G8 Information Centre, Online Lectures 2002

Revised Wednesday, 03-Dec-2003 16:27:08 EST version française | Commentary | Contact Us | G8 Information Centre

Featured Content:
Response to the Africa Action Plan
Njoki Njoroge Njehû - Director of the 50 Years is Enough Network

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Njoki Njoroge Njehû presents a response to the G8 Africa Action Plan. She argues that no earth shattering statements were made and expresses her disappointment. The G8 leaders have not met promises made at the Halifax Summit seven years ago.

No new ideas were initiated. The leaders are still following the neo-liberal policies of the past. The G8 is striving to make Africa safe and comfortable for multinational corporations to enter public and private partnerships.

Moreover, there is no commitment for the evaluation of progress within the G8, and there is little expectation for the leaders to deliver on past promises. In fact, the Summit saw new issues rail against the African agenda. There was much talk of accounting procedures that do not aid Africa. The issue of water privatization does not provide access of this crucial resource to the poorest. There were no new commitments to fund AIDs programs. The sole commitment was to eradicate Polio by 2005.

Africa wants justice not charity. G8 country citizens need to hold their leaders to account to deliver what Africans need: an environment for Africans and not multinationals to succeed.