In the Healthy Spirit

Insights for the Earth Summit……. And beyond

Challenge

Information Overload

A major feature of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro will be the flood of information it will generate. Conference documents, position papers, background reports, research studies, hand-outs, press releases, declarations, not to mention books, video and film programmes, audio visuals and other forms of communication will inundate anyone concerned with the process. Policy makers, technical advisers, media as well as the independent sector participants will be subjected to an unusual degree of information overload - resulting, at the event and in its wake, in gross information under use.

Shifting Attitudes

The real test of the Earth Summit will lie in its ability to "shift the level of awareness". Without a doubt, information is necessary to this process. But the quantum leaps needed in our attitudes and behavior can only be filliped by those few, special images capable of creating new insight. Anchored and made credible by these images, the greater clarity in our understanding of the present complex reality can lead to better-more fruitful relationships among the many conflicting interests.

Beyond Consensus

Much hope is being placed on the emergence of a new consensus at the Earth Summit. A superficial consensus representing the lowest common denominator of national and sectoral concerns will wt be difficult to achieve. But such a consensus will leave behind the continuing reality of deep and abiding tensions between groups with incompatible goals and mindsets. It is only the imagery that helps us reconfigure the underlying reality which can open opportunities for effective, cooperative, sustainable action.

Penetrating Power of Imagery
It is the few key images--each' "worth a thousand words" -- that will focus the imagination and extract meaning from the wealth of information It is these images that will ensure that the insights of the Earth Summit am carried where ordinary information cannot penetrate - whether into the hidden nooks of human consciousness or to the far comers of the earth. "These are the images that will be remembered ... long after the Earth Summit is forgotten.

Clues

Meaning of Insightful Imagery

Effective imagery, capable of capturing insights needs to go far beyond "naming problems'", "blaming people" or even "describing the issues." It must, in fact, go much further yet than "envisaging outcomes" or "prescribing solutions". It must be the source of both understanding and inspiration to act. The metaphors of the Stockholm era -"Spaceship" or "Lifeboat" Earth-and its slogan/aphorism -- "Think Globally, Act Locally" -- provide excellent examples. Possible sources of new insight can be found in:

Parables ... for those of religious inclination what are the parables' or the "moral" for Rio.

Learning pathways ... for educators, what are the 'learning pathways' and 'journeys' opened up by Rio?

Wisdom stories ... for those aware of the power of the story teller, what 'stories' or 'fables' can carry the insights of Rio?

Case studies... for those with a management orientation, what are the 'case studies' which evoke the policy dilemmas and opportunities of Rio?

Proverbs ... for those who recognize the power of pith and brevity, what are the 'proverbs', 'aphorisms' or 'slogans' which can capture a philosophy and guide the initiatives emerging from Rio?

Myths... for those touched by the power of tradition, what 'myths' or 'legends' capture the dilemmas and opportunities of Rio?

Metaphors ... for those convinced of the fundamental cognitive role of metaphor, what are the 'metaphors' which capture and reconfigure the challenge of Rio?

Non-verbal communications.... for those who cannot read or wish to communicate across the barriers of language and culture: cartoons, charts and diagrams, for example, provide a powerful non-verbal medium.

On the one hand, we seem to need 'catalytic convertors' for our 'exhausted imagination'. But on the other, our cultural heritage constitutes a huge 'gene-pool' of the imagination on which we can draw in response to the planetary dilemma.

Criteria

Criteria Catalytic Imagery

The imagery that is needed must be able to evoke new ways of thinking and acting. These "images" will catalyze action and evoke guiding principles aimed at sustainable development. Care will be needed in choice of imagery to capture and carry insights of the Earth Summit, and to avoid superficial images that will not lead to change.

Complex Imagery

Appropriate imagery permits people to derive different levels of significance from it, by unpeeling it like an onion. At its most basic level, it may offer simple and succinct explanations; on a more fundamental level, it should be able to lead to a completely new degree of clarity, coherence and comprehension. Its ultimate power lies in its ability to be a symbol or slogan exhorting political action. Imagery that emerges from the Earth Summit must be all this: it must carry insights into the nature of the balance needed between conflicting priorities and it must be the catalyst for creative insight into the way forward, whether in making policy or designing concrete action programmes.

Complementary Imagery

The outputs of the Earth Summit will include The Earth Charter, Agenda 21, Conventions, and various Agreements, mainly on issues of Technology, Finance and Institutions. Imagery is required to carry the essence of each of these initiatives and to illuminate the essential connections and complementarily among them. More important, it must pave the way for the shift in attitudes and behaviour needed to implement global, national and local strategies for sustainable development.

Cross-cultural Imagery

The images emerging out of the Earth Summit must be capable of transcending the limits of language and local idiom. To reach out to the people of the planet, and to lay the basis of common understanding of their collective responsibility to save its life support systems, the images will have to break through the communication barriers associated with the kind of disassociated poster images traditionally produced by international agencies.

The '92 Global Forum Coordinators have been working with the Brazilian Government, the city of Rio de Janeiro, and the Rio commercial community to ensure that meeting facilities, equipment and services required by groups wishing to hold events in Rio during the Earth Summit are provided free of charge as "in-kind" contributions. These facilities have now been secured and are available within existing indoor conference centres located in the Gloria neighbourhood and in downtown Rio, as well as within Flamengo Park in temporary covered structures, which can be constructed on request.

The more than 20 conference centres located in the Gloria neighbourhood and downtown Rio can accommodate a minimum of 10,000 participants in rooms ranging in capacity from 50 to 200. All these indoor facilities are within a 15-20 minute walk from the Gloria Hotel and Conference Centre, where the Global Forum headquarters and registration area will be located.

The planned outdoor structures in Flamengo Park can accommodate groups ranging in size from 50-800. The structures can be installed to serve as venues for informal gatherings, meetings, symposia or workshops, with seating, stages and sound systems.

All meeting facilities, both indoors and in Flamengo Park, will be allocated to groups on a first-come first-serve basis; so, organizations wishing to secure them should register their requests on prescribed forms with the Global Forum's office in Rio as soon as possible, specifying such factors as the number of people to be accommodated, the physical layout required, equipment needed, requirements as regards simultaneous interpretation and special needs like overhead projectors, video equipment, and screens.

Exhibition booths will also be available within Flamengo Park where materials and goods can be shown and/or sold. Desks and operational support are available in Global Forum's Rio office, including telephone, fax, modem and photocopy, which will be charged to all groups at costs based on usage.

For more information:

The '92 Global Forum, Hotel Gloria, Predio Anexo, Sala 366, Rua do Russell, 632, 22212 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Te1(5521) 556-3030/ Fax (5521) 205 4114/ Telex 2141201 GLFO.

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