June 1-3, 2003
Articles and Documents
Africa Gets Little Help from G8 (June 4, 2003)
African leaders were invited to Evian as distinguished guests, and the G8 claimed Africa was high on its agenda. But the greatest hindrances to Africa's development, commodity dumping and debt, remain "to be determined" by developed countries. (Malawi Daily Times)
Bringing China in from the Cold (June 3, 2003)
China has an economy three times the size of Russia, yet it is excluded from the G8. Ironically, this world leader and growing economic force is left out of decision making on global trade, SARS, AIDS, and North Korea. (New York Times)
African Food on Table at Summit (June 2, 2003)
The battle over exporting genetically modified seeds to Africa continues at the G8 conference in Evian. France is concerned the US wants more markets for its GM's, while the US accuses France of threatening African food security. (Christian Science Monitor)
G8's Gilt is Tarnished (May 2003)
The G8 heads of state proclaim neo-liberalism as the guiding principle of the global economy. Citizen activists object to the G8's sway over international financial systems, and offer alternative doctrines of global justice. (Le Monde Diplomatique)
UNICEF Calls on G8 Leaders to Meet Challenge of HIV/AIDS (May 30, 2003)
G8 leaders must take political action to allocate resources for tackling the AIDS crisis. Governments need to focus on children and work with communities to ensure education and health services for youth. (One World)
Stop the Trans-Atlantic Food Fight (May 30, 2003)
The G8 conference in Evian gives a prime opportunity to France and the US, rivals on unfair trade practices, to team up and defend their rhetoric to help the world's poor. Doubt hangs over the two biggest proponents of agricultural subsidies, regardless of their global free market ideology. (International Herald Tribune)
Deflation and Dollar Fears for the G8 (May 29, 2003)
The US wants to return to a strong dollar, but a lower dollar will help bring the massive trade deficit under control. The euro reached its highest value against the dollar, but European exporters will suffer. G8 leaders send mixed messages in order to calm the fears of the public and investors. (BBC News)
Evian: Corporate Welfare or Water for All? (May 2003)
The EU presents a controversial "Global Water Plan"to use aid money to subsidize the expansion of private water corporations. NGO's and members of civil society challenge the assumption that water privatization helps the world's poorest get access to clean water.(Corporate Europe Observatory)
We Challenge the Legitimacy of G8 and We Ask for its Dissolution (May 13, 2003)
The "alter" globalization movement hopes that the G8 summit in France in June 2003 will be the last. The G8 has evolved into a permanent global institutional "club," whose damaging neo-liberal policies and hegemony call into question the responsibility of G8 leaders. (ATTAC)
