In the wake of the recent United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, held from August 26 to September 4, 2002, a number of indigenous groups and organizations have commented on the lack of concrete progress made at the meetings. On September 3 many indigenous delegates to the conference offered harsh criticism of the Summit’s agenda at a joint press conference, calling for more commitments to action and stronger wording in the draft action plan with regards to indigenous peoples. Indigenous representatives and civil society groups from across the globe have also condemned attempts by corporations and business groups to co-opt indigenous and environmental issues for their own ‘cynical’ marketing purposes. See Spotlight Article
