Can someone summerize the G8 summit

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youtwohearts

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I got the part that they are giving $50 billion in relief for Africa and cancelling debt for some of the poorest countries but I couldn't 100% follow what else they said. :huh:

Forgive me for being slightly retarded with politics but I am really trying to understand what is going on in this world and what a jerk our President is. Hopefully someone can simplify things a little for me.

Thanks.
 
This is from an e-mail sent out by the "Make Poverty History" campaign:


The 2005 G8 Summit took place against a background of tragedy. The attacks in London yesterday focused all of our attentions on the terrible waste that each and every life lost always represents. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of those killed and those who were injured.

At a time when terrorists have shown such disregard for our shared humanity, Make Poverty History is a living embodiment of it.

Never before have so many people stood in solidarity with the poor. While there is a great deal more G8 leaders should have done in Gleneagles, today they responded to our campaign for justice by making significant commitments to increase aid, cancelling some of the debts of some of the world's poorest countries, and saying they will apply fewer conditions to them. They also agreed to strive for access to AIDS treatment for all by 2010. These commitments will give hope and life to millions of the world's poorest people, and they're down to you.

Are you wearing a white band? Remembering all the emails you've sent? Did you rally along with quarter of a million people in Edinburgh last weekend? Then you helped deliver the pressure that made 2005 the year the world accelerated on the road towards justice.

Today's announcement marks a turning point in the human story, but it falls far short of the plan that would truly make poverty history. To do that, and secure a place in history, world leaders must go a lot further at 2 crucial talks later in the year - the UN Millennium Development Goals summit and World Trade Organisation talks - and we need your continued help to make sure they act.

Millions of people are trapped in the prison of poverty. Today the G8 chose not to do all that we have asked them that could set those people free. The people of the world are already on the road to justice. They expect their leaders to be with them. Today's announcement has shown that the G8 need to run much faster to catch up.

The Make Poverty History Team

P.S. This year the UK government have responded to campaigners by placing Africa on the agenda as a priority for the G8. They have worked hard with European Union and G8 colleagues to deliver significant steps toward debt cancellation and more and better aid. Throughout this summit the government have demonstrated leadership on these vital issues. We must keep up the pressure on them to ensure they show the same commitment for the rest of this crucial year and beyond.
 
Here is an excellent article from the BBC which summarizes the final agreements coming out of the G8 summit:



G8 leaders agree $50bn aid boost


World leaders gather as the G8 summit in Gleneagles ends

The G8 summit has ended with an agreement to boost aid for developing countries by $50bn (£28.8bn).
The debt of the 18 poorest nations in Africa is also being cancelled. On trade, there was a commitment to work towards cutting subsidies and tariffs.

On climate change, Prime Minister Tony Blair said an agreement had always been unlikely, but that the US now accepted global warming was an issue.

But reaction was mixed, with some calling it "vastly disappointing".

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

'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.

I believed that the G8 leaders would make momentous steps to address this injustice but they only made small steps

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 summit 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.
Universal access to anti-HIV drugs in Africa by 2010.
Summing up the G8 meeting, Mr Blair acknowledged: "It isn't all everyone wanted, but it is progress."

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said the G8 deal represented a "good day", but that it was only "a beginning".

"The fight to end poverty is just starting," said Mr Annan.

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
Universal access to anti-HIV drugs in Africa by 2010


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".


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."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4662297.stm


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Here are Bono's and Bob's reactions to the Summit results (and a statement from ONE):

Jul 08 2005

Reaction from Bono, lead singer of U2 and co-founder of DATA (Debt AIDS Trade Africa):

"A mountain has been climbed only to reveal high peaks north of us. But for this moment, let's stop and look back at just how far we've come. The world around us has changed. What does $50 billion mean to the poorest of the poor, $25 billion of which is going to Africa? As examples, it means the financing is in place to halve deaths from malaria by 2010. Six hundred thousand people will be alive to remember this G8 in Gleneagles who would have lost their lives to a mosquito bite. Three thousand Africans -- mostly children -- die every day from malaria. Every country who delivers a credible plan to put their children in school will have the money to do so. If the words are followed through, 9 million people across the globe will have access to lifesaving AIDS drugs, which brings us to the most important lesson learnt over the past weeks. The world spoke, and the politicians listened. Now, if the world keeps an eye out, they will keep their promises. It is down to the hundreds of thousands -- indeed millions -- who have assembled on this issue to make sure they don't just sign the cheque, but that they cash it. If an Irish rock star can quote Churchill, this is
not the end of extreme poverty, but it is the beginning of the end."

On the US:
"We always want more on the numbers but there's no questioning the man's commitment to Africa. His money on malaria has been matched leaving this President in the enviable position of leading the charge against the world's most wanted killer diseases--HIV and malaria. I wish he would have matched the European challenge on overall assistance. He has a great idea for every country with a credible plan to put African children in school but by today's numbers, the Europeans are mostly paying for it."


Reaction from Sir Bob Geldof, member of the Commission for Africa and creator of Live 8:

"It is only time that will decide whether this summit is historic or not. What is true is that never before have so many people forced a change in policy onto the global agenda, and that policy has been addressed. The beginning of the end of making poverty history starts now. The summit at Gleneagles is a qualified triumph. A great justice has been done. We are beginning to see the lives of the poor of Africa determined not by charity but by justice. It's been a long walk from Live Aid's $200 million 20 years ago to Live 8's $25 billion today. This has been without equivocation the greatest G8 summit there has ever been for Africa. Today gives Africa the opportunity of beginning to end poverty over the next 10 years. We need Live 8's 3 billion people to make sure it gets done."

But we know this is only the beginning. We must build on the progress we have made today. We must take this spirit forward to the UN Millennium Review Summit in New York in September, and ensure a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda.
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STATEMENT FROM ONE:

“The ONE campaign is encouraged by the commitment at the G8 Summit to fighting the crisis of extreme poverty and global AIDS. We welcome the pledges by G8 leaders to provide an additional $25 billion in development assistance to address the emergency in Africa as part of an additional $50 billion globally by 2010. The 1.4 million Americans who have joined the ONE campaign take satisfaction in the recent commitment to double U.S. aid to Africa and President Bush's commitment of more to come. We will remain vigilant to ensure that those promises are made a reality.

“These pledges are a positive step forward in a comprehensive debt-aid-trade deal to reduce extreme poverty in the poorest countries. Based on the outcomes of this summit, the United States has moved a step closer to achieving the ONE campaign's goal of devoting an additional 1% of the budget to reducing extreme poverty.

“ONE will continue to advocate for more and better aid, expanded debt relief and trade reform that helps poor countries trade their way out of poverty.”
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This was definitely a summit of mixed blessings - some real progress for Africa was made, but the issue of FAIR TRADE with Africa was largely ignored.

While this summit can give those of us in the whiteband movement some hope that our efforts DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, the real result coming out of this G8 meeting is that we must be ever vigilant and continue our efforts to bring more people into our movement for Africa and NEVER GIVE UP the pressure on our governments to keep their promises to Africa!

:yes:
 
Now, can someone summarize the G8 summit in haiku?
 
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