SAARC sees prosperity in sharing of resources
Friday, 7 May 2010
Masum Billah
The two-day sixteenth SAARC Summit concluded on April 29 with a 36-point 'Thimpu Silver Jubilee Declaration' that endorses Bangladesh's proposal for a 'Charter of Democracy' for regional cooperation aiming at strengthening good governance. SAARC observed its Silver Jubilee with representatives of nine observers -- Australia, China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, Mauritius, USA and the EU-- attending the summit of the South Asian grouping that began its journey from Bangladesh in 1985. Global warming and climate changes have already impacted our nations with melting of the Himalayan glaciers, rising sea levels, erratic precipitation, land degradation, desertification and salinity. As Bangladesh is the most vulnerable country to the global warming the adverse geophysical changes with increasing frequency of cyclones and floods have been retarding the economic growth, poverty alleviations efforts and millennium development goals. To face these challenges a realistic approach is imperative at regional and global levels. To meet the challenges of the climate change, Bangladesh has adopted 134 action plans under National Adaptation Programme of Action, and the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. Some 14000 cyclone centres have been constructed.
Bangladesh's proposal to convene an inter-governmental meeting in Dhaka on taking forward the 'Charter of Democracy' was noted by the leaders of the eight nations. In the meeting many suggested and talked about the good governance and effective democracy. But the underlying fact is that this democracy still cannot ensure safety, security and peaceful living of the people of SAARC countries. Mistrust and inimical relationship still haunt the very spirit of this regional organisation.
The Convention on Cooperation on Environment aims at promoting regional cooperation in preserving the environment and mitigating the impacts of the climate change. SAARC environment ministers also decided to establish a 'group of eminent persons' in the field of climate change, which would provide guidance and policy inputs to the climate agenda and recommend projects on climate change for financing under SAARC Development Fund. They called for formulating a common SAARC position for COP16 to be held in Mexico later this year. They called for focus to be laid upon water management and conservation and development of cooperative projects.
Leaders focused on people-centred development and noted Bhutan's concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). They welcomed Bhutan's offer to host a SAARC workshop on GNH in 2010. The concept of Gross National Happiness was developed in an attempt to define an indicator that measures quality of life or social progress.
The decision on creating south Asian development fund and South Asian University will help foster closer cooperation in the respective area. The South Asian University in New Delhi will open on August 2010, which will hopefully contribute towards achieving the group's objectives.
In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary, the leaders laid emphasis on effective communication and public diplomacy. They drew attention in the regard the need to reach out to different sections of the South Asian community particularly students and youths, media , private sector, think tanks, civil society and institutions of economic development.
The leaders recognized the need to enhance cooperation in the energy sector to facilitate energy trade, development of efficient conventional and renewal energy sources including hydropower. This is important for all the member states as they can share resources in trading on power. Resources are there to produce electricity but the lack of planning, cooperation and sympathy for each other are standing on the way.
(The writer is a senior manager, BRAC education program. He can be reached at email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com)
The two-day sixteenth SAARC Summit concluded on April 29 with a 36-point 'Thimpu Silver Jubilee Declaration' that endorses Bangladesh's proposal for a 'Charter of Democracy' for regional cooperation aiming at strengthening good governance. SAARC observed its Silver Jubilee with representatives of nine observers -- Australia, China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Myanmar, Mauritius, USA and the EU-- attending the summit of the South Asian grouping that began its journey from Bangladesh in 1985. Global warming and climate changes have already impacted our nations with melting of the Himalayan glaciers, rising sea levels, erratic precipitation, land degradation, desertification and salinity. As Bangladesh is the most vulnerable country to the global warming the adverse geophysical changes with increasing frequency of cyclones and floods have been retarding the economic growth, poverty alleviations efforts and millennium development goals. To face these challenges a realistic approach is imperative at regional and global levels. To meet the challenges of the climate change, Bangladesh has adopted 134 action plans under National Adaptation Programme of Action, and the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. Some 14000 cyclone centres have been constructed.
Bangladesh's proposal to convene an inter-governmental meeting in Dhaka on taking forward the 'Charter of Democracy' was noted by the leaders of the eight nations. In the meeting many suggested and talked about the good governance and effective democracy. But the underlying fact is that this democracy still cannot ensure safety, security and peaceful living of the people of SAARC countries. Mistrust and inimical relationship still haunt the very spirit of this regional organisation.
The Convention on Cooperation on Environment aims at promoting regional cooperation in preserving the environment and mitigating the impacts of the climate change. SAARC environment ministers also decided to establish a 'group of eminent persons' in the field of climate change, which would provide guidance and policy inputs to the climate agenda and recommend projects on climate change for financing under SAARC Development Fund. They called for formulating a common SAARC position for COP16 to be held in Mexico later this year. They called for focus to be laid upon water management and conservation and development of cooperative projects.
Leaders focused on people-centred development and noted Bhutan's concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH). They welcomed Bhutan's offer to host a SAARC workshop on GNH in 2010. The concept of Gross National Happiness was developed in an attempt to define an indicator that measures quality of life or social progress.
The decision on creating south Asian development fund and South Asian University will help foster closer cooperation in the respective area. The South Asian University in New Delhi will open on August 2010, which will hopefully contribute towards achieving the group's objectives.
In order to commemorate the 25th anniversary, the leaders laid emphasis on effective communication and public diplomacy. They drew attention in the regard the need to reach out to different sections of the South Asian community particularly students and youths, media , private sector, think tanks, civil society and institutions of economic development.
The leaders recognized the need to enhance cooperation in the energy sector to facilitate energy trade, development of efficient conventional and renewal energy sources including hydropower. This is important for all the member states as they can share resources in trading on power. Resources are there to produce electricity but the lack of planning, cooperation and sympathy for each other are standing on the way.
(The writer is a senior manager, BRAC education program. He can be reached at email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com)