All eyes on Japan as G8 countdown begins
26 June 2008
For the last few months, people throughout the UK have been hanging messages to the G8 from Japanese Tanabata trees.
The petitions are being collected. The Japanese phrase books are packed. And Oxfam's 'big heads' are waiting to be unravelled from the bubble-wrap.It can mean only one thing - the G8 Summit is almost upon us...
You might recall that in 2005 thousands upon thousands of people called for world leaders to Make Poverty History. It happened because the leaders of the world's eight most rich and powerful countries - the G8 - were meeting in Scotland to discuss global issues.
Three year's later and it's Japan's turn. Starting on 7 July, the Japanese Government will be hosting the G8. It will be one of only a handful of moments this year where many of the most powerful people on the planet will come together at the same time.
Oxfam just happens to have an office in Japan. And on the other side of the planet, our small team there have had little rest the last few months as they've worked determinedly to build public pressure to remind the G8 of their responsibility to tackle poverty.
So, what should you expect to see when the Summit starts?
Aside from getting even fewer hours sleep than they have done for the past weeks, our campaigners in Japan will be making sure the voices of the hundreds of thousands of people who've called for called an end to poverty are heard.
They'll be working tirelessly to get the attention of the world's media, just like they did in Germany last year, to make sure the message is clear - tackling poverty must be at the top of the G8's agenda.
Bill Nighy, of Pirates of the Caribbean and Love Actually fame, will also be in Japan to talk about his trip with Oxfam in 2007, when he headed out to Tanzania to see the real difference that aid makes.
Keep a firm eye on our blog over the next two weeks, as our campaigners in Japan will be bringing you the sights and sounds. You'll be able to see the latest on our international blog, and we'll be featuring the best bits here.
Comments
Its good to put pressure on the G8. I tell, i am a resident and a permanent citizen of Malawi. People are really starving beyond governments control. Much of it is because of the climate change and global warming effects. Malawi government has tried all it can but to no avil because many causative activities of these global warming effects are the industrialists from the G8 countries. There is indeed a need to increase aid to Malawi and other developing countries who are just victims of climate change. Finally, its not time to point fingers at one another but rather understanding one another and play complementary roles regardless the status of each country. I was born in Malawi, i still live here and i will die right here. Come and witness how people are being victimised yet other countries' goverments are keeping money in their coffers.
Raymond Mwenitete-MALAWI
Raymond Mwenitete | July 16, 2008 2:20 PM
Let's hope that the richest countries
in the world stop playing "out of sight, out of mind", turning a blind eye to the suffering of hundreds of millions, and "give those who ain't got a little more," to quote a favorite song of mine...Anyway, I can't wait to see the pageantry in Japan, and that it gets G8 leaders to pay attention!
Aaron Hunt Warner | July 3, 2008 9:03 PM
I want my sons to know that I campaigned vigorously for justice for the poor, I didn't just stand idly by. One day your children my ask you "what did you do?".
Susan Crompton | July 2, 2008 2:16 PM
The world must take note of the dreadfully unfair devision of wealth and food over the world. If world debt is cancelled then the poor countries have the chance of getting back their dignity. WE must make sure that there is enough foods for even the poorest people to have a reasonable standard of living
Mrs M C Lynn | July 1, 2008 3:06 PM
Best of luck to the campaigners! Let's all hope that our wishes are listened to!
Will | July 1, 2008 12:35 PM
We green the earth with more people need, not red the earth with violent that we don't need.
Osman Ahmad | July 1, 2008 4:21 AM
The world is watching
Mrs E Watson | July 1, 2008 2:57 AM
Yes, I agree that in the short term and for specific projects, aid is a valuable contribution. But it also has its downsides, especially when it consists of subsidised first world production that undercuts global producers or has the effect of making recipients feel like mendicants.
My many years working in the third World and teaching about it lead to the following conclusions:
The most powerful push has to be in the area of a global fair trade regime accompanied by technical assistance and Grameen-style loans and education so that local producers can raie themselves.
It also has to concentrate fire upon the predatory practices of transnational corporations and agribusiness which force people from their land and other resources.
It is only by ensuring people involvement at every level of change that we will manage to cooperatively bring about change and greater justice.
Warwick Armstrong | June 30, 2008 2:00 PM
The earth provides enough for the needs of us all if we share it.We can change people's lives.
Angela Bunker | June 27, 2008 8:38 PM