Foto: Paulo Freire Zentrum

19.11.2008
Global topics and individual responsibility?

In the five focus groups on agriculture, climate change, agrofuels, water and technologies there were many common threads. All groups addressed global topics with local relevance - issues we are confronted with all over the world, either directly or indirectly, and we will have to deal with them, as individuals, societies, and as governments both nationally and internationally. Some of the topics were the food and financial crises, water and energy supply, the power of technologies. There is no exception for any continent, we are all affected. There are often differences however in how these issues manifest themselves, and how they are being dealt with, and some of the examples presented brought solutions on a global OR local level, sometimes international or EU regulations made it even harder esp. for farmers to deal with life. All in all the examples discussed also showed that there is no one-size-fits-it-all model: it is partly individuals, communities or governments finding or trying to find solutions. This however will not allow us as individuals to forget about our life style, the way we have gotten used to living so un-sustainable, especially in Northern societies.

Very often markets play an important role as well, and the discussion about sustainable markets was very pertinent in most groups. Markets seem to be easier to understand and grasp on a more regional level, probably also easier to control: as a farmer knowing my customers is a huge advantage, whilst producing on-demand for European customers may be difficult both emotionally and in practice. If those consumers change their taste and food habits, how long will it take before I find out? This is also an issue of power. Who decides? Empowerment and self-determination is an important issue for farmers, and solutions for marketing of their products should be found in a participative way rather than imposing external marketing ideas on them.

The private sector however can make important contributions to find more sustainable solutions for marketing issues and supply of basic means of living, e.g. in providing certification services for organic products or in providing maintenance services in water supply. However, this is again a question of who is in control - if governments are not capable any longer in making decisions themselves, but are under control of the powerful figures in the private sector instead, then there is an imbalance of power that is bound to neglect the needs of the poor. This may not always be the case, but the case studies showed us some very shocking examples where governments failed completely in serving those they are supposed to be serving: the people. One particularly shocking example that at first even seems to be beneficial to local people is the river management project in NE-Brazil that Tobias Schmitt also reported about in a recent radio broadcast at http://science.orf.at

These issues are strongly related to governance: more democratization at all levels seems to be required, for example when farmers in Ecuador want to decide themselves which products to produce and sell rather than having to wait for outsiders' solutions. However, on the other hand it seems that there is a problem in implementing fundamental rights such as the right to food and the right to water on a local level: governments sign international treaties, but they are incapable of implementing these on a district or regional level.

In my opinion all focus groups conveyed a similar message: There is definitely a strong warning for quick solutions to complex problems, for example in water supply, agrofuels and CDM. A more regional approach would be advisable here, to understand the full implications of such cross-cutting issues as agriculture, water and climate. We are often tempted to categorise and follow definitions imposed by outsiders: for example, what does 'marginal land' mean to a farmer? In many areas of the world farmers would certainly not know of such a thing, whilst in other areas the luxury of more fertile land availability makes it easier to exclude less productive areas, that are desperately needed in other parts of the world.

A more holistic way of thinking will be crucial. Especially in Northern societies we have to learn to understand that we can no longer dissociate ourselves from other contexts of the world in our consumption behavior and life style. Let's think about the issue of virtual water consumption - who has ever thought of including the water used to produce certain goods in the South in his or her personal water consumption when thinking about his/her personal ecological footprint?

To achieve change we are asked to think about our own life style, but if we want things to change, we have to lobby and pressurise decision-makers into change: this pressure from civil society as a whole needs a clear message from us as individuals. Governments have signed international treaties such as the convention on human rights, but they do not seem to take this very serious. This needs a continued struggle and outcry from civil society with strong support from each one of us, because the voices of NGOs will not be heard without our support.

This event particularly emphasised the Austrian environmental and development political organisations will have to collaborate more in the future with a view on holistic approaches and in creating more public attention for the threatening scenarios in climate change and development issues, that concern us all. A new platform called Allianz Klimagerechtigkeit has been founded recently (information will soon be available from http://www.global2000.at), that is open for everyone to participate. Let's take this serious - 2009 is our next target, when the leaders of the world will meet in Copenhagen for the next summit on climate change. Let's make sure our voices will be heard there clearly!

Birgit Habermann, Wien, 19.11.2008

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