In Message, Secretary-General Says People Must Use Facebook, Twitter Connections

to Push for Action at Rio+20, ‘Challenge Leaders to Live Up to Their Words’

Following is the text of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to “Rio+Social” in Rio de Janeiro, 19 June:

Hello, everyone.  I am United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Welcome to Rio+Social!

Twenty years ago, the Rio Earth Summit gave the world major agreements on climate change, biodiversity and Agenda 21.

Now we meet again 20 years later, but something is different.

In one word:  You.

Back in 1992, we used snail mail and faxes.  There was no Facebook, no Twitter, no Tumblr.

Now, people around the world can connect like never before.  We can learn from each other.  We can push for action.  And we can challenge leaders to live up to their words.

That’s what Rio+Social is all about.

Studies show that we are using 50 per cent more resources than our planet can provide.  By 2030, we will need two planet Earths.

As they say on Facebook, we must “defriend” this unsustainable course.

We have one planet — and you have one voice.  Thank you for using it.

Thank you for speaking out for a path to a better future — a future that is more equal, that provides more prosperity for more people, and that respects the resources of our planet.

Thank you for speaking up for decent jobs; sustainable energy; food and nutrition; the role of women and young people and much more.

Thank you for looking at how these issues impact each other so that we can find ways to reach our common goals.

I count on you to make your voices heard at Rio+20 — and keep the conversation going.

Maintain this network, make it stronger and keep the pressure on so the decisions taken this week are the actions carried out around the world for years to come.

Thank you.

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For information media • not an official record