This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland and Africa
16/05/2005
G8 leaders should stay away from Scotland in July if they are not prepared to actively tackle poverty in Africa, Sir Bob Geldof told a special Executive-sponsored conference in the Scottish Parliament today.
In a call to action, Sir Bob said that the world leaders, who will gather at Gleneagles, would be remembered for the rest of the 21st century if they acted immediately to treat the 'open wound' of poverty by putting the development plan drawn up the Commission for Africa into effect.
"It is the specific responsibility of Scotland to ensure that this is done. If the G8 leaders come here with the attitude of doing nothing they should not be allowed to get away with it."
Earlier First Minister Jack McConnell told invited delegates:
"There is a point where people like me must lift our heads, and look outwards. To see and hear what is happening elsewhere.
"Because the progress of five million people in a small, rich country on the northwest periphery of Europe means little, when hundreds of millions of people suffer desperate and absolute poverty.
"There is a point when things need to be put into perspective. If the tragedy of poverty in the developing world was happening here in Scotland, then in just 100 days time all 5 million of us would be dead. But poverty is not really a tragedy. It is a disgrace, because it is preventable.
"In eight weeks time Scotland will host the G8 summit. There are two days in July - when the decisions of eight men make could lead to lasting improvements to lives throughout Africa."
Other speakers included Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General and Chief Executive of CIVICUS, Salil Shetty, Director of the UN Millennium Development Goals Campaign, and Omar Kabbaj, President of the African Development Bank.
Summing up at the end of the debate, Patricia Ferguson, Minister with responsibility for international development, said:
"In a global sense we must be prepared to invest in the African continent. 2005 is going to be an incredibly important year because of G8 but we also have to be prepared to stick with it for as long as it takes."
Sir Bob was one of 17 commissioners appointed by the UK government in 2004 to take a fresh look at the African continent and its problems and the international community's role in helping its development path.
The FM is due to travel to Malawi later this month. He will be accompanied by pupils from Sanday Community School in Orkney who won a competition on the development of Scotland's links with Africa.