Left-wing Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva made a powerful statement at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, emphasizing that poverty and hunger are not the result of natural phenomena but of political decisions. Leaders from the Group of 20 major economies gathered to discuss issues such as climate change, poverty reduction, and the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
The summit saw discussions on various global issues, including the conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The leaders called for a comprehensive ceasefire in both regions, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the escalating violence in Lebanon.
Lula, who grew up in poverty himself, focused on poverty and hunger as key issues at the summit. He unveiled a global initiative to tackle these challenges, emphasizing the need for cooperation to effectively tax ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, endorsed by 81 countries, aims to address these issues with the support of multilateral banks and philanthropies.
Despite Lula’s efforts, there were challenges at the summit, with right-wing President Javier Milei of Argentina dissenting on some points in the final declaration, including those related to sustainable development goals. However, Lula’s opening speech also stressed the importance of addressing climate change, though the summit did not lead to any concrete breakthrough on this issue.
Overall, the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro highlighted the need for global cooperation on various pressing issues, with leaders recognizing the importance of addressing poverty, hunger, climate change, and promoting peace in conflict-stricken regions.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com