Friends of the Earth iIternational | 1st June, 2002

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) today launches a global campaign for the Earth Summit to take place in Johannesburg in August. Under the slogan "Don?t let big business rule the world" FoEI is collecting demands to world leaders from people all over the world. Actions take place on 1st of June in Bali, Indonesia, Germany, Spain, Australia, Norway, and Britain, and over the following weeks in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Latvia, Scotland and Sweden. For every demand collected, a small figure designed by South African artists will be delivered to the Earth Summit.

Ricardo Navarro, Chair of Friends of the Earth International comments: "Friends of the Earth International is the largest network of grassroots environmental organisations in the world and has more than 1 million members. We will use this strength to ensure that grassroots voices are heard at the Earth Summit. Our global campaign will show that citizens all over the world expect governments to bring economic globalisation under control. People do not want a world run by and for big business. Johannesburg must finally deliver meaningful social and environmental limits to globalisation."

FoEI is collecting message via community radios (1), via the Internet (2) and postcards. At numerous local actions, citizens the world over are given a chance to make their voice heard. In Bali, at the last Preparatory Meeting for the Earth Summit, Friends of the Earth will launch kites demanding that governments don't let big business rule the world. In Madrid, a large postcard will be on display today. In Berlin, a corporate giant is haunting a major conference on the Earth Summit. And in Britain, people can select animal noises from animals endangered by ruthless corporations as their message. All demands will be brought to Johannesburg this August where FoEI's major art installation will feature a 6 meter high "corporate giant" and thousands of "little people" representing the people's voice.

Notes:

• "Radio Earth Summit" works with community radios all over the world and will bring testimonies and sounds to FoEI?s major art installation in Johannesburg. Contact: Mike Childs + 44 20 7490 0237
• Messages can be sent at http://www.rio-plus-10.org/en/action.php?a=a1&lang=en