(ANS – Bonn) – The 64th Annual DPI/NGO Conference with the theme: “Sustainable Societies; Responsive Citizens” was held in Bonn, Germany, September 3-5, 2011. Among the many was one organized by the Loreto Sisters and co-sponsored by the Salesians and the Daughters of Charity.

Fifteen hundred representatives of NGOs from around the world participated in the plenaries, roundtables and workshops that informed and inspired the conference attendees. The overarching topics of discussion were on the need for respecting the earth and its resources and for engaging members of Civil Society in volunteerism.

Among the many workshops held during the conference was one organized by the Loreto Sisters and co-sponsored by the Salesians and the Daughters of Charity on cooperative and sustainable farms in El Salvador. CORDES (Association for Cooperative and Communal Development) and APRAINORES (Association for Organic Agro-Industrial Producers) shared their work against historical, environmental, socio-economic and political odds to bring rural producers and their families together around sustainable projects. Many of the farmers are ex-combatants from the long civil war in El Salvador. They have put down their arms and have worked to build a new society in peace.

The issue of Sustainable Consumption and Production was one of the prime foci of the conference. Participants were challenged to consider the ways that they use natural resources and to commit themselves to more mindful use of them. A growing number of people are calling for the world community to consider adopting Millennium Consumption Goals to augment  the Millennium Development Goals.
 
A comprehensive Draft Declaration of the 64th Annual DPI/NGO Conference was approved by acclamation by the participants, and it will be presented to the General  Assembly. It is a statement of the priorities and concerns of the NGO community regarding the creation of sustainable societies that are responsive to the expressed concerns of the communities.

Published 13/09/2011