Press Releases

Third-sector and oil industry leaders to discuss Social Responsibility

To deepen the debate on Social Responsibility, which is one of the central themes of the Congress (Petroleum Industry: Excellence and Responsibility in Serving Society), the Brazilian Organising Committee is promoting a meeting between community and oil industry representatives. The Social Responsibility Arena of the 17th World Petroleum Congress, an unprecedented initiative in the history of the event, will bring together around 30 governmental, non-governmental and business organisations currently developing social and environmental action programmes and projects, as well as experts and opinion makers.

Open to the general public, the Social Responsibility Arena will meet from September 2 - 5 in the Riocentro, the same convention facility where the Congress is being held. The Arena will consist of an exhibition of programmes and initiatives that focus on sustainable development. It will also feature a seminar gathering leaders from the private and third sectors, scholars and journalists.

The exhibition held at the Arena will be devoted to innovatory third-sector action programmes that centre on sustainable development, ethics and environmental education. Each organisation will have booths available to exhibit its innovatory projects and solutions. The Arena will also be the venue for socio-environmental business rooms, where Congress delegates and social and environmental NGO representatives can meet to discuss action projects of mutual interest, thus creating opportunities for the exchange of experiences and new achievements.

The Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development Seminar will meet from September 2-4, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in an auditorium with capacity for two hundred people. The seminar has been structured around two blocks, each lasting two hours. The seminar themes, which include issues such as social responsibility, education and social change, sustainable development and the environment, will be developed in the form of conferences, panels, round tables and case presentations conveyed in a talk-show format.

The Brazilian Organising Committee expects the Arena to afford those who take part in it to gather some of the resources they need to improve their strategies and the outcome of their action programmes. The committee also aims to stimulate the dissemination of innovatory action programmes and methods that have already shown their worth in the social and environmental areas.

The Social Responsibility Arena of the 17th World Petroleum Congress is open to governmental and non-governmental organisations, private institutions and other associations. To register, fill out the form available at the Congress web site (www.wpc2002.com). The same form may also be sent via e-mail, to ongs@wpc2002.com until the 17th of July. A Consultative Committee made up of experts and third-sector representatives will be in charge of selecting the participants.

The concept of social responsibility is to be applied in the 17th WPC organisation itself. In addition to the activities developed in the Social Responsibility Arena, Brazilian non-governmental organisations were hired to provide services during the event. Among them is the Computer Democratisation Committee (CDI), an organisation devoted to facilitating access for all to computers, which will lend computer support to the Congress. This is a pioneer institution that works against digital exclusion with technical courses for children and adolescents from low-income communities.

Selective litter collection at the Riocentro

The 17th WPC will also represent a landmark for the Riocentro. A selective waste collection programme and a waste processing centre will be implemented in the conventions facility during the Congress and expo set-up phase, and be used throughout the duration of both events. The selective waste collection equipment will be donated to the Riocentro. The waste processing centre will be open to visitors. The organisers estimate that, together, the Congress and the Rio Oil & Gas Expo 2002, will generate a total of 16 tonnes of recyclable waste (plastic, aluminium, paper and glass). Proceeds obtained from the recycling will be passed on to a residents’ co-operative in the Caju district, which has six thousand inhabitants and is located in the port area of Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro, July 3 2002.

For further information, please contact:

Edelman Public Relations Worldwide
Malu Fernandes - malu.fernandes@edelman.com
(+55 21) 2271-3109/9306-6988
Vania Santos - vania.santos@edelman.com
(+55 21) 2271-3100 ext. 428 / 9672-2209