G8_summit

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For international cooperation to eradicate poverty and terrorism
Akahata editorial

The Group of Eight summit meeting in Britain set out points agreed upon concerning terrorism, Africa, and global warming in the chair's summary statement and twelve documents.

The summit twice issued statements on the apparently coordinated terrorist attacks in London. This unusual move was out of the need for international cooperation to contain barbaric and indiscriminate terror attacks. This clearly shows that global questions cannot be solved unless the G-8 group countries choose to cooperate with all governments and peoples of the world.

Terrorism, poverty, and global warming

Elimination of terrorism from the world requires an effort to increase international awareness of the need to thwart terrorist attacks and eliminate hotbeds of terrorist schemes.

The second G-8 summit statement on prevention of terror attacks in its 7th paragraph calls for an enhanced international partnership. It rightly calls for "universal compliance with all these international obligations, norms, and standards."

The G-8 statement calls for an immediate conclusion of the "draft Comprehensive Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism." To achieve this, it is necessary for the international community to live up to law and justice based on the United Nations Charter and international law, and develop cooperation by all countries in the effort to eliminate terrorism.

The United States and Britain invaded Iraq without the U.N. Security Council's approval by alleging that the Hussein government had ties with the international terrorist group Al-Qaida. However, their war of aggression gave further rise to terrorist activities. The folly of giving more room for terrorist activities must never be repeated.

How the G-8 group responds to the issues of Africa and the global warming is another serious question on the agenda.

G-8 leaders have agreed "to cancel 100 % of outstanding debts of eligible Heavily Indebted Poor Countries to the IMF" and increase international aid for African countries.

These agreements must be directed towards alleviating African nations' plight.

Economic deregulation policies dictated by the IMF and summit nations in the name of "structural adjustment" have left African countries heavily indebted, which in turn has hampered their development, increased poverty, and widened the gap between rich and poor. The G-8 needs to learn from these experiences.

For self-sustaining development of Africa, it is also essential to get rid of civil wars and tribal conflicts in the region.

G-8 leaders have expressed their support for settling these conflicts and "improving the effectiveness of transport controls over small arms and light weapon." If they are true to their word, they must first stop profiting from arms sales to Africa, and then this will make sense.

Concerning the issue of global warning, the G-8 pointed out, "Climate change is a serious and long-term challenge that has the potential to affect every part of the globe. We know that (...) other human activities contribute in large part to increases in greenhouse gases associated with the warming of our Earth's surface." It also expressed determination in a related document, "It is in our global interests to work together, and in partnership with major emerging economies, to find ways to achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

Britain proposed setting numerical targets in vain due to the U.S. opposition.

Overcome unilateralism

The Kyoto Protocol for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions came into force, but the United States still refuses to participate in the covenant. It is reported that at one point, seven countries moved to draft a related document without the United States, which was refusing to respond to the British call.

Such U.S. unilateralism adhering to its own national "interests" will drag down the international community that is making efforts to address global problems. - Akahata, July 10, 2005