08 July 2005

General
Caroline Sande Mukulira, from ActionAid’s Southern Africa programme:
"What Africa needed from the G8 was a giant leap forward, all it got was tiny steps. The deal that has been announced falls way short of our demands. We have some aid, but not enough, some debt relief but not enough and virtually nothing on trade. Once again Africa’s people have been short-changed."

Steve Tibbett, head of policy at ActionAid UK:
"ActionAid has always been clear on our demands. Drop the debt, more and better aid and trade justice. While there are some nuggets on debt and hints of progress towards cutting strings on aid, the G8 have failed to deliver on trade. We will use what we have got out of this summit to hold the G8 to account and continue the fight to make poverty history."

Debt:
Caroline Sande Mukulira, from ActionAid’s Southern Africa programme:
"While the announcement on debt is a welcome step forward, it falls far short of what is needed. Only 18 countries have had their debt cancelled, leaving 40 more waiting. After the G8 leave Gleneagles, many poor countries will still be left spending more on debt repayments than they do on healthcare and education. For these countries this is a major disappointment."

Trade:
Adriano Campolina Soares, head of ActionAid’s Americas.
"The G8 have completely failed to deliver trade justice. Bush and the EU have played a cynical game of bluff. The US has no intention of giving up or lowering the massive subsidies it gives its cotton farmers, that are forcing 10 million farmers in west Africa out of business. Poor countries should take this as a warning that they will have a hard fight in the up-coming trade talks at the WTO."

HIV & AIDS:
Simon Wright, the head of ActionAid UK’s HIV and Aids campaign:
"The G8’s promise of Aids treatment for all who need them by 2010 is welcome. However, the means to deliver this target need to be put in place. It needs $18 billion new money in the next three years. We need fair trade rules that allow countries to buy and produce cheaper drugs. Without these changes the G8’s target is meaningless."

Aid:
Amanda Sserumaga, ActionAid’s Uganda country director:
"More aid is a good thing but it is still too little too late and much of it is not new money. 50 million children will die before the aid is delivered in 2010. On the positive side, there may be some movement on the conditions attached to aid. G8 leaders appear to have recognised that economic policies should be determined by local people, not Washington-based bureaucrats. We will be holding them to their word."

On the impact of events in London:
Steve Tibbett, head of policy at ActionAid UK:
"The attacks on London have shocked and horrified everyone here in Gleneagles but we are hopeful that despite these tragic events the focus will stay on Africa and fighting global injustice."