UN, Brazil to host Internet debate on green planet

The United Nations and the Brazilian government are launching an Internet debate around 10 themes for a green planet to elicit suggestions from experts and the public for next month's Rio+20 summit. "The objective of this initiative is to bring civil society closer to the negotiations" of Rio+20, the June 20-22 UN summit on sustainable development, Brazilian chief negotiator Andrea Correo do Lago said Thursday. The site www.Riodialogues.org is open to all those who wish to make or vote on suggestions. The 10 themes revolve around 10 sustainable development targets including unemployment, the economic and financial crisis, fighting poverty and food security and nutrition, among others issues. The discussions will serve as a basis for a June 16 to 19 roundtable hosted by the United Nations and Brasilia, with invited guests to include various development experts, private sector representatives, non-governmental organizations and academics. Three suggestions from each theme will be submitted to the Rio+20 leaders. The gathering, the fourth major summit on sustainable development since 1972, is expected to draw 115 global leaders and 50,000 participants from around the world.