Sustainable Developement

What’s on the agenda for the UN conference?

After last week’s blog about atheism, which followed a couple of weeks of what I like to call “Fun with Theology”, I told my readers I’d try to write something light and cheery this week. Well, maybe I could write a happy poem about the conglomeration of world leaders who will take part in the UN Sustainable Development Summit 2015, which runs September 25-27.

 

Old Xi-Jinping and Vladimir

Might squabble on Agenda 21.

But Secretary Ban Ki-moon

Will peacefully implore until he's won.

Obama’s there to light the way

And offer every situation hope.

But if he fails to get it done

Hey, don’t forget they’ve also got the Pope! 

 

 

 

Truth is, I’m not sure there’s anything light and cheery about to happen at the UN. I’ve recently read a few articles on Agenda 21, which was first proposed at the UN conference in Brazil in 1992. The “21” refers to the 21^st century. “Agenda” refers to changing the world for the better. Of course, our world does need change. And who better to formulate the process for bringing those changes than the UN? Right?

 

The articles I read and websites I visited purport unprecedented vision for global sustainability. They also promote conspiracy theories. Of course, other sites (mostly from the UN) suggest those theories are easily debunked. Articles address everything from complete eradication of land ownership to “spreading the wealth” until all countries are equally impoverished. One article caught my attention because it tackled a subject I’ve faced this year. The title: “Is the UN Using Bike Paths to Achieve World Domination?”1

 

I took note because I now have a bike path running through the back of my property. I “donated” land for this. My neighbors and I fought it on the county level. Not that I hate bike paths—I rather enjoy it being there. But local government pulled out an obscure law from 1936 to help themselves to our land. And that was not right. But UN involvement? The bike path stretches on and so does the argument.

 

I didn’t read the entire 351 pages of the original Agenda 21, but I did skim through it. Especially near the beginning, before I got drowsy. It’s undergone changes since 1992. Here’s an interesting quote from a 1996 document:

 

“The realities of life on our planet dictate that continued economic development as we know it cannot be sustained…Sustainable development, therefore is a program of action for local and global economic reform – a program that has yet to be fully defined.” The Local Agenda 21 Planning Guide, published by ICLEI, 1996.

The version to be addressed at this year’s conference looks into the near future. The update to Agenda 21 is titled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” These five objectives wrap up the preamble and summarize the document’s intent:

 

The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet:

 

People

We are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.

 

Planet

We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.

 

Prosperity

We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.

 

Peace

We are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.

 

Partnership

We are determined to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda through a revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focussed in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.2

 

 A lot of determination. Not much allowance for debate, though debate will most certainly occur during the next three days. Not all government leaders are on board as objections are raised by both Republicans and Democrats.

 

If you’ve read my blog, you know I see the world through Bible glasses. So I couldn’t help but think this plan for a government-led Utopia sounds good, but skews just enough from God’s plan to make it not only undoable, but undesirable—kind of like what happens in my fiction. Does my Christian worldview make me an enemy of the New World Order? I realize there’s not much I can say about any of this without sounding like I want to keep poor people hungry and uneducated people dumb. That’s not my intent. I just think somebody’s got a better plan to fix this world. And I’m going to follow Him.

 

One more thing: Another topic will be addressed at the UN conference, and it may fly without anyone paying much attention because Sustainable Development is stealing the show. French leaders have proposed a resolution creating a Palestinian state. The UN will vote on it—most likely adopt it. And that might change the world.

 

1 “The Atlantic”; article by Andrew Cohen, Feb. 7, 2012

2  taken directly from the UN document:

Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development