Agenda 21 still incomplete” “

The world summit on sustainable development is due to be held in Johannesburg in South Africa from 26 August to 4 September. Ten years after the world conference on environment and development in Rio de Janeiro, it will evaluate the implementation of the so-called Agenda 21 programme. The summit’s official agenda has still to be defined, but it seems clear that, apart from the environment and development, other major themes of debate will be social justice and the dialogue between cultures. Sustainability, an issue which is deeply felt and widely discussed in Catholic and Evangelic communities in Germany, is increasingly coming to be seen as a responsible attitude to the creation which needs to be respected and safeguarded for future generations and according to the needs of solidarity and justice for everyone. We interviewed Markus Vogt , professor of Christian social ethics at the philosophic and theological University of the Salesians of Don Bosco at Benediktbeuern, and Gotthard Dobmeier , environmental spokesman of the archdiocese of Munich and Freising. Prof. Vogt, has the idea of global solidarity proposed by the UN’s Agenda 21 finally substituted the mentality of profit at any cost? “Unfortunately no. In spite of the approval of the programme of Agenda 21, the commitment to global solidarity and sustainable development has been in practice ignored. The will for global cooperation exists only in window-dressing, only in political speeches, not in practice. Sustainable development has no need of altruism. It demands, rather, that we return to common sense and that the ‘ecological-social’ market economy be applied on a world scale. Agenda 21 does not criticize the pursuit of profit per se, but requests socially just and economically prudent conditions for the world economy”. The poor countries are struggling against unfavourable market laws. Do the costs of sustainability not risk slowing down still further the process of development? “The idea that sustainability is a ‘brake’, or a curb on growth, is based on a narrow concept of development that serves only for the profit of the few, and that makes the onus of its costs fall on the poor, on nature and on future generations: it is therefore a mistaken concept. For the poor countries in particular, the global concept of sustainability represents the only possible way of development that serves the real interests of everyone”. How is the university of Benediktbeuern contributing to develop a spirituality of the creation that takes account of sustainability? “The philosophic and theological university of the Salesians of don Bosco offers reflections on the practice of the ethical, socio-political and spiritual aspects of the Christian responsibility for the creation. The Church’s commitment to sustainability must be spiritually anchored in the faith, from which it derives a basic attitude inspired by love and a joyful acceptance of life and the strength to struggle against the various forms of resistance. The Christian spirituality of the creation does not lead us to retreat into pure interiority, rather, it leads us to assume our own responsibilities in the world”. Dr. Dobmeier, Germany is one of the first European countries committed to the implementation of sustainable development. How has German sensitivity to these issues evolved in the course of time? “In Germany the issue of sustainable development has been tackled on various levels and with various measures. A very important impulse was provided by the study ‘Germany capable of a future’, published in 1996. Commissioned by the German Catholic charity Misereor and the league for the environment and the protection of nature (‘Bund’), it was drawn up by the Institute for the Climate, Environment and Energy in Wuppertal. Unfortunately any specific realization of the principles it enunciates is lacking: the concept of sustainability is relatively unknown and a lot still needs to be done to heighten awareness of it. It also needs to be said that lately interest in environmental questions has been declining: priority is given instead to the more immediate problems of employment and social security”. What is meant by sustainable development in the former East Germany? Are particular programmes envisaged for the new Länder? “Sustainable ways of life and economies did not exist in the former DDR. Sustainability requires actions in the economic, environmental and social field. With a view to beginning this process, the ‘Agenda 21’ groups are conducting valuable work also in the new Länder. A fundamental contribution is also being made by the ecumenical movement, active also in the Churches of East Germany and seriously involved in the promotion of sustainable structures”. The German Churches are showing a common commitment in the field of sustainable development. What experiences will they bring to the Johannesburg summit? “The German Churches will point out the tendencies that still hamper the promotion of sustainable development and suggest the priority questions that need to be tackled in the course of the conference. The Churches intend to contribute to the commitment of the UNO in this field in the form of awareness-raising and guidance on the values of sustainability, by suggesting sustainable life styles and economic practices in their own fields of activity”. Mercede Succa