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07/04/2005:

"Helping poor 'a lifetime's work'"

Chancellor Gordon Brown says progress has been made in tackling poverty but it will take more than one G8 meeting to determine Africa's long-term future.

He told the BBC: "It is a lifetime's work where we empower the people of Africa and the developing countries to make decisions for themselves."

...And he said the Live 8 events were an example of Britain at its best.

They were proof that "people can have power if they make their views felt".

...But he stressed: "It is not a week's work at the G8 that is going to determine the long-term future of Africa or the developing countries."

The Pope has also joined in calls for world leaders to take action to stamp out poverty in Africa.

He urged them to take concrete measures to eradicate starvation and help poorer countries to develop.

...EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson said that trade was the only way to convert humanitarian assistance into economic sustainability in Africa.

But he added: "It's not a simple we throw a switch, we pull a lever and we have reform overnight for the benefit of all developing countries.

"Different developing countries have different interests and different needs and we have to accommodate them all."
Full: bbc.co.uk

'Determining Africa's long-term future"...feels so nice they had to say it twice. Check those muscular verbs baby. "We" are so so goood... Only 'we' have the power to 'empower'. And which 'people' have the power? Why 'ours' of course. "'We' [sigh] have to accomodate 'them' all...whiteman's burden is a bitch...
I'm reminded of what Eduardo Galeano said, that in 'developing countries' we do not see a lack of capitalism, but indeed capitalism in its "vicious senility." Why are "they" poor? Simple. Because "we" are rich. Mr. Brown makes sure to say this is all going to take a very long time, since the fruits will be invisible, being non-existent.