A
discussion of issues arising from the International Conference of the
Environment in Johannesburg during the summer of 2002.
1. How is Poverty related to
Environmental Problems faced by people in poor developing countries?
2. What is globalization? Can it work for the benefit of people in
Poor Countries?
3. Is activism against
Genetically Modified Foods (GM foods) in Poor Countries Justified when many of
their citizens die of hunger?
4. On the other hand, should
the Emergency created by hunger be used as a market opportunity for GM Foods in
the poor countries?
5. Does the solution to hunger
lie in Technology?
6. Is the American way of life
sustainable and is it healthy for the Global Environment?
Diseases
(AIDS)
1. How is the AIDS disease connected
to the Environment?
2. Are Western Pharmaceutical Nations Right in suing South Africa for
importing a cheaper generic version of an AIDS drug?
3. Should the protection of
patents by Pharmaceutical Companies be used to prevent poor sick people from
receiving cheaper forms of drugs?
4. Should the production and
sale of cheaper drugs be encouraged even if such a practice will drive the
innovating original Pharmaceutical Companies out of business?
5. How can the wealth of rich
industrialized countries be used to improve the well being of people in poor
countries of the world?
1. Should the poor countries
leave behind old and dirty technologies (currently used in industrialized
countries of the West) and adopt newer and less polluting technologies such as
solar energy to support their industrial development?
2. What will be the cost to the
poor people?
3. Why can’t countries such as
Ghana that currently produce raw cocoa beans cheaply not manufacture their
products into chocolates and sell at higher prices to European Countries and
the United States?
4. Does the trade policies of
US and European countries contribute to the poverty of poor countries such as
Ghana?
1. Can we have growth as well
as development?
2. Should the consumption of
people in the rich countries of the world be subjected to discussion at
International Conferences of the Environment?
3. Are you prepared to reduce
your consumption of certain goods and services so some lives can be saved in
poor developing countries?
4. What
would be your one wish for solving problems of the World?