Just $3 billion more aid by 2010 - the G8 are set to fall way short of their $50 billion promise at Gleneagles. A ripple of anger among the campaigners, but the Rock Stars, Kumi Naidoo and other development campaigners at the summit were determined. Yes, it's a small step forward. Tens of thousands more lives will be saved. But if the promises are abandoned by everyone but the UK and US (the risk is now high), hundreds of thousands will die who otherwise could have lived. And making it harder for the poor to access affordable generic medicines - as seems threatened - is outrageous. The time is coming to step up the fight.
Our anti-poverty campaign before the G8 (with the Global Call to Action Against Poverty and Desmond Tutu) was heard a little, not yet enough. We need to do more, and to join with allies around the world. The long walk to justice must go on. For inspiration, here's a beautiful interview with Bengali activist Muhammad Yunus from the fringes of the G8 - we need more practical visionaries like him:
(Dropping Knowledge are a German NGO who ran an independent media camp in Rostock and helped take photos of our peaceful Avaaz march - thanks Astrid! You can see some more G8 stuff on their site.)
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