FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MADRE, An International Women's Human Rights Organization
Contact: Irene Schneeweis, Media Coordinator
(212) 627-0444; email: madre@madre.org
MADRE Comments on Bush's Latest Promise to Africa
Contact:
Irene Schneeweis,
Media Coordinator
PHONE: 212-627-0444
EMAIL: media@madre.org
June 30, 2005-New York-This morning, in anticipation of next week's G8 summit, President Bush announced "a new effort" by the US to promote development in Africa, including programs to fight malaria, train teachers, and "promote women's justice and empowerment." But funding for the initiative comes to well under $2 billion, a sharp contrast to the fair share of US aid to Africa (about $20 billion)-not to mention Bush's tax cut to the richest Americans (worth about $140 billion).
MADRE's Associate Director, Yifat Susskind, commented on the new Africa initiative: "President Bush is apparently angling to deflect criticism of his refusal to double overall US aid to Africa, which will be in the spotlight during next week's G8 summit. At a moment when the double disasters of poverty in Africa and occupation in Iraq are dominating headlines, the Administration wants to show that it is part of global efforts to eradicate poverty. Unfortunately, US-backed policies, like the trade and debt relief deals that will be put forward by the G8 next week, are worsening poverty."
Today, MADRE released a report on key issues that the G8 will discuss. The report places Bush's "new effort" for Africa in the context of US aid policy and highlights the impact of the G8 on African women and their families. The report, entitled "Make G8 Policy History: African Women's Rights and the G8," is available at: http://madre.org/articles/africa/g8.html.
As the G8 convenes in Scotland next week, MADRE staff will be in Kenya, facilitating trainings for women who are organizing to fight poverty and promote development.
MADRE's Associate Director, Yifat Susskind, is available for interviews about the G8 summit and the impact of global trade, aid, and debt-related policies on women throughout the Global South.
