Posted on 07/03/2005 9:48:29 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) - Anti-globalization activists accused Prime Minister Tony Blair Sunday of seeking only crumbs of aid for Africa instead of trying to change the system that has impoverished the continent.
Many of those gathered at an "alternative summit" just days before Blair hosts the heads of the Group of Eight meeting of wealthy nations at the Gleneagles resort in Scotland said they did not trust the leaders to make fundamental reforms. The activists said they disagreed with the idea of politicians from rich nations coming together to make decisions that would affect the rest of the world. Some said Blair's involvement in the U.S.-led war in Iraq had destroyed his credibility on Africa, despite his efforts to urge the G-8 to tackle the continent's plight when it meets on Wednesday.
"The G-8 meet as spokespeople of big business around the world," said Gary Duke, 45, attending one of three "alternative summit" forums being held around Edinburgh. "They're not spokespeople for ordinary people."
Britain's Treasury chief Gordon Brown played down the ability of the G-8 nations to provide quick solutions for African poverty, saying that solving the continent's problems will take a lifetime of empowering local communities.
"It is not a week's work at the G-8 that is going to determine the long-term future of Africa or the developing countries," Brown told BBC News 24's Sunday program.
"It is a lifetime's work where we empower the people of Africa and the developing countries to make decisions for themselves," he added.
Brown noted, however, that agreement in two key areas - 100 percent debt relief and a doubling of aid for the poorest countries - already had been reached, and he credited public opinion for some of the progress.
Blair has said the poverty in Africa is a "scar on the conscience on the world" and is pushing for concerted international action when leaders from the United States, Russia, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan join him for the three-day summit.
The protester forums were part of a week of activism focused on the upcoming summit.
On Saturday, hundreds of the world's top performers and more than 1 million fans united for 10 free concerts across the globe aimed at fighting African poverty, while about 200,000 anti-poverty demonstrators marched through the medieval Scottish capital of Edinburgh.
In Germany, American actor Tim Robbins and a crowd of well-wishers on Sunday saw off two buses filled with protesters heading to the Scottish capital to press next week's G-8 summit. Former rock star Bob Geldof has called for a million people to converge on Edinburgh.
"In America, we have the impression we give more money than anybody else in the world, but that isn't true," Robbins told reporters.
George Galloway, a lawmaker recently re-elected to Parliament after being thrown out of Blair's Labour Party, said the prime minister's talk about turning around Africa's fortunes was insincere.
"We cannot permit this grotesquely cynical maneuver to continue," Galloway said to enthusiastic applause. "He's no champion of the poor in Africa."
Galloway said the G-8 must not attach strings to forgiveness of African debt by allowing international institutions to require beneficiary countries to privatize sectors of their economies or make other changes. The West benefited enormously from exploiting Africa in the past and is in no position to make demands on it now, he argued.
"It is us that owe them massive reparations, not them that owe us" debt repayments, he said.
U.S. actor Tim Robbins addresses the crowd at the Live 8 concert in Berlin, Saturday, July 2, 2005. More than 100,000 people were expected at Berlin's Live 8 concert Saturday to watch international artists like Brian Wilson and Green Day join up with popular German acts in a performance to press wealthy nations to help Africa.(AP Photo/Jan Bauer)
Nice gut, Tim. Why don't you and your hag wife share some of your food and money with the people of Africa. The only things short changing Africa are the people running it.
Brown noted, however, that agreement in two key areas - 100 percent debt relief and a doubling of aid for the poorest countries - already had been reached,
Then demand punishment?
It is us that owe them massive reparations, not them that owe us" debt repayments,
Diagnosis - Blameless Victim Syndrome
I think we need to send over as many Hollywood celebrities and activists until we get that problem over there solved. How many of them it takes, the American people will sacrifice.
"The activists said they disagreed with the idea of politicians from rich nations coming together to make decisions that would affect the rest of the world."
He who pays the fiddler calls the tune. If the activists wanna USE their OWN money then...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.