Posted on 06/23/2002 1:31:41 PM PDT by Clive
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Jean Chretien's not only fighting to remain as Liberal leader, he's battling to keep his anti-poverty struggle in Africa alive.
When he sits down this week with the world's most powerful leaders for the two- day, G8 summit in Kananaskis, Alta. he'll be trying to keep U.S. President George Bush's eyes focused on Africa -- and away from the Middle East.
Then there's the ever-present debate on international terrorism, the threat of nuclear war between Pakistan and India, and the anti-globalization protesters to further dilute his call to rich countries to help relieve the poverty in Africa.
Government officials insist they will keep the spotlight on Africa, even though Bush will be focused on the unrest in the Middle East.
The PM has scoffed at those who say his African crusade is a thinly veiled attempt to build a legacy before he retires.
"It is a moral obligation for us who have a lot to share with those who have not much," Chretien said last week, recalling he spent two weeks in April travelling in Africa to see first-hand the horrid conditions .
"We have an unparalleled opportunity to create a new partnership for Africa's development."
He points to the hunger, AIDS, the lack of education and health care that plague many African countries as obvious reasons for rich countries to reach out.
And, of course, there are the statistics. More than half of Africa's 820 million people live on less than a $1 a day; 200 million Africans have no access to health care; 250 million have no drinking water; southern Africa is home to two-thirds of all the world's AIDS cases; and one in five Africans is a victim of war.
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) was put together by African leaders and establishes standards for good governance -- like democracy and the rule of law -- in exchange for enhanced trade, investment and foreign aid from the developed world.
When the G8 meetings wrap up Thursday, Chretien will announce Canada's long-term commitment to Africa.
"This is only the beginning of a long-term partnership and therefore the African action plan is only the first response in what everyone hopes will be ... a new partnership," a senior government official said.
Canada has invited the leaders of five African countries, plus UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, to participate in the Africa plan discussions. There's even a possibility that U2 singer Bono -- a pro-African crusader -- will lend his voice to Chretien's cause.
Chretien says Canada has put its money where its mouth is -- with a $500-million Africa Fund, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) announcing last week $34.2 million in humanitarian aid for South Africa.
The U.S. has also taken out its wallet. Bush announced $100- million over five years for education, and $500 million to fight AIDS.
But money is not the only answer to Africa's problems, Liberal MP Denis Paradis, the junior minister for Latin America and Africa, says.
"It's always the country we forget," Paradis told Sun Media. "The continent will remain in misery unless they have private investment coming in ... but they know if they want investment they will have to improve in, for example, democracy."
Under NEPAD, it will be up to African countries to police their progress under the plan -- something Paradis said will work because the world will be watching.
Paradis concedes the biggest battle for African countries will be to end corruption.
"The standards will be publicly known so the peer evaluation will be effective."
Critics say G8 summits produce little, and cost a lot. Early estimates of putting on the two-day Kananaskis meeting have been pegged at $300-million -- more than half of the $500 million earmarked for Canada's Africa Fund.
But Mark Fried of Oxfam Canada said if it weren't for meetings like the G8, Africa would not be on the radar screen.
He argues wealthy nations must commit monies for Africa -- especially for education.
"Aid is effective and it is going to continue to be more effective," Fried said.
Canadian Alliance MP Keith Martin, who has lived and worked in Africa, has a different idea for helping the struggling continent.
"What the G8 and Africa should not be about is more aid. I'm concerned it's been too easy for countries, historically, to equate money spent with effect. It will be private investment, not aid that drives the continent," Martin said.
Chretien recently repeated his love of a good fight. The G8 should keep him happy.
Don't worry Prime Minister, poverty in Africa won't go away, you can still "fight" it for years to come.
Hahaha. That's the funniest thing I've read all day. The only thing aid to Africa has accomplieshed is to line the pockets of crooked African leaders.
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