So Much for Live8

LuxuryItem · July 4, 2005, 3:59am

George Bush sounds a warning today to those hoping for a significant deal on Africa and climate change at Wednesday’s G8 summit, making clear that when he arrives at Gleneagles he will dedicate his efforts to putting America’s interests first. The president will adopt a stance starkly at odds with the idealism professed by the performers at Saturday’s Live 8 concerts around the world and their television audience of 2 billion.

“I go to the G8 not really trying to make [Tony Blair] look bad or good; but I go to the G8 with an agenda that I think is best for our country.”

Further difficulties for the G8 negotiations came as Gerhard Schröder, the German chancellor, expressed opposition to Britain’s plans to double aid over the next five years.

Berlin is refusing to increase its aid budget for Africa from €1.8bn (£1.2bn) a year to €2.4bn - as Mr Blair hoped - and has expressed scepticism over a proposed tax on air tickets to be earmarked for aid.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g8/story/0,13365,1520827,00.html

lussi · July 4, 2005, 4:39am

Re: So Much for Live8

well to be fair, Bush is president of America. He SHOULD put America's interests first.