GENERATION JO'BURG
REPORTING FROM THE PREPCOMM IV

The ministers will be here tomorrow for ministerial segment and Prof. Salim is pushing forward the delegates to lift all the brackets, so that the current text will be the plan of implementation for the WSSD, however most of the INGOs are advocting for taking the issues which are bracketed to the Johannesberg meeting, because of the sense of lack of hope on the negotiation even for the ministerial segment.

To this effect, in addition to other NGO strategic meetings, a separate session is formed to develop a common position on 11 issues, "test cases". Corporate accountability is on the top of the list. As you know, the Friends of the Earth together with Greenpeace, have launched a campaign on Corporate Accountability with a theme of "Do not let the business to rule the world", so as a continuation today there was a demonstartion just at the gate of the convention centre organised by Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, purposely to concide with the time of arrival of the ministers to the hall. Successfully, most of the ministers and delegates could not escape the banner and big posters that depicts the worst ever chemical disaster that happened in Bophal, India in 1984 . The demonstration was followed by a press conference and big guys from the same organisation has made a speech, mainly calling the need for greater control, monitoring and accountability of corporate activity in an increasingly globalised economy.

Today the ministers from the carribean and latin america countries met and had a joint breakfast at the Sheraton and surprisingly for the first time (as I was told from reliable source) they invited NGOs from respective countries and the NGOs taking this opportunity made a joint speech, urging their ministers to show a strong leadership, as a response they "promised" to work hard in deleting the brackets where appropriate. This afternoon eight of them went to visit the Greenpeace ship which is coloured and crowded by a lot of banners made by more than 200 NGOs, on last weekend.

A special envoy of Koffi Annan and Deputy secretary general of the UN will arrive tomorrow. A confidential meeting is organised with the Jiant NGOS. These NGOs today and tomorrow will speak to various ministers, including the EU head delegates. Today, an NGO coalition from Arab countries met with the Arab country ministers and they responded to many question raised by the NGOs. Accordingly, the ministers reiterated that "language of renewable energy is straight cutting of oils". They indicated also that their main agenda for the Prepcom are two, to talk about middle east crisis and the sanction against Iraq. Now the G77 ministers are holding a closed meeting. I wish I could be there.

Tommorrow, at the world environment day, the 30th anniversary of UNEP will be celebrated, the occasion will be marked by a lot of events here in Bali Convention Centre. Rummours in the corridors says UNEP is celebrating its 30 years anniversary with a theme of "Nowhere from Stockholm". In addition tomorrow there will be a press conference as a part of
yesterday shadow report presentation and NGOs from the US, Canada and Ethiopia will give a press release with catchy notice of "committments without action", it sounds interesting to hear lack of political committment revealed by home-borne NGOs.

The security is getting tighten, today the number of policemen accompanied by dogs were inside the centre. The x-ray scanner is no longer enough for checking your bags, in addition you have to watch a bunch of hands staggering inside looking for nothing. I encourage you to read the news letters from the website (I hope you have all the URLs, otherwise let us know to send you again). As a final word Tuvalu has made a tremendous job in negotiating on energy issues, they make history so that the country will be raised in association with the language of removal of subsidies for fossil fuel, reduction target, and access to 2 billion people. The civil society are indebted of them. Despite their effort, the issue is under Bracket, due to the untired efforts of the delegates of Iran (on behalf of G 77).

The second week of the Bali PrepCom has started, and they are running late. They planned to finish the revised Chairman's Paper by last Friday, but they are still working on it, and many oberservs are skeptical about how they want to resolve the remaining conflicts, i.e. brakets in the text.

An informal plenary was in session nearly 24/7 over the weekend going through the paragraphs and launching various contact groups and informal informal informal sessions in order to agree on wording. Many brackets are still in the text this morning, and the latest informal plenary just started 30 minutes ago. The goal is at least to finish before the High Level Segment on Wednesday.

A strong competitor to the plenary negotiations was - believe it or not - the World Cup on TV. At least on Saturday afternoon the lunch break was inofficially extended by roughly a third of the delegates in order to watch Ireland vs. Cameroun. This adds to the general surreal setting in the Nusa Dua Beach Resort less than two minutes walk from the beach.

On Sunday, the Indonesian Peoples Forum was officially opened with a ceremony in the Nusa Dua Amphitheater. The event was disturbed by some protesters who called and shouted for the boycott of the PrepComm. It got a little tense in the audience, particularly when security officers placed themselves among the audience. It remained quiet, but there are concerns that public protest could lead to problems with security. The workshops in the afternoon, however, were carried out peacefully and productive.

Today, the Heinrich Boell Foundation sponsored event on the Shadow Reports will take place in the Amphiteater. Indonesian, Danish, Ethiopian, U.S., Costa Rican, Jordanian, Canadian and Thai NGOs will present alternative reports to their governments reports on the implementation on Agenda 21. This event is part of the Indonesian People's Forum, and sponsored as well as introduced by the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

In my last email I tried to brief you on the general overview the negotiation process, here follows on the remaining;

European Union -- As a group they are losers and lack strong leadership in negotiating especially on issues of calling for corporate accountability and liability and Energy especially they are against the halting of subsidies of fossil fuels (200-300 billion USD/yr) and diversion of the same amount to 2 billion people who lack access to energy.I do not understand also why they are not abided by the European parliament resolution that was made in Brussels for calling an immediate governing rule for corporate accountability. Though they are not responsible for the proposal of the deletion of targets, time frames and meaningful words, there is minimal occasion that they negotiate against it. They are really playing nice political games not to upset their bosses. But join me to congratulate them for their commitment on issues of Biodiversity though it is eroded by Brazil on behalf of G77.

Switherland and Norway -- As you remember they were champions on issues of corporate accountability but in the respective contact groups they were far from the micraphones.BTW, Norway ratified Kyoto Protocol yesterday.

Germany -- In the contact groups of Energy they resisted the deletion of the text which reads as the removal of subsidising for fossil fuels.

Indonesia -- They are full of friendly words on press briefing e.g., on issues of illegal logging, renewable energy and corporate accountability but there was no witness for their words on the real playing fields.

Today there will be demonstrations; I expect a huge crowd there, for this purpose a T-shirt is prepared saying "What Are We Going To Do About The United States". A letter to the UN secretary general Koffi Annan was sent reminding him the Earth Summit is sinking if the negotiations continue in the same manner. Another street demonstration, only 10 minutes from the meeting place and organised by Friends of the Earth has as a main theme "We Should Not Allow The Business To Rule The World".

Let us be hope that the dynamics change when the ministers arrive.

Here is the summary of the past 8 days negotiation outputs from the nation perspective. As you know the world cup will start today. But the final earth summit cup will take place in Johannesberg, in Bali for last round the nations has played against the planet, and the following countries are disqualified for the cup.

JUSCA (Japan, United States, Canada and Australia) -- for bracketing and proposing the deletion of any time frames and targets including abscence of political will for ratification of the UN MEA,especially the Kyoto protocol, and ensuring the deletion of any word or phrase that has implications on new financial and technical commitments and weakening of the UN millenium development goals? there was a question raised by NGOs in the news papers to summarise the views of participants here. Does the millenium goal will be agreed if GW Bush was the President of the US during that time (2000)? you can try!

G77 (Developing Countries) -- for lack of strong leadership and creating a room for dominance of some countries for endorsing their respective countries priorities, vis; Brazil-- is a spokesperson of G77 on Biodiversity and forestry issues, yesterday they were strong in negotiating against the EU proposal on illegal logging and associated trade, I got the opportunity to ask the delegates why they are in disfavor of it, according to Brazil the country does not expect anyone to instruct what to do within the national jursidication? you can judge but On the contrary they were propsing issues on access to benefit sharing that arises from Sustainable timber use (new jargon, I have not heard of it before).

Venzeula -- they are the ambassador of the G77 and they will kill you if you raise the issues of the target of raising the contribution of renewable energy to enhance to 10 per cent by year 2010, for obvious reason as they are member of OPEC they are enjoying also the strong support they get from Iran among others.

South Africa -- I hope you have information about NEPAD, New Partnership for Africa Development, an initiative under the auspices of South africa and other major african leaders (Algeria, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt), this initiative has many flaws it has been endorsed by the North countries with out a due participation of african civil societies (my African mates tell me how popular it is!), the lead negotiator for the Chapter VIII of the chairman text is SA, and they are pushing NEPAD as it is the only solution for Africa development. In general you can see how G77 is torn apart for the interest of some countries, so you can call G77 as BVSA.

We have started counting down dates from friday, May 31, as it is the final date of negotiation of the chairman text, but the process seems insertion of bracket exercises as it is witnessed by the working group I, today on discussion on Governance 25 brackets have been inserted successfully! and The JUSCANZ (Newzealand is trying hard to detach itself from the 3 Mcgroups)are publishing a dictionary which has no words of ENSURE, SECURE, IMPLEMENT,TARGET, TIME BOUND....instead repeated words of SUPPORT, PROMOTE, ENCOURAGE, get it now the price is type II outcome.

The US is circulating a format that invites a type I partnership and today they conducted a side event for publicity of the sale of political commitments and purchase of type II partnership. With the following URL (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2002/) you can see the statement of the state department that was released for the press related with the role of US for WSSD. I bet you on asnything if you see any numbers on those statements which has pile of pages. I thought they are good in numbers!

The newspapers including the famous Jakarta post issued the views of the civil society that says US is investing by large in constructing hurdles in the run up of WSSD. In addition many feel ashamed for the host country of this meeting, by the statement delivered by the environment minister of indonesia saying that "indonesia does not want to discuss the issues of kyoto protocol because the country should be wise in cooperating with the US with type II partnerships".

Many appreciated and applauaded for continuous unusual period of time for the energetic speech made at the closing of the MSD by Chee Yoke Ling from Third World Network. God bless her she really makes us happy atleast we made our voice heard. You should feel proud being an NGO. In the session of partnership yesterday Kar jumped in the three representatives of NGO, one of the games of the rules of speaking was to be abided by 1 minute, but kar lose her temper (do you remember our media simulation exercise only for Andreas') when she was intercepted by the facilitator, and asked to end and she amazingly concluded her statement by saying the RIGHT TO SAY NO as the principle and element of partnership. Attached is the NGO statement on capacity building program of MSD and I will send you the others partnership and governance tomorrow.

I will end here since I utilise my 15 minutes elapsed internet access, a number of people are knocking my backs (guys, lot of problem here no way for NGOs, everything is expensive, sometimes I fear that they might ask for payment for the air that we breath......),

Say of the day, taken from the MSD on partnership, Women representative: "We have been negotiating on partnership since we have been to this planet. We know when and how it works......Empowerement. Good day."

What are we going to do about the United State?

Today side event "Type II outcome on sustainable agriculture and food security" held by US. government, US. delegate stupidly and frankly said that GMOs is one of the mean reaching sustainable agriculture and food security.

A parallel side event was about GMOs in Indonnesia. Santi, a indonesean female farmer whose life and community have been effected by BT cotton from Monsanto, gave a testimony on her bitter and traumatic experience. After the company raised the price of the seed and fertilizer before the harvesting time and forced all farmers to sign the letter of agreement of indebtedness, she and her group of member decided to burn her cotton field. She had been crying all the time of testimony. Her last remark is Monsanto must not be allowed to be here because they have destroyed too many lifes. Monsanto is one of the most active menber of World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) which is the key supporter of WSSD.

"What are we going to do about the United State???" is the word of Dr.Emil Salim, the chairman of Prep.Com.. On monday 27 May, unrealizing that a microphone in fornt of him was on, He asked a woman sit beside him "What are we going to do about the United State???" so some NGOs got this idea and transfer to a peaceful protest. anyway UN security guards asked everybody to take it out and informed informally that any kinds of potest will not be accepted. Everybody who get involve in a protest will be banned from UN.

In the caucus room of NGOs, there is no microphone. Ability to shout and good lound voice is one of the most important here.

Regarding the food insecurity situation, TWN supported by Indonesian Coordinator provide cheaper and reasonable lunch boxes by sending someone to buy some food and sell it in the carpark at the back door (NGOs' entrance :) Some margin profit from this NGOs' small-scale business is contributed for documentation, flyers and photocopy stuffs.

Hi Hi good news, our emails sent out from here are mornitored. So my messages get heard :)

The negotiation is continuing and yesterday the major IGOs (Indonesia peoples forum, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Third World Network, South Africa NGO coalation, WWF) has conducted a press briefing and indicated among others mainly:

1. Type II outcomes should be only initiated to enforce and to implement Type I outcomes but not to replace the governments political committment as it has no mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation including the would be induced more space for TNCs; and
2. The negotiation on plan of action (chairman's text)should focus on time bound, target and means of implementation

Moreover, according to the briefing Australia, US, Canada and Japan are the four filthy who are trying their best to dismantle the process. As I was following the process, I can witness that these countries are time frame and target-phobic. There is a corridor gossip that the US and Japan are trying to divert the direction of the negotiation process by dealing with G-77 countries on Type II initiatives. One source revealed that US joined the Congo initiatives on forestry, Japan has launched a type II initiatives with Indonesia and a representative from IUCN indicated in a closed NGO strategic meeting that the USA delegate is trying to bribe the NGOs, he said that the US delegates discussed with him to join the Type II initiatives as there is a possibility to channel millions of dollars. This is a clear indication of avoiding any political commitment and Type I outcomes (as you remember the mandate of these Prepcom is to negotiate for political commitment not volunteerism. The Greenpeace ship (Arctic Sunrise)arrived yesterday, according to Remi (GP political director), the ship will stay at the harbour up to the end of the meeting and it is a war ship and can be used as a platform for public to voice their concerns particularly for those who are not qualified to pass the UN rule of accreditation, there is a scientific rumour that the ship has also other function which will be revealed in short time.

Yesterday Dr. Salim has called for a reception for some government delegates and selected NGOs and requested for assistance to draft the political declaration and from a reliable source two persons will be in the group from NGOs (Greenpeace and WWF).

EU delegates positions are divided, so far Sweden and Belgium are found to be a good friend. I like to commend also the position of EU on forestry and biodiversity, they are going to propose on the chairman's text the following issues:

1. Immediate ratification of Cartegena Biosafety Protocol;
2. Inclusion on the chairman's text the outcome of the Hague COP6 Ministerial Declaration on Biodiversity; and
3. Immediate ban on illegal logging and related trading -Implementation of the CBD expanded programme.

Today the second day of the MSD will continue, yesterday was on Governance and today it will be on Capacity Building. The summary of the outcome later.

Yesterday number one Bali joke:
Type I outcome: Political committment;
Type II outcome: Volunteerism;
Type III outcome: Plan of Action with no time bound and targets;
Type IV outcome: George Bush actually saying the word "Sustainable Development".

Finally, starting from yesterday ECO newsletter has being started to be issued. So you can read that for the summary of each day and the reflection of the civil society on the process.

The meeting started on May 24, however the negotiation on the chairman text started today (may 25). The chairman opened the plenary session by using the local language Oh Sainte ( x3) which means peace forever and he reiterated the need for completion of the text by avoiding insisted dialogue on wordings which does not alter the meaning significantly (which was the case in the last prepcoms) and idiomatically expressed himself by suggesting to look into the forest by avoiding discussion on the trees. During the plenary session today the following protocols were agreed:

1. The formation of three working groups (WG), WG 1-WG III and they will work on chairman text (I hope you all have it) from chaper I-IV,V-IX and institutional arrangement respectively.Poverty Eradication;
2. The final date for the completion of the final text on Friday, May 31;
3. The official working hours, 10-1 am, 3-6 pm and 8-11 during night; and
4. The ministerial segment will start on May 27.

I was following the working group II session this morning and thanks to USA so far the negotiation seems frustrating. The USA delegate repeated himself as the country will not agree on characterisation of globalisation as it is placed in the chapeau of chapter V and defer on inclusion of time bound commitments and targets which is against the resolution of the UN general assembly and the UN millennium development goals. The justification given was the time limits and targets are simply wishes which are arbitrary, unconnected to reality and some are unachievable.

I was following the working group II session this morning and thanks to USA so far the negotiation seems frustrating. The USA delegate repeated himself as the country will not agree on characterisation of globalisation as it is placed in the chapeau of chapter V and defer on inclusion of time bound commitments and targets which is against the resolution of the UN general assembly and the UN millennium development goals. The justification given was the time limits and targets are simply wishes which are arbitrary, unconnected to reality and some are unachievable.

As the final statement to say for now, I feel a lot of things will happen in these two weeks but it might look stressful, complicated, chaotic at time and frustrating often as this morning, but I hope the civil society including our group shall give "them" hell, and "they" won't get away with it!