One of the main outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, was the agreement by Member States to launch a process to develop a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs).  Marta Iris and her team attended that meeting.  The Open Working Group was established on 22nd of January 2013.   The first meeting in February was organizational, the second in March considered Poverty Eradication.  Winifred Doherty delivered the NGO Sub-Committee for Poverty Eradication statement to the Open Working Group.  The third session is now in process May 22 – 24, 2013.  The topic is “Food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, desertification, land degradation and drought.”  At this session the Co-Chairs meet with the NGO community from 9.00 – 10.00 am each morning.   Fatima Rodrigo, a Presentation Sister made a statement on Wednesday morning on behalf of the NGO Subcommittee for Poverty Eradication.  You can hear Fatima – click here and move to 42.50

Continue to listen to the summary of the co-chair. It will give you a flavor of the sort of thinking that is going on.    The Co-chair noted the depth, breath and complexity of the issues being addressed in attempting to come up with  a set of sustainable goals.   The Open Working Group is tasked with devising a small set of goals that people can relate to and understand.  He noted the call from NGO’s for a transformative agenda:  the  nexus between consumption and production – how get that balance right?   Earth rights vs human rights – how balance these?    Issues of  business and market on the one hand and communities and individuals on the other.  How balance  technology issues, seed issues , indigenous issue?    Government has to take a lead, some issues  cannot be delegated, especially food security for all.   Must get a good sense of the entire food chain from seed to table and from birth all the way just before death.  The importance of land tenure has been heard…

If you want to learn more go to the Sustainable Development Platform