The G8 Summit in Italy has been going on for half a day and already the first of a reported 10 communiques has been released.
In predictable fashion, the release of the communique covering the world economy, climate change and development was of great interest to us, and we quickly issued this reaction to it yesterday.
While the scramble for the communique was going on, a group of over 100 journalists were shepherded into an auditorium to meet with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
On development, Berlusconi started by recalling that the Global Fund stands out as a success of the Summit in Genoa, having saved millions of lives since it was founded in 2001. He also said that the 2009 dues would be paid by the end of the year. Otherwise, he referred vaguely to a commitment to increase aid.
No mountains have been moved yet, but we’re working to keep the pressure on for a better outcome tomorrow. More soon!
-Eloise Todd