The WCT congress at Albena
Insists on the necessity that the big conference of Johannesburg, to be held in September 2002, which has as its theme sustainable future – the biggest conference by the UN ever held – will result in conclusions which go further than mere words and will cause all those who are responsible for taking action, to ensure that the future of all ensuing generations is not put in danger and notes that :
The summit of Rio de Janeiro in 1992 having concluded the Agenda 21, an ambitious program that had to be realised among other things in the Kyoto protocol which elicited a negative attitude from the USA, Japan and Australia.
The creation of the World Trade Organisation in 1995 didn’t stop the increase in the number of poor countries and people,
the weight of debt is still heavier for the countries in the developing countries (= third world)
prices of raw materials have fallen
The summit of Doha on the GATT in November 2001 and the summit of Monterrey in March 2002 on the financing of development as well as the G8 summit of Kanakoskis last June, confirm that the justified demand to remit the debts, to support the development of the poor countries and to open the market for agricultural products have continued to fall on deaf ears.
In the resolutions of its congress in Albena the WCT underlines that the educational systems in the poor countries and as such also the education personnel are not able to guarantee a strong basic education so as to ensure that the poor countries can emerge from the unacceptable situation in which they live.
The WCT calls on the conscience of the leaders of all countries to assume their responsibility so that the summit of Johannesburg can bring real solutions and fewer big declarations and promises which traditionally stay dead letters.
The Albena congress is pleased to learn that African countries decided to create one African Union in order to promote real peace, democracy and economic progress.
The congress underlines the importance of education and the role of teachers in order to realise those praiseworthy objectives and appeals to all the leaders of all countries that are involved in regional or national wars to stop hostilities and to unify forces so that finally a positive future could be created for the youth and their countries.
The WCT underlines the importance of the recent Barcelona conference on the AIDS scourge that threatens the lives of millions of people especially women, children and youth and even the existence of whole communities.
The Albena congress stresses the fact that this terrible epidemic directly affects education and its teachers. Consequently the congress appeals to governments all over the world and to the pharmaceutical industry not to hide behind disputable arguments but to act sensibly and globally so that this scourge can be fought with an efficient and effective strategy.
The congress declares its solidarity with the teachers in all conflict zones in the different continents.
These teachers are confronted with the extremely difficult task to deliver a message of tolerance and solidarity so as to find the peace they so desperately need in order to have the prospect to live in dignity and to build a more prosperous and well-balanced future.
Notwithstanding being confronted daily with physical dangers, persecution, security concerns, famine and death, these teachers are still the cornerstone of hope for the rebuilding of these countries.
The congress furthermore notes with concern the marginalisation of education priorities in favour of other issues in many countries.
The congress appeals to all combatants and to all those who believe in armed solutions, to look for a solution not in the field but at the negotiation table.
Fighting terrorism with other forms of terrorism can only inflame the situation and will result in even more victims, especially the weakest and the poorest.
The congress notes with concern the devastating effect international terrorism (conflict) has had on the world economy and consequently on the job security, employment prospects and investments in education of thousands of teachers, as well as the impact on the prosperity of future generations.
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