G8 Leaders Agree To Boost Aid

Branden · Jul 8, 2005

G8 leaders agree $50bn aid boost
The G8 summit has ended with an agreement to boost aid for developing countries by $50bn (£28.8bn).

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said there was also a commitment to find an end date for farm subsidies and a will to find agreement on trade liberalisation.

On climate change, he said an agreement had always been unlikely, but crucially the US had accepted that global warming was an issue.

NGOs are critical of the deal, calling it a "vastly disappointing result".

"The people have roared but the G8 has whispered," said Kumi Naidoo, chair of the Global Call to Action against Poverty.

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'Progress'

But Live 8 organiser Bob Geldof spoke of a "great day".

"Never before have so many people forced a change of policy onto a global agenda. If anyone had said eight weeks ago will we get a doubling of aid, will we get a deal on debt, people would have said 'no'," Mr Geldof said.

He added that he gave the G8 summit "10 out of 10 on aid, eight out of 10 on debt".

Irish rock star and fellow anti-poverty campaigner Bono, praised the agreement to give universal access to Aids drugs.

"600,000 Africans, mostly children, will remember this G8 submit at Gleneagles because they will be around to remember this summit, and they wouldn't have otherwise," said Bono.

Key points:

* Mr Blair said trade discussions in Hong Kong later this year should yield an end date to agricultural subsidies.
* Britain is to host a 1 November meeting on climate change, to assess progress.
* Mr Blair said "only people who can change Africa ultimately are the Africans".
* $3bn agreed for Palestinian Authority for investment in infrastructure.
* Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo described the deal as a "success".
* G8 commits to training 20,000 peacekeepers for Africa.
* African leaders to commit to democracy and good governance as part of the deal.
* Debts of the 18 poorest countries to be forgiven.

Summing up the G8 meeting, Mr Blair acknowledged: "It isn't all everyone wanted, but it is progress."

On climate change, Mr Blair said: "If it is impossible to bring America into the consensus on tackling the issue... we will never ensure the huge emerging economies, who are going to consume more energy than any other part of the world... are part of the dialogue."

G8 SUMMIT RESULTS
Stalemate on climate change as US position barely budges
G8 nations agree to full debt cancellation for 18 countries, while African countries call for debt relief for all Africa
EU members pledge to reach a collective aid target of 0.56% of GDP by 2010, and 0.7% by 2015
The G8 agrees a $50bn (£28.8bn) boost to aid
A ' signal' for a new deal on trade

He said however that agreement had been reached that climate change was a problem, human activity contributed to it and it had to be tackled with urgency.

'Face of death'

Earlier the prime minister had said that in the wake of Thursday's attacks, the communique was the "definitive expression of our collective will to act in the face of death".

"It has a pride and a hope and a humanity that can lift the shadow of terrorism," he added.

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) remained critical of the G8 deal.

Some described the talks on climate change as a "significant lost opportunity".

WHAT IS THE G8?
Name
Group of eight major industrialised states, inc Russia
Members
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US

G8 leaders have indicated the statement represents progress but Stephen Tindale, a spokesperson for Greenpeace, said: "The G8 has committed to nothing new but at least we haven't moved backwards on the environment."

The Sustainable Energy and Economy Network, a worldwide coalition of environmental and development campaigners, said: "Urgent action is now required to substantially reduce emissions, reduce fossil fuel dependence and to protect people around the world, especially the vulnerable, the poor and disappearing nations."
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Source: _ BBC News.

Ander · Jul 8, 2005

$50 billion doesnt even register as a real number to me. Everytime I think "Aid", I cant help but see "$" and that shouldn't be the only solution. It's just not real.

Link04 · Jul 8, 2005

Give with one hand...take with the other....should be more than 18 nations with full debt relief. The debt trap has ravaged Africa.

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