Elton John Signs Global Petition Urging G8 Leaders Keep Their Promises
Contact: David Bryden, 1-202-789-0432, x211, or mobile 1-202-549-3664
Washington, DC, May 31, 2007—A boost of star-power was added to the upcoming Summit of G8 leaders today, when several high-profile entertainers added their names to a global petition telling the G8 leaders to keep their promises to help impoverished countries.
The petition is open for signature until June 5. It is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, and Japanese. Music lovers and fans of these stars can join the effort by signing the petition online at http://www.globalaidsalliance.org/page/signup.
President Bush and other world leaders will attend the G8 Summit in Germany, June 6-8, hosted by Chancellor Merkel, and Africa, AIDS, and education will be high on the agenda. Intense negotiations are under way as representatives of the G8 leaders try to finalize a statement regarding Africa. Yet, experts on poverty are saying that the G8 leaders are still not keeping the promises they made in 2005.
Sir Elton John stated: "How can we break the promises we make to the world's most vulnerable people? I am signing this petition because the G8 leaders should keep their promises, and I urge music lovers and everyone around the world to sign it, too."
Click here to see Elton John's signed petition.
Iman, actress and supermodel, stated: "I am joined by Keep a Child Alive Ambassadors Alicia Keys, Jessica Alba, Liv Tyler, and Padma Lakshmi in signing this petition. The G8 leaders, including President Bush, absolutely must keep their promises to children! Universal access to AIDS services by 2010 must include children, and it's an outrage the world is not on course to reach this goal. We encourage everyone—and this means YOU—to sign this petition today."
Some G8 countries are still resisting any reaffirmation of the promises made in 2005 or any specific commitments on health and education. At the G8 Summit in 2005, leaders promised to increase aid levels, support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, address the dire shortage of health care workers in Africa and other regions, and back the Fast Track Initiative to ensure that every child has a chance to go to school.
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Honorary Chair of the Global AIDS Alliance, kicked off the petition drive just a few weeks ago.
Archbishop Tutu stated: "The G8 Summit is not just any meeting. It's a meeting where life-and-death decisions will be made, affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide. Please, take a minute to sign this petition now. Let's make sure the world's leaders know we mean business, and that we intend to keep these issues in mind whenever we vote!"
A number of other prominent leaders have also signed the petition, including Reverend Jesse Jackson, Rabbi Michael Lerner, and Dr. Tatsuo Hayashi, who is Chair of the Hottokenai Campaign in Japan and President of the Africa Japan Forum.
Organizations from around the world have endorsed the petition, including the World AIDS Campaign, the German organization Aktionsbundnis gegen AIDS (Action Against AIDS), International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Friends of the Global Fund Africa, the Africa Public Health Rights Alliance's "15% Now!" Campaign, and many others. The petition complements other important petition drives with a broader set of demands, including Your Voice Against Poverty.