Make Poverty History is history

Research from Christian Aid shows that sub-Saharan Africa is a massive US$272 billion worse off because of ‘free’ trade policies forced on them as a condition of receiving aid and debt relief. Every day 30,000 children die as a result of extreme poverty; the equivalent of 10 9/11s. Every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria in Africa. Every 3.6 seconds a child dies of starvation.

During the last 25 years Africa has received $300 billion in aid, but it is poorer than it was in 1980.
So $50 billion from the G8 leaders doesn't seem much in the scheme of things. However it is a step in the right direction as they have made access to adis drugs universal. They also cancelled debt in 18 of Africa's poorest countries. They were going to do that anyway, it was announced two weeks ago.

John Hilary, of War on Want, said: "On debt it is a 10th of what we were asking for. On aid it is just a fifth. On trade it has gone totally backwards. The G8 has turned its back on the world's poor."