"G8 leaders’ $60bn pledge hot air", says Ndungane

12 June 2007

G8 Leaders were making “hot air” promises when it came to giving substantial aid to Africa, said Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane in Cape Town yesterday.

Ndungane was speaking at a media briefing of the African Monitor, an advocacy organistaion of which he is founder and president.

Ndungane said the G8 summit held in Heiligendamm, Germany, earlier this month had disappointing outcomes for Africa.

He said the G8 leaders’ promise to increase spending to combat HIV, TB and malaria to $60 billion was- except for the US- no advance on what they had previously pledged.

Ndungane sad the fight against these diseases was hampered because no time frame was attached to disbursing these funds.

“Without any concrete plan of action, this promise for aid is simply hot air.”  He said.

Commenting on the US stand on Global warming Ndungane said “on the one hand the US was prepared to spend billions…on HIV in Africa on the other hand they refuse  to deal responsibly with climate change which will also kill hundreds of African men, women and children through droughts, floods and accelerated poverty.   

By Sapa. Soucre: Cape Times 12 June 2007 pp4