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What is the Summit about?
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) will be dealing with human and environmental issues. Among the topics that will be discussed will be food security, protecting the world's ecosystems, clean water as an integral part of human health and survival as well as poverty eradication.

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When and where is the Summit taking place?
The Global Forum and the Pre-Summit will take place from 19 August 2002 to 4 September 2002 at the Johannesburg Exp. Center (Nasrec) in South Africa. The UN Summit (i.e. the conference for heads of state, governments, diplomats and business representatives) will take place from 26 August to 4 September 2002 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg - South Africa.

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Who is organising the Summit?
The Global Forum is being organised by the South African NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) through the WSSD Secretariat.

The UN Summit is being organised by the Johannesburg Summit Company (JOWSCO) which was created for this purpose.

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Where and how can I register?
Everyone is advised to register on-line. Representatives from Civil Society may Register to attend the Global Forum. Click here for a registration form.

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How do I become a delegate?
A person intending to be a delegate must first register. This registration will be validated. After validation, a person will have to transfer the registration fee of US$ 150-00 to the WSSD Civil Society Secretariat's account.

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Who is eligible to attend?
Any member of civil society, but preferably those representing or nominated by civil society organisations of the world.

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How many delegates are expected to attend?
We expect the Global Forum to be attended by more than 40 000 delegates. However, this is obviously an approximation; a more concise number will not be known until a few weeks before the conference.

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What are the dates of the Summit?
The Global Forum will take place from 26 August 2002 to 4 September 2002
The World Summit on Sustainable Development will take place
from 26 August 2002 to 4 September 2002.

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How will South Africans benefit from the Summit?
The Summit is expected to bring into the country more than US$500 million. This will be in the form of revenue from accommodation, tourist spending and related areas. Local small businesses will also benefit, as the organisers will ensure that a majority of contracts are given to African – and South African-based service providers.

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Where can I find accommodation in Johannesburg?
Civil Society delegates are encouraged to utilise accommodation arranged by the WSSD Secretariat and JOWSCO. This will ensure that it is easy to provide security and transport to delegates. However, the Secretariat will not dissuade anyone from living with relatives and friends in South Africa. We should, however, note that people should be within the 20 kilometer radius of the Expo Centre (Nasrec).

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What will be the role of South African Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs)?
Local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have taken responsibility for organising the Global Forum. They have also been tasked with ensuring that the agenda of the Summit includes issues relevant to humanity – like poverty eradication, clean water, access to land, health, combating deforestation and related subjects.

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What will happen after the Global Forum?
After the conference, the main preoccupation will be actioning the resolutions and the programme of action that will have been adopted. There will be wide, continuous consultation on a global scale to ensure all the resolutions of the conference are implemented. The United Nations will be the over-arching body ensuring this happens.

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Why are there actually two separate 'summits' at the same time?
The separation of the Summit into two was a convenient way to ensure that civil society's voice is not drowned out by governments and multi-national corporations. It was a conscious decision to address the often-voiced complaints by ordinary people that their issues are never addressed adequately by international conferences of this nature because of interference by governments.

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Where do I get detailed information on Johannesburg, Gauteng province and South Africa as a whole?
Click here for tourist information.

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What languages are spoken in South Africa?
South Africa has eleven (11) official languages. These are: isiZulu, isiXhosa, tshiVenda, isiSwati, seSotho, seTswana, xiTsonga, sePedi, isiNdebele, English and Afrikaans. However, South Africa also has big minorities like Portuguese, Germans, Chinese, Greeks, Indians and others. All of them speak their languages in their communities. Therefore, it is common to find people who speak languages other than the official ones. (For more information on this, visit: www.hellosa.co.za)

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Where can I get information about latest progress on the WSSD processes?
E-Mail us for further information.

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If I am a journalist, and I want to receive press releases and other information pertinent to journalism and/or want to arrange an interview with an important dignitary at the World Forum, whom do I contact?
E-Mail [email protected]

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Will there be translation and interpretation services at the Global Forum? What will be the main languages used?
The languages will be the official United Nation languages:
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Russian. Simultaneous translation services will be provided for all plenary sessions. For other sessions and please refer to calendar of events and inquire with the respective organizer.

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