[sustran] UN Workshop on Inspection and Maintenance Policy for Vehicles

[Eric Britton]

Dear Kisan and Priya,

 

I found your comments to the UN Workshop to be excellent and consistent
with what must be the underlying goals and philosophy of sustainable
development and social justice.  But I have a question about this.

 

Am I to gather that the main thrust of the UN Workshop and its
participants was in some other direction?  Not that I am asking for a
full length report on all that took place in Bangkok, but from your
comments I seem to gather that yours was not the mainline or majority
position of the group as a whole.  Was that the case?  If so, perhaps we
better have a look at the position which the UN has taken in this
matter, if any.

 

I would be most uncomfortable to think that the UN would allow itself to
be manipulated in any way by groups or interests whose positions and net
impact is inconsistent with the goals of sustainability and social
justice.  It’s not that I am looking for a fight, and certainly not a
disavowal of the concept of public/private partnerships and discussions
at all levels which I have actively promoted for years.  But where there
are important underlying differences, I feel that it is vital that they
be clearly stated and that the points of non-agreement be put up front
for all to see and ponder – and not just tagged on as some sort of back
page distant rejoinder in the interest of ‘fairness’.

 

That said, you or I or others will certainly have our own specific views
or interpretations of what this means in many instances, and vigorous
open exchanges among fair minded people are vital parts of the
collective learning process.  For example, I am not sure I am all that
comfortable with all the fine details of some of your final
recommendations. On the other hand, I would expect that you would take
exception to anything that I might put forward on the topic.  Creative
dissonance, I believe it is called.

 

I look forward with interest to learning how all this is playing out.

 

Regards,

 

Eric Britton

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