CRWRC Official Applauds G8 Commitments

Andrew Ryskamp, the director of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee's U.S. office, says he was relieved to see that the leaders of the world's eight wealthiest countries, the G8, have recommitted themselves to supporting the Millennium Development Goals.

At the summit, the G8 pledged to maintain their commitment to, among other things, finding solutions to reduce global warming and to deal with the global food crisis.

Prior to the summit, Ryskamp says, some relief and economic development officials were worried that G8 leaders would not strongly support the Millennium Development Goals, which include reducing worldwide poverty and disease by 2015.

But at the three-day G8 Summit held in early July in Japan, the G8 leaders "agreed to reverse the overall decline of aid and investment in the agricultural sector, and to achieve significant increases in support of developing country initiatives, including in Africa," according to the Environmental News Service.

In addition, says the ENS, they pledged to "support country-led development strategies in adapting to the impact of climate change … and promoting conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, while intensifying our efforts to address climate change."

Ryskamp paid close attention to summit developments because of his role with the CRWRC, the Christian Reformed Church in North America's relief and development agency, as well as his role as a board member of the Micah Network, a faith-based social justice advocacy organization that works to make sure the Millennium Development Goals are met.

"I was glad to see that the summit drew attention to the Millennium Development Goals. It shows they are paying attention to the concern of poverty and the need for economic development around the world, and especially in Africa," says Ryskamp. "Before the G8 Summit, people were worried that the G8 would scale back its commitment to Millennium Development Goals."

InSeptember 2000, the United Nations' General Assembly set a goal of achieving eight Millennium Development Goals by the year 2015. These goals include:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Debt relief for poorer countries.

Part of the Micah Network's mission, says Ryskamp, is to work in various ways to urge world leaders to maintain commitment to reaching the MDG. "We raise the issues of accountability and transparency," he says. "We act as a constant conscience and put pressure on governments to make sure that aid and assistance" is used to address issues of poverty and does not get lost to government corruption and mismanagement.

"We are working to really have the MDG implemented, and as part of this we believe it is important to look at the ramifications of how aid is used," he says.

Although the United States has not fully endorsed the MDG, President George Bush at the G8 conference highlighted the need to continue providing aid to Africa as well as pay closer attention to finding ways to address such environmental concerns as global warming.

Ryskamp says the G8's support of the MDG is heartening. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the G8 countries will set aside the needed resources to meet the goals by 2015. And that is why organizations such as Micah Network are necessary, he says.