Press Release (9th January 2008)
ANTI POVERTY ALLIANCE WELCOMES
JAPAN TO G8 PRESIDENCY, ENCOURAGING
BOLDNESS TO TACKLE POVERTY
Representatives of the Poverty & Development Unit of the 2008 Japan G8 Summit NGO Forum will present a traditional New Years card to the Japanese Government on Thursday 10th January to mark the beginning of the Japanese government's Presidency of the G8 group of nations. On behalf of the world's biggest anti poverty alliance, GCAP (the Global Call to Action Against Poverty), they will personally deliver good wishes and a letter, encouraging Japan to use its Presidency to ensure this year's G8 achieves historic advancements towards ending poverty.
The action in Japan is among several happening this week in most of the G8 countries as well as in developing countries in Africa and Asia, where campaigners hope to have their voices heard by the Japanese government as they begin their leadership of the G8.
A Global Health Fund was established following the 2000 G8 in Okinawa, showing Japan has a track record of using its presidency to deliver enduring and concrete initiatives to tackle global poverty. The millions of people who make up the GCAP alliance are again expecting historic poverty eradication measures from the 2008 Summit. Japan has the opportunity to take extraordinary steps in furthering the work of health, through increased numbers of doctors and nurses in developing countries; more investment in national health systems and tackling the high costs of critical drugs to address the diseases that afflict the poor and by establishing a high level annual review of global progress made in increasing water and sanitation coverage.
"We have seen that when the G8 has honoured its past commitments to tackle poverty, for example the work undertaken in 2000 to deliver the debt programme, and to establish the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB, it has had an enormous impact on the lives of millions of people in developing countries," said Takumo Yamada, Advocacy Director of Oxfam Japan.
Yet despite this great progress there is still a long way to go. As we enter 2008 the world still bears witness to 4,000 children dying every day from diarrhoea caused by dirty water, a woman with no medical care dying in pregnancy or childbirth every single hour, and 300 people dying of an AIDS-related illness every day.
"Millions of lives can be bettered if Japan is bold and visionary in 2008. Through this unique global partnership that is GCAP we can assure the Japanese government that the world will be watching and encouraging them to lead the G8 to take historic action. " said Kaori Kuroda, Managing Director of Hottokenai Sekai no Mazushisa.
The Nengajo card reads "Happy new year, 2008 is Japan's year. Please use your leadership of the G8 to help end poverty."
For more information contact:
Takumo Yamada, Advocacy Director of Oxfam Japan:
Email: takumo@oxfam.jp, phone: +81 3 3834 1556, cell: +81 80 3155 7017
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2008 Japan G8 Summit NGO Forum is a collection of over 100 Japanese civil society organisations form to advocate G8 governments with recommendations on global issues. It has three main units , of which is the Poverty & Development Unit is one (the other two are the Environmental Unit and the Peace and Human Rights Unit). The Nengajo action is undertaken by organisations in the Poverty and Development Unit.
GCAP is the world's biggest alliance dedicated to ending poverty and inequality. It is composed of NGOs, trade unions, community groups, women's organizations, faith and youth groups, as well as local associations and campaigners in 110 countries. In October, they helped mobilise 43.7million people against poverty and inequality.
Visit www.whiteband.org
http://www.whiteband.org/about-gcap/reports/g8-team/documents-from-g8-team/
ENDS
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