Reports from Greens in Rio

Over 150 Greens from around the world have converged in Rio for the Rio +20 Sustainable Development Conference. 

Watch Australian Senator Larissa Waters' video blog on meeting with the Global Greens

There was a mood for action amongst greens and other environmental campaigners but this has not been matched by the negotiating governments.  By the time the various heads of states arrived in Rio to ‘begin negotiations’ a weak draft text had already been ‘concluded’ by the bureaucrats.  Tens of thousands of people marched in the streets to express their disappointment and anger against governments unable to take the courageous decisions for the preservation of humanity on earth.  But who is listening?

Green MPs and MEPs from around the world were present in Rio and have provided some reports from on the spot.  They all seem to conclude that leadership for sustainable development and the green economy will have to come from the people…

For Larissa Waters’ attending the protests of young people and the community shows how they are so far ahead of our “so-called representatives”

New Zealand MP Kennedy Graham finds inspiration from the women providing leadership in Rio.

Netherlands MEP Bas Eickout looks to the consumers and companies beginning to build the green economy from the bottom up. (in Dutch)

French MEP Sandrine Belier expresses her disappointment at the failure to make any substantial progress on the declarations of the first Rio Earth Summit 20 years ago (in French).

Global Greens Coordination member Jean Rossiaud joined thousands of people in a proteston the streets of Rio (also in French).

Jean-Marc Nollet, Evelyne Huytebroeck and Arnaud Pinxteren, MPs from the Belgian green party Ecolo, consider the conference outcomes and their implications for the future.