Posted on 01/26/2005 10:30:20 AM PST by ejdrapes
DAVOS, Switzerland - French President Jacques Chirac called on the world's richest nations Wednesday to provide billions of dollars in aid for poor countries through new taxes and other measures that would help combat AIDS, poverty and natural disasters. He said the tsunami that struck Asian coastlines last month — possibly killing up to 300,000 people — should trigger not only aid to that region but a broader coordinated drive by developed nations to reach out to the Third World. "The world suffers chronically from what has been strikingly called the 'silent tsunamis.' Famine. Infectious diseases that decimate the life force of entire continents," Chirac said in a video message from Paris to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. The annual meeting, in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, has taken on increased importance in recent years as globalization and common threats — from terrorism to increased vulnerability to natural disasters — have made the world's nations and governments more dependent on each other. Chirac alluded to such interdependence, saying that natural disasters, political unrest, uncontrolled migration and extremism are "breeding grounds for terrorism" — suggesting developed nations had a stake in resolving the problem. The French leader outlined a number of steps to raise billions of dollars through taxes on international financial transactions, plane tickets or fuel used by airliners and oceangoing vessels. He also proposed that countries with bank secrecy laws make a special contribution to Third World aid and that developed nations provide "coordinated tax incentives" to stimulate private donations. Chirac asked that the world's eight leading developed nations debate his plan at a G-8 summit in July in Scotland that will be hosted by British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He did not spell out an amount of money that would be generated, but gave several examples. A tax on international financial transactions — which the United States strongly opposes — would raise $10 billion a year, while a $1 tax on every plane ticket sold worldwide would raise "at least $3 billion" a year without causing the aviation industry much harm, Chirac said. Bad weather prevented Chirac from attending. Blair was to deliver an address later Wednesday at the gathering of the world's elite. Some 2,500 corporate, political and other leaders who spend five days debating an array of issues from AIDS to U.S. leadership, from Europe's anemic growth to China's phenomenal expansion. In over 200 workshops and debates, the Davos participants focus on "tough choices." One example is China, whose economic transformation is redrafting the world order and whose phenomenal growth has already triggered higher oil prices — which, in turn, sharpens the global climate change debate. China's growth will help spur "global demand for energy ... by 60 percent by 2030," said N.R. Narayana Murthy, chairman of Infosys Technologies of India. "There is no stopping this giant," said Takatoshi Ito of the University of Tokyo. China's economy grew at an annual rate of 9.5 percent in 2004, and many expect the 2005 figure to surpass that. He also said that China accounted for a staggering proportion of the world's consumption of some materials. "Last year, China consumed 25 to 30 percent of most major industrial materials, especially metals," said Stephen S. Roach, chief economist for Morgan Stanley USA. China was responsible for 43 percent of the world's consumption of concrete, he added. Conference attendees also focused on Europe's lackluster economic performance, the seemingly improved chances for peace in the Middle East, the future of U.S. global leadership, the fate of world trade talks, what to do with weapons of mass destruction and combatting poverty. "The three richest people in the world own more than the gross domestic product of 40 of the world's poorest nations," said Daniel Vasella, chief executive of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG. Former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans, who now heads the International Crisis Group, said 2005 was a pivotal year considering the pending world trade talks, a September summit of world leaders on global security issues and the need to meet U.N. development goals including halving global poverty by 2015. "If we don't understand the significance of 2005, we're just missing a really fundamental point," he said. "This is a make or break year." The administration of President Bush also has a crucial role, participants said. The United States "produces 30 percent of the world's goods and buys $600 billion in products from developing nations," said John A. Thain, chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange. "The U.S. leadership role in the global economy is an important one." Americans were also criticized, however, for borrowing a lot and saving little — suggesting excessive consumption. Stephen S. Roach, chief economist for Morgan Stanley USA, called U.S. consumers self-indulgent — terming them "an accident waiting to happen." Chirac Urges Taxes to Help World's Poor
How much money are they giving to African aid, Tsunami relief, the blue helmeted gestapo requests? ZERO, go beg them. Take your feel good taxes to them, not us.
After reading all your posts in this thread, you and I agree on very little. I guess we can agree on the fact that neither of us will change the other's mind.
Do you have a source for 300 million figure you cite?
Actually, the governments of the 'third world' are so corrupt they don't even bother trying to actually run the country. All they do is steal and kill.
If I were somewhere, a land without clean water then I would move where there is clean water. Pick up and move, no excuses, just do it.
G
Never mind, as usual, it's already been pointed out...bad statistics make for a bad argument.
G
Why can't France just tax their own citizens and leave the rest of the world's citizens alone.
in Canada when we call Conservatives Tories
Just like the British.
It's from Great Britain isn't it?
True.
However, it is what they call Conservatives it would be too long for me to write Young Conservative, thus I shortened it and called myself young Tory.
You are British aren't you. ;)
we have the funds for that....and instead of handouts year in and year out we should expect some progress towards some type of progress in these countries instead of constant welfare states
"the answer to that question is YES."
Thank you for the confirmation Mark17. And thank you for your service to our country. You are a gentleman FReeper.
Many have tried to nicely point out the ignorance and fallacies of your bleatings, but after a while, even the most level headed and patient person gets completely exasperated by trying to explain something factual to you and then in reply, you offer an even more (if it was possible) exposition of vast ignorance.
When the exasperation with your obvious obtuseness and arrogance reaches a certain point, all that is left to point out is your abysmal lack of any functioning brain cell and your continuing desire to flaunt and exhibit same.
I tried to give you a benefit of the doubt and attribute your puerile rantings to gross ignorance. However, most rational people understand that ignorance can be cured by education. Your genuine obtuseness can lead one only to the belief that it is, indeed, not ignorance, but something that education will never be able to touch- stupidity.
It is not often seen here on FR, because most of the denizens of this forum have the desire and capability to at least try to keep an open mind and discuss and accept facts and ideas. But when someone of your recalcitrance and obstinance comes along, we find a shining example to hold up to those who seem to have a doubt that there actually are liberal/socialist ignoramuses who are fully beyond finding any viable use for... other than as a bad example.
I thank God and good fortune that you are not an American and can only say STFU, get out of the way of people the world over who actually do have functional grey matter and are doing things that you obviously have not the mental capability to fathom.
This isn't a personal attack on you, just a pointing out of the facts as they appear to me from your ill-considered remarks... and obviously, a lot of others here share my opinion.
Go back to lurking, as posting here just completely exhibits how much of an idiot you are.
Your puerile stupidity would be entertaining if it were not so absolutely stultifying.
Have a nice day.
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