G8 Conference~�18 Million!?

[mystress]

Does anyone else find it obscene,that the G8 Conference in Gleneagles,Scotland is costing (it seeems) �18 Million!!

For a meeting that is supposed to discuss(amongst other things) World Poverty,I think they could have stayed at home and met  via Video Links,and the �18 Million could have gone to a much better cause.

Talk about living in Cloud Cuckoo Land!

[Didwot]

If all the African leader sold all their Mercedes Benzes they could easily raise 18 Million. In fact if thery transferred back the funds they have salted away elsewher they could probably raise 18 billion. The real problem with Africa is bad governance.

[Zen]

Bit like Bono and U2 not paying income tax in Ireland ?

[twiglet4frog]

didwot, here here to u, couldnt agree more!

[eupraxia]

�18 million!!!!!!!!!!

Thats a drop in the ocean really in the grand scheme of it all.

 Africa is not going to change because of people like Mugabi running things, and the rest of Africa unwilling to do anything about him and the rest of the despots.

[MargeB]

It would cost about an eighth of that if it weren't for 'anti-poverty' thugs running riot through the last G8 meetings.

What the heck is this all about? I don't get it. Is there any G8 leader who wouldn't do all possible to eradicate poverty in Africa with/without a bunch of people marching round and round? Is the march going to make a blind bit of difference? These guys have to make a tough call: how best to help Africa without propping up the regimes of these scum who simply take the G8 money and use it to drive their own people further into problems. Geldof and suchlike are a real problem for them, talking bo!!x basically 'No excuses, give the money'. No, we'll give the money where and when we see fit. Firstly, its taken from the money of our own people, so has to be given responsibly. Secondly, we can't give it where it'll just be stolen to prop up/excuse dictatorial regimes.

[Dom Tuk]

For the prople of Africa to live lives that are half way decent we have to build their economies so that they have jobs and regular incomes. Giving aid is useless as it disappears very quickly and they are back to being hungry. So are we ready to move our jobs there. Are we ready t pay more for our mangtouts and give the faremers in africa a better price for their produce. Are we going to allow our governments to move manufacturing jobs elsewhere (remember the outcry when call centre jobs went to india). We have to reduce our standards of living and lose our jobs and lose our wasteful lives for others to benefit. Will we open our borders and allow all to come and live here. No that will not happen. For some to remain rich and secure there have to be others who will remain poor and hungry.

[ESCENA]

I agree with you Dom but i am pushing the envelope much further. They are staging their refusion to give money to Africa, playing it difficult so that in the future can spend their money on doing business there with Americans/Europeans' consent.
By making it seems an act of love and sensitivity to Africans.