Trade unions around the world should work together to urge businesses, governments and society as a whole to conserve resources and protect the environment to ensure sustainable development, President Hu Jintao said yesterday.
Hu spoke at the opening ceremony of the 2008 International Forum on Economic Globalization and Trade Unions. He said, "Realizing sustainable development and making conservation efforts are related to the fundamental interests of people around the world and to the immediate interests of its vast number of workers."
He continued: "As key forces in promoting sustainable development, the world's trade unions and their members must actively engage in this great campaign that requires immediate effort and will contribute to the well-being of future generations."
Wang Zhaoguo is chairman of All-China Federation of Trade Union (ACFTU). He said the Chinese government "actively participates in building an ecological civilization" against climate change, pollution and the energy crunch.
For instance, last year it launched a national action campaign against climate change, the first of its kind adopted by a developing country.
And since 2006, it has assigned detailed goals for energy conservation and the reduction of emissions.
More than 60 leaders of 37 trade unions from 25 countries are taking part in the two-day forum. It is jointly sponsored by the ACFTU and World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and began yesterday in Beijing.
George Mavrikos is general secretary of the WFTU. He said: "The issue of climate change needs to be the center of attention for trade unions all over the world. We know the causes of the problems and we can demand the application of measures and policies to tackle today's ugly situation."
Instead of taking charge of climate change, some developed countries actually put obstacles in the way of developing countries, Mavrikos said.
AD Nagpal is secretary of India's Hind Mazdoor Sabha. He said environmental sustainability begins in the workplace, with cleaner technologies, better health and safety conditions and improving the ways in which resources are used.
"This means participatory management systems at work, involving workers in the decision-making processes, investing in cleaner technologies and not outsourcing hazardous jobs to unskilled, unprotected workers or merely dumping waste into the sewers," Nagpal said in a speech to the forum.
Questions:
1.Where is the 2008 International Forum on Economic Globalization and Trade Unions being held?
2.Over 60 leaders from how many countries are taking place?
3.What is George Mavrikos’s position?
Answers:
1.Beijing.
2.25 countries.
3.General secretary of the WFTU.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Jonathan Stewart is a media and journalism expert from the United States with four years of experience as a writer and instructor. He accepted a foreign expert position with chinadaily.com.cn in June 2007 following the completion of his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
