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The three-day gathering of world leaders in L’Aquila, Italy, known as the 2009 G8 summit, concluded earlier today. President Barack Obama was present among his counterparts from seven other developed nations before the meetings broadened to include representatives from countries outside of the G8 like Egypt, Turkey and Mexico. Chief among the agenda items for this year’s summit were issues of significant importance such as the global economic downturn, climate change, and trade. Anti-G8 protests took place throughout the summit as demonstrators called into question the policy solutions being discussed at the meetings. As the G8 summit came to a close today global hunger was the final topic addressed in the last work session. Prior to the start of the three-day gathering, Reuters reported on a U.S. draft declaration illustrating a plan to have partnering nations pledge $15 billion to combat food insecurity in poorer nations. The funds would be managed by the World Bank and would be focused on areas of agricultural infrastructure. As the number of hungry people has reached an all time high of just over one billion people, the details of any possible funding and the approach to global hunger by the G8 has generated criticism. Will free trade and technology based policies favored by summit participants alleviate the hunger crisis or just exacerbate it further?

GUEST: Anuradah Mittal, Executive Director of the Oakland Institute

For more information, visit www.oaklandinstitute.org.