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Earth Summit - the gathering that never happened Valu Mas (pseudonym)
The conference on Sustainable Development ended with little to offer any of the earth's inhabitants, non-human as well as human. This comes as no surprise, at least for those of us who were born and destined to live and die at sea level. It is quite easy to wrap up our dissatisfactions and frustrations with a curse thrown at the American government and George W. It is more difficult to accept something as real as the inability to control optimum production capacities for the hungry hordes of consumers all over the world, whose primary objective happens to be ultra-materialism.  Cartoon: Moir, Sydney Morning Herald It only takes an organization like the UN, (highly disorganized from top downwards), to invite blatant liars to a conference and expect them to solve humanity's current and future problems. The background setting of imminent famine in Africa, only helped to underscore the kind of farce and gaudy theatre that the world body is accustomed to orchestrating. Huge amounts of public funds disappeared into the red dust of Mother Africa. The IMF, the World Bank and the US Treasury would anyhow foot the bill, pumping up their diplomatic-professionals across the Atlantic, and other silk routes, on luxury class flights, sipping champagne and thinking of the millions of dollars at their disposal. Public money again changes bank accounts for no obvious reason. Last night's seminar becomes today's hangover.  Cartoon: Nicholson, The Australian The future of hungry diseased mouths roaming the gray corners of war-torn communities are conveniently faded out by exotic sights and sounds, and in-flight travel brochures marketing flesh spots and pipe dreams for powerful cartels engaged in promoting healthy economics and sustainable development. Welcome to globalization's hidden corridors where Lady Liberty croons in the arms of gangsters and rogue leaders, dancing to a jazzy number named Corruption! However, cooler heads have pointed to a few positive developments at Johannesburg during the summit. What about all the smiles, as the long queues of entourages from the far corners of the earth shuffled for the camera? This was one of the highlights of the conference! At the end of the day, what remained inside the city halls and convention centers were lingering smells of aftershave mixed with human fear. Thus ended the Earth Summit! The local media in Maldives highlighted the moment of sheer joy and exhilaration that passed through the veins of our dear leader, President Gayyoom, as he sat behind a name plaque announcing 'President'. The glorious trip to Africa was live on-air in brilliant colour. The running commentary informed the viewers that our dear leader was showing the way during the con-chat on sustainable development. The Maldivian president was also shown conversing with the high and mighty from Kiribathi and Vanuatu. Again, the newsreader conveniently volunteered to announce that these two leaders, who were also representing island nations, had thanked and congratulated President Gayyoom for leading the small nations at this earth summit. A reporter from the BBC lamented the glaring absence of any head of state from the South Asia region, and failed to mention President Gayyoom. It was all about Musharraf and Vajpayee being the spoilsports. However, local TVM linked up with South Africa and beamed the historic event of President Gayyoom taking charge at the Sustainable Development meeting. Loud clapping and the sound of gnashing teeth are believed to have disturbed the sound barrier above the capital Malé. One could imagine the whole of South Asia breathing a sigh of relief after witnessing 'The Man for All Islands', in his Oscar-winning double act. Will 'With Love From Johannesburg' became a rock hit in 2003? Will the singer be an ex-president in the garb of a monarch? Will everyone wonder aloud, "Where's the military wardrobe?' Robert Mugabe gets the Best Villian performance award at the summit. His wardrobe by Le Coloniale! Unfortunately for Blair and Powell, the cast refused to follow the script. Thus ended the Golden Statesmen Awards, hosted by the UN in an African setting. Should we mention the Famine?..... What a dreadful idea! |
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Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldivian cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
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