Hey, Paul Martin: the ball's in your court

Catholic New Times, July 3, 2005 by Bob Geldof

Don't blink: the world is tilting on its axis.

Canada's Prime Minister Paul Martin has an historic chance to make poverty history. A year ago, when I suggested to British Prime Minister Tony Blair the idea of the Commission for Africa, I secretly hoped for a political breakthrough. I also hoped for tough public debate on what is clearly the greatest political problem of our time. How do we stop the pornography of poverty that is paraded across our television screens every night? How much can we do to stop that and how much can be achieved while there is such egregious corruption in many African governments? The success or failure of our efforts depends heavily on the willingness and ability of African governments to govern effectively and tackle corruption.

I was pleased that Finance Minister Ralph Goodale represented Canada on the commission. He helped raise the level of debate on this issue into something extraordinary, and thanks to the results at the meeting of G8 finance ministers on June 10-11 that debate may actually come to a successful juncture with the political process, some time over the next month. If you're interested in this stuff, then you live in exciting times, because we have helped to define the terms of debate for these times.

It has been well reported that the G8 finance ministers pulled off one hundred per cent debt cancellation. But it must be clear that this is just a first step. Still hidden among the tedious small print of the "communique" (how demoralizing to have become a summit geek) is that for the first time the Germans and Italians signed of f on doubling aid--by committing themselves to give the sum of 0.7 per cent of their respective national wealth to foreign. assistance by 2015. This goal (invented by a Canadian, Lester Pearson) has been put of f for 35 years, and now those countries join the majority of the G8 who are committed to this goal.

The commitment is bigger than the debt deal, and makes the full achievement of the Commission for Africa's goals ever more possible, though still, at this moment, just out of reach.

The doubling has not yet been secured because the Canadians, the Japanese and the Americans have not yet delivered adequate future commitments on aid. That is our job now. Canada is the only G8 member in real financial health, operating at a surplus: America's President owes the British Prime Minister a lot both politically and personally and has promised more, though as yet we're not sure how much or in what form. Japan, once the world's largest donor, cannot be let of f the hook either. Live 8 and the Make Poverty History coalitions worldwide will now focus on these countries to achieve the second piece of the debt-aid-trade package. The game is on.

Trade justice has not yet been secured. The ministers promised Africans the independence to decide for themselves when, and how, they should open their own markets to competition. There is some consternation here. I'm all for conditions that fight corruption, but not for those conditions that allow the IMF and the World Bank to meddle and micromanage economic and trade policy in these countries. It is quite ridiculous and irrelevant to demand as a condition of debt forgiveness that a country with no economy open its markets to us in the wealthy West without demur. That makes no sense and has no advantages to us; Africa has a pathetic 2 per cent of world trade.

An historic deal is now in sight. Paul Martin can be the man who pushes the deal through. He has a unique opportunity to make poverty history. It is his for the taking. If Canada commits to the 0.7 per-cent target, the U.S. and Japan will face intense pressure to deliver. We can accept no half-measures or small-time initiatives. An entire country--and increasingly the global media and a generation of Africans--are looking now to you, Canada. The spotlight is on your next move.

See you in Scotland.

Sir Bob Geldof is a musician and the organizer of Live Aid and Live 8.