Message to G8 leaders
The world desperately needs vision and courage, forget about alterglobalists
Today the 33rd G8 summit is starting in the German Baltic Sea Resort Heiligendamm, focused on the theme “Growth and responsibility”, for three days of discussions which will include among its key focuses: climate change, economic issues and debt relief for Africa.
This is a promising agenda. However, whilst intentions prior to G8 summits are high, outcomes are often empty general messages. In the face of the pressing urgencies of today’s world, the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) therefore asks G8 leaders to take their responsibility and commit to courageous actions, notably as regards climate change and world economic development.
Aloys Rigaut, LYMEC Vice-President, commented: ‘The Kyoto protocol is expiring in 2012 and we hope that the G8 meeting will pave the way for a global and comprehensive post-Kyoto climate agreement, using market mechanisms, transfers of technology, research and development in energy efficiency solutions, and trade policy". He then added: "The G8 shall also keep up to its promises as regards public aid to Africa in view of achieving UN Millenium Development Goals. The targets to boost development aid by $50 billion by 2010 for developing countries and to cancel the debt to the poorest countries are not new, they were already promised two years ago in Gleneagles, under the UK G8 presidency. It’s now time to deliver! Within this framework, it is important that the partnership with pro-reform governments in Africa, such as Ghana and Senegal, is strengthened and that financial means in the fight HIV/AIDS, tuberulosis and malaria is stepped up’.
Jeroen Benning, LYMEC Bureau member, added: ‘If the G8 leaders meet for the sake of taking responsibility for the world and not just for the sake of having a chat on world issues, they need to come up with a courageous declaration that paves the way for the completion of the Doha Round in the field of trade, and with a long term security plan for Europe where the relations with Russia are pacified. Today’s world desperately needs reform and progress, not a new Cold War". Before adding: "We are revolted by the violent alterglobalist demonstrations outside of the Summit premises. Not only we disagree with their message, but also the methods that they use are simply unacceptable. If there is one place where the world can change this week it is in Heiligendamm, but demonstrators do not seem to get this point. They do not propose any feasible alternative either.’
LYMEC is committed to promoting globalisation against alter-globalist propaganda. It has launched a campaign titled ‘Globalisation is Good for You’, which aims to inform the general public about the positive and challenging aspects of globalisation. More information will shortly be available at www.globalisationisgoodforyou.info .
