DEAUVILLE, France, May 27, 2011 – Members of the U.S.-based NGO coalition InterAction released the following quotes on the outcome of the G8 summit in Deauville, which ends on Friday.
INTERACTION
"When it comes to giving basic, practical milestones, G8 leaders have once again fallen short. We need specifics. It is taking too long to get money out the door and with current budget crises, particularly in my own country, I fear G8 development goals will not be met," said Samuel A. Worthington, president and CEO of InterAction, the U.S.-based coalition with more than 190 members.
WORLD VISION
"G8 meetings affect the health, well-being and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people living in poverty around the world – sometimes through action, but this time by leaving them off the main agenda. The leaders have passed up a chance to renew steps and fulfill funding commitments to advance the fight against global hunger and preventable child and maternal deaths. This is amid an unacceptable reality that 8 million children and 350,000 mothers die needlessly each year of preventable and treatable causes, and 925 million people lack enough to eat each day." – Robert Zachritz, government relations director for World Vision US
SAVE THE CHILDREN
"The G8's package of help for the Middle East is timely, but shouldn't divert attention from the existing promises to the poorest in the world. We don't want an Arab Spring to be followed by a long African winter. The strong endorsement of the global immunisation summit in London is welcome, as four million children's lives could be saved if world leaders plug the funding gap. Leaders also gave strong support to women and children's health but they need to turn that pledge into action by tackling the shortfall of 3.5 million healthworkers in the poorest countries. Training just one of these could help deliver life-saving treatments to 5000 children and save many lives." – Nora O'Connell, senior director of development policy, Save the Children USA
OXFAM
"Oxfam welcomes the G8's first mention of legislation for oil, gas and mining companies to open their books, but by officially committing to 'mandatory voluntary' reporting, they have still managed to create an oxymoron out of an opportunity," said Mamadou Biteye, West African regional director for Oxfam. "The G8 naysayers must stop dithering, as only mandatory reporting can arm citizens with the information they need to hold their governments accountable, while paving the way for developing country governments to get the fairest deal from rich companies."
GLOBAL HEALTH COUNCIL
"We welcome the G8 Deauville final communique and what it has to say about global health. The problem with these high-level processes is that the emphasis is on commitments and reports, not on actual results on the ground. The communique is heavy on rhetoric and light on a demonstration of real improvements in the health of women and children. That's where the focus should be and – if the G8 leaders don't achieve the results they promise – how they should be held accountable." – Jeffrey L. Sturchio, president and CEO of Global Health Council
InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based nongovernmental international organizations with more than 190 members. Our members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life. Visit www.interaction.org
SOURCE InterAction
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