Concord Denmark
In 2009 the international aid watchdog AidWatch published a report that calls attention to the issue that only six of the 27 member states of the EU are meeting the requirements regarding development aid that was decided in 2005. Italy should have paid more than 7.000 million Euros in 2008 but only paid a little more than 3.000 million Euros. – A difference with the same size as the total income of Haiti. By this initiative we wish to create a breakthrough in the fight against poverty by forcing the rich countries to take responsibility.
Keep your promises to the poor
EU is the most important donor in the world regarding developing countries. If we want to keep this position we need to meet the requirements that we together have decided. That is why Concord Denmark is launching a huge petition with a goal on 1 mill. signatures. An article in the Lisbon Treaty says that if 1 mill. EU-citizens join in some critical manifestation the European Parliament can introduce a bill. The principle of development aid is supported by 90% of the EU-citizens so that is why we find it of great importance to make this subject heard. We need to change the bad statistics so we can help the poor.
What can you do?
The development aid is very important to the developing countries. Haiti is an example of the great gap between rich and poor. But Haiti is far from an isolated case: A number of poor countries all over the world have an immediate need for the most basic living conditions. And it is our responsibility to help.
You can sign the petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/promises/
We also have a Facebook-fan page that you are welcome to join: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Your-Promises-to-the-Poor/201229962981
Diversion of the development aid The EU in total has obliged to donate 0,56% of its GNI but in 2008 this amount only reached 0,40%. It only gets worse when scrutinizing the aid because many member states of the EU are inflating their aid by making other projects not related to developing countries count as development aid. In 2008 9% of the sum of development aid was actually debt cancellation which means that the developing country does not pay back money to the donor country, but does not receive any money either for the fight against diseases, hunger, poverty etc. Also costs attached refugees in the EU and student costs are in many occasions placed under the development aid. These two groups composed 6 % of the total development aid in 2008.
We hope that you will disseminate the message on Keep your promises to the poor! and thus get friends, students, colleges and family involved by giving their signature. We would also appreciate very much if you will link to the petition on your webpage.
http://www.eu-ngo.dk/
