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G8 Day Two: Summit start a damp squib
Amidst the pouring rain the summit in Japan started with G8 leaders meeting with counterparts from some of the world's poorest African nations at the Africa Outreach day, a series of meetings to discuss G8 commitments to the continent.
Meanwhile, at the International Media Centre in Rusutsu, GCAP organized a press conference with an all-Africa line up, including GCAP co-chair Kumi Naidoo, GCAP Africa representative Charles Abani, Joseph Ssuuna from Pelum Uganda, Joyce Mwenyge a farmer and activist from Zambia and Caroline Towers of Action Aid Malawi.
Speakers talked about the realities of living in Africa and went over the basic demands around aid, education, health, climate change and the food crisis which are being asked of the G8 leaders.
At the official G8 Africa Outreach day -- rechristened 'Africa Outcast day' by frustrated GCAP campaigners -- G8 leaders found some welcome impetus to denounce Mugabe, but found it more tiresome to put some real energy, and money, into fulfilling their commitments to Africa.
Joyce Mwenyge, who grows maize, millet and other crops with her husband and seven children on a farm in rural Zambia, said their lives would be greatly improved with just a few basic items.
"I need oxen. They could help me till the land and help provide more food to feed my children," she said. "Also, we grow sunflowers, but we don't have a machine for making cooking oil, so much of the crop is wasted."
According to Charles Abani, half-way to the 2010 deadline the G8 is about $30 billion behind on its pledges for Africa.
"If that money were on the ground, we estimate that 5 million lives a year would be saved.''
Health is also a big issue for Africa, and Kumi Naidoo was frustrated by the lack of urgency.
"The reality is, in Africa, every single day 6,000 people die from HIV/AIDS alone, another 7,000 people die from malaria, another 2,000-3,000 die from tuberculosis. If this was happening in North America and Europe, would the G8 not have long time ago found the resources and fixed the problem?"
A damp beginning, but there's more to come. As the rain continues to pour, GCAP campaigners grab a welcome midnight sandwich and sort through the surreal landscape of Christmas-themed shops and merry-go-rounds in the hotel lobby to find some rest before getting back to work tomorrow morning to ensure our voices are heard and the G8 leaders take action now. Join us.
