however justified, must not serve as any kind of pretext for lack of commitment. The understandable interest the upheaval in Eastern Europe has aroused must nevertheless not obscure the situation in the rest of the world, nor must it adversely affect the capacity of developed countries to live up to their coimitments and shoulder their responsibilities. Each country stands to gain from abiding by the national and international jurisdical norms necessary for the maintenance of world-wide ecological and political equilibrium, whose precariousness can be seen as soon as a conflict breaks out or a disaster strikes anywhere. JP/jl A/S-18/PV. 9 61 (Mr. Cabral, Guinea-Bissau ) The distances between countries and continents no longer form a shield. Peoples and customs are oominq into closer contact with one another and merqinq more and more rapidly, to the point where health problems, such as AIDS, are posed. The whole international community must accept the implications of this evolution. Our past interest in other peoples must today become a constant concern, because we are all affected by everythinq that happens around us. During the session of the General Assembly devoted to consideration of narcotic druqs we saw the close connection between production and demand, -just as we finally understood, although it was already clear, the correlation between production and the poverty of the growers. We could not imagine living anywhere but on Earth, where the sky and the sea do not recognize frontiers, as some recent disasters have shown. The men and women who populate our planet must become aware of the gravity of the dangers facing us and make their peace with nature. It is certainly difficult to demand of the farmer in the Sahel that he give up his charcoal, at present his only source of energy, and stop cutting dowi trees, 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the interconnectedness of the world, highlighting the need for countries to work together to address global challenges such as environmental degradation, poverty, and health issues. It emphasizes the importance of international cooperation, responsibility, and awareness of the consequences of human actions on the planet. The text also touches on the need for sustainable development and the importance of considering the well-being of all people and the planet.

**Category**
Natural resources and environment, International trade, Health