Sir Bob challenges G8 ministers
Sir Bob Geldof today told world leaders not to come to the G8 summit in July unless they were prepared to deliver pledges on tackling poverty.
Speaking at a conference on poverty in the Scottish Parliament, the musician and Commission for Africa member was critical of the West’s failure to tackle poverty in Africa and to makes progress towards the millennium development goals, set in 2000.
He told the conference, which also heard from Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell: “We are supposed to have arrived at the first stage of them this year. But we are so far behind achieving what we promised – what we swore we would do five years ago – that the targets for 2005 will not be met until 2150.”
This was a “complete and utter disgrace”, said the anti-poverty campaigner.
Looking ahead to the G8 summit, which will be held in Gleneagles, Sir Bob added: “If they [G8 ministers] come here with the attitude that I know they currently have today, of doing nothing, and letting them get away with it – don’t come, stay at home, not welcome.”
The conference was organised by the Scottish Executive to discuss the ways that Scotland can continue to contribute to Africa’s development.
Mr McConnell told delegates that the progress made by five million Scots meant little when hundreds of millions of people suffered desperate and absolute poverty.
He said: “There is a point when things need to be put into perspective. If the tragedy of poverty in the developing world was happening here in Scotland, then in just 100 days time all five million of us would be dead. But poverty is not really a tragedy. It is a disgrace, because it is preventable.
“In eight weeks time Scotland will host the G8 summit. There are two days in July – when the decisions of eight men make could lead to lasting improvements to lives throughout Africa.”
Other speakers include Kumi Naidoo, chief executive of Civicus, and Salil Shetty, director of the Millennium Development Goals campaign.
