G8 outcome (1 Viewer)

[Red_Dave]

does anyone have any thoughts on the decisions reached at the G8 conference? there descision of african poverty seams t to be a disapionting cop-out to me. They,ve made some progress but ignored the crusial issue in helping africa out of poverty ,namely trade. So baiscally they have tryed to throw money at the problem and leave it at that. Its also a bad reflection on how sopossedly democratic our world is after the g8 largely ignored one of the biggest political campains in history.

 

[Arch Enemy]

I was happy that they actually allowed that much money to be spent on this situation.
Yes, the main problem is the African War-Lords who take the money from the people and spend it for their own good. But also, the people don't want so much help... they want to be able to revive their economy on their own, they want a fair trade and through this fair trade they'll be able to uphold their agriculture and thrive.

 

[brianlp01]

fair trade would really help the people of Africa. But me personally, i dont think that poverty can ever be history. i think it is something that is going to be here forever. my main reason that it will never go away is the African War lords. They ruin it for every person who believes that we can save Africa.

I do think we can eliminate a large amount of it but not all of it in more civilized countries like mexico. Thats my opinion.

 

[nkgupta80]

yeah african warlords, and the multinational corporations that support them.

 

[Comrade Brian]

Yeah with arms to kill each other, they'll want more arms from Corps. supply, get rich off of Africans killing each other. The heartless bastard corporations. Who cares how many die, as long as they'll get richer. But not all of Africa is controlled by warlords.

 

[Red_Dave]

yeah african warlords, and the multinational corporations that support them.

Which warlords are supported by mulinational corporations exactly?

 

[Alan Ryan]

Even if the G8 proposals to increase aid and cancel debts in Africa are acted upon, it will make little long term difference to the problem of African poverty.

The crisis in Africa is rooted in the absence of institutions that are essential to prosperity: i.e. free trade, infrastructural investment, sound money, the rule of law, and incorrupt administration.

Capital is never going to be attracted to countries where the political, legal, and financial institutions necessary for economic development don't exist. A altruistic case could be made for the reintroduction of colonial rule to provide the stable government that is essential if Africa is to be rescued from its cycle of misery.

Perhaps America in the 21st century should be thinking about assuming the mantle of imperialism that the British acquired in the 19th century and discarded after World War II ?

 

[Comrade Brian]

Which warlords are supported by mulinational corporations exactly?

Who knows?

 

[AliG]

I was there at Gleneagles legally protesting,,
After the weeks events my opinions changed...

I became far more sceptical about the media.
Even the BBC did not cover the protests properly and show the discontents of the protestors apart from claiming 'police riot with protestors' which was blown out of proportion very nicely. 12,000 people at that protest. Also Scotlands biggest ever political protest in Edinburgh! did anyone know? Very nice that it was the same day as LIveAid..
LiveAid Live Aid thats all they talked about

BONO and Geldof have done positive things but
-claiming it all to be a complete success it crazy
WHY?
because nothing on TRADE was resolved
AID is nothing without trade
All the Economists in the world know this and to claim a success is narrow minded (yes good work was done but just as in the past did it ever change anything)
So everyone felt good and slept nicely in their beds and the next day forgot about poverty and inequality in the world..
still the babies die because of us.. click click click

 

[debate_junkie]

I was there at Gleneagles legally protesting,,
After the weeks events my opinions changed...

I became far more sceptical about the media.
Even the BBC did not cover the protests properly and show the discontents of the protestors apart from claiming 'police riot with protestors' which was blown out of proportion very nicely. 12,000 people at that protest. Also Scotlands biggest ever political protest in Edinburgh! did anyone know? Very nice that it was the same day as LIveAid..
LiveAid Live Aid thats all they talked about

BONO and Geldof have done positive things but
-claiming it all to be a complete success it crazy
WHY?
because nothing on TRADE was resolved
AID is nothing without trade
All the Economists in the world know this and to claim a success is narrow minded (yes good work was done but just as in the past did it ever change anything)
So everyone felt good and slept nicely in their beds and the next day forgot about poverty and inequality in the world..
still the babies die because of us.. click click click

From my understanding, Bono and Geldof claimed success because they even addressed the issue. Think about it for a minute.... are they gonna say the G8 was a failure because trade wasn't addressed? Hardly

But think also about this... Bono and Geldof are merely voices... they cannot and do not MAKE the policies that will either help or hinder the continent of Africa. They can only use the voice they've been given, the passion they feel and hope that someone will listen.

Trade is a BIG issue to solving this problem, as a young man from Ethiopa so elequently spoke of in Philadelphia at Live 8. He said that until the restrictions are lifted, THEN and only then will the people be able to rise up against the very corrupt and murderous legions that have usurped all of the power.

I believe in not allowing for free trade, the Summit threw money directly into the coffer's of the warlords. But I am not going to say they "failed" because there is ALWAYS work to be done.

So my question to you is... how would you have done it differently? What would you have done to MAKE the leaders lift the restrictions on trade with Africa?

 

[AliG]

I agree 100%
I agree they diffently served a purpose and i respect that..
The answer to the question:
Difficult...yeh liveaid and all are useful as they raise the issues etc..but we needed more BBC coverage and criticism to motivate the people.
I agree its a real tough situation, i quess we need public outrage and mass unscheduled demonstrations..but will this ever happen especially after the London attacks people's minds are focused elsewere
I quess Africa wil have to die for a while
yeh its difficult...what would you do? obviously trade being the central issue?