The G8 Process in Germany

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• The G8 Process in Germany
• Face-to-Face-Meeting of G7-NGO-Coalition
• 28th November 2006
• Dr. Birte Rodenberg

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Deine Stimme gegen Armut(Your Voice/Vote
against Poverty)

• Joint campaign of VENRO and artist Herbert
  Groenemeyer and friends of PR and media branch
• German platform of GCAP
• Campaign office in Berlin
• Birte Rodenberg (policy)
• Imke Sommerkamp (campaigner)
• Ulrich Schlenker (co-ordination)

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Demands

• Implementation of MDGs
• Keep the promise
• 4 core demands in line with GCAP
• More and better aid, trade justice, debt
  cancellation, just governance
• Position paper Keep your promises - more German
  Engagement for the MDGs
• 12 demands to German government

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German G8 Policy background

• DEBT
• HIPC II heavily pushed by German Government,
  since 1999
• No historic decisions on debt cancelling yet
• Controversial discussion on sleight of hand
  counting debt relief (Nigeria, Iraq) on ODA 2005
• AID
• Committed to raising ODA step-by-step (06 0.35)
  
• BMZ-Budget increased in 05 06 by 7.8 4.2
  Bill
• But where does the fresh money come from?
• Airtravel tax applications rejected by
  parliamt./Sept.

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German G8 policy

• TRADE
• BMZ / BMWi / BMF No harmonised positions
• only BMZ supports fair trade initiative and
  criticises agricultural export subsidies
• G8-AGENDA
• Consultative process under auspices of
  Sherpa-Stab/BMWi (Federal Ministry of Economic
  Affairs and Technology)
• Cabinet decision and press conference 18.10.
• Parliament not involved yet (Green party prepares
  interpellation)

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Official German G8 agenda

• Leitmotif Growth and Responsibility
• Two main topics
• Investment, innovation and sustainability
• Africa good governance, sustainable investment,
  peace and security

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Official German G8 agenda

• Investment, innovation and sustainability
• Reduce global imbalances
• Improve systemic stability and transparency of
  financial and capital markets
• Recognition of freedom to invest in developed and
  middle income countries, conditions for
  investment, social dimension of globalization
• Meaning of innovation and improvement of
  intellectual property protection
• Sustainability and resources (energy efficiency,
  climate change, Kyoto)

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Official German G8 agenda

• Africa good governance, sustainable investment,
  peace and security
• Building reform partnership with Africa
• Economic growth and the G8s responsibilities are
  of crucial importance for Africas development
• Strengthening of African health systems,
  especially in the fight against HIV/AIDS. 
• African countries have to develop structures for
  investments more democracy, less corruption,
  responsibility, sovereignty of ressources

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Key dates in 2007

• G8-Summit 6-8 June 2007
• G8 Sherpa Meetings
• January 2007,
• March 2007
• April 26-27, 2007
• May 2007
• G8 Ministers Meetings
• Finance February 9-10, 2007
• Development March 15-17, 2007
• Labor May 6-8, 2007
• Finance May 18-19, 2007
• Justice- und Interior May 23-25, 2007
• Foreign Affairs May 30 and September 20, 2007

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National G8-NGO co-ordination

• Co-ordination platform, not alliance or
  lobbying network
• Hannover-Group
• Series of conferences on G8 topics (energy,
  reform of IMF, financing for development, global
  social rights, intellectual property rights)
• Rostock-Group
• Action conferences Rostock (March, Nov. 2006)

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German G8 coordination english website
www.g8-germany.info/
Rostock-Group
G8-NGO-Platform/ Hannover-Group
DEINE STIMME GEGEN ARMUTVENRO
VENRO member organisations
InterventionistLeft
attac
Global Campain on Education Germany (Bildungskam
pagne)
German NGO Forumon Enviroment and Development
Peace movement
Jubilee Campaign (erlassjahr.de)
Action against Aids(Aktionsbündnis gegen Aids)
Greenpeace
NoLager (Migration)
Trade Justice Movement (Gerechtigkeit Jetzt)
Friends of the EarthGermany (BUND)
(Regional)Church groups
Dissent
UN Millennium Campaign (Germany)
Left Party (Die Linke/PDS/ WASG)
Green Party (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen)
Platform of local groups in Rostock
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DSGA plans 2007 (1)

• Petition to German Government Voices against
  Poverty (postcards/ lists, online, SMS)
• International collection of signatures
• Cultural event in Heiligendamm/Rostock, 7th June
  2007 P8 Poor 8
• Music messages speeches and performances by
  celebrities and musicians from northern and
  southern countries
• Local events organised by VENRO member
  organisations (Tour of Herbert Groenemeyer,
  activities in 80 cinemas)

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DSGA plans 2007 (2)

• Advertisements open letters to govt./G8 (G8
  Finance Ministers Meeting, EU dev. minister, G8
  summit)
• New click-ad with German celebrities (for TV/
  cinema)
• Online Longest Click-Ad in the world
• people taking a picture/video of him-/herself
  clicking upload on international website

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Choreography of Resistance