Global Forum '94: from Rio to Manchester, UK

Abstract

During the summer of 1994 the city o f Manchester hosted Global Forum '94, the most important environmental conference since the '92 Rio Earth Summit. Around 1000 delegates from 50 major cities in every continent attended the event. The agenda 'Cities and Sustainable Development' concentrated on how to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Among broad environmental issues, the conference also focused on aspects of women's general and reproductive health, A workshop, 'Towards a Gender Aware City', identified issues such as women's unequal control of property and their role and reward in the labour force, as well as their critical role in child care, epitomised by the Community Mothers' Programme in Colombia. While delegates learned of the conflict women in leadership positions in Mexico often face at household and community levels, during the course of the Forum they were also given several examples of how the influence of women's groups can improve the situation. The aims of Rio were enshrined in Agenda 21, which recognises that by the year 2000 over half the world's population will live in urban centres, an increasing number of which are facing environmental problems ranging from air pollution to homeless people living on the streets. Delegates representing local government, business, trade unions and voluntary sectors from around the world met to consider the cities and sustainable development aspects of Agenda 21 and to make practical national and local plans o f action. A series o f independent international events running alongside Global Forum also concentrated on the theme of increasing urban selfsustainability and reducing the impact ofurbanisation on rural communities. At meetings and workshops organised by the Commonwealth Human Ecology Council, 12 Commonwealth delegations submitted 64 practical projects which are being selectively considered in detail for funding. The importance of involving women in sustainable development projects and of using their existing knowledge and experience was recognised. It was emphasised that, in rural areas particularly, development must include empowerment of women and at the same time sensitising men regarding the roles of women, who in many countries are disenfranchised and need to be given more respect and authority. At a British Council conference on 'Health and the Urban Environment' international delegates heard that, in Scotland, Glasgow recognises that women's health policy often stops at obstetrics and gynaecology and ignores their social and economic position. Because of the link between housing and health, the city has taken action to make houses in one deprived area warmer while reducing the amount spent on household fuel by initiating an energy-led strategy, affordable because the cost is related to disposable income. The Regional and City Councils are jointly funding a centre for women's health, due to open in a lower income area later this year. At the same conference a woman speaker described the influence of T U U M A T U , a loose network of social organisations and primary support groups in Central Accra, Ghana. Formed to encourage young women of the disadvantaged aboriginal inhabitants to establish affinity groups, and young men to establish welfare clubs, low income women are now attempting to maintain the wellbeing of their children, families and community by addressing the problems of early childbirth, teenage pregnancies, broken marriages, and the survival of large families. The final conference was organised by the United Nations Association-UK, 'New Directions for Urban Action'. Acknowledging that the intimate connection between health and environment necessitates intersectoral efforts in various areas o f human and natural resource management, delegates considered new ways to overcome barriers and bring about change. The importance o f involving women was demonstrated by more than one speaker, in particular by a member who described an independent organisation, 'Prague Mothers for the Environment' . Set up by women concerned for their children's health, they work actively to improve the transport situation and critical air pollution of Prague. Perhaps the most inspiring project to emerge from all the conferences was that of Bangladesh's 'Grameen Bank', which makes