6 th – 8 th July Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland

Where is Gleneagles? Edinburgh is here Gleneagles is about 45 miles to the north west

But Gleneagles is not actually a place. It’s more a railway station and a big hotel!

Bed and breakfast for two people for one night is around £500!

…but you do get a round of golf amidst fabulous scenery thrown in!

This is where a group of world leaders who call themselves the G8 will meet from the 6 th to 8 th July Gleneagles Hotel is an ideal venue for the meeting : It is secludedIt is secluded It is less than an hour’s drive from two international airportsIt is less than an hour’s drive from two international airports It is only 1 mile from the A9 dual carriagewayIt is only 1 mile from the A9 dual carriageway

What is the G8? G8 is the ‘Group of Eight’ nationsG8 is the ‘Group of Eight’ nations It began in 1975 with Japan, France, Germany, UK, Italy and USA. Canada joined in 1976 and Russia in 1998It began in 1975 with Japan, France, Germany, UK, Italy and USA. Canada joined in 1976 and Russia in 1998 The ‘Presidency’ of G8 changes each yearThe ‘Presidency’ of G8 changes each year Tony Blair became President of G8 on 1st January 2005Tony Blair became President of G8 on 1st January 2005 The country which has the Presidency organises the annual meeting of Heads of Government of the G8 countriesThe country which has the Presidency organises the annual meeting of Heads of Government of the G8 countries This meeting is called a SummitThis meeting is called a Summit At the Summit, the leaders discuss major political, economic and social issues which affect the world At the Summit, the leaders discuss major political, economic and social issues which affect the world

The G8 Countries USA CANADA UKRUSSIA JAPAN FRANCE GERMANY ITALY What do you notice about the distribution of these countries? Are there any ‘surprises’ in the list? Do you think there any omissions?

The G8 Leaders Tony Blair George W. Bush Vladimir Putin Junichiro Kiozumi Paul Martin Jacques Chirac Gerhard Schröder Silvio Berlusconi

Which countries do they lead? Tony Blair George W. Bush Vladimir Putin Junichiro Kiozumi Paul Martin Jacques Chirac Gerhard Schröder Silvio Berlusconi United Kingdom Russia Canada Germany USA Japan France Italy

Two main themes will be discussed at the G8 Summit 2005? Africa Climate Change

Why Africa?

“Africa is a wonderful, diverse continent with an extraordinary, energetic and resilient people. But it is also plagued with problems so serious that no continent could tackle them on its own.” Tony Blair

Here is just one story from Africa ……… Abibya Gyarko and her husband have a small farm on which they grow maize and tomatoes. They used to be prosperous by African standards

In the 1990s (as a condition of loans and aid) the World bank forced Ghana to open its markets to imported tomatoes Cheap tinned tomatoes produced by European farmers who are subsidised by their governments have flooded the market in Ghana Two of Ghana’s three tomato processing plants have closed Many of the three million Ghanaians who relied on tomatoes for a living have been plunged into poverty

Africa is the only region in the world that has got poorer in the last generation Africa’s share of world trade halved between 1980 and 2002 To date 13 million people have died of Aids in Africa and 26 million are HIV positive Maternal and child mortality rates are increasing in Africa. One in six children in Africa do not live to celebrate their fifth birthday 98% of children in Africa go to bed each day feeling hungry 42% of the population of Africa do not have access to safe water Fact

World leaders do not all agree about why Africa has so many problems….. History? Unfair trade? Debt? Corruption? Lack of foreign investment? War? Natural disasters? Lack of education? The G8 summit will be an opportunity to discuss these issues

Other events have been timed to focus attention on the G8 discussions on Africa………. As the leaders of the world's richest countries gather in Scotland for the G8 Summit, tens of thousands of people will gather in Edinburgh on 2nd July to demand trade justice, debt cancellation, and more and better aid for the world's poorest countries.

5 concerts, 100 artists, a million spectators, 2 billion viewers, and 1 message... To get those 8 men, in that 1 room, to stop 30,000 children dying every single day of extreme poverty. “Just get on with it guys!” Bob Geldof

Why Climate Change?

“Climate change is a global problem that needs addressing now for the sake of future generations. The science is well established and the dangers clear. No country can tackle climate change on its own. But there are actions that we can take together to lessen its impact. It is crucial to every country in the world that we establish a consensus now on the nature of the problem and what actions we can take. Again it is the world's richer, industrialised countries - the G8 - that have to take the lead.” Tony Blair

The ten hottest years on record have occurred since 1991 Fact During the 20 th century world energy use multiplied ten times Fact 13% of the world’s population live in G8 countries and together they produce 47% of global carbon dioxide emissions Fact Temperatures have risen by 0.6ºC in the last century Fact Sea levels are expected to rise by over 50cms in the next century Fact 2003’s heat-wave was linked to 26,000 premature deaths Fact

Climate change is a global problem and requires a global solution.

……..these are the issues that the G8 leaders will discuss at Gleneagles from the 6 th – 8 th July. What would YOU say to them? Write your plea on the ‘post-it’ which your teacher will give you and stick it on the G8 display board.