With the 2010 G8 summit just over two months away, civil society groups from around the world spent Friday meeting with G8 representatives in Vancouver. Members from more than 60 non-governmental organizations, health, and labour groups met with G8 "sherpas," or top civil servants who advise their respective leaders. Anti-poverty and climate-change advocates urged leaders to come to the June 25-27 summit in Huntsville, Ont., with meaningful ideas on how to combat poverty and global warming. Glenn Farred, a spokesman for South Africa's Global Campaign Against Poverty, said it's critical for the G8 to get on track with the financial commitments it has long since made. The Group of Eight countries agreed in 2005 at the Gleneagles summit in Scotland to double their official development assistance by 2010, and dedicate a larger proportion of their aid to Africa. But figures released Thursday by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development show the G8 countries have fallen US$18 billion short on that promise.

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