Live 8's demands

2005-07-01 13:45

London - Saturday's Live 8 rock concerts, timed to step up pressure on world leaders ahead of a summit in Scotland next week, are part of a campaign to help Africa under the banner: "Make poverty history."

These are the main goals of the campaign, according to the organisers' internet site www.makepovertyhistory.org.

Aid

Donor countries should give $50bn more aid annually, and set a binding timetable for spending 0.7% of their income on aid, free from ties to donor goods and services.

Aid should target basic health-care and education.

Debt

The campaign insists unpayable debts from the world's poorest states be written off and demands international institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank remove qualifications for debt relief.

Trade

On trade justice, the campaign demands trade barriers be eliminated and that the European Union end agricultural export subsidies, blamed for squeezing African growers out of world markets for their goods.

It implores the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stop forcing poor countries to open their markets to trade with rich countries and wants to ensure poor states can regulate foreign investment in their own way.

Action

Live 8 organisers hope mass support will pressure the leaders of the Group of Eight powers - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States - to push through the reforms during a July 6-8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.

"The G8 leaders have it within their power to alter history. They will only have the will to do so if tens of thousands of people show them that enough is enough," said a statement by the Live 8 organisers on their internet site www.live8live.com.

"By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children."

Background

Alongside Western and African leaders, rock star turned activist Bob Geldof - mastermind of Live 8 - sat on a 17-member Commission for Africa launched by British Prime Minister Tony Blair in February 2004.

It set out to spark new ideas for Africa's future, support the best of existing work on Africa, help implement existing international commitments, offer a fresh perspective for Africa and to help fulfil African aspirations.

Its report last March sought many of the same objectives, while urging stronger institutions and a programme of action and monitoring.

"By doubling aid, fully cancelling debt, and delivering trade justice for Africa, the G8 could change the future for millions of men, women and children," Geldof has written on the Live 8 website.

- AFP