From G8 To D8

The Group of Eight (G8) leaders gathered in Hakkaido, Japan recently to discuss on global food crisis.

They were enjoying caviar, black truffles, sea urchins and horsehair crabs while finding ways to help those starving in poor countries.

It affected their digestions as they thought of the starving Africans after eating. Therefore, one must avoid such discussion next time.

Foreign news agencies even reported that before they enjoyed the cuisine, the G8 leaders were talking to African leaders including leaders from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Senegal. However, these leaders were not invited for the meal.

"The leaders did not have a solution for the food crisis while shirking energy-saving and emission reduction responsibilities."
Leaders from poor countries felt insulted as they had no chance to sit at the dining table with those VVIP. They wanted the people of the whole country to pay the price. Thus, they would further exploit the people's hard earn money when they return to their countries. We should know why there are wealthy leaders in poor countries while the people are impoverished.

The expenses of the G8 Summit in Hokkaido were high (it may be exaggerated as some said it cost more than RM2.1 billion). In any case, it seemed that their eyes were bigger than their stomachs if they had to spend such a huge amount of money to find ways to help poor countries and to resolve the global food crisis.

The leaders did not come out with any specific proposal and neither did they announce a large amount of contributions.

G8 is a rich men's club. Usually, when rich men meet, they will discuss on how to work together in order to earn more money, instead of talking about helping the poor. They just wanted to show others that they “are concerned” by having discussion on assistance to be given to the poor countries and solutions for the global food crisis.

The leaders did not have a solution for the food crisis while shirking energy-saving and emission reduction responsibilities. Each country had its own agenda and planning. They just thought about their own interests. The problems remain unsolved after the summit.

Poor countries had no right to speak on major global issues. They were unable to gain any benefit at all. But they could not just be silently standing aside. Thus, they formed their own small circle called The Developing Eight (D8), an arrangement for Muslim developing countries.

Why is it eight but not 10 countries? Why is it restricted to Muslim countries? What is its objective?

I can't really answer these questions. To be honest, I will have forgotten about such an organisation if it is not our turn to be the hosting country.

Both the organisations have eight members, but their status and influences are not comparable.

We did not know what the D8 leaders ate during the summit but I believe they would not be as dainty as those in Hokkaido.

Also, their topics of discussion were different. Iran talked about nuclear energy development, Malaysia stressed on oil and food crisis and Islamic finance, Indonesia and Turkey talked about bilateral investment while Pakistan wanted to solve terrorism.

The leaders left home after the summit but why did they came in the first place? And what have they gained after the summit? It seems like they have no answer either.

After the G8 Summit and D8 Summit, we are still facing the problems of high oil prices, food shortage, air pollution and worsening economy.

(By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)
source: My SinChew