G8 Protestors

Do you think they are all in it together? Or do you think they are afraid of Mugabe?

The politics of Africa is definitely something which I have limited knowledge of.

By the way is it true that the G8 have decided to cancel debt for the 18 poorest African nations?

 

Some things were achieved -
Doubling of aid to $50 billion by 2010
Start talks on global warming with major emerging economies Pledged to end farm Export subsidies. No date set
Aid - up to $3 billion to help Palestinians

Couldnt find much info on the AIDS relief though.

But if you notice the papers today - hardly a mention.

No disrepect to what happend on saturday (its my city) but since then, 000s of africans have died. If that continues we will be blown up for the next 50 years. I would rather we all suffered economically now rather than the watch the death and destruction in Africa breed a whole new level of problems.

As far as the other African leaders - i don't think it's fear, but who really knows ?

 

Well the only thing I can think of about the leaders is that they all have something to hide and by pointing the finger at Zimbabwe they would be pointing 3 fingers back at themselves.

Around a thousand people die every hour with preventable causes in Africa. It's easy to be ignorant in this country and just think of it as other countries problems but I believe each and every 1 of us can make a difference. It only takes 1 person to feel strongly about this catastrophic situation to start a chain reaction which will inspire thousands to help this cause. Doesn't everyone have the right to a certain standard of living?

 

Yes, but the reason 'we' are rich and they are poor is because we took it and left a mess. Now I personally didnt take anything and I dont think just giving is the solution.

But it cant be right that Africa cant sell it's food competitively because 'we' say so. Their produce would be much cheaper than ours and they would make money. We need to help them build up a suitable infrastructre to handle it. - again alot of which we destroyed in the first place.

so, its not really about us being generous, giving and kind hearted. Just a level playing field would do.

 

Agreed. Would it be better to create awareness in our own countries of what we have done to these people rather than just give them some money? Obviously the Live 8 concerts have been very inspirational to people but my fear is that people will forget all about them.

 

Many many people do not know all that was required from the concerts was to sign the form before the G8

 

I guess one thing we could do is write to our MP's airing our own views on what should be done in Africa. Do you think influencing people to do the same could make a difference?

 

nope, I have no faith in anything that the masses cant see - live aid can not be hidden. Although the BBC did 'manipulate' it in my opinion. They put interviews where the gritty detail was supposed to be.

 

I agree. I really felt that the facts weren't aired properly. All they were doing was telling people numbers.

I do think that if enough MP's get enough letters from their constituent members that they will start to take notice.

If you have a look at Graham Allens site http://www.grahamallen.labour.co.uk/ you see that you can arrange to go have a 'cup of tea' with him. At the end of the day MP's are still people and if you show some interest in them then they are more likely to show interest to you. Imagine if 50 people a week were wanting to visit their local MP to discuss the issues in Africa. After a while they would start taking notice.... surely!

 

Again nope, First past the post means that you only have to hold on to your strong seats. 25% won the election - money and marketing will always achieve that kind of figure.

Make Africa a prospering economy and everyone will then want a piece - as is occuring in China/ India.

 

I've had a look at the Labour site http://www.labour.org.uk/fileadmin/splash/g8.php

We should maybe fill in that form.

There's also a lot of good resources at http://www.labour.org.uk/fightingpoverty

 

Im not signing anything run by any political party.

I signed the make poverty history one

 

lol same here.

I was thinking about the cancellation of debt for these countries and was thinking whats to stop these countries borrowing more money and then getting themselves into more debt problems?

 

I dont know, thats probably how it will actually work.

If I ran a big pharmacutical firm I would give everyone in Africa above the age of 0 free drugs. That way they can survive and I can sell them overpriced asprin and paracetamol for life (and thier kids and kids kids) - seems like a good business model to me.