Rio+20: Want to know more on logistics?

Rio+20 is not just another conference. It is an opportunity for trade unions to debate our future priorities on sustainability and try to convince governments to do the same... How?

The ITUC is preparing a fully developed ’checklist’ for Rio+20, but in the meantime we would like to share with you key information on the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), the Trade Union Assembly and other associated activities. More information will follow through the pretty ’updates’ we have been sending for the past two months.

1. Registration and list of participants

The registration for the UN meetings is now closed. By now, you should have received your UN confirmation letter. If you don’t have it, send an email to Joke Van Mele[email protected]
We are currently preparing the list of trade union delegates to the Assembly and to the UN conference. We have more than 500 union reps registered. You will have their names soon.
You can still register to the Trade Union Assembly and as you will see below, many activities run in parallel with the official conference, so you can still join the trade union delegation in Rio and participate in many of our actions...

YOUR ACTION #1: Fill this calendar indicating when you will be in Rio: http://www.doodle.com/952456mwaark3h78

In Rio: Official Registration opens on the 7th June. The sooner you register the better. We will share with you the schedule for registration as soon as it is made available

2. Where to go? What to do? Chronology of events and level of union participation

A full calendar is also being developed, but here is a brief list of events, as well as a short explanation and the means for joining them. They are all happening in June and in Rio de Janeiro, so I didn’t add the month or the city
a. Trade Union Assembly (11-13) Place: Windsor Guanabara Hotel . The Assembly will first hold regional discussions, followed by thematic working groups to identify a trade union agenda for future work on these issues and then plenaries on our key priorities for Rio+20. Your participation there is essential.

YOUR ACTION #2: Join, comment working group draft documents and learn more about it here: http://assemblyrio20.sustainlabour.org/

b. EVERY DAY, starting on the 14th until the 22nd TRADE UNION DAILY MEETING IN RIO CENTRO, 12-1pm, Major Group Pavilion, Room T1 (Big Room). Trade unions will also have a small exhibit space, where we will be showcasing union experiences on sustainable development. We would like highlight every day the actions of one or two unions.

YOUR ACTION #3 : Tell us if you are interested, we will share details with you.

c. United Nations Preparatory Committee to the Rio+20 Conference (13-15). Place: Rio Centro. This will be the last negotiation before the Summit. It will define the final content of the Rio+20 Declaration. There will also be side events.

YOUR ACTION #4: Ensure you book a meeting with your country’s negotiator during this period. Please also ask for a meeting with your head of delegation during the Summit (20-22).

d. Cupula dos Povos -Peoples’ Summit- (15-23) Place: Aterro do Flamengo. The first days (15-18) of this space will be dedicated to ’self-organised events’ (list of trade union ones to come), then followed by assemblies on different issues. See the methodology and issues here: http://cupuladospovos.org.br/en/2012/05/guide-document-on-convergence-plenary-and-peoples-assembly/

YOUR ACTION #5: Tell us if you are interested by this space. We would like to build a people’s summit support group

e. Sustainability Dialogues (16-19) Place: Rio Centro. These are four days, organised by the Brazilian government which will discuss 10 themes (below) and identify two or three key proposals for each theme to be conveyed directly to the heads of State. These dialogues have already commenced online. To participate in the pre-discussion and defend there our key demands, the web platform is open from now till the Conference at www.riodialogues.org
The themes are: Food and nutrition security, Sustainable development for fighting poverty, Sustainable development as an answer to the economic and financial crises, The economics of sustainable development, including sustainable patterns of production and consumption, Sustainable cities and innovation, Unemployment, decent work and migrations, Energy, Water, Oceans, Forests.
The number of seats allocated per group is limited, but as trade unions we have an average of 80 passes for each session. We will distribute them in the trade union daily meeting prior to the session.

YOUR ACTION #6: Sign in here for the themes you are interested: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nbCe692NFtYf7hgo9MKrtW22_dKsriNvrlHSNnsJeWE/edit and join the online platform: www.riodialogues.org

f. Global Action Day (20 June). More information on this will follow, but Brazilian trade unions will join it, and we expect our delegation to be present as well.

YOUR ACTION #7: Bring your union flag!

g. UN Sustainable Development Conference -Rio+20 Summit- (20-22) Place: Rio Centro. 150 heads of State and governments are expected to join the Summit. Trade unions will have access to the premises. The only possible interaction will be through meetings with your governments (please see ACTION #4) and participation in the 4 High Level Round Tables, where trade unions, as part of the major groups system, will be given three seats in each one of them. Members of the trade union delegation willing to participate in these round tables should send us an email. Please be aware that the selection process will prioritise elected leadership, and take into account regional and gender balance.

3. LOGISTICS:
– Accommodation: An important part of the union delegation will be staying in SESC Hotel in Copacabana, and in apartments located at Rua Abraao Jabour # 510 Barra da Tijuca. If you are staying somewhere else, please share your location with us. If you are still facing problems with your accommodation, don’t hesitate to contact us.

– Transport to Rio Centro: There are going to be 7 routes for shuttle buses. They will be made available soon. To take the shuttle you will need to show your UN badge (obviously on your first trip in the first day you won’t have your badge yet so you just show your registration letter).

MUCH MORE INFO WILL FOLLOW!
Anabella