Making Sense of the G8G20 World Summit
It is day two of the G8 G20 World Summit, and I am still trying to come to terms with what I see on TV. I am trying to understand how this city that I love and call my home has turned into a zone of unrecognizable streets and people.
World leaders have descended upon Toronto, to discuss important world issues – economic recovery, fiscal responsibility, deficits, and global poverty. Many took to the streets to showcase and stand in solidarity with people all around the world on diverse issues. But all I see on TV are burned police cars, police arrests of demonstrators, boarded shops, and damaged properties. The violence and riots have surely made a point; the media coverage is focused on the riots than discuss issues such as poverty, hunger and rights.
What is the G20? The G20 established in 1999 is the forum that brings together the industrialized 8 nations with emerging economic powers. I believe that such meetings of heads of states are integral to creating a world where there is more cooperation and discussion. With that being said, what does this summit held in Toronto from June 26-27 2010 means to the 1.02 billion people in the world who are undernourished and following the recent international economic downturn the additional 100 million who go hungry. The last summit that took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 24-25, 2009 recognized a need for a concerted effort of global institutions, local governments and private partners for a food security initiative. http://www.pittsburghsummit.gov/resources/129662.htm
The final communiqué of G20 Summit in Toronto today declared the launch of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) which will provide financing to low income countries to increase rural productivity, build sustainable agricultural systems. It furthers stresses on the need for more R&D to close agricultural productivity gaps.
http://g20.gc.ca/toronto-summit/summit-themes/the-g-20-toronto-summit-declaration/
The role of markets and private sectors in this initiative is deemed critical. I remain hopeful but still with questions – How will this impact traditional farming and crops? How much of “funds” are just pledges and how much will actually trickle down to those in need? How will the role of the private funding/donations dictate agricultural policies?
The tab that we taxpayers will pick up for this summit is a billion dollars +, it would be a tab worth picking up if there is 1 billion people less that goes hungry!
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Some thoughtful points arise from your posting, Tsering. Thanks so much for posing them. Strange, isn’t it? No mention in final communications from the Summit of another Summit which took place contemporaneously not too far away from you. Here’s a link to its conclusions: http://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/world-religions-final-statement
Thank you for the link. Some extremely fantastic programs such as
http://www.wfp.org.za/content/XID5-campaigns.html representatives did come here. I hope they voices are heard!
Great post! I’ve been following this event a bit on the news so it’s nice to also see it on blogs!
Fantastic post, Tsering. I am sure the experience that you are having up there is significantly different from mine as I am simply reading/watching it on TV. You ask some very good questions at the end of your post – ones about the potential impact (setting aside the good intentions) of the funding on agricultural practices and policies. Questions that I believe seriously require consideration and a thorough review of historical/geographical data.