“The poor cannot be taken for a ride. The poor can no longer wait!” That’s the appeal made by over 50 Italian Catholic associations belonging to the umbrella organization “Sentinels of the morning” (including Acli, Italian Catholic Action, Focolari, Volonteers in the world-Focsiv, Agesci, etc.), who outlined their concerns and presented their proposals to the governments participating in the G8, at an event held in Rome on 25 June, on the eve of the G8 summit now underway at a remote mountain hideout at Kananaskis (Canada). In their appeal, which is a follow up to a series of petitions and stances adopted at the G8 in Genoa last year and on the occasion of other similar international events, the associations ask, among other things, that “the tax and financial havens be isolated at the political and commercial level”, that “efforts in the campaign against AIDS be reinforced”, and that 0.7% of GDP be allocated to aid to development”. Concern is also expressed, in particular, with regard to NEPAD (New partnership for Africa’s development), the action plan for the development of Africa, “which in fact does not address the real needs of African civil society”. That’s why the associations are planning a series of actions and initiatives: the youth who participate in the forthcoming World Youth Day in Toronto, will send “virtual postcards” (through the website www.sentinelledelmattino.com) to the Italian government and to the embassies of the other member countries of the G8, attaching a copy of the appeal released in recent days. From 30 July to 4 August, an “interassociative” summer camp will be held in Molfetta, focusing on international issues, while a large public demonstration is planned to be held in Florence in September.
