UK: Bono warns G8 backsliders on aid to development
According to Data, the organization set up by the singer, only Britain and Japan are living up to the promises of the Gleneagles agreement
“Rich countries are using the sympathy felt in the wake of the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London to justify their foot-dragging on meeting aid pledges made at Gleneagles two years ago”.
On May 15th, Bono Vox accused many European rich countries not to respect the promises made at the Scottish G8 on aid to developing countries.
According to Data, the non profit organization set up by the rock star, only Britain and Japan are living up to the promises of the Gleneagles agreement.
Amid signs that Russia and Italy are using delaying tactics to downplay the commitment by the G8 to raise an extra $50bn (£25bn) in development assistance by 2010, the rock star warned there was a risk of a return to the violent street protests of Genoa and Seattle at the turn of the millennium unless the G8 acted next month.
According to the Data analysis, Italy should have increased its development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa by 79% between 2004 and 2006 to meet its Gleneagles promises.
In reality, it has cut aid by 30%. “The 2007 budget has reversed some of the decline, but the amounts promised are seriously insufficient to meet the target.”
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