We the Peoples ...

As governments' commitment toward sustainable development is in question, the movement among peoples of the world to foster just, ecologically sound and economically viable development remains alive.

Non-governmental organizations and networks of civil society are planning to launch a new campaign to stop the take over of the environment, the UN and of governments by corporations.

The opening words of the 1945 UN charter are "We the Peoples ... " and therefore civil society and community groups want to reclaim that principle as part of the commitment at the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

As an initial step, one million signatures are being collected to bring to Johannesburg, but the campaign will be launched in Bali.

The theme of the campaign will be: "We the peoples believe another world is possible".

It is a call to return the UN to the peoples and not to allow business and industry to take over the only institution that still provides space for the involvement of the peoples of the world in its deliberations.

The campaign will also be a celebration of communities who have fought for a healthy planet all over the world.

In other words, civil society will be saying, whatever the outcome of Bali and Johannesburg, people all over the world will definitely invoke the spirit of Rio by the sheer faith that another world is possible. -- Hira Jhamtani