G8 leaders agree $50bn aid boost
From the BBC Website
The G8 meeting 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.
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."
Read the rest of the article ...
My thought? Both good and bad news .... because Bob is right, yet more could have been done especially on the environment.
But in the context of the week, with bombs in London, it is good to know that we can all continue to conduct business as usual. It is good to know that leaders can continue to lead, and can stay focused, even as we want ever more of them.
The G8 meeting 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.
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."
Read the rest of the article ...
My thought? Both good and bad news .... because Bob is right, yet more could have been done especially on the environment.
But in the context of the week, with bombs in London, it is good to know that we can all continue to conduct business as usual. It is good to know that leaders can continue to lead, and can stay focused, even as we want ever more of them.
posted by mick yates @ 7:10 PM permalink
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