G8 Summit Leaders of the Group of Eight Major Industrialized Nations will meet in Scotland in July this year. Representatives from China, India, Mexico, South Africa and Brazil have also been invited. Heres what the G8 leaders want from the meeting. British Prime Minister Tony Blair wants the G8 to cancel debt to the worlds poorest countries. He wants them to double aid to Africa to 50 billion pounds by 2010. He has also proposed reducing subsidies to Western farmers and removing restrictions on African exports. This has not got the approval of all members because it will hurt their agricultural interests. On climate change, Blair wants concerted action by reducing carbon emissions . US President George W. Bush agrees to give help to Africa. But he says he doesnt like the idea of increasing aid to countries as it will increase corruption. Bush said he would not sign an agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions at the summit, according to media. The US is the only G8 member not to have signed the Kyoto Protocol . Although the US is the worlds biggest polluter, Bush so far refuses to believe there is sufficient scientific data to establish beyond a doubt that there is a problem. French President Jacques Chirac supports Blair on Africa and climate change. He is determined to get the US to sign the climate change deal. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder remains doubtful of Blairs Africa proposals. Schroders officials have dismissed the notion that money will solve Africas problems as old thinking. Berlin says that African states should only receive extra money if they can prove theyve solved the corruption problem. |