As I head to the Baltic coast of Germany to prepare for the outcomes of another G8 Summit there is an ominous air to the news I am hearing from my colleagues on the ground there. It would seem that despite the outstanding mass mobilisation of people in Germany and London, where I was, last Saturday, the handover of a petition containing over a million voices to Angela Merkel and Tony Blair in Berlin on Sunday, their call is in danger of falling on deaf ears, again.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has importantly set the Heiligendamm Summit agenda to include a session focused entirely on Africa covering issues like HIV/AIDS, Health Systems, Infrastructure, Climate Change as well as inward investment in Africa. This offers a precious opportunity to address some of the root causes of poverty and voice the concerns of millions of people worldwide who have been part of the growing campaign for poverty eradication since 2005, but is it going to deliver? Will relentless advocacy of GCAP members in national and international coalitions around the world be taken on board? I will report back from Germany on whether Chancellor Merkel has managed to wield her influence as host to avert this scenario or not. To read more on this week's column, please see www.civicus.org/new/content/deskofthesecretarygeneral67.htm 

Kumi Naidoo is the CIVICUS Secretary-General