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Madiba urges G8 leaders to act
07/07/2005 08:11 - (SA)
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| Effigies meant to look like the leaders of the G8 nations stand in a field near Gleneagles, Scotland. (John Giles, PA, AP) |
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Edinburgh - Former South African president Nelson Mandela pleaded with G8 leaders on Wednesday to seize the chance to alleviate African poverty in a video message to the final Live 8 concert in the Scottish capital.
Mandela told a silent 60 000-strong crowd in Edinburgh the steps leaders from the Group of Eight industrial powers must take were clear as they met for their annual summit in nearby Gleneagles.
Mandela urged the G8 chiefs to face the fight against African poverty and accept the time was right for decisive action in a recorded address to the Murrayfield stadium gig.
The concert was dubbed "The Final Push" after Saturday's 10 Live 8 concerts across the world aimed at pressuring G8 leaders into ending African poverty.
The G8 are to debate Africa and climate change at their three-day meet.
"I say to all those leaders: 'Don't look the other way. Don't hesitate. Recognise that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage,'" Mandela said.
"The G8 leaders ... have already decided to focus on the issue of poverty, especially in Africa.
"The steps they must take ... are very clear. The first is ensuring trade justice; the second is an end to the debt crisis for the poorest countries; the third is to deliver much more aid and make sure it is of the highest quality."
"I'm sad to say that in this new century millions of people in the world's poorest countries remain imprisoned and enslaved in chains.
"They are in the prison of poverty. It's time to set them free."
Mandela was introduced to the crowd at the gig at Murrayfield stadium by U2 singer and activist Bono.
The ticketed but free concert was organised by Irish rocker turned activist Bob Geldof and Scottish Ultravox frontman Midge Ure as the climax of their Long Walk To Justice campaign.
The concert was timed to coincide with the G8 leaders' first get-together at the Gleneagles golf resort, where Britain's Queen Elizabeth II hosted a dinner for the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Bono told the rain-soaked crowd: "I just came back from the most famous golf course in the world at Gleneagles.
"I told them they can play golf but they can't play poker, the stakes are too high.
"There's too many lives at stake. They can't play poker at Gleneagles over the next 24 hours."
Scottish heroes The Proclaimers kicked off the gig with Annie Lennox, Texas, Snow Patrol, Senegalese superstar Youssou N'Dour, Embrace, Ronan Keating, Geldof, Ure and Wet, Wet, Wet also on the bill.
Hollywood stars George Clooney and Susan Sarandon turned up to lend their support.
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