|
- Time to educate -
|
Friday, July 08, 2005
|
So this morning when I woke up after only getting maybe 4 hours at most of rest, I turned on the TV to CNN (something that may seem quite odd for someone my age), and I happened to have caught British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s live press conference concerning the G8 summit.
First, for those whom are uneducated and have been living under a rock since 1975, let me first explain what G8 is and where it’s started.
The G8 stands for the 'Group of Eight' nations. It began in 1975 when President Giscard d'Estaing of France invited the leaders of Japan, the USA, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy to Rambouillet, near Paris, to discuss the economic problems of the day. The group expanded to include Canada in 1976 and Russia in 1998. Unlike many other international bodies, the G8 does not have a fixed structure or a permanent administration. It is up to the country that has the Presidency to set the agenda and organize the annual G8 Summit. The countries rotate presidency and have meetings according to whom in president. (Currently British Prime Minister Blair is president, so the meetings are held in the Gleneagles hotel in Scotland.)
The presidency will go as follows:
England- 2005
Russia- first time presidency 2006
Germany- 2007
Japan- 2008
Italy- 2009
Canada- 2010
France- 2011
USA- 2012
At the Summit, the leaders of the eight member countries discuss major issues of the day. They seek to reach informal agreements on measures that they can take individually, but in a cooperative manner, to achieve their goals more effectively. At each Summit, leaders agree upon certain initiatives; there are follow-up meetings throughout the year to make sure commitments are being honored. Not necessarily a lack of structure, but a lack of formality is present.
Now currently the main things on the G8 summit’s mind are the problems in Africa and the climate change- global warming and the aftermath : Dooms day.
So when Prime Minister Blair, the current G8 summit president, held his press conference I have to admit I was intrigued, I had never followed G8 closely and I was curious to know what was going on. Basically, what’s going on is that G8 is working on stopping HIV/AIDS and by doing so, they are working fo better governing in Africa. Blair states that, “Africans must help Africa.” And “Good governing will be the key to Africa’s success.” So the countries part of G8, will donate money to help train peace keepers, help obtain better food, build structure and form a government. The money being donated must go where it is intended to go, and that is why it is imperative that good governing must be set up first.
In essence that means that we can’t just send over money and hope the African leaders are good little girls and boys, and play nice. African nations must commit to have good governance and good judgment. African’s have to stand up and face HIV/AIDS and face poverty and not depend on other nations to always support them.
The Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made a last minute pledge- promising to boost Africa’s aid to 50 billion annually by 2010, from the current 25 billion.
"All of this does not change the world tomorrow. It is a beginning, not an end," said Blair
So how about your views. Agree with helping Africa, Palestine & Isreal, and getting rid of AIDS. Or is it the individual countries own faults and we shouldn't care?
| |
|
|
