LICC - Connecting with Culture - The G8

connecting with culture

the G8

A year that began so tragically in the wake of the Asian Tsunami could yet be remembered as a turning point in the fight to help the world’s poor. Poverty has always been with us but it has never been so high on the agenda of the rich countries as now, thanks to the concerted efforts of campaigners, celebrities, politicians and the public to ‘make poverty history’. Decisions made at the G8 summit in Gleneagles could contribute directly to the cause – which is why a million or more campaigners are making the trip to Edinburgh this weekend, and why so many millions more will be tuning in to Live 8. Yet for all the strengths of Make Poverty History – and they are many – the campaign seems to suffer from one significant weakness: it underestimates the potential of the private sector - of business – to help in the battle. After fifty years and more than a trillion dollars spent on international development, two billion people still live on less than US$2 per day. Yet we know that a flourishing and responsible business sector, along with well-regulated direct foreign investment, can deliver the kind of economic growth that lifts people out of poverty. Business enterprise does more than save the poor from the despair of the present. It also gives them hope for the future, offering a vision of dignity and well-being which can be achieved through their own, honest endeavour. Without such a vision, people perish as they resign themselves to a life-sentence of poverty. Business alone is not enough, of course. The campaign rightly stresses the importance of well-targeted aid, debt cancellation and reform of global trading rules. But there’s no other way to banish poverty long-term than through the vigorous growth of enterprise. This has been true for every rich country, and it’s true for every poor one now. To really prosper, however, any nation requires two added dimensions. First, it needs the social institutions that characterise all free societies: property rights, democracy and the rule of law. These have strong biblical foundations, and provide the context in which business can flourish. Second, every country needs the cultivation and exercise of virtue beyond the requirements of the law. The next few days promise to be extraordinary. From charity to justice, the journey continues. And it’s everyone’s business – rich and poor - to finally make poverty history. Peter Heslam		for all the strengths of Make Poverty History – and they are many – the campaign seems to suffer from one significant weakness
		we have underestimated the potential of the private sector - of business – to help in the battle against poverty