DOZENS
OF BAHÁ'Í AND ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS WERE REPERSENTED AT
THE SUMMIT, IN AN EFFORT TO ASSES PROGRESS MADE SINCE THE
1992 EARTH SUMMIT IN RIO DE JANEIRO IN ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT.
The centerpiece of Baha'i
efforts at the Summit was the presentation of a statement,
prepared by the Baha'i International Community, entitled "Religion
and Development at the Crossroads: Convergence or Divergence?"
"The statement raises
a bold and challenging call to the UN and to the leaders of
the world's religions," said Peter Adriance, the lead
representative of the Baha'i International Community to the
Summit.
"It asks the UN to more
fully recognise the key role religion must play in the quest
for sustainable development and it calls on religious leaders
to reject all forms of religious fanaticism as impediments
to development and peace."
Held from 26 August to 4
September 2002, the Summit brought together thousands of participants,
including heads of state and government, delegates and leaders
from non-governmental organisations, and businesses. Organised
by the UN, the Summit's goal is to inspire action towards
creating an environmentally sound world while addressing humanity's
needs for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health
services and economic security.
Delegations from the Baha'i
International Community, as well as the official Baha'i communities
of Brazil, Canada, and South Africa, have been accredited
to the Summit.
“We believe that religion
has a significant role to play in calculating the values necessary
to create a sustainable society. And there are many groups
that are now carrying forward this message to the United Nations
and other international organisations,” Mr. Adriance said.
Two Baha'i-inspired organisations,
the International Environment Forum (IEF) and the European
Baha'i Business Forum (EBBF), were also accredited. Both organisations
operate on Baha'i principles but have no formal connection
to Baha'i institutions.
The same delegations also
participated in discussions at the NGO Forum. In addition,
the BIC and South Africa’s Baha'i community created exhibits,
highlighting a Baha'i approach to development and showcasing
projects around the world.
The IEF and EBBF also ran
several workshops on Globalisation; Sustainability Indicators;
Integrating Science in Local Communities; Values For Sustainable
Development; and Value-Based Education For Sustainable Development.
"In many respects,"
said Mr. Adriance, "the programme of workshops and activities
by these Baha'i-inspired organisations backs up the central
theme of the Baha'is at the Summit -- which is to show that
you can't have sustainable development in a spiritual vacuum."
"Both the IEF and the EBBF have stressed
the importance of spiritual values in their work, with the
IEF focusing on values as they relate to the scientific and
technical issues surrounding the environment and the EBBF
focusing on values as they relate to business ethics,"
Mr. Adriance added.
In addition, two Baha'i youth performing arts troupes, Beyond
Words and Ablaze, will support selected volunteer initiatives,
and there will also be a display of "Children's Art for
the Environment" from an annual competition run by the
Baha'is in the Cape Town area. BWNS
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