'Trade justice' for Africa

2005-06-07 14:22

Johannesburg - Africa could generate $70bn if it increased its share of world exports by 1%, Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane said while calling for trade justice for the continent in Washington on Monday.

Ndungane was speaking before delivering a sermon to leaders and representatives from over 40 religious organisations at the Washington National Cathedral.

"What we are calling for is trade justice," Ndungane said.

"Developing countries spend $300m to protect trade through subsidies and tariffs, yet if Africa increased its share of world exports by even 1% this would generate $70bn. This is approximately five times what the continent receives in aid.

Millions of hungry people daily

"What we are calling for is a sustainable livelihood for everyone created in God's image. Aid alone cannot do that."

Ndungane said trade policies were still geared to the advantage of the rich which made it far harder for poor countries to escape poverty.

He said despite the unprecedented growth in world economy, 800 million people went hungry every day and 30 000 people died daily of poverty-related causes.

This was not only sinful and immoral, he said, but also a scandal and an indictment on world leaders.

"This year, everywhere politicians turn, they will find poverty and hunger on the agenda. They cannot escape," Ndungane said.

Poverty and hunger on the agenda

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called a meeting of world leaders in September to get the Millennium Development Goals, on alleviating poverty, back on track.

Poverty and hunger are due to top the agenda at the G8 Summit in July.

It will also be major discussion point in the Doha Round of world trade talks due to be completed by the end of the year.

"We must put all our weight behind this growing momentum for change because now we have the chance to make a difference," Ndungane said.

"Politicians need to be left in no doubt that public opinion, domestic and international, demands justice in relation to poverty and hunger."

Ndungane said despite the United States' enormous wealth, 36 million people from the country were food insecure — they did not know where their next meal was coming from — and of these 13 million were children.

- SAPA