Cooperation, not domination: For a fair way of development

04.07.2005: Flyer der GRÜNEN JUGEND, den wir in Schottland auf den Protesten gegen den dortigen G8-Gipfel verteilt haben.

The same procedure as every year: The so called G8-nations, composed of the seven leading industrial nations and Russia, meet to consolidate their politics. Again, this will happen behind closed doors and without the possibility of participation for other states or the civil society, represented by NGOs for example.

This intransparent und undemocratic way of political action conflicts massively with the laws and protected rights that exist in almost each of these states. Regularly, the result of these meetings is not much more than an improvement of the position of the world’s most wealthy countries. The G8-summits usually helps enforcing their interests - which do not include the development of poor countries or environmental protection. The behaviour of the G8 has until now been irresponsible.

This year, it seems as if some of these reproaches would not apply anymore: The only agenda-topic will be the development cooperation with the poorest nations of the world. Few weeks ago, 18 of them were freed of their debt and often enough, the UN Millennium Goals are mentioned in the speeches of political leaders. This year’s G8-summit is supposed to push further into this direction.

The stressing on development policies was demanded for a long time and it is to be welcomed that those voices were heard. The debt cancellation, for example, is a very important step for the so called development countries. However, there are important facts that must be criticized: First, not all highly indebted countries were freed of their debts - and strangely enough, some states that did not profit from it were much better governed than those who did; again, it was intransparent why these specific countries were chosen. Second, some of the wealthy nations are thinking about offsetting the debt cancellation against their regular budget of development cooperation; then the step would be completely ineffective. Also, it must be made sure that the set free money - formerly used for debt repayment - will indeed improve the situation of the population. This is only possible when it’s unlikely that corrupt governments keep that money for themselves. Therefore, the debt cancellation does not legitimate the rich nations to look away with a good conscience from now on.

Besides, the debt cancellation can only be the first step - it is necessary but not sufficient. For many years already, the industrial nations assure that they will soon spend 0,7 % of their GNP for development cooperation. Only very few nations are even near this goal. And some countries, Japan for example, can only show a high percentage because they link financial help to the export of their goods, so that their development assistance is mainly promotion of their export industry. Therefore, the receiving country cannot decide itself how they use the support of wealthier nations. Using this way, development cooperation mutates to sole development help, which isn’t even always help but sometimes rather the enforcement of certain interests. These often consist of getting big contracts for their own industry instead of assisting at small projects, which would often make more sense.

Still most important, however, is the acquisition of more money for development cooperation. Next to the commitments of each industrial nation, international taxes are an excellent way to reach that goal. Often it is possible to combine an effect of behaviour guidance with the accumulation of capital for development financing. For example, the Tobin- or a kerosene tax would be first steps for the states to follow the globalization of the economy. It is high time that these instruments are used - it would be a shame, if at least the UN Millennium Goals could not be reached just because of too little money!

Who we are

The GRUENE JUGEND (the german Green Youth) was founded in 1994 and is the political youth organisation of the german Greens. We`re taking our own, progressive positions within and outside the green party. Although we are officialy part of the Greens, we’re completely independent in our political opinions.

Anybody can become a member of us, until he/she is aged 28. You can be an active member within the Green Youth, without being a member of the `old greens`, as we call them. At the moment we have about 5500 members (June 2004, membership is steadily increasing). By the way, we’re having an office in the same building as the old greens, with one office coordinator and some students working for us.

What we want

We are ecological, social, very critical towards globalisation, democratic, emancipative, antiracistic, international and peaceful. Some of our main political issues are: