Welcoming the G8 Commitments; Calling for Action
By
Bishop John H. Ricard
Chairman, Committee on International Policy
 At a time of sadness, fear and determination
following the terror attacks on the people of London, the G8 leaders have
offered commitments of hope and promise. They launched a new partnership in
pursuit of a more just, secure and peaceful world. They committed the most
powerful nations on earth to work together to protect the lives and dignity of
the world's poorest people. In their promises of additional assistance, debt
relief and more equitable trade, they offer essential alternatives to
desperation and deprivation.
We welcome the commitment to increase aid to
developing nations, particularly to double aid to Africa. Steps need to
be taken now to reach this goal by 2010. We are also encouraged by the
focus on increasing capacity, good governance and transparency as well
as strengthening peacekeeping and peace-building in Africa. Peace is an
essential condition of authentic development. We welcome the G8
commitment to cancel the oppressive debt owed to multilateral
institutions, but we renew our call to extend debt relief to all poor
countries in need of a fresh start. We urge G8 leaders to sharpen their
focus and to act on global trade inequalities, particularly agricultural
subsidies, so that poor countries will have a chance to compete fairly.
The acknowledgement of the need to address
climate change is an important development. We encourage G8 leaders to
continue their pursuit of measures to prevent and mitigate the effects
of climate change, including real steps for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and examining the impact of climate change on the poor.
We also welcome the support for a possible
increase in economic aid to the Palestinians. We hope that this critical
step in the effort to achieve greater peace and security in the Middle
East will be realized quickly and concretely.
Clearly, one meeting will not overcome
poverty and despair. However, through sustained implementation of
promising commitments, our world can become more just and more peaceful.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has worked for
so many years on these priorities, welcomes this essential leadership
and will work with the Bush Administration and Congress to ensure that
these commitments are kept and resources are found to realize their
promise for hungry and suffering people.
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