I'm sorry, I'm just out of bed, didn't get around to look for news yet.
I only know what my mother told me yesterday, and that wasn't too much
either.

Lee, it's a video of the song sung by Pink that is posted by Alex in the
weapons thread.

Hi Lee, my take on it is that there will be no funds for the medicine
Alex needs and other organiztions need to give the treatment...
I would love to talk more but am headed to the dentist...I'll be
back

So there was a load of empty promises again?

Is that really new?

I was only referring to the youtube link.

Oh dear!

Alex

Thankyou, Harry, and JJ.

So a counter means of funding is required...

A private sector to come up with the funds that haven't been forthcoming
from the G8?

Is this the case? Broken promises from the world's leading and most
financial countries? Has there been a re-neg on funding?

I don't know, it's too early for papers here yet, but that's what came
over from Alex.

From BBC news...



Last Updated: Wednesday, 6 June 2007, 15:47 GMT 16:47 UK

US rejects German G8 climate goal

Protesters are determined to make their views heard


Washington says it will not agree to a deal on slashing greenhouse gas
emissions at the G8 summit in Germany.

A top US climate official said the G8 should not dictate members'
policies, but President Bush said he still had a "strong desire" for a
post-Kyoto plan.

Washington's row with Moscow over US plans for a shield in two former
Soviet satellites also looms over the summit.

And tensions are also mounting outside the summit area, where police are
using water cannon to disperse protesters.

Click here for a map of the area

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, hosting the summit, has set what is
seen as an ambitious personal goal of persuading the leading
industrialised countries to commit to cutting emissions by 50% by 2050.

She also wants them to increase fuel efficiency by 20% and limit the
world's temperature rise to 2C.


Russia is not going to attack Europe
US President George W Bush

In pictures: Summit protests
Russian press predict rows
Q&A: US missile defence

However, President George W Bush's senior climate adviser said on
Wednesday that a number of countries - including the US - would not sign
up to those commitments.

James Connaughton insisted that there had been significant progress and
consensus on the issue of climate change. But he made clear the US did
not believe the G8 should be the forum for setting targets.

"There is significant agreement that those should be established on a
national basis, and the only area of disagreement is that the G8 should
dictate the national policies of its members," he said.

Anti-poverty talks

Mrs Merkel is using the hours before the summit opens to meet the
leaders of the Group of Eight club individually.

Speaking ahead of his meeting, Mr Bush said that instead of backing the
proposed emissions caps he favoured his own plan that the worst CO2
emitting nations, including the US, China and India, meet before the
year is out to put together a new long-term strategy to tackle the
problem.

Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy
It is Nicolas Sarkozy's first time representing France at the talks
"The United States can serve as a bridge to help find a solution," Mr
Bush said.

Anti-poverty campaigners are also hoping for action at this year's G8
summit. On Wednesday evening Mr Bush, accompanied by his wife Laura
Bush, will meet Live8 organiser Bob Geldof and U2 front man Bono to
discuss poverty in Africa.

BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says meetings of the world's
most powerful leaders are always difficult, but this one looks
especially tough. Mrs Merkel is going to have to decide how far the most
contentious issues can be pushed.

She is operating against a backdrop of increasingly fractious relations
between some of the G8 members.

Russian threat

Mr Bush and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have been trading
threats and accusations ahead of the meeting, sparked by Washington's
plans to build a missile defence shield.


I think behind the scenes at the G8 there will be the opportunity for
people to have a frank conversation about Russia, with Russia
Tony Blair

Blair warning over Russia
Diary: On tour with Bush
Send us your comments
The Czech Republic is the planned site for a radar base, while
interceptor missiles are due to be deployed in Poland.

Mr Bush, who is expected to meet Mr Putin on the sidelines of the
summit, insists that the new system is a "purely defensive measure,
aimed not at Russia but at true threats".

However, Mr Putin has scoffed at US claims that the shield is designed
to counter threats from states such as North Korea and Iran, and warned
that if the US pressed ahead with its plans, Russia would target its
weapons at Europe.

On Wednesday Mr Bush dismissed the warning, saying "Russia is not going
to attack Europe".

"Russia is not an enemy," he said. "There needs to be no military
response because we're not at war with Russia. Russia is not a threat."

Violence fear

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair entered the debate in a BBC interview on
Wednesday, saying it was not in Russia's interest to have a "scratchy"
relationship with Western countries.

G8 protesters cutting razor wire
Protesters equipped with wire cutters have been trying to breach
security
He vowed a "frank discussion" with Mr Putin about his warning.

Tensions are equally high outside the summit where several hundred
anti-globalisation protesters have gathered near the fence protecting
the building where the leaders of the eight top industrialised nations
are due to meet.

Others are trying to block the roads from the airport, where several
delegations have yet to land.

Police are also said to be using tear gas, but there have not been
reports of any arrests or injuries.

Some 16,000 officers have been deployed to deal with what are currently
estimated to be around 6,000 protesters.

The police are keen to avoid the disturbances seen last weekend in the
city of Rostock, where protests turned violent and some 1,000 people
were injured.

From www.Forbes...


AFX News Limited
G8 SUMMIT At a glance guide to the main points
06.10.07, 1:00 PM ET


LONDON Heiligendamm, Germany (Thomson Financial) - The following is a
summary of the main points from the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany
from June 6-8

Climate Change

-German Chancellor Angela Merkel had put the issue of tackling change
top of the agenda for the G8 Summit. Agreed to by the EU, Germany
proposed ambitious targets, including halving carbon emissions by 2050
and keeping global warming down to no more than 2 degrees Celsius. These
would form the basis of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on cutting
greenhouse gas emissions, which runs out in 2012.

US President George Bush insisted, however, that the US would not agree
to any specific figure unless other major polluters such as China and
India did too, although Canada and Japan agreed to them.

Nevertheless, leaders agreed they are 'committed to taking strong and
early action to tackle climate change' and said 'we will consider
seriously the decisions made by the European Union, Canada and Japan
which include at least a halving of global emissions by 2050'.

It was acknowledged that the United Nations climate process is the
'appropriate forum for negotiation' and the G8 communique called on all
major emitters to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference in
Bali, Indonesia in December 'with a view to achieving a comprehensive
post-2012 agreement (post Kyoto agreement)'.

At the end of the summit, Merkel told reporters that the G8 had
established a 'clear mandate' on tackling the issue, but behind the
scenes some leaders were clearly frustrated by the US' obstinance.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper criticised the US refusal to sign
up, saying that it is difficult to meet the targets 'if your major
partner does not have those targets too'.

'With targets it is a lot simpler if everyone does them ... but if other
people are using (the fact that they have not agreed to them) as a
competitive advantage then that has the capacity to undermine our
efforts,' he said.

The Economy/Currencies

-The G8 said the world economy is 'in good condition' and acknowledged
that growth is 'more balanced across regions' and that global imbalances
'have been showing some signs of stabilisation more recently and
deficits have been relatively easily financed.

The summit saw little in the way of calls for China to allow its
currency to appreciate further.

The communique acknowledged that a number of countries in emerging Asia
'have taken first steps on the road towards a more flexible exchange
rate and a strengthening of the financial sector'.

However, it did say that in emerging economies with large and growing
current account surpluses 'it is crucial that their effective exchange
rates move so that necessary adjustments will occur'.

IMF managing director Rodrigo Rato, meanwhile, warned of complacency
even within highly developed countries about the recent massive rise in
risk appetite on financial markets.

In particular, he said he was worried about the recent spate of 'merger
mania' and warned that the high levels of leverage being used to fund
them cannot be sustained long-term. He described some deals as 'very
costly and exuberant'.

Rato also said central banks should be 'vigilant' on inflationary
pressures and that they are right to act preemtively by raising interest
rates.

Russia

-Ahead of the summit, relations between Russia and the West looked to be
heading back towards the Cold War era after Russian President Vladimir
Putin expressed alarm at US plans to place anti-missile interceptors and
radar bases in Poland and the Czech Republic. The US insisted that Iran
is the principle target, but Putin was unconvinced, threatening to
retaliate by deploying a defensive shield on its western borders with
Europe.

Putin then surprised leaders at the summit by proposing that the US
instead join forces with Russia to build an anti-missile radar base in
Azerbaijan. This would reassure Russia that these plans were solely
based on worries about Iran, not Russia itself.

President Bush, perhaps slightly wrong-footed by the proposal said the
US was 'interested' and would look into it further.

After the summit, however, Nato officials were reported as being
sceptical of the proposals, arguing that Azerbaijan was too close to
Iran.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair also told reporters that there are still
'real issues' of dispute between the West and Russia' that are not going
to be resolved 'any time soon'.

Hedge Funds

-The G8 comminique referred only to the need to be 'vigilant' on hedge
funds, effectively scuppering Germany's plans for an agreement on
tougher regulation of the industry.

'Given the strong growth of the hedge fund industry and the increasing
complexity of the instruments they trade, we reaffirm the need to be
vigilant,' it said. The statement acknowledged hedge funds' significant
contribution to 'the efficiency of the financial system'.

Aid to Africa

-Agreement on aid to Africa took a back seat at the summit to the bigger
issue: climate change. On the final day when G8 leaders were joined by
leaders of the developing nations of China, India, Brazil, South Africa
and Mexico, the G8 pledged to spend 60 bln usd over the next few years
on fighting HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.

The G8 also stressed its 'firm resolve' to keep the pledges on aid to
Africa made at the Gleneagles summit.

Campaigners were sceptical, however, arguing that the 60 bln usd pledge
on healthcare is largely made up of money that has already been
announced.

Singers and active anti-poverty campaigners Bob Geldof and Bono were
also critical. Geldof described the summit as 'a farce', while Merkel
admitted in a press conference that Bono had been frustrated at the G8's
refusal to provide any firm details on the financing plans over the next
few years.

Intellectual Property

-G8 leaders said they 'strongly reaffirm' the commitment to combating
piracy and counterfeiting and agreed to strengthen co-operation on the
matter among the G8 and other countries, 'particularly the major
emerging economies'.

Pledges were made to engage the private sector on 'effective solutions
with regard to both the supply and the demand side of piracy and
counterfeiting'.

The G8 also encouraged the OECD to work with member states 'to further
identify and target ... specific areas for concrete action'. Emerging
economies were invited to partake in establishing 'a new international
dialogue on innovation and intellectual property protection as part of
the Heiligendamm Process', using the OECD as a platform.

Sudan, North Korea

-The G8 called for action against 'the perpetrators of atrocities' in
Darfur, Sudan, and said it would back UN action against the Sudanese
government and rebel groups if the conflict is not ended.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said, however, that is was 'not
confident there will be action' on Darfur.

'The difficulty in Sudan is that right from the beginning there are
groups that are not involved in the process, and we have every reason to
doubt the Sudanese government's sincerity,' he said.

'It frustrates the hell out of me, it frustrates everyone,' he added.

The G8 also called on North Korea to 'abandon all nuclear weapons and
existing nuclear programmes as well as all other existing weapons of
mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes in a complete,
verifiable and irreversible manner'.

The discussions with African representatives were "very honest, very
open" German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the first working
session on the last day of the Summit in Heiligendamm. US$60 billion
have been pledged over the coming years to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis.
The Chancellor's message to the countries of Africa was this: "We are
aware of our responsibility and we will honour our commitments." The G8
needed to "fulfil the promises we made," she said.

Africa Outreach representatives (from left to right): Thabo Mbeki (South
Africa), Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal), Umaru Yar´Adua (Nigeria), Abdelaziz
Bouteflika (Algeria), Alpha Konaré (AU) and John Kufuor (Ghana)Photo:
REGIERUNGonline / Bergmann Vergrößerung (en) Welcome at the assembly
roomsAt the same time, the G8 and the African partners were in agreement
that they would also have to fulfil their commitments, for example as
regards democracy and good governance. Now the task was to see what had
already been achieved in that respect and what still remained to be
done.

Speaking on behalf of the African Union (AU), the Chairman, Ghanaian
President John Kufuor, said that African countries were also prepared to
play their part in making the Outreach Process a "true partnership".

Kufuor proposed establishing a body which would be responsible for
supporting and regularly reviewing the co-operation.

US$60 billion to combat infectious diseases

Over the coming years the G8 will be making a total of US$60 billion
(around €44 billion) available to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis. This is to be used to safeguard universal access to
comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programmes, treatment and care, and to
develop health systems at local level.

Particular attention in the fight against infectious diseases is to be
paid to the needs of adolescent girls, women and children.

Germany will be providing €4 billion to support efforts to combat these
illnesses.

A continent on the move
In their Final Declaration on Africa, the G8 underlined again their
strong interest in a stable, democratic and prosperous African
continent. The governments of the G8 countries stressed their firm
resolve to implement the commitments made at the 2005 G8 Summit.

The historic debt relief is "well on the way", the document claims.
Official development assistance (ODA) for Africa will be increased by
$25 billion a year, compared to 2004, by 2010.

Working session of the G8 with Africa Outreach representatives in the
pavilionPhoto: REGIERUNGonline / Bergmann Vergrößerung (en) Working
sessionDespite political and economic reforms and the associated
economic growth in countries in Africa, the G8 feel that much still
remains to be done. A "vigorous impetus" seems necessary to ensure that
Africa will achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

A further set of measures is thus to be introduced to promote
sustainable development in Africa. The leading industrialised nations
have made the following commitment: "We will focus on promoting growth
and investments in order to combat poverty and hunger, to foster peace
and security, good governance and the strengthening of health systems,
and to assist the fight against infectious diseases."

The G8 countries also pledged to support their African partners in
meeting the challenges they face when it comes to climate policy. They
also want to contribute to strengthening political structures, to
promote investments and to development the local economy. The Summit
Declaration "Growth and Responsibility in Africa" lists the 63
commitments which cover a wide variety of issues.

i can relate to you guys and gals i guess we are just
gunner have to box on reguardless doin the best we can were ever we can
tellin every one we can how stupid these meglomaniacs are running the
show.revolution time i reckon peacefull revolution it would be sad if
mother earth stopped spinning.were are the wize warriors???

Andrew Mayeda, CanWest News Service; Ottawa Citizen
Published: Saturday, June 09, 2007
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HEILIGENDAMM, Germany -- The G8 summit wrapped up here Friday with
Canada being accused of dragging its feet on increased aid to Africa and
Prime Minister Stephen Harper raising questions about America's
environmental commitment and China's progress toward human rights and
democracy.

Leaders of the eight top industrialized nations reconfirmed their 2005
pledge to double aid to Africa by 2010, but anti-poverty activists were
disappointed they did not commit to more aid, or specify how they would
reach that goal. U2 singer Bono, in fact, accused Canada of "blocking
progress" at the summit.

"I said some years ago that the world needs more 'Canadas,'" said Bono,
a powerful voice for African development. "I can't believe that this
Canada has become a laggard."

Harper, however, dismissed the comment. "I can say with absolute
certainty that Canada was not blocking anything on this," the prime
minister told reporters.

Harper, who declined a private meeting with Bono on the grounds that
hobnobbing with celebrities is not his "schtick," insisted Canada is
meeting its obligations under a pledge made by G8 nations at a summit in
Scotland two years ago. The leaders agreed to increase aid to developing
countries by about $50 billion per year by 2010, half of which would be
earmarked for Africa.

"Canada's on target to meet those obligations," Harper said. "I think
we're the only country on target to meet them, and to meet them early,
in fact."

The Prime Minister's Office was unable to provide documentation to prove
his claim. A senior Canadian official said Canada's aid budget for
Africa will amount to $2.1 billion in 2008-09, but DATA, an aid agency
co-founded by Bono, estimates Canada will need to increase aid by $479
million this year and next to meet its commitment. Only Japan and
Britain are on track to meet their promise, DATA says.

Aside from aid to Africa, a key summit objective was to discuss targets
to cut the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. G8
leaders committed to "substantial" emissions reductions but, because of
U.S. resistance, Friday's final summit declaration omitted precise
targets or timelines.

Before leaving this exclusive Baltic Sea resort, Harper delivered his
sharpest criticism yet of U.S. President George W. Bush's refusal to
accept binding targets.

"One of the things about climate change and emissions control is that
they're a lot simpler if everyone does them," he said. "If everyone does
them, there's nobody gaining competitive advantage over the others as a
consequence. Then I think the real benefits of technological change and
adaptation can come to the fore - changes by which I think Canada can be
a huge beneficiary."

Harper challenged the U.S. to show leadership on climate change, noting
that Canadian companies will be at a competitive disadvantage if America
does not set targets for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.

"The truth of the matter is, it is difficult to meet targets if your
major trading partner - and a partner with whom you share a common air
shed - doesn't have targets, so it's a concern," the prime minister told
reporters.





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They are idiots they are obsesed with growth, development and
economy.and ya need heaps of slaves to build towers.

June 7, 2007

G8 Summit Skimps on AIDS

Documents from the Group of Eight wealthy countries summit occurring
this week in Germany reveal that they are considering slashing their
2005 pledge to get HIV meds to 10 million people by 2010. The new goal:
5 million. In public announcements, international leaders including
President Bush reasserted that providing universal access to HIV meds
would be a confab priority.

thanks for that Andrea

Fred, I'm so disgusted with what I have been reading in the past 20
minutes

oh mate i wish they had a hugg and a comfort emoticon.world leaders do
not seem to have any compassion for life.

No, they obviously only have compassion for their own pockets.

Putting the G8 on the back burner for a moment.

How much aid are countries not involved in the G8 providing for the same
conditions?

It is a world problem and must be solved by all countries. How much is
OPEC providing to help. China? Nations in the African continent such
as Egypt?

Just curious.