Economic Justice Forum, BOND 06.11.2006

1. Economic Justice Forum, BOND 06.11.2006

2. What is VENRO? • „Deine Stimme gegen Armut“ • Highlights 2005/2006 • Policy demands • G8 Agenda 2007 • Plans 2007 • „Deine Stimme gegen Armut“ • VENRO EU presidency project • G8 preparations of German civil society • Calendar of activities around G8 Summit • How to support German activities?

3. VENRO • Association of German development NGOs with more than 100 member organisations representing 2,000 groups • Umbrella organisation of independent and church related NGOs working in the fields of development cooperation, emergency assistance, development education, and advocacy. • Organisational structure: • 10 board members • Secretariat in Bonn (7 colleagues) • Project office in Berlin (2 colleagues) • Working groups: European development policy, humanitarian aid, development education, World Bank/IMF, co-financing, disabled persons in development cooperation

4. „Deine Stimme gegen Armut“(„Your Voice/Vote against Poverty“) • Joint campaign of VENRO and artist Herbert Groenemeyer and experts in media, PR • Campaign office in Berlin: • Ulrich Schlenker (co-ordination) u.schlenker@venro.org • Imke Sommerkamp (campaigner) i.sommerkamp@dsga.de • Birte Rodenberg (policy) b.rodenberg@venro.org

5. Demands • Goal: achievement of MDGs: „Keep the promise“ • 4 core demands in line with GCAP (More and better aid, trade justice, debt cancellation, just governance) • Position paper „Stand by your commitments“ with 12 demands to German government in precise terms, e.g. how to reach 0.7, introduction of innovative financing instruments, steps against tax havens, boost crisis prevention, combating AIDS, prevent harmful climate change • Full text in English:www.deine-stimme-gegen-armut.de/docs/ DSGA_VENRO_Forderungspapier_2006_eng.pdf

6. Official German G8 agenda (1) • Leitmotif „growth and responsibility“ • Two main topics: world economy and Africa • „Investment, innovation and sustainability“ • Reduce global injustice (trade deficit usa, increasing currency reserves in Asia) • Improve systemic stability and transparency of financial and capital markets • Recognition of freedom to invest in developed and middle income countries, conditions for investment, social dimension of globalization • Meaning of innovation and improvement of intellectual property protection • Sustainability and resources (energy efficiency, climate change, Kyoto)

7. Official German G8 agenda (2) • Africa: good governance, sustainable investment, peace and security • Building „reform partnership“ with Africa • Economic growth and the G8’s responsibilities are of crucial importance for Africa’s development • Strengthening of African health systems, especially in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  • African countries have to develop structures for investments: more democracy, less corruption, responsibility, sovereignty of ressources

8. DSGA plans 2007 (1) • Petition to German Government: „Voices against Poverty“ (postcards/ lists, online, SMS) • International collection of signatures • Cultural event near Heiligendamm on 7th June 2007 „P8 – Poor 8“ • Music & messages: speeches and performances by celebrities and musicians from northern as well as from developing countries • Local events organised by VENRO member organisations (Tour by Herbert Groenemeyer, activities in 80 cinemas)

9. DSGA plans 2007 (2) • Advertisments: open letters to govt./G8 (G8 Finance Ministers Meeting, EU dev. minister, G8 summit) • New click-ad with German celebrities (for TV/ cinema) • Online: „Longest Click-Ad in the world“ • Everybody takes picture/video of himself clicking – upload on international website

10. VENRO EU presidency project„Africa‘s perspective – European Politics“ • Core topics: • Establishing fair EU ACP trade • Promoting change in energy policy • Preventing dangerous climate change • HIV/Aids: improve access to prevention & therapy • Asserting gender equality • Boosting role of NGOs in EU development co-operation • Manifesto • Workshop with 20 partners from Africa (Oct.) • Handover to dev. minister in Dec. • 2007: conferences (on EPAs, March; on AIDS, July), background paper (on energy), position paper (on role of NGOs in EU develompent co-operation) • Contact:Ms Anke Kurat, tel. +49-228-94677-12, a.kurat@venro.org

11. „German G8 coordination“ – english website: www.g8-germany.info/ G8-NGO-Platform/ „Hanover-Group“ „Rostock-Group“ DEINE STIMME GEGEN ARMUTVENRO VENRO member organisations InterventionistLeft attac Global Campain on Education Germany („Bildungskampagne“) German NGO Forumon Enviroment and Development Peace movement Jubilee Campaign („erlassjahr.de“) Action against Aids(„Aktionsbündnis gegen Aids“) Greenpeace NoLager (Migration) Trade Justice Movement („Gerechtigkeit Jetzt“) Friends of the EarthGermany (BUND) (Regional)Church groups Dissent Green Party (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen) UN Millenniumcampaign (Germany) Left Party (Die Linke/PDS/ WASG) Platform of local groups in Rostock

12. German G8 co-ordination • Sees itself as a co-ordination platform but not as an alliance with own political demands • At the moment: search for a slogan • Hanover-Group: • Serie of conferences (energy, IMF/WB, financing for development, global social rights, intellectual property rights) • Rostock-Group: • Action conferences Rostock (March, Nov. 2006)

13. June 2007

14. What you can do……to support DSGA • Support collection of signatures (voices against poverty) – start soonTemporarily: www.deine-stimme-gegen-armut.de/aktiv_card.php?lang=en • Support „Longest click-ad“: upload picture/video (start in Dec.) • Come to cultural event on 7th June 2007 to Heiligendamm/ Rostock

15. What you can do……to support NGO-G8 preparations • Become supporting organisation of alternative summit • Become supporting organisation of serie of conference • Information in English: • Website: www.g8-germany.info (will provide logistical information later) • Mailing-list: http://listi.jpberlin.de/mailman/listinfo/intngo

16. Thank you for your attention. • Ulrich Schlenkeru.schlenker@venro.orgtel. +49-30-2804-5996fax. +40-30-2804-6672www.deine-stimme-gegen-armut.de