WASHINGTON - May 26 - WHAT: A briefing for National and International Media Ahead of the G-8 Summit to be hosted by US President George Bush in Georgia, June 8 - 10.

WHO: A panel of experts and analysts on US foreign relations and global justice issues, to include:

Salih Booker, Executive Director, Africa Action

Marie Clarke, National Coordinator, Jubilee USA Network

Njoki Njoroge Njehu, Director, 50 Years is Enough Network

Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director, Center for Economic & Policy Research

Bill Fletcher Jr, TransAfrica Forum/United For Peace & Justice Representative from leading African civil society organization (to be confirmed)

WHEN: Wednesday, June 2, 2004, 8:30am - 10:00am

WHERE: The Choate Room (1st Floor), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC

As George W. Bush prepares to host the "Group of Eight" summit in Georgia from June 8- 10, 2004, leading advocacy organizations will host a press briefing to reveal the yawning gap between the narrow priorities of this elite club of rich country leaders and the true priorities of the majority of global citizens.

While President Bush will direct the discussions to focus on the reconstruction of Iraq, the "war on terror" and economic growth in the U.S. & Europe, there will be little discussion of HIV/AIDS, poverty, economic injustice and other urgent matters of global human security. African leaders have been invited to attend part of the summit, but little is expected in terms of new initiatives for the continent.

The panel of experts will analyze the inadequacy of the G-8 leaders' response on the following key issues, which are likely to be addressed at some level at the summit:

* The debt crisis in the world's impoverished countries

* HIV/AIDS in Africa & globally

* The War in Iraq & Iraq's odious debt

* Global trade & the relationship between trade & growth

* The World Bank & IMF at 60 years old

Speakers from Jubilee USA Network and United for Peace & Justice will also preview their organizations' plans and release a list of alternative events and protests in Georgia for the summit.

At the briefing, a set of talking points will be made available to the media that further analyze G-8 policy on these issues and offer recommendations for alternative approaches to these global priorities.

Africa Action * Jubilee USA Network * Center for Economic and Policy Research * 50 Years is Enough Network * Foreign Policy in Focus/Institute for Policy Studies * United for Peace and Justice

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