G8 fails to deliver1 July 2005
Billed by Tony Blair as the meeting to deal with poverty in Africa and climate change, the summit of the world's 8 most powerful politicians met from 6-8 July 2005 in Edinburgh.
225,000 people marching on Edinburgh's streets called on the G8 to Make Poverty History. As did the world record 26.4 million text messages sent globally by supporters of the Live 8 music campaign.
Protestors indicating their support for the Make Poverty History campaign by wearing white
Tony Blair proclaimed the summit "the biggest step forward for developing countries...that any G8 Summit has ever agreed".
However, the G8 opted for sticking plaster cures and failed to tackle the root problems of climate change and trade justice.
They also ignored the urgency of the problems.
Aid, debt & trade - painless promises
The G8's commitment to "free" trade is endangering local environments and livelihoods globally.
But instead of agreeing to change their trade policies to benefit poor countries, the G8 just stuck its hands in its pockets to offer up its spare change.
As with the debt cancellation, some of this aid was already committed. Most of it will not be delivered until 2010.
The G8 has chosen painless commitments to aid and debt to help relieve the symptoms of poverty.
But more than charity, developing countries deserve justice. The G8 nations should have agreed to change their own trade policies to stop them continuing to cause poverty in the world.
Eve Mitchell, Friends of the Earth Trade Campaigner
Climate change - can they fix it?
According to the G8, polluting the planet it seems is not a problem. Armed with technological solutions, their belief that the problem of climate change can be "fixed" would impress even Bob the Builder.The result of the G8's climate talks is:
- No targets set on carbon emissions
- No timetables agreed
- No serious commitment to renewables
- No ruling out of nuclear power as a 'fix'
What's the good news? Well if the technological fixes get to work as quickly as the UK Government's 'Carbon Abatement Technological Strategy', the G8's climate fixes may start delivering by 2015.
Corporate influence - aid & oil
Flags on the Edinburgh march
The money the UK Government "donates" to poor countries is often tied to conditions designed to benefit British industry more than help poor people.
Business Action for Africa launched a new fund to be "driven and controlled by the private sector" at its 5-6 July 2005 summit in London.
And yet, the $550m Investment Climate Facility fund will be financed by:
- The UK's foreign-aid budget
- The World Bank
- Other G8 nations.
The British public regularly supports new oil pipelines and operations through government-funded institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.
Governments give these institutions loans in the name of "development". In reality they:
- Prop up the oil industry
- Drive exploitation of people
- Trash the environment.
Prevention not cure
As any good doctor would advocate, prevention is better than cure.
Richer governments must link up the issues to see the bigger picture, and recognise we all depend on the same planet for survival.
Related information
Africa up in smoke? (PDF†- 1.38M)
A climate coalition report makes the links between the importance of solving climate change in order to end poverty in Africa.
© Friends of the Earth
