The idea of the People-Earth-Summit grew out of the collapse of the Climate talks in The Hague in November 2000 and the announce-ment that the Earth Summit would be hosted by South Africa.
People from South Africa, Africa and other continents met to reflect on how to respond to the deadlock. In particular, they wanted to find a way of ensuring that the Earth Summit, to be held in August, engages people in making a creative response to many of the world’s problems.

Oren Lyons, a North American Indian Chief of the Iraquois Nation says: “We have to instill a sense of urgency and responsibility in people.
The Iraquois believe that if we do not turn the tide of human destruction of the Earth and its communities in the next 50 years, the life support systems, climate, temperature, ozone will unwind to make the planet uninhabitable for our species and the many others with which we have co-evolved.
“In Britain, the idea is supported by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the Gaia Foundation, the New Economics Foundation and a growing number of other organisations, including Positive News, which share the vision.
Gaia’s Director, Liz Hosken, says: “There is a real hunger amongst ordinary people for positive change.

At present countless individuals and groups are already involved in working for the common good in a wide variety of ways. There are large numbers of inspiring examples of both good policy and practice. An eagerness and creativity exists in a great many of us to make a difference.

We urgently need to join forces and harness our energies to have a greater impact. The Peoples-Earth-Summit aims to provide a framework to bring all these elements together, to raise our collective profile. And we want to inspire and help more and more people to get involved in practical ways.
“Gaining energy across South Africa, the Peoples-Earth-Summit is now involving people in different countries in strengthening broad coalitions of civil society groups already working in all areas of human endeavour.

“This holistic approach, connecting ecological and social justice, respecting diversity across the world and amplifying all these diverse expressions will create a powerful voice for a sustainable planet,” says Nick Nielson, a co-ordinator of the Peoples-Earth-Summit.
Collectively they are working to agreed principles which include: the responsibility of non-violent resistance to destructive forces; pro-active support for socially and ecologically just alternatives and a commitment to a decade of building an Earth Democracy.

“We have to create a countervailing force to the unaccountable forces that are currently shaping the world,” says Oren Lyons. “The more of us that get together the more we can help build a critical mass that will help turn the tide.”
FURTHER INFORMATION : The Peoples-Earth-Summit, 18 Well Walk, London, NW3 1LD. Tel: 0207 435 5000 Fax: 0207 431 0551 Email: info@peoplesearthsummit.net Website: www.peoplesearthsummit.net