Richard Curtis shares Media Experience and Insights July 5th, 2005 Today Richard Curtis, filmmaker and activist, shared stories of using film and media to promote social change. Richard along with Bono and Bob Geldof are the three responsible for Live8. Richards new film, the Girl in the Cafe is a commentary on the G8 and the politics of the rich vs. poor nations that contrast in a relationship between two people from different worlds. Richard is now assisting the One Campaign to use media more effectively to address issues of debt, aid, and trade. Here in Scotland, there seems to be a growing consensus is that not much will happen at the G8 to address either Global Warming or Africa issues largely due to the U.S. opposition on both issues. Still many have not given up and unlike other G8 summits there is no clear picture on what is going to really happen. Some thoughts on the key issues of aid, debt, and trade. While all nations of the world have agreed to provide developing nations 0.7 percent of their GDP thirty years ago only 5 nations, Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg, Denmark, and the Netherlands have achieved that goal and none of them belong to the G8. While the U.S. provides the largest amount of money it is next to last among G8 nations in treaching the 0.7 percent goal with only Italy doing worse. The U.S. is currently only giving .016 percent of its GDP or about 1 percent of its budget while 25 percent of its budget is going to the Pentagon. Aid is needed to develop roads, railways, hospitals, and schools that Africa need to be able to compete and benefit from global trade. Aid is needed so they can compete with trade. After that Africa will need assistance to best benefit from trade. Debt has risen so high that Africa now pays the Western World creditors $30 million a day on their debt. While the recent cancellation of debt to the 18 poor countries is a hopeful sign, there is fear that for every dollar of debt cancellation that it may also mean a dollar less in aid. Fair and just trade policies is perhaps the biggest issue that can help Africa in the long run. it is also the issue where the least progress is expected out of the G8. One proposal that has been recommended is that the G8 countries immediately outlaw arms trade. A recent report from the Control Arms Campaign accused the G8 states of undermining their commitments to poverty, stability, and human rights with irresponsible arms exports to some of the worlds poorest and most conflict ridden countries. For example G8 countries supply arms to Sudan, Burma, and the Republic of Congo. Rosemary Burnett, programme director for Amnesty International in Scotland said thousands of people are being killed, tortured, raped, and displaced through the misuse of arms. In addition issues of farm subsidies and trade restrictions create unjust trade dynamics that keep Africa from being more self sufficient. The bottom line is that the G8 needs to address issues of aid, debt, and trade in a comprehensive way if Africa is going to be able to reach the poverty U.N. Millennium goals.