By Holy See Mission
Statement by H.E. Archbishop Celestino
Migliore
Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See
Economic and Social Council
16th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
High level segment: The way forward
New York, 16 May 2008Mr. Chairman,
At the outset my delegation joins previous speakers in expressing its
condolences and solidarity to those affected by the recent tragedies in Myanmar
and China. These disasters and their impact on human lives and sustainable
development remind us of our important responsibility as governmental leaders to
point the way forward to addressing the many issues of sustainable development
and to find the means for building a better future.
The world is currently facing a challenge of meeting this very goal in the form
of a global food crisis. This crisis reveals the delicate and interlinking
nature of agriculture, rural development, land reform, drought and
desertification and presents a daunting yet important and urgent task to policy
makers and civil society.
Many question the real causes, the consequences in the medium and long term of
the food crisis and its fundamental tendencies. The UN, in all its components
and in particular this Commission on Sustainable Development, has a precise
responsibility and also an interest of credibility in providing appropriate
responses in view of effective solutions, because at stake is the ability of
humanity to provide food.
Indeed, this food crisis should not be measured merely by the rise in costs
throughout the international food markets, but also by the physical, mental and
spiritual cost of those who are unable to provide for themselves and their
families.
Investing in long-term and sustainable agriculture programs at the local and
international levels remains central to the development prospects of so many.
This investment must be done in a way that addresses the prices of food
commodities as well as the distribution and production of food around the world,
in particular in Africa. Programs that allow farmers to produce food commodities
at the local levels should continue to be supported and greater efforts must be
made to mitigate the negative aspects of changing environmental and financial
realities.
Agriculture policies need to rediscover the path of reason and reality in order
to balance the need for food production with the need to be good stewards of the
earth. Care must be taken in order to meet the fundamental needs of persons and
to avoid reducing the dialogue to self-interested and ideologically driven
economic and environmental extremes.
Seventy percent of the world’s poor live in the same rural areas where
widespread chronic malnourishment continues to persist. Clearly, this
illustrates that in addressing sustainable development we must continue to focus
not merely upon those who consume food commodities but also upon those who
produce it. Greater investment in small-holder farmers which enables them to
increase production in a sustainable manner would provide an important element
to addressing the continued presence of chronic hunger and malnourishment in
certain regions.
While the current food crisis presents an immediate threat to development,
society must continue to address persisting and imminent challenges such as
climate change, harmful agricultural subsidies, fair trade, environmental
degradation and land reform. Through greater international solidarity and
increased concern for the most vulnerable within our societies, we can address
the immediate challenges while still working to ensure that the progress of
today becomes the cornerstone for a more just and secure tomorrow.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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