UEA: Universala Esperanto-Asocio (lead-organiser)
TEJO: World Esperanto Youth Organisation
EVU: European Vegetarian Union
TEVA: World Esperanto Vegetarian Association

This event will focus on concrete actions which have a clear impact in the field of sustainability. A particular attention will be given to:

- the cultural and linguistic aspects of sustainable development;

- the relations among sustainability and food production

- the relations among the loss of biodiversity and the loss of cultural diversity

- the benefits for the environment in using a common neutral language



The search for a sustainable development will require new behaviours and new practices in order to tackle many social and environmental problems. We will present how a change to a vegetarian diet can be important for the protection of biodiversity and to guarantee nutrition for a planet with 7 billion people. We will also show how the use of an international neutral language can preserve the rich cultural heritage and can be an essential tool to achieve worldwide coordination in solving global problems.

The thematic focus of this side-event will be on important actions which are very fundamental to achieve a truly sustainable development.
A particular attention will be given to:

- the cultural and linguistic aspects of sustainable development;
A truly sustainable development cannot avoid issues related to the disappearing of cultures. It is estimated that by the end of this century 90% of the languages ​​will disappear if nothing is done to preserve them. The current system of international communication, in which prevails the dominant use of a very few national languages, contributes to the process of disappearance of linguistic diversity and is also unable to meet the challenges posed by the environmental problems of the 21st century.

- the relations among sustainability and food production
A topic often underestimated is the relation among food and sustainability. A report from FAO (2006) states that intensive animal farming is the first cause of green-house gas emission in the planet, accounting for a total of 18%.
The Brazilian rainforest is disappearing to make room for soya fields, used to feed animals, which will then feed people. This is a very unbalanced and unproductive conversion which dissipates enormous resources.

- the relations among the loss of biodiversity and the loss of cultural diversity
The regions which present the greatest linguistic diversity on the planet are precisely those that also present the greatest biodiversity. Those regions are very much endangered by an aggressive globalisation. The request for meat causes a loss of biodiversity, as expressed above, which will then cause a loss of cultural diversion. Indigenous people will not have their habitat anymore, and will be forced to lose their culture and their language.

- the benefits for the environment in using a common neutral language
The construction of sustainable development requires strong coordination between countries in solving global problems. Among them we can mention the issue of climate change, saving the oceans, ensuring universal access to safe drinking water, combating epidemies (like AIDS, malaria, etc..), tackling global financial crisis, etc. However, the international coordination is compromised when a common and easy-to-learn language, that allows efficient communication between all agents, is not available.
Additionally, considering the resources required for translations and interpretation, the use of an international language would significantly contribute to a green economy.


The international language Esperanto, throughout its 125 years of active life, has demonstrated its effectiveness in the field of international communication, proving to be not only a powerful and democratic tool for international communication, but also a mechanism that preserves the linguistic diversity of the planet . Through Esperanto, all people of the world can participate democratically in discussions and solutions of the major problems of the 21-st century. Thus, the speakers of minority languages, specially indigenous peoples, could
express their desires and thoughts with more equality in the presence of representatives of the wealthiest nations. UNESCO has adopted two resolutions in favor of Esperanto in recognition of its important work in promoting the ideals espoused by that institution.



Speakers:
Renata Pacheco Ventura: Graduated in Journalism by the Pontifical University of Rio de Janeiro, she is a writer of juvenile books. She is actively involved in the Esperanto community in Rio and active at international level in TEJO.

Dr. Francisco Stefano Wechsler: He achieved his PhD in Animal Science by the University of Georgia and currently teaches Animal Science in UNESP (Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho). He founded the Brazilian Youth Esperanto Organisation (BEJO) and is very active worldwide, first in TEJO, and then in UEA.

Ursula Sandkühler Grattapaglia: She´s the director of the Educational Esperantist Institute Bona Espero (Insituição Educacional Esperantista Bona Espero), a former board member of UEA, currently Honour Member of UEA and member of TEVA.

Francesco Maurelli: Researcher in underwater robotics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh (UK), he is the vice-president of the European Vegetarian Union and of the World Esperanto Vegetarian Association. He has written several articles highlighting the links among sustainable development and food production.

Contribution to the outcome of UNCSD/Rio+20
By the end of the event, the participants will not just gain information about the discussed topics, but will be able to take actions themselves for a more sustainable society. The speakers will address specific and concrete actions and through an active involvement of the participants, they will encourage to be the main actors and not simply passive witnesses of the events.
On a larger dimension, the event will present policies which would greatly contribute into a more sustainable world, and will advocate for their implementation.