Italy’s movements for social and environmental justice get ready for Rio+20

On the run to The Peoples’ Summit, a collateral event to the United Nations’ conference, Roberto Musacchio, of the “pRIOrity future” campaign, told us why and how the Italian networks of people are preparing a document of alternative proposals. 

by Cecilia Anesi

pRIOrity future – the people for social and environmental justice is a campaign designed by the Italian network for social and environmental justice Rigas to produce a document filled with alternatives and ideas to be brought to the People Summit which will take place in Rio at the same time with the Earth Summit Rio+20 “United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. . The idea behind the campaign is to propose an alternative to the current model of living.

The “pRIOrity future” campaign will have its start with the “scenaRIO future” event, which will be held at the Rome’s Teatro Valle Occupato (a theatre occupied by artists) on the 21st of April 2012.

Roberto Musacchio, a former Vice-President of the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee on Climate Change , expert in climate issues told us more about this campaign, that he is co-organising together with various Italian associations. 

Roberto Musacchio

Roberto, considering you previous experience in the Committee of Climate Change, what do you think of Rio+20? 

While the first Rio conference has been very positive, propulsive, this new Rio conference doesn't give me the same feeling because it doesn't seem to solve some crucial issues. There seems to be a rather a curb, like during the World Summit on Sustainable Development of Johannesburg in 2002, where there has been lots of ambiguity towards certain issues rather than real steps forward.

Some examples?

I believe one of the sensitive issues is water. In Johannesburg water wasn't defined as a right – a common good – but rather as a need. I believe this doesn't bring any evolution in the climate debate. I see the same risks there for what concerns Rio+20.There is a lot of talking about the Green Economy, and although this can have some positive aspects, it is also dangerous because it can turn some elements – which in my point of view are not negotiable – into market items. For example, I believe the reduction of emissions should not be something negotiable.

What are the main issues you are concerned about when it comes to Rio+20?

The first thing I am concerned about is the financial fund on climate. If a financial bubble on climate gets created it becomes a dangerous thing, because it would mean entering in the logic of financial markets which are totally out of control.

The second thing I am concerned about is the technological exchange from North to South in order to diminish environmental impact. The third thing I am worried about is water. I believe water is at stake because UN defined it a right for humanity but many countries are not considering it so and consequently are not applying legislation in that sense. The last issue I am concerned about is the fight against poverty, we shouldn't just declare poverty illegal, we should also declare illegal all that creates poverty in itself.

Tell me about the“pRIOrity Future” campaign, what is it about?

Since the first Earth Summit of Rio in 1992, we can count 20 years of failures in terms of ecology and economy. This is why networks of people will once again meet in parallel to the UN to discuss their idea for an alternative model of society. The campaign aims at producing a document which will explain the model that the Italian social movements propose, which is an alternative based on social and environmental justice, democratisation of development and sustainability of models.

What will the event at the Teatro Valle be?

It will be an entire day devoted to the campaign and the issues raised by it. The event will benefit from the participations of experts, representatives of various NGOs, representatives of the cultural scene, of the information scene and also a number of artistic performances.