The G8 meeting: What's in it for Filipinos? - Leonor Magtolis Briones
THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNANCE | LEONOR MAGTOLIS BRIONES | 06/29/2009 12:46 AM
Printer-friendly version | 
Send to friend | 
Share your views
On July 8-10, the heads of the eight richest and most powerful countries in the world will meet in L’Aquila, Italy for their usual annual meeting to decide the fate of the world. The member countries of this most exclusive of clubs are the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.
While all states are members of the United Nations, there are exclusive clubs of countries which are bound by common interests. They agree on shared positions on global issues. As member countries jostle for support for national agenda, it is helpful to be part of a group which can negotiate, compromise and bully if need be.
One can assume that the bigger groups would have more power like the G-77 group of developing countries. Not necessarily so. After all, the smaller the group, the more exclusive it is. Thus, the other groups, whether G77, G24, or G20 would not have the same clout as the heavyweights (literally!) in G8.
Considering the membership of G8, these annual meetings usually entail huge logistical requirements in terms of financing, personnel and material. It is not as if eight powerful people will go to a country, hole up in a hotel, and decide on what to do with the world and its hungry billions. Careful preparations are made months ahead: the venue is carefully selected, security precautions are extra tight and the host country conducts endless meetings and rehearsals. Every detail is carefully reviewed from the food, the official cars, the menus during the lavish receptions, and I suppose, even the quality of toilet paper in the comfort rooms.
Of course, The Great Ones do not travel alone. Their ministers and other high officials usually meet and hammer out agreements before they finally deign to arrive. Thus, their large entourages include their personal staff, the important ministers and their respective assistants and factotums, and their media people especially the television crews. After all, their every word, their every smile and the state of their sartorial and fashion elegance has to be faithfully reported back to their respective countries.
Since this is a power meeting, the agenda is very important. Among the interesting items are a special concern for Africa, an interest in agriculture and debates on the rules of the organization.
So why does the average Filipino remain unaware of the biggest and most lavish meeting of the smallest group of people in the world? This is because it has no meaning for the 27.6 million Filipinos (32,9%!) who were declared by the NSCB as belonging to the poor Filipino population. This is because they do not see the connection between their worsening state of poverty and the decisions of eight people whose names they can’t even pronounce. They only know that Italy is where the yayas go and where the Pope lives.
Civil society and the G8
More and more, the G8 countries have been under close scrutiny by civil society. They usually hold parallel meetings , monitor the debates and discussions, and issue their own statements. They also invite officials to debate with them on issues of poverty, debt, and economic and social development.
The strongest criticism of G-8 tends to come from their own citizens. I had the opportunity to attend the meeting in Munich, Germany as a speaker on debt and development. Walking back to the hotel, I was struck with the sight of thousands of hostile young Germans marching, running and shouting while they were chased by the police.
During the G8 meeting in London Germany, the sharpest and most difficult questions during the dialogues came from British citizens themselves. I was also there to speak on the impact of debt on developing countries.
This probably explains why the G8 does not meet in big cities . They choose venues which are not easily accessible by public transport unlike London, Rome or Washington. Nevertheless, civil society will be there.
The G8 and the W8
OXFAM, one of the largest international NGOs has organized the W8, or “The Cabinet of 8.” These are women leaders from eight developing countries who will engage the G8 on issues of more funding for essential services. While the hearts of the G8 members bleed for Africa (and rightly so), they will not fail to notice that four of the eight women are from Asia—Philippines, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. Two are from Africa, one from Nicaragua and the eighth is from the emerging republic of Georgia.
The largest number of poor people are in Asia, and that is a fact.
One July 2 and 3, W8 will meet with the highest officials in Germany. After all, it is headed by the only woman member of the G8.
Abangan!
Comments