If Live8 achieved nothing else at least it brought Pink Floyd back together and what a set was that.
Seriously though (and the above is a partially serious point) it is now over to the politicians to deliver on the agenda of making poverty history. It remains, however, that there is a need for Justice and Equity in the developing world as well as the rest (indeed more importantly).
Being a relatively cynical politician, however, I am unsure what actually will change as a result of the jolly going on in Gleneagles at the moment. G8 is very high profile, but has no proper constitutional function. Most of the event is determined in advance. There is an interesting amount of debate that goes on around it, but I am not entirely sure where it leads.
The UK government's hypocrisy on Climate Change is evidenced by the Air Transport White Paper and its assumptions of massive growth in Air Travel (and the consequent carbon emissions). Whilst the UK government remains committed to the predict and provide mechanism for Air Flight there can be no credibility in Blair's "commitments" on climate change. This is a simple point that is irrefutable.
I trogged up the motorway with my family to Edinburgh over the weekend which allowed us to participate in some of the MPH activity. Not being able to leave until after the advice bureau prevented us from getting on the March. Walking down the Royal Mile it was sad to see many windows boarded up on a prophylactic basis. I can understand McDonalds doing that (although I did not see that), but a Chip Shop?
Then again going back yesterday there were loads of police vans going up from various areas including the West Midlands "Crime is Down" vans and the petrol stations were refusing to sell petrol in cans.
The challenge from Wednesday is handed back to the politicians, however, to keep an eye on government and ensure that they actually deliver on Africa and Climate Change (being as politicians could never deliver on a Pink Floyd reunion gig).
Seriously though (and the above is a partially serious point) it is now over to the politicians to deliver on the agenda of making poverty history. It remains, however, that there is a need for Justice and Equity in the developing world as well as the rest (indeed more importantly).
Being a relatively cynical politician, however, I am unsure what actually will change as a result of the jolly going on in Gleneagles at the moment. G8 is very high profile, but has no proper constitutional function. Most of the event is determined in advance. There is an interesting amount of debate that goes on around it, but I am not entirely sure where it leads.
The UK government's hypocrisy on Climate Change is evidenced by the Air Transport White Paper and its assumptions of massive growth in Air Travel (and the consequent carbon emissions). Whilst the UK government remains committed to the predict and provide mechanism for Air Flight there can be no credibility in Blair's "commitments" on climate change. This is a simple point that is irrefutable.
I trogged up the motorway with my family to Edinburgh over the weekend which allowed us to participate in some of the MPH activity. Not being able to leave until after the advice bureau prevented us from getting on the March. Walking down the Royal Mile it was sad to see many windows boarded up on a prophylactic basis. I can understand McDonalds doing that (although I did not see that), but a Chip Shop?
Then again going back yesterday there were loads of police vans going up from various areas including the West Midlands "Crime is Down" vans and the petrol stations were refusing to sell petrol in cans.
The challenge from Wednesday is handed back to the politicians, however, to keep an eye on government and ensure that they actually deliver on Africa and Climate Change (being as politicians could never deliver on a Pink Floyd reunion gig).
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