By 1 September, the officials had agreed on the bulk of issues under discussion, with some sticky issues still remaining. The unresolved issues included delivery targets on sanitation and renewable energy, as well as work programme on sustainable production, the wording of the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, finer details of issues relating to depletion of natural resources, bio-diversity and agricultural subsidies.

Many poor people in southern Africa, as indeed millions others around the world, will be hoping the Johannesburg Declaration, if adopted, will be transformed into action. This year's summit is held under a shadow of lack of progress on the implementation of declarations at the Rio Earth Summit of 1992.

Hundreds of NGO representatives present in Johannesburg have showed their disapproval through a series of mostly peaceful demonstrations. Their message, which host President Thabo Mbeki has promised will be taken to the higher political level, is to end "global apartheid".

On Sartuday, South African police feared the worst, calling in reinforcements from around the country, but demonstrators confounded critics when they peacefully marched from Johannesburg's poor suburb of Alexandra to the venue of the Summit in wealthy Sandton.

Close to 10,000 protesters were kept in line under the watchful eye of armed police, reinforced with armoured vehicles and helicopters. They waved placards whose messages ranged from anti-poverty messages to anti-Bush vitriol. One placard read "Give us Land, Food, Jobs," while another one said, "Blair, don't beat about the Bush". U.S. President George has been conspicous by his absence from this Summit.

As one delegate said, "life goes on with or without Bush", his absence cannot stop 109 other leaders from building the world.

With sustainable development as diverse and complex as the fight against poverty, delegates to the world summit have come here with varying expectations.

For the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, the agenda has centred on issues around poverty, financing for sustainable development, waste management, food security, energy, climate change, biodiversity, water scarcity, land, market access, capacity building and technology transfer.

For some of these issues, diagreement has ranged from complete deadlock on matters of principles to minor arguments on issues such as wording of text.

However, for the majority of poor people around the world who are struggling to secure a meal from day to day, or secure gainful employment, Johannesburg 2002 must come up with practical solutions to poverty alleviation. (SARDC)