Mali Summit of the Poor Vs G-8

Mali: Held parallel to the G-8 Summit the Summit of the Poor, that concluded Friday in Mali, hit a raw nerve on the problems affecting the poorest countries.

The President of Mali's Section of the African Coalition of Debt and Development (CAD) Barry Aminata Tour‚ pointed out that the objective is to challenge unilateral and unjust policies of the 8 developed countries.

The meeting was attended by hundreds representatives of the five continents but most of them from Africa, and the most affected by the current economic global crisis. The 8th Summit of the Poor has focused its debates on economic and development policies, access to basic services and the environment.

Animata Tour‚ noted the challenge is to find a respond from the countries that are more seriously affected by the wrong policies of the G-8. In 2002 CAD called for the first People's Summit and since that time on it takes place annually always in parallel with the one of G-8, the group of the 8 most industrialized economies.

The eight previous meetings contributed to prevent the 8 from having the monopoly of words and decisions.

The main event of the poor is a forum that advocates that another world is possible in which social and economic justice will constitute the only law between peoples and leaders, emphasized a release of the group.

Bamako, Prensa Latina