Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Sustainable development is possible if there is a common vision capable of overcoming individual interests in favour of collective.  The Vatican is convinced of this, and has expressed its support for those who work to safeguard the environment, "the magnificent masterpiece of God". Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer at the United Nations, speaking at a meeting promoted by the UN, said that sustainable development is a harmonious strategy that fosters the preservation of the environment, the control of climate change, economic development, and human needs.

 "The use of 'clean' technologies'", said the diplomat, whose speech was distributed in the Vatican, "is an important component of sustainable development.  In order to help the countries of the third world to become industrialised, while avoiding the errors that the more advanced world has committed in the past, rich countries should share with developing countries the new technologies that have been developed precisely in order to safeguard the environment".  "Furthermore", continued Archbishop Migliore, "the markets must sponsor 'green economies', and discourage the demand for products that damage the environment".  

Calling upon the conscience of each one, Archbishop Migliore, finally, invited each person to be an informed and responsible consumer, because many of the products that we buy have a direct impact on the environment.