The G8 summit in Scotland is over. Hopes were high that the leaders of eight of the world's most powerful nations would create significant, positive change in addressing major issues, including African poverty and climate change. The fact that there is news at all, given yesterday's terror attacks in London, is amazing. And in the end, the results were not great, but if the leaders live up to their promises, the news is good. And some of it is surprising.
It should not shock that the Gang of Eight were not able to make poverty history in one fell swoop. But UK Prime Minister Tony Blair says the panel did pledge to double African aid to $50 billion over the next five years. In a communiqué signed by the leaders and released just hours ago, the G8 countries also committed to building a peacekeeping force and tackling AIDS and malaria in Africa. Additionally, the nations agreed to offer full debt cancellation for 18 African countries (though not for the entire continent, and no date was set to end export subsidies, a move for which many had hoped). No specific deadlines or timetables were given beyond an end date of 2010, but Blair characterized the things that were accomplished as "a huge advance on anything that's been there before."
Rock star and activist Bob Geldof, the guiding force behind last weekend's African poverty-focused Live 8 concerts, hailed the results. "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'," he told the BBC.
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Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
very fair, fine reading of the situation nat, and very informative - thanks!
I really enjoyed your bombing-response post as well. I think it critical that we support and encourage all Muslims who oppose terror, and Muslims speaking out is one area I think has really improved since 9/11.