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International social justice would be the most effective security for everyone and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is determined to insist that all G8 countries meet their obligations as promised at Gleneagles in 2005.
Problems in the Western economies, though serious, do not compare with the life and death situations in many developing countries.
Climate change is a big worry in the developed nations but it is a potential catastrophe for the poorer nations: by increasing extreme and unpredictable weather conditions; reducing cheap access to local food; possibly forcing unplanned mass migration; increasing the risk of conflict.
More difficult economic conditions at home should not reduce our commitment to aid but increase our determination to help create international social justice.
Britain has a key role. Our Gleneagles promises for more aid to poor countries built a new trust between rich and poor nations.
Healthcare and the provision of clean water are seen as priorities. Sharing technologies and experience in tackling climate change both within the West and with developing nations are important. A new priority to stop the waste of food in the West and fair trade with developing countries is needed.
Reversing the spread of HIV and AIDS and saving millions of lives though improved health case is absolutely possible. It's not rocket science and public opinion is behind increased aid as the magnificent responses by the British public to various emergency appeals have amply shown.
The Welsh people have also shown that their historic commitment to justice is international.
The G8 countries must meet the Millennium Development Goals to keep their credibility intact. Half-way towards the Millennium Development Goals deadline, it is worrying that ambitions have slipped. The G8 must not make the poor pay the price by reneging on promises. On climate change, G8 money pledged to help poor communities cope with the effects of changing weather patterns should not be taken from existing aid budgets or instead being made in loans.
Poor countries face 3 huge problems on tackling climate change:
(1.) they have to pay the price for rich countries’ pollution;
(2.) money is being diverted from much needed aid;
(3.) they are being asked to repay this money with interest. Is this justice?
More especially, on aid it’s time we delivered fully on the Gleneagles Agreement. On health we must enable the poor countries to recruit and train more doctors and nurses, and provide free health care for all; and on climate change – we must recognise that climate change hits poor people first and hardest.
The G8 must also tackle carbon emissions. They must create a fund to allow poor countries to adapt to climate change.
In 2005, rich countries promised to increase aid by $50 billion annually by 2010, but this is apparently already $30 billion behind target. The quality of aid must improve and monitoring must be more effective. 4.5 million health workers are urgently needed in developing countries – they are vital in the battle against poverty.
Urgent action is needed now to cut emissions so that we can minimize the impacts of climate change. The G8 must lead other rich countries by example by cutting carbon emissions year on year by 2015 at the latest. Funds for poor countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change must be made available on top of aid and in grant form. The UN fund must be utilised so that it can be spent where it is needed most.
The food price crisis also needs to be addressed. Support for poor farmers and reducing waste and restrictive practices throughout the food chain. There must now be doubts about whether the compulsory biofuels targets agreed by the EU in recent years are the correct path of progress, all things considered. Diversion of agricultural production is also questionable now. A long-term plan to invest heavily into developing country agriculture systems. It is unclear whether the US$6bn pledged at the Rome Summit is new money or comes from existing aid commitments, and what is the time frame for its delivery. This must be made clear.
People in all parts of the world are so much better informed than previous generations, that it is increasingly politically unacceptable to neglect the development agenda. Additionally, everyone is so much better educated about climate change, than even a few years ago, that it is now centre stage. The green movement may actually have not been radical enough in the past, for climate change is a class issue: the poorest nations suffer most and the poorest in all nations suffer most.
Previous neglect of the environment within all types of political systems is now universally recognised. While terrorism can never, ever, be justified in any shape or form, it needs to be recognised that social injustice fuels despair and very misguided support therefore for terrorism. Global justice and justice in our own society are thus one of the same. It is time to act practically to fulfil the dream of international justice.
(Western Mail, 7 July 2008)
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