Page last updated at 18:27 GMT, Tuesday, 5 July 2005 19:27 UK

UK interactive panel: Paul Holdsworth

MEET THE PANEL
Paul Holdsworth
Name: Paul Holdsworth
Age: 20
Lives: Aberystwyth, Wales
Works: Student
In 10 words or less:
"Politics student with appalling fashion sense"

The G8 represents several countries which are responsible for decades of ineffective and selfish Third World aid practices.

There are hundreds of examples where the provision of aid is tied to terms which favour rich nations.

With the debt issue, of course it is immoral that Western investors should be making huge amounts of money from poor countries in their attempts to grow and prosper.

At Gleneagles, they have a chance to change the idea of aid.

Instead of being just a direct investment, it must become an investment which is sustainable and can grow to deliver more prosperous, secure and democratic states.

In my eyes, the only way to achieve this is through a few subtle, but fundamental changes in the rules for international trade.

UK INTERACTIVE PANEL: G8
Conveniently, we appear to have a shrewd prime minister with a bucket-load of conviction which he is finally putting to some meaningful use.

I just hope he can persuade the rest of the G8 rich club to actually start treating African people fairly, by allowing them access to Western markets without tariffs, middlemen and speculators absorbing the financial benefit which is needed so urgently in Africa.

The issue of African poverty is intrinsically linked to two other issues - Western market protectionism and, of course, climate change.

Only by action on all three fronts can there be substantial poverty reduction.

I'm hoping the summit doesn't just create more false hope with generosity in one area that is undone by selfishness in other areas.

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