This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland and Africa
16/05/2005
G8 leaders should stay away from Scotland in July if
they are not prepared to actively tackle poverty in Africa,
Sir Bob Geldof told a special Executive-sponsored
conference in the Scottish Parliament today.
In a call to action, Sir Bob said that the world
leaders, who will gather at Gleneagles, would be remembered
for the rest of the 21st century if they acted immediately
to treat the 'open wound' of poverty by putting the
development plan drawn up the
Commission for Africa into effect.
"It is the specific responsibility of Scotland to ensure
that this is done. If the G8 leaders come here with the
attitude of doing nothing they should not be allowed to get
away with it."
Earlier First Minister Jack McConnell told invited
delegates:
"There is a point where people like me must lift our
heads, and look outwards. To see and hear what is happening
elsewhere.
"Because the progress of five million people in a small,
rich country on the northwest periphery of Europe means
little, when hundreds of millions of people suffer
desperate and absolute poverty.
"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 5 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 included Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General
and Chief Executive of CIVICUS, Salil Shetty, Director of
the UN Millennium Development Goals Campaign, and Omar
Kabbaj, President of the African Development Bank.
Summing up at the end of the debate, Patricia Ferguson,
Minister with responsibility for international development,
said:
"In a global sense we must be prepared to invest in the
African continent. 2005 is going to be an incredibly
important year because of G8 but we also have to be
prepared to stick with it for as long as it takes."
Sir Bob was one of 17 commissioners appointed by the UK
government in 2004 to take a fresh look at the African
continent and its problems and the international
community's role in helping its development path.
The FM is due to travel to Malawi later this month. He
will be accompanied by pupils from Sanday Community School
in Orkney who won a competition on the development of
Scotland's links with Africa.