Fire in the House and the G8 Summit

In the 1992 Sustainable Development Summit in Johannesburg, Jacques Chirac the former President of the French Republic began his speech with the phrase " Our house is on fire", thereby describing not only the state of the world environment in a few words but also alluding to the serious disorder in the affairs of the globe. In my speeches on the future of sustainable development , I would use the term " serious mismanagement of the world" to describe the same situation which is usually well described and analyzed by politicians who have learned to deliver eloquent speeches but have failed to take appropriate action.


The G8 summit hosted by Japan last week was another gathering of the kind. Although Japan preferred to let climate change issues dominate the debates, however the food crisis became the major urgent crisis.

The reality is that Africa and major parts in Asia suffer from a long history of colonialism and despotic rule from which they have not recovered yet. For this reason Europe and the G8 are in a sense accomplices in the fearful fate that awaits these impoverished nations if serious change of course is not taken and relief not provided. Africa has suffered tremendously from weak economies ravaged by a single- crop agriculture totally serving the interests of a few. I have met many African leaders who have spoken with much hope and optimism of the change they can bring about if their economies are permitted to grow. Today the scourge of poverty and AIDs has been coupled with sporadic instances of internal and ethnic strife, in all of which the footprints of the White supremacist race is traceable.

I have heard in international sessions the disgusting rhetoric of some donor states who claim that their generosity should be reciprocated by a gesture of gratitude from the poor nations who owe their existence to the mercy of the great powers. There is a explicit reference to this behaviour in the Holy Quran, asking the donors to honor the dignity of the needy.

Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General ,was quite outspoken in the G8 Summit , he expressed his concern on the fact that the assistance promised to Africa has not been provided. He made the unprecedented plea that G-8 members make no new commitments at this session but that they just go ahead and fulfill their previous pledges. The Head of the World Bank also made a point by noting that exceptional rises in food prices and hunger will impede the development process in major parts of the world and that this will adversely affect all economies.

It is strange how the powerful have spent such large amounts on military expenditure; trillions of dollars are spent in Iraq for military purposes, but when it comes to hunger and human lives these countries have very little left to donate . When they do it is with much fanfare and propaganda, as if the true objective is to save the face of their Country , not to serve humanity.

Generally speaking , people do not trust world leaders today. They have no reason to. The current state of insecurity, hunger, poverty and war is the expense that many have to pay for the luxurious safe havens of the few rich that dominate and rule.