G8 Comes to Scotland

The G8 Summit will meet in Gleneagles Scotland this year on July 6-8.

It began in 1975 when the president of France invited leaders of 5 nations together to discuss the economic problems of day. Originally, it was France, Germany, Italy, UK, US and Japan, but later included Canada and Russia. It doesn’t have a set structure or any kind of permanent administration, but each country sort of leads it (makes the agenda) on a yearly basis. The leaders of these countries try to reach informal agreements about measures they which to cure or give aid to. They may, in turn, take individual or cooperative action on those agreements. Essentially, it is an organisation that is trying to manage, perhaps facilitate or guide, globalisation.

In the past, the G8 has set up programs to help many causes: the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Health Fund) are 2 examples.

The main themes for the G8 in 2005 are Africa and climate change. Both are pressing issues for the world. Africa demands particular attention as the world’s poorest continent. Climate change is happening and should be of concern for all. Holding the G8 Presidency gives the UK the chance to focus international attention on tackling these issues. (More info)

The issue of Africa is very significant. The UK is pressing the rest of the G8 nations into a debt forgiveness policy for the poorest nations. It looks like that will become reality after today’s news. Chancellor unfortunate Catch 22 with Africa’s problems – Africa needs investment and improved infrastructure to develop, but companies are not attracted to invest in such a undeveloped (expensive to operate in) area.

There is an dynamic in International Relations of overt and covert actions. There are some ‘rules of the game’ where countries and leaders know how they and each other should act, and then, there are reasons for how they actually do. This is of course du to the importance of issues like trade, economic markets and security—these will certainly be on everyone’s ‘hidden agendas’. But let’s hope that compassion and generosity and problem solving for this century’s greatest problem will trump selfishness and greed.