent global warming. Which makes slow the progress of the important conference to
decide the future of humanity. Therefore we have decided to name this campaign 'MINUS', hoping that the conference will progress to "PLUS" direction.

Think globally, act locally.
The economic rules for justice!

For the past decade economic disparities between developed countries and developing countries have become wide. This is because multinational corporations have fostered their power and caused the movements of people, goods and money beyond national borders. But as a result, natural resources which once belonged to common property, such as water, forests and so on began to be privatized. In addition, each local culture in each community began to decline. It needs rules and regulations to stop the actions which can destroy natural resources and cultures in each community.  We want to make a new understanding of the necessary of fair economy with companies and citizens at large. Not only in Tokyo, but also in various Japanese and world cities, we want to study, discuss and act for this problem with other students and youth. Let's make the more exiting movement toward 2002.

We have to change the flow of money.

There are many environmental agreements. But it is not enough money to run these agreements. This is the present situation surrounding the international environmental policies. Therefore we pay attention to the flow of money, so called, problems of economy and environment. That is, we think that citizens at large can change the flow of money by choosing "how to buy, work and save money" in their everyday lives.