G8 Italy Summit: Leaders Meet To Discuss Climate Change, Global Security, Economy (VIDEO)(SLIDESHOW)
We'll be following the Group of 8 Summit in L'Aquila here with news, photos and video. Feel free to check back at regular intervals for updates. And if you're around any of the protests in Italy of have anything to share, feel free to send photos or information here.
The quake site also provides an opportunity to point out that, despite his faults, Berlusconi actually handled the initial emergency response splendidly. As Newsweek reported at the time:
Within hours of the quake, blankets, water and biscuits were being handed out and those who had lost their homes or were too nervous to return were guided to a tent camp in a nearby stadium. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi dispatched 5,000 additional rescue workers from neighboring towns and cancelled a trip to Russia to fly to the epicenter. "I want to say something important," he said at a press conference in L'Aquilia. "No one will be abandoned to their fate."
Slideshow(4:38 P.M.):
Italian Parliament members go on China strike (3:52 P.M.):
Following dozens of environmental activists scaling the smokestacks of Italian coal-fire plants today, others stripping down on the Spanish Steps with a banner that reads "Keep climate cool", and still others blocking roads and railways to protest against globalization, the AP reports that Italian Parliament members in Rome are getting on-board the protest train:
In Rome, several members of the Italian parliament said they were starting a hunger strike on Wednesday night to urge the G-8 leaders to press China to end the violence in Xinjiang region.
Italian Parka-chic for G8 leaders (3:43 P.M.):
From Reuters, World leaders attending the G8 summit in Italy this week will receive a gift directly from their host's heart--a Belstaff-designed, custom-fitted parka, individually signed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi himself.
Belstaff, which also kits out current film stars such as George Clooney and Brad Pitt, has produced a limited edition black parka for delegates at the summit.
And there's a "parka-chic" version for the first ladies."Every single jacket is made to measure," Manuele Malenotti, whose Italy-based Clothing Co bought Belstaff in 2004, told Reuters. "Every single jacket is signed by (Italian Prime Minister Silvio) Berlusconi."
The black, mid-length parkas, in addition to Berlusconi's John Hancock, will be adorned with an Italian flag and the G8's summit logo, and after the summit it will be on sale and available to the public, with proceeds going to the Earthquake Foundation, Reuters reports.
Did Obama snub Berlusconi? (3:14 P.M.):
There's been chatter Wednesday afternoon following Obama's meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who holds a mostly ceremonial position, that Obama may have taken an indirect verbal shot at Berlusconi, who is constantly mired in scandal. Obama heaped praise on Napolitano, touting his "integrity" and describing him as a "great leader"--words that have left observers guessing at Obama's real intent. From AP:
It might sound like the standard compliments a visitor might make after being hosted in the splendor of Renaissance-era Quirinal Palace. But in a country whose real leader, Premier Silvio Berlusconi, is under fire from a sex scandal, the words had a special ring.
Even if Obama did not intend any snub of Berlusconi, the embattled premier has been under a barrage of attacks over his moral fitness to lead Italy and become a flashpoint for criticism of preparations for a summit of world leaders in earthquake-stricken L'Aquila.
Obama presses G8 on Iran's nuclear program (2:50 P.M.):
Obama seems to be leading the charge among G8 leaders for a strong statement against Iran and North Korea's nuclear ambitions; but, according to Politico, it remains unclear what further steps the group can even take that it hasn't already.
WATCH:
Rain on the climate change parade (2:45 P.M.):
Earlier we reported on a G8 pledge to limit any increase in global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius--the group's first ever temperature goal; however, this is a G8 declaration, and thus elides the most important players in addressing climate change, namely India and China.
As the Telegraph's James Kirkup reports, from L'Aquila, India and China say they will not sign any such agreement.
But the deal was marred by the failure of fast-growing Asian nations to sign up. The G8 had wanted them to agree to cut their carbon output by 50 per cent in the same time.
However, the 50 per cent carbon targets faced resistance from India and China, which argued that the targets would hamper their economic growth."For any long-term goals there have to be credible midterm goals in the range of 25-40 per cent," said Dinesh Patnaik, an Indian climate policy negotiator.
Awkwardness immortalized (2:33 P.M.):
Jeremy Barker at National Post has an amusing photo roundup of Berlusconi's most awkward moments at the summit thus far, here.
Obama's tour with Berlusconi (2:13 P.M.):
Via CNN, video of Obama touring the quake-wrecked areas around the G8 summit:
WATCH:
And a good report on the Berlusconi's most recent scandals, which have consistently threatened his credibility in the lead-up to the summit.
WATCH:
The argument for the G8 (2:04 P.M.):
Here's a BBC video from earlier today of an interview with Italian foreign ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari on what to expect. Notably, Massari rebuffs the question of whether the summit will just be a "talking shop" and insists that it is much more than that. Unlike its critics, who call for the G8's abolition and the ceasing of such summits, Massari says that there is real value in the concerted message of trust and commitment from world leaders that come from summits.
WATCH:
'Sconi gaffes (1:51 P.M.):
Because many of his best gaffes occur at these summits, here and here are some classic past Berlusconi statements of ill repute.
Pope hosts spouses (1:37 P.M.)
Sarah Brown, wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has her second summit blog post up. She and the spouses of other participating world leaders were hosted at the Vatican today, where they toured the basilica garden and were treated to lunch. Read the post here.
G8 promises to honor promises to Africa (1:26 P.m.)
An initial report from AFP, who caught a glimpse of a forthcoming G8 statement prior to its official release, says that G8 leaders will reaffirm their pledge fill a $25 billion hole in African aid that was agreed upon at Gleneagles G8 Summit in 2005:
"We underline how important it is to honour the engagments to increase aid that we made in Gleneagles."
Considering that most participants called for a strengthening of African aid leading up to the summit, this announcement isn't exactly groundbreaking. Nevertheless, it is important, especially for the summit's host, Berlusconi. Prior to the summit, Berlusconi was called out by Sir Bob Geldof for Italy's deplorable record on fulfilling aid commitments. According to the Metro UK news, Italy has delivered on just 3 percent of its 2005 commitment.
G8's first ever temperature goal (1:10 P.M.):
Though the summit's preliminary negotiations to halve global carbon emissions by 2050 were orginially reported to have failed, the AP is reporting that the G8 leaders have reached an accord on the group's first ever temperature goal: limiting any future global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to Science Daily, 2 degrees C is perhaps the magic number, as it were:
If CO2 emissions are halved by 2050 compared to 1990, global warming can be stabilised below two degrees. This is shown by two studies by a co-operation of German, Swiss and British researchers in the journal Nature.To contain global warming, and its risks and consequences, warming compared to pre-industrial times (pre 1900) should not exceed two degrees Celsius.
The 2 degree C target is considered significant, but I'll wait for more from green experts to weigh in on just what this particular benchmark means.
Rain on Berlusconi's parade? (1:02 P.M.):
Perhaps sullying his limelight moment as the summit's host somewhat, yet another woman has come forward with allegations that Berlusconi paid her to attend his private--and now highly scandalized--parties, the Telegraph reports:
A fourth woman has come forward to claim that she was paid 1,000 euros (£870) to attend a party at one of the Italian prime minister's private homes.Maria Teresa De Nicolo, 37, said the 72-year-old premier was the "perfect host" when he danced with her after the candle-lit dinner and that contrary to reports he did not have his hands all over her "like an octopus".
"I danced with the prime minister and also with some of the other men who were present," said Miss De Nicolo.
The Evac Plan (12:40 P.M.):
For those wondering about the safety of the summit's location--L'Aquila, which was devastated by an earthquake in April--fear not: Berlusconi says "There is no risk"...
But for those who aren't reassured by that statement, Reuters reports that there is indeed an evacuation plan in place in the unlikely event of another earthquake:
Italian authorities have readied an evacuation plan for G8 leaders attending a summit in the earthquake-hit city of L'Aquila in the event of a tremor of a 4.0 magnitude or higher, a source close to organisers said.The source said the civil protection agency had prepared plans to evacuate leaders to Rome by air if needed. Summit meetings and events would then continue in the Italian capital.
Though the summit was originally meant to take place on the island of La Maddalena (hence the sea turtles in the logo), Berlusconi opted to move it to the quake zone, he says, to stimulate its local economy and raise awareness of the remaining devastation from the April 6 quake. The village of Onna, just a few miles away, was the site of German Chancellor Merkel's visit. Germany announced in June that it would contribute aid to the rebuilding effort, according to the G8 website. Presumably, Berlusconi hopes to solicit other such charitable offers this week.
Hate for the G8? (12:25 P.M.):
Many of the protesters in emerging photos (scroll down) wield signs calling for the G8 forum to be abolished altogether. I won't weigh in on either side, but Simon Johnson over at TNR provides an eloquent argument that will make more sense of the reasons why we see so many "No More G8" signs at these international gatherings:
The L'Aquila summit seems likely to achieve nothing, i.e., nothing that could not have been agreed upon in a conference call among deputy ministers. Just because there's a communiqué does not mean it has any real content. Does this kind of expensive pageant make politicians today look important or frivolous?
And Michael Goldfarb at GlobalPost expresses a similar sentiment.
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Huffington Post | Stuart Whatley
First Posted: 07- 8-09 08:25 AM | Updated: 07- 8-09 04:39 PM