Wednesday, June 06, 2007

less food more work please

I am a bit taken aback, though I guess I shouldn't be surprised, when I see what the G8 talking shop actually comprises. Here (from the official website) is the schedule from G8:

The G8 Heads of State and Government will be meeting in Heiligendamm from 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The programme begins at 7.10 p.m. with a reception and an informal dinner for the G8 Heads of State and Government and their partners. In their first working session on Thursday the Heads of State and Government will be discussing economic growth and responsibility in the global economy. After a first family photo, the Heads of State and Government will meet young people from the J8 summit around midday. The boys and girls have spent the past few days discussing the issues on the G8 agenda at their own summit. During a working lunch the G8 will talk about current foreign policy issues. These will include the conflict in the Middle East and nuclear non-proliferation. Problems concerning Kosovo and Sudan are also on the agenda. The afternoon working session will be dealing with climate change and energy efficiency. A working dinner will be focussing on the G8 Africa Policy. Friday, 8 June will begin with a working session between the G8 Heads of State and Government and the Heads of State and Government of various African countries. The focus will be on the G8 Africa Reform Partnership. Following that, a meeting has been time-tabled with the Heads of State and Government of the so-called emerging economies, namely Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Growth and responsibility in the global economy and climate change will be discussed. The working lunch that rounds off the summit will be dedicated to the most important international organisations. The Secretary General of the UN and the Vice-President of the World Bank, among others, are expected to attend.

Can you believe it (of course you can) Africa policy gets a whole“working dinner” worth of discussion! Bound to end world poverty with that then eh? Is there anyone else out there who finds it somewhat distasteful that so much business will be carried out over food when the focus of the discussion involves millions starving? Has anyone ever had a successful "working" breakfast/lunch/dinner where policy really took primacy??? Answers on a postcard please

Also, while asking difficult questions, here's one. How do we find out whether any of the food consumed at the G8 summit is FAIR TRADE food. I'd love to know!!!! Really, let's think about how we can find this out!

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