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Last-minute deal struck at summit as Powell endures jeering activists

The United States came under attack in the final session of the U.N. World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sept. 4 as the world's governments forged a last-minute action plan aimed at easing poverty and safeguarding the environment.

Repeatedly interrupted by activists' jeers and protests, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell defended the United States' environmental record and its efforts to help the poor in developing countries.

The United States has been strongly criticized by leaders and activists for U.S. President George W. Bush's rejection of the Kyoto Protocol, which focuses on reversing a global warming trend blamed for disastrous storms, floods and droughts.

Bush has said the U.S. has been fighting global warming in other ways, but the agreement was inappropriate and too costly for the U.S. economy.

Many activists have lashed out at the final agreement of the 10-day summit as inadequate and staged a symbolic walkout.

While there were a few minor achievements - mainly in the protection of fisheries and plans to bring sanitation to the poor - much of the summit was a desperate fight to stop governments from weakening already existing agreements, activists charged.

But negotiators did resolve the last main sticking points in the action plan to turn commitments made 10 years ago at the Rio Earth Summit into reality. Most of the items were geared to helping the world's poorest people without polluting the environment.

Shukan ST: Sept. 13, 2002

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National News Last-minute deal struck at summit as Powell endures jeering activists The United States came under attack in the final session of the U.N. World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Sept. 4 as the world's governments forged a last-minute action plan aimed at easing poverty and safeguarding the environment. Repeatedly interrupted by activists' jeers and protests, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell defended the United States' environmental record and its efforts to help the poor in developing countries. The United States has been strongly criticized by leaders and activists for U.S. President George W. Bush's rejection of the Kyoto Protocol, which focuses on reversing a global warming trend blamed for disastrous storms, floods and droughts. Bush has said the U.S. has been fighting global warming in other ways, but the agreement was inappropriate and too costly for the U.S. economy. Many activists have lashed out at the final agreement of the 10-day summit as inadequate and staged a symbolic walkout. While there were a few minor achievements - mainly in the protection of fisheries and plans to bring sanitation to the poor - much of the summit was a desperate fight to stop governments from weakening already existing agreements, activists charged. But negotiators did resolve the last main sticking points in the action plan to turn commitments made 10 years ago at the Rio Earth Summit into reality. Most of the items were geared to helping the world's poorest people without polluting the environment. Shukan ST: Sept. 13, 2002 (C) All rights reserved