Bob Geldof: Challenges Sarkozy over Africa
Posted By:
tonkpils
Posted:
June, 18 2008
|
 Bob Geldof: Challenges Sarkozy over Africa
High profile rockers Bob Geldof and Bono challenged French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday to increase aid to Africa. They said that France is failing to live up to the promises it made at the G8 summit in 2005.
The U2 frontman and the former Boomtown Rats singers, Bob Geldof and Bono have played an active role in the Live 8 concerts held to support aid to the world’s poorest countries. Both of them said that failure by G8 leaders to keep their promises is "a disgrace".
The G8 has agreed to double aid to Africa by 2010. But according to a report by advocacy group DATA, launched by the rockers in Paris on Wednesday, the G8 has so far delivered just 14 percent of what was pledged.
In a news conference, Bob Geldof said, "It's a disgrace that the rich world, France included, has failed so utterly and miserably".
According to a report by DATA, France is among the worst, which have decreased aid by $66 million between 2006 and 2007, and so far delivered less than 7 percent of funds promised at Gleneagles.
Bob Geldof said, "That's the measure of the failure of the political class of this country".
The DATA report says that among the seven countries that made commitments to Africa at Gleneagles, only Japan is the best performer. Japan has already fulfilled its pledges.
Bob Geldof and Bono said that it is practically shocking for France to fall back considering its strong relationship with many African countries, rooted in the colonial past, and its history since the Revolution of 1789 as a champion of human rights.
Bono said, "I have high hopes for President Sarkozy. I believe his hard-headedness might be necessary to work on some of these problems". |
|
|
|
| Total Reviews: | 0 | | Average Rating: |  |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
News / Gossips by tonkpils
