U8 Summit: ‘Much Better Equipped to Inform Policy Makers’

West Midlands, United Kingdom, March 08, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Under Embargo: 05.00 AM (Gmt) Weds 7th March 2007

WHAT: 

Over 150 student delegates from top universities around the world are traveling to  England this weekend along with key policy makers from the UN, World Bank, Global Fund, and foreign governments. A press conference is set to launch the U8 Summit where unlike the G8, the voice of developing countries is represented.

“The U8 is groundbreaking and paradigm shifting. It is much better equipped to inform policy makers, as well as global civil society on the impact of policies, practices and programs of their countries,” says U8 Co-President James Clarke. 

WHO: 

For the press conference, U8 delegates from rich and poor countries will make official statements to the international community, along with co-Presidents James Clarke & Mark Koller.

Paul Collier of Oxford University and Senior Advisor to Blair’s Commission on Africa will address student delegates immediately following the press event on the topic, ‘Progress in Policy-Making’

*These two events along with all roundtable discussions, working groups and U8 parties are ONLY open to members of the press, U8 delegates, and by invitation only. However, the main speaker event is open to the public.

WHEN: 

Fri 9th March 2007
1:30 PM – Press Conference
2:30-3:30 – Introductory Address to Delegates

Saturday 10th March 2007
5:00 PM – Main Speaker Event “To what extent do developing countries
have a say in the policies that affect them?"

*A full schedule of events can be found on the U8 website:
www.u8development.org.uk

WHERE: 

University of Warwick, Coventry, England CV4 7AL
FRI: Westwood Hall – Press Conference
SAT: Warwick Arts Centre –Speaker Event

WHY: 

To inform policy makers, share ideas and bridge the gap between research and policy on development issues. Major social economic and political issues affecting developing countries like conflict, trade, migration, global warming, and health will be at the forefront during the 2nd Annual U8 Summit talks.

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Contact Lauren Newell on +44 (0) 779 441 8972 /+44 (0) 247 646 3241 or email u8media@gmail.com.

Editors Note:
-The U8 is wholly independent, non-partisan, and student-led with a growing and open organization 27 universities in developed and less developed countries, as well as having a presence in over 50 universities in 40 countries.

-The speaker event for Saturday include Salil Shetty, UN Millennium Campaign, Kingsley Moghalu, Global Fund, representatives of the African Union, World Bank, foreign governments, and personal remarks by students from rich and poor countries.

-Free Media passes with meal vouchers and access to all events including U8 Parties and the evening reception with Warwick’s Vice Chancellor Nigel Thrift and are available upon request.

-For security reasons, not all names of attendees and government officials can be released. However, some interviews can be secured.

-Founded in August 2005, the U8 held its first Summit at Cambridge in March 2006, when it also initiated dialogue with development professionals and policy makers. This year it sought to expand its membership by ‘twinning’ with universities in other continents.

- To prepare for the upcoming summit over the past year, students across the globe have been researching, holding debates at their respective universities, gaining international media coverage, meeting with key policy makers and influential leaders, and blogging online on the U8 website. All of these views will come together at Warwick during the 3 day summit.

-For reference, please see articles in the Hindu and Guardian or visit www.u8development.org.uk