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whitewash/fudge?? What best to do now??? Africa takes centre stage as G8 begins
By Yoko Kubota and Alan Wheatley Reuters - Sunday, July 6 TOYAKO, Japan (Reuters)

The Group of Eight rich nations will seek to convince a sceptical Africa on Monday that it is living up to promises to double aid to the world's poorest continent.

Underlining the importance of the issue, the G8 has invited seven African leaders to join the opening day of its annual summit, taking place at a plush hotel on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Climate change, record oil prices and a deteriorating global economy add up to a crowded agenda for the three-day meeting, but U.S. President George W. Bush said he particularly wanted to hold fellow leaders to account for their African aid pledges.

"We'll be very constructive in the dialogue when it comes to the environment -- I care about the environment -- but today there's too much suffering on the continent of Africa, and now's the time for the comfortable nations

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What should G8 leaders focus on?

Rising food costs, an uncertain global economy, climate change and Zimbabwe's political crisis face the G8 leaders who are gathering in Japan.

What would you like to see them discuss?

On the eve of the summit, President George W. Bush said America wants to play a constructive role in tackling the problem of climate change, but warned it could only be solved if China and India shared that aspiration.

A White House spokesman said they were likely to "strongly condemn" Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe over a disputed presidential election run-off poll.

But rising food and oil prices and their effect on the global economy have moved up the agenda.

Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported that the G8 countries wanted to create a system of food reserves that would act to stabilise prices.

Is the G8 focusing on the right issues?

What is more important – climate change or rising oil and food prices?

How vital is Mugabe action?

The Hooded Claw©

Its about time G8 stopped funding crooked African despots.