As public fear of bird flu spreads, Mr. Kaj Bärlund (UNECE) explores how the main principles of transparency and democratic accountability in environment-related matters can be used to overcome problems of public mistrust. In an interview published 20 March 2006 in the journal UNECE Weekly, Mr. Bärlund suggests public confidence in information about the virus provided by international organizations and governments will play a significant role in how the public reacts to measures to prevent a pandemic. This principle, which lays at the heart the UNECE Aarhus Convention, supports a climate of openness, transparence and trust in society and government.
Mr. Bärlund serves as the UNECE Director of Environment, Housing and Land Management Division. He delivered his comments in a taped interview on 20-24 March 2006.
For coverage of the interview, see http://www.unece.org/highlights/unece_weekly/weekly_2006/UNECE_weekly_2006-164.pdf.
The video interview can be seen at http://www.unece.org/videoc/videoc.html.
