New threats are affecting human dignity, Suriname tells UN
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| Published on Friday, September 26, 2008 |
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By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: New threats, such as climate change, global warming and most recently the global food and energy crises, are affecting the dignity of people all over the world, Suriname president Ronald Venetiaan told the United Nations on Wednesday.
In his address to the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York he argued that these challenges “are an infringement on people’s rights to food, health, education, security and the overall freedom to live in dignity”. Since one single nation can’t unilaterally control these tribulations, “millions of vulnerable people are, therefore, looking towards the international community - with the United Nations at the helm - for effective measures to bring some kind of relief."
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President Ronald Venetiaan during his address to the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly Wednesday in New York
UN Photo / Marco Castro |
Venetiaan therefore called for intensified joint international efforts, since according to him a comprehensive response by national governments and the international community is imperative to address these pressing issues.
The Suriname leader further stressed, that the financial and monetary implications of the global crises “require substantial political and financial commitments from us all, from national governments, multilateral organizations, including international financial institutions, and from the private sector."
Conservation of the environment should be taken into consideration, while solutions to policies and regulations which are harmful to developing countries, such as protectionist agricultural policies in developed countries.
These policies are causing low production in the agricultural sectors of many developing countries.
“If we do not find lasting solutions now, the costs of our inaction will be unacceptably high and the threats that we will most likely pass on to the next generation, will be devastating," Venetiaan warned.
While Suriname -- with a steady annual growth of 5 percent the past several years -- was on the right track towards achieving its development goals, the current food and energy crises and the apparent collapse of financial markets could have a negative impact on the country.
Venetiaan disclosed that since his government has implemented several measures to reinforce especially marginalized groups which are being hit hard by the crises.
The president reiterated his appeal to the international community to devise mechanisms for financial compensation to countries which are preserving their rainforest to mitigate the impact of global warming.
“As a country with 90 percent of its territory covered by forests, within which one of the largest stretches of pristine tropical rainforests on earth, Suriname is aware of its value and potential to contribute to the global mitigation of climate change, the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of water resources. However, the contribution of the international community to help preserve and protect these globally valuable resources is not in proportion to the sacrifice made by the forested countries," he lamented.
In an invited comment, Venetiaan emphasised that perhaps global warming and climate change currently are the most serious threats to mankind. Noting that while industrialized countries which are the major cause of these threats are not keeping their end of the bargain to tackle these problems, poor nations are taking their responsibility very seriously.
“We stress the importance of new financing mechanisms, since good management of forests and other natural resources cannot and should not be at the expense of the development of our own peoples, the peoples of countries, with high forest coverage and low deforestation rates. We, therefore, look forward to substantial investments to support the sustainable development of these countries," Venetiaan told the United Nations. | | | | Reads : 191 |
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