| WWF
launches SOS Planet campaign for
World Summit on Sustainable Development
Gland, Switzerland
- WWF, the conservation organization,
launches a global multi-media campaign
to urge political leaders to take
action at the upcoming World Summit
on Sustainable Development (WSSD)
in Johannesburg.
The campaign, tagged
"SOS Planet," consists
of a website (www.wwf.org/sosplanet)
which allows visitors to send their
personal SOS message to world leaders,
television and print advertising,
alerting global audiences to the
urgent need for action, and a concert
in Johannesburg, on 23 August in
the Johannesburg Stadium - SOS PLANET:
A Concert for People and the Environment.
The concert forms part of the opening
ceremonies of the WSSD. Artists
performing include: Mandoza (South
Africa), Salif Keita (Mali), Jabu
Khanyile (South Africa), Femi Kuti
(Nigeria), The Pretenders (UK),
Siamoon (Germany), DJ Jean (Netherlands),
Mumiy Troll (Russia), Kane (Netherlands).
Through this concert, WWF expects
to reach the youth with messages
of hope and a call to action.
"With governments
being slow and reluctant to commit
to any concrete action to secure
sustainable development, alleviate
poverty and agree measures to save
the environment, WWF gives people
from around the world the opportunity
to urge world leaders to take action
now," said Claude Martin, Director
General of WWF. "The Summit
presents an excellent opportunity
to tackle some of the most urgent
challenges for the survival of the
planet - world leaders need to know
that people want to see them commit
to a concrete agenda to ensure poverty
is reduced and nature will be saved."
Energy and freshwater
are issues of utmost concern for
WWF at the Summit. WWF is asking
that governments commit to enable
access to clean, affordable and
reliable energy services, and to
ensuring that 10 per cent of primary
energy supply comes from new, renewable
sources by 2010. WWF also asks that
governments commit to securing water
for people and nature by conserving
the world's sources of water, increasing
peoples' access to water and sanitation,
and improving the efficient use
of freshwater.
"SOS Planet
is a wake-up call to world leaders
letting them know that people around
the world want them to act now,"
said Claude Martin.
For further information:
Mitzi Borromeo
WWF International Press
Office, Tel. +41 22 3649562
MBorromeo@wwfint.org
Hans Geels,
WWF-Netherlands
Project Manager
Tel. +31 6 54284477
HGeels@wwf.nl
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