World News

Earth Summit looks to end 'global apartheid'

The Earth Summit opened in Johannesburg on Aug. 26, giving world governments just 10 days to agree on ways to haul millions around the world out of poverty without poisoning the planet.

Host president Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, who was elected president of the World Summit on Sustainable Development by delegates from nearly 200 nations, called for an end to "global apartheid" between rich and poor.

Addressing the opening plenary session, he said it was time to scrap a world order based on the "savage principle of the survival of the fittest."

The main issues to be covered at the summit are:

-- A declaration renewing political commitment to sustainable development, to be endorsed by summit leaders.

-- A plan for meeting goals of preserving the environment and erasing poverty, first outlined at the 1992 Rio Summit.

-- Partnership initiatives in which governments, corporations and grass-roots groups can work on tasks outlined in the action plan without the need to gain overall consensus on how they do it.

More than 100 world leaders — with the notable exception of U.S. President George W. Bush — are attending the summit.

Shukan ST: Sept. 6, 2002

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