88 SECOND DAY’S PROCEEDINGS The G8 summit will take place at Gleneagles in Scotland on July 6-8; and that a major MONDAY, 6TH JUNE 2005 demonstration against G8 policies will be taking MORNING SESSION place in Edinburgh. Congress following on from the devastating effects and human tragedy seen by (Congress assembled at 10.00a.m.) the world of the Tsunami in South East Asia it is clear that the G8 Nations have a Global THE PRESIDENT: Congress, come to order, please. responsibility to consider world poverty, the debt Good morning, colleagues. I hope you are all bright of developing countries, health, climate change, eyed and bushy tailed. We had a lovely evening in the and conflict avoidance. Congress notes that Regions. Thank you all. Oxfam and other NGO’s are promoting a drive to Make Poverty History (though changes to trade (Safety film shown) rules, debt cancellation, more aid). Changes to trade rules and debt cancellation are not, by ANNOUNCEMENTS themselves, adequate policies to tackle ‘Third World’ poverty. We need to support democratic THE PRESIDENT: Let the show begin! Colleagues, I movements, and above all the trade union have a couple of announcements to make. I would like movement, in developing countries. to welcome Colin Burgon, MP. Welcome. Of course, British government policy includes many of you have just seen our European MEP come pressure for the privatisation of public services in, a good friend to the GMB, Stephen Hughes. and ‘liberalisation of markets’ which includes a Stephen, welcome (Applause) race to find cheaper and cheaper labour Yesterday we gave the awards, quite fittingly, to sources. This Congress notes that, for example, the Gold Badge winners of this year. But, Congress, when the municipal water system was privatised last year we also had two Gold Badge winners. They in Manila families saw their water rates rise by are in the hall today. I would like them both to stand over 300% in six years (War on Want). up. Les, come out of the dark and into the light. You Meanwhile parasitic consultancy firms such as think you are Peter Mandelson! Les White from PriceWaterhouse-Coopers and KPMG have Midland & East Coast Region won our Men's Gold made vast amounts from directing the Badge last year. He is very proud to have worn it. privatisation of water, rail, electricity and postal Well done. Jan Smith from London Region won the services in developing countries. Women's Gold Badge. They were last year's winners. Thank you very much. (Applause) Congress notes that: Colleagues, we are going this morning to have to • the G8 is a club of the major industrialised, be flexible with the agenda as Gordon's train might capital nations, whose summits deal with be late, but that is what they get for privatisation, macroeconomic management, international isn't it? However, he may make it on time, who trade and relations with developing countries knows. I call Composite 32, G8 Summit - Make Poverty from the standpoint of these states History. We want to make poverty history everywhere in the world. We urge delegates to visit the Oxfam • world trade is estimated to be worth $10 store where they can receive further information million a minute - the world’s 49 least about the poverty history campaign. developed countries account for only 0.4% of this (Christian Aid) INTERNATIONAL • the cost of eradicating poverty would be 1% of global income (UNDP) G8 SUMMIT - MAKE POVERTY HISTORY This Congress notes that the campaign against the G8 is the first opportunity to press the COMPOSITE 000000000000000000 32 campaign to ‘Make Poverty History’ and (Covering Motions 339, 340 and 341) therefore the GMB resolves to support the demo. Congress therefore calls on the GMB to: 339 - G8 Summit, Gleneagles (GMB Scotland) 340 - International (Birmingham & West • work with Trade Unions from the G8 Midlands Region) countries to ensure that tackling poverty, 341 - Make Poverty History (Yorkshire & disease, and education becomes a priority North Derbyshire Region) issue of GMB lobbying • to engage with NGO’s to promote an agenda Congress notes that July 2005 will see the which includes opposition to the drive to arrival of the group of G8 leading industrial privatise basic public services; support for Nations for a meeting at Gleneagles in Scotland. democracy campaigns; 89 • support for free trade unions and the right to campaign. a living wage BRO. C. ROBERTSON (GMB Scotland): President, Congress urges Government during 2005 to Congress, I am seconding Composite Motion 32. At campaign to introduce a just trade system and the start of the Millennium, the leaders of almost the cancel unpayable debts while assuming the E.U. entire world, 191 nations, made an historic pledge to Presidency and hosting the G8 Summit end extreme poverty and hunger by 2015. Their progress was to be measured by eight targets, known (Carried) as the Millennium Goals. Time for action to meet these Millennium Development Goals is running out. BRO. A. IRVING (Yorkshire & North Derbyshire): I am Progress has been unforgivably slow. Only one goal, moving Composite 32. Colleagues, Make Poverty that of halving income poverty, has any chance of History is a campaign about justice, not charity. This being met, and the poorest people with will pay the motion could very well be the most important one we price for this failure. debate this week. Three million people in the UK, If current trends are allowed to continue, 45 many of them our members, certainly think so and million more children will die between now and 2015; have already committed themselves actively to 247 million more people in sub-Saharan Africa will be supporting the campaign. living on less than 70 pence per day in 2015 and 97 So what is it all about? It is simple. It is about million more children will still be out of school in making a difference. Each and every one of us in this 2015. I, for one, refuse to believe that a world which room has a unique opportunity to make a difference can afford to spend billions on weapons of mass by being the generation to say: “Enough is enough”. destruction cannot also find money needed to Thirty thousand children die every day from poverty, destroy the greatest weapon of mass destruction through hunger, lack of clean water and disease. If that exists today - abject poverty! you try to find out why people are dying from poverty An amazing UK alliance of charities, trade unions, in one part of the world when another is dripping in Christian dominations and faith groups have material and natural riches, the trail always leads to mobilised key opportunities in 2005 to drive forward one inescapable conclusion - greed. this struggle against poverty and injustice. They We have the wealth. They have not. We could called themselves “Make Poverty History”. Make share it with them, but, instead, we let them borrow Poverty History urges the Government and the it and we will charge them for the privilege. However, international decision-makers to rise to the whatever wealth they can generate for themselves challenge in 2005. They are calling for an urgent and comes straight back to us in interest payments meaningful policy change on three critical and instead of going to solve their own problems. The inextricably linked areas on trade, debt and aid. only thing worse than poverty must be poverty plus Events in 2005 mean there is finally a chance to debt. As we keep on repeating this vicious circle. We win debt cancellation, trade justice and doubling of kid ourselves that we are doing our bit. Enough is overseas aid - essential steps that could lift 800 enough. million people out of extreme poverty. In July, the Next month, the G8 group, the leaders of the UK will be holding the Presidency of the EU and the world's richest industrial nations, will meet at G8 Group at Gleneagles. We have an unprecedented Gleneagles. These people really can make a opportunity to end extreme poverty and to choose a difference. They have the power to make poverty full life for our brothers and sisters around the world. history by changing trade rules, cancelling debt During the time it has taken me to read this motion, repayments, targeting aid and supporting 200 children in Africa will have taken their last democratic movements like trade unions in breath and lost their grip on life. Tomorrow 30,000 developing countries. They must protect public African children will die, the same as today and the service provision in developing countries from day before. private profiteers. They could do it, but do they want I invite Congress to join with the Make Poverty to? That is where we come in. History coalition to ensure that 2005 certainly is the Colleagues, in the 1930s, the people of the North- year in which we make poverty history. East launched their own campaign against poverty. They marched from Jarrow, a town not far from here, BRO. G. RICHARDSON (Birmingham & West Midlands): to London to those in power to call for an end to President, Congress, I support wholeheartedly - I poverty, the right to work and the right to a living have the unanimous backing of the Birmingham & wage. It was a local campaign which became a West Midlands Region - making poverty history. The national movement. global alliance of trade unions, aid organisations, In Edinburgh, in July, we have the chance to be charities and religious groups want to reduce the gap part of a global march where justice, freedom, dignity between the richest and the poorest - a gap that and humanity are valued more than money and widens as we speak.