[G8] Protests will fail in fight to cut poverty, says survey

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THE vast majority of people do not believe massive G8 demonstrations in Edinburgh and Gleneagles will have a significant effect on tackling poverty in Africa, according to a new survey.

More than 200,000 people are expected to take part in the Make Poverty History march in Edinburgh on July 2, making it Scotland's biggest ever demonstration.

But only six per cent of people questioned in the You Gov poll for Sky News believed the demonstrations, aimed at the G8 summit in Gleneagles, would make a significant difference.

The Live 8 concerts, organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure and planned for Edinburgh, London and cities round the world, were seen as only slightly more effective, with four out of five saying they didn't think they would make a difference.

The most important factor to ending poverty in Africa was seen as African governments, with nearly three-quarters of people saying their decisions have the biggest impact on the continent's economy and standard of living.

Almost half of the people questioned said international investment by companies or decisions by the G8 group of leading nations held the key to a better future for Africa.

More than 2000 people took part in the poll.