The Earth Summit will focus on environment, development and the vital connection between the two. It will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from June 1-12, 1992. It seeks to establish a whole new basis for relations between countries, rich and poor, North and South.

Over 100 leaders of nations are already scheduled to attend, and as such it will be the largest gathering of heads of state in history. Its objectives are 1) to produce an “Earth Charter” of basic principles necessary for building a sustainable future for our planet, and 2) to create an actual agenda addressing issues ranging from global warming and toxic waste management to the empowerment for women in the development process. Today, I have written President Bush a letter urging him to attend, and I request others to do so, too. The opportunity and challenge is nothing less than the altering of the course of history.

Clinton Jesser, Ph.D.

Dept. of Sociology, NIU