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G20 Summit 2009, London
16 March 2009 On 2 April, leaders of twenty of the world's most powerful nations will meet in London for the G20 Summit. The meeting will be a massive opportunity to build a future that works for the benefit of people everywhere. In many ways, the G20 is similar to the G8. There is, however, a key difference – size. The G20 consists of 19 of the world's largest industrial and emerging market economies plus the European Union. With more developing countries included in the meetings, the G20 is more representative than the G8. We are all aware that the global economy is in crisis. For the past six months the news has been full of falling house prices and the collapse of banking giants. In these troubled times, the world's poorest communities face a worsening situation and as the economic crisis continues billions still live without life's necessities. One in eight people do not have safe water to drink and over 40% of the world's population live without adequate sanitation. This is causing the deaths of millions of children each year, impeding progress in education and health, and preventing economic growth. WaterAid's vision is of a world where everyone has access to these basic human rights which underpin health, education and livelihoods forming the first, essential step in overcoming poverty. WaterAid, as part of the End Water Poverty Campaign, is calling on governments to take action to address this crisis. Without a global action plan and a commitment to finance national plans for sanitation and water, progress on achieving most of the MDGs will be thwarted. WaterAid has also joined others to campaign for Jobs, Justice and Climate. In the light of the current economic crisis, development NGOs like us are joining with trade unions, faith groups, environmentalists and other civil society organisations, to call for a fair, sustainable route out of recession. The platform is united by three linked calls: decent jobs and public services for all, end poverty and inequality, build a green economy. By being part of this campaign WaterAid is able to spread its message on the vital role that water and sanitation play in all human and economic development. WaterAid also recognises that there are broader issues that affect our vision of a world where everyone has access to safe water and sanitation. For example, unless rich country governments keep their promises and provide 0.7% of their Gross National Income as aid, it is unlikely there will be enough financing to meet the water and sanitation Millennium Development Goal targets. On Saturday 28 March 2009, the coalition will take to the streets of London for a mass demonstration entitled Put People First: March for Jobs, Justice and Climate. The mobilisation comes just days before the G20 Summit. For more information and for more details on what the campaign is calling for, visit the Put people first website. For more information please contact Chloe Irvine on +44(0)20 7793 4909 or by email at chloeirvine@wateraid.org.
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