The point being that the UK government is committed to development 
rather than easy and empty rhetorical gestures?


On Tue, 12 Dec 2000 15:35:51 +0000 David McKnight 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> 
>     What follows is a variation on the text from a comic strip on the World Bank. 
>     Below that is the press release from DFID about their White Paper on Globalisation.
>      
>     ***************
>     
>     Clare Short is reading out a statement about a new government report:
>     
>     "20 years ago governments and bureaucrats met and commited ourselves to eradicating world poverty and hunger. 
>     Since that time we have vigourously promoted our policies of free trade, export-led growth, inward investment, trickle down economics and structural adjustment. 
>     However... in the meantime the gap between the rich and the poor has done nothing but widen. 
>     And so, 20 years hence, what is now needed is obvious...
>     Another 20years of the same."
>     
>     "..And so the document now reads: 'This government fully and totally commits itself to the complete eradication of world poverty...as long as this does not involve (a) actually changing anything, or (b) preventing the rich world dominating the global economy'."
>     
>     ***************
>     WHITE PAPER COMMITS UK TO MAKING GLOBLISATION WORK FOR THE POOR
> 
>     The new White Paper on International Development sets out an ambitious new agenda for tackling one of the key challenges for the 21st Century: the reduction and eventual elimination of extreme poverty globally.
> 
>     Launched today by International Development Secretary Clare Short, the White Paper: Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation Work for the Poor, looks specifically at the challenges and opportunities presented by globalisation and what these mean for the world’s poorest countries and people. 
> 
>     Clare Short, "One in five of the people who share this planet are living in abject poverty. Yet we have knowledge, technology and capital in abundance. 
> 
>     "Globalisation brings with it opportunities, and risks. If the poorest people and countries can be included in the global economy on more beneficial terms, it could lead to a rapid reduction in global poverty. But if we go on as we are the poor will become more marginalised. Our task is to help manage globalisation in a way that allows us to systematically reduce poverty. 
> 
>     "To do this developing countries need an efficient private sector and effective government, alongside strong international institutions, focused on the systematic reduction of poverty. And we need to work together to reduce conflict and corruption, boost investment in education and health, spread the benefits of modern technology and reduce barriers to trade.
> 
>     "Managing globalisation with equity is morally right. It is also in our interests. If the poorest countries remain marginalised, conflict, environmental degradation and disease will increase. And we will all be affected by the consequences. There can be no secure future for any of us unless we promote greater global social justice."
> 
>     
>     WHITE PAPER - NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
> 
>         1.. Untying all development assistance. (WP2/02) All aid from the UK will be spent on goods and services which provide the best quality and service at the best price. The practice of using aid on condition that a proportion of the goods and services are from the UK will end with effect from 1 April 2001. 
> 
>         2.. £35 million to support the final effort to eradicate polio from the world within 5 years. (WP2/03) Better health is essential if poor people are to benefit from globalisation, and the White Paper commits DFID to promoting better health for poor people. DFID will give additional funds to the World Health Organisation’s Global Polio Strategic Plan, to complete the worldwide anti-polio initiative.
> 
>         3.. New Africa trade programme to help African countries trade more effectively. (WP2/04) Poorer countries need to be able to protect and promote their interests more effectively in international trade negotiations if they are to compete more successfully in the global economy. DFID will double its support for trade strengthening initiatives in developing countries, from £15 million over the last 3 years, to £30 million over the next 3 years. We will launch a new Africa Trade and Poverty Programme to provide technical support for national governments and regional organisations in Sub Saharan Africa. We will also continue to work for duty free access for all exports (except arms) from the least developed countries into the EU. 
> 
>         4.. New opportunities for investing in developing countries. (WP2/05) Increased private investment in developing countries is essential to provide access to modern technology and increase their economic growth. A new Infrastructure Financing Facility for Africa will complement the DFID initiated World Bank facility to encourage Public-Private investment in infrastructure. This will leverage private investment in electricity, gas pipelines, telecommunications, transport, water and sanitation. DFID will also set up a Business Linkages Challenge Fund to support enterprises in developing countries to form links with domestic and international partners.
> 
>         5.. Tough action on corruption. (WP2/06) The Queen’s Speech committed the Government to publish a draft bill to tighten the laws on money laundering and the restraint of stolen assets. This will make it easier for developing countries to recover those assets if they are deposited in UK banks.
> 
>         6.. Commission on Intellectual Property Rights. (WP2/07) The Government will establish a Commission to examine the ways in which intellectual property rules need to develop to take greater account of the interests of developing countries.
> 
>         7.. Increase in support for world environmental initiatives. (WP2/08) The UK will support a 50 per cent increase to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) - the mechanism which helps developing countries to address global environmental objectives - and encourage others to do the same.
>         
> 
>     Notes to Editors 
> 
>         1.. The White Paper was launched at 11am, Monday 11 December 2000. Copies are available from the DFID Press Office, Tel: (020) 7917 0533/ 0600/ 0680/ 0821/ 0950. Full text and summary versions are also available online at: http//:www.dfid.gov.uk
> 
>         2.. Eliminating World Poverty: Making Globalisation Work for the Poor is the Government’s second White Paper on International Development, and complements the first White Paper: Eliminating World Poverty: A Challenge for the 21st Century, which was published in November 1997.
> 
>         3.. A VNR (8’12") and B-Roll (19’11") footage produced by Television Trust for the Environment (TVE) is available on Beta and VHS formats from Mary McCollum, DFID Press Office, Tel: 020 7917 0600. 
> 
>         4.. Stills photographs and footage of the official White Paper photo call, featuring the Prime Minister, Clare Short and Nigerian and Arsenal football star Nwankwo Kanu, are available on request. All material is embargoed to 00:01, Monday 11 December. Footage: contact News Organiser, Sky News, Tel: 020 7705 5500; Stills: contact Picture Desk, The Mirror, Tel: 020 7293 3000; Wires: contact Associated Press, Tel: 202 7353 8118
> 
>         5.. More details of the today’s announcements are outlined in the accompanying briefing sheets (WP2/02-08). 
> 
>     Press Enquiries: 020 7917 0600 Overseas (+44 20 7917 0600)
>     Public Enquiries: 0845 3004100 Overseas (+44 1355 84 3132)
> 
> 
> ----------------------
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> 
> D.J. McKnight
> Room 107
> Department of Geography
> Roxby Building
> University of Liverpool
> Liverpool
> L69 3BX
> 
> (0151) 794 6422
> 
> 
> 

----------------------
Adam Tickell
School of Geographical Sciences
University of Bristol
Bristol
BS8 1SS
0117 928 9038

http://www.ggy.bris.ac.uk/staff/ggatt/index.htm
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