Blair, Bill and Bono take WEF spotlight

DAVOS – Davos regulars Bill Gates, Tony Blair and Bono sought Friday to stir the collective conscience of the annual huddle of global leaders over the plight of the developing world.

Bono, the U2 frontman – a rare exception to the bar on celebrity delegates at this year’s gathering of the World Economic Forum – was scheduled to join British Prime Minister Blair in pressing industrialised nations to honour their promises on aid to Africa. South African President Thabo Mbeki would participate in the same evening discussion, which also seeks to question whether African nations are doing enough to create the conditions for sustainable growth.Billionaire Microsoft founder Gates kicked off the development theme of the day, briefing reporters on the work of the global immunisation programme funded by the foundation he runs with his wife Melinda.”Vaccines are a miracle thing,” Gates said, adding that vaccination in developing countries had reached record levels, saving the lives of some 2,3 million children.The global GAVI alliance said it had been able to immunise 138 million children for a variety of preventable diseases in the world’s poorest countries since it was set up in 2000.”GAVI and its partners are leading a major turnaround in children’s health,” said Melinda Gates.”When GAVI was founded, immunisation rates in poor countries were on the decline.Today they are at an all-time high.”The Gates Foundation has donated US$1,5 billion to GAVI, generating more support from some 17 wealthy governments, international agencies and partnerships with industry, including vaccine makers.Development issues were also high on the agenda of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.He told Davos delegates that wealthy nations must take on board the concerns of poorer countries when seeking a resolution to the stalled Doha round of global trade talks.”If we wish to send a signal to the poorest countries of the planet that they will have an opportunity in the 21st century, it is necessary that…(rich) countries assume responsibility for developing a pact, so we can reach an agreement,” Lula said.About 30 trade ministers got together in Davos on Saturday to discuss the World Trade Organisation talks, which were suspended last July because of differences between the European Union, the United States and emerging countries.Davos has been criticised in the past for being little more than an exclusive winter retreat for corporate bigwigs who make fine public pronouncements about problems of poverty and social suffering which they are often accused of exacerbating.Nampa-AFPSouth African President Thabo Mbeki would participate in the same evening discussion, which also seeks to question whether African nations are doing enough to create the conditions for sustainable growth.Billionaire Microsoft founder Gates kicked off the development theme of the day, briefing reporters on the work of the global immunisation programme funded by the foundation he runs with his wife Melinda.”Vaccines are a miracle thing,” Gates said, adding that vaccination in developing countries had reached record levels, saving the lives of some 2,3 million children.The global GAVI alliance said it had been able to immunise 138 million children for a variety of preventable diseases in the world’s poorest countries since it was set up in 2000.”GAVI and its partners are leading a major turnaround in children’s health,” said Melinda Gates.”When GAVI was founded, immunisation rates in poor countries were on the decline.Today they are at an all-time high.”The Gates Foundation has donated US$1,5 billion to GAVI, generating more support from some 17 wealthy governments, international agencies and partnerships with industry, including vaccine makers.Development issues were also high on the agenda of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.He told Davos delegates that wealthy nations must take on board the concerns of poorer countries when seeking a resolution to the stalled Doha round of global trade talks.”If we wish to send a signal to the poorest countries of the planet that they will have an opportunity in the 21st century, it is necessary that…(rich) countries assume responsibility for developing a pact, so we can reach an agreement,” Lula said.About 30 trade ministers got together in Davos on Saturday to discuss the World Trade Organisation talks, which were suspended last July because of differences between the European Union, the United States and emerging countries.Davos has been criticised in the past for being little more than an exclusive winter retreat for corporate bigwigs who make fine public pronouncements about problems of poverty and social suffering which they are often accused of exacerbating.Nampa-AFP