38th G8 summit facts for kids
The 38th G8 summit was a big meeting held in the United States on May 18-19, 2012. It took place at Camp David, a special place in Maryland. This meeting was where leaders from eight powerful countries talked about important world issues. Originally, it was planned for Chicago, but it was moved to Camp David a few months before.
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What is the G8 Summit?
The G8 summit is a meeting of leaders from eight major countries. These countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union also sends representatives.
A Brief History of G8 Meetings
The G8 meetings started a long time ago, in 1976. The Camp David summit in 2012 was the 38th meeting in this series. The United States has hosted these summits several times before. Past US host cities include San Juan, Puerto Rico (1976), Williamsburg, Virginia (1983), Houston, Texas, Denver, Colorado (1997), and Sea Island, Georgia.
The G8 is not a formal international organization. Instead, it is an informal group where leaders meet to discuss and share ideas. They work together to find solutions for global challenges.
Who Attended the Summit?
The main participants were the "core members" of the G8 group. These are the leaders of the eight countries and representatives from the European Union.
| Core G8 Members The host nation and its leader are shown in bold text. |
|||
| Member | Represented by | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Canada | Stephen Harper | Prime Minister |
 |
France | François Hollande | President |
 |
Germany | Angela Merkel | Chancellor |
 |
Italy | Mario Monti | Prime Minister |
 |
Japan | Yoshihiko Noda | Prime Minister |
 |
Russia | Dmitry Medvedev | Prime Minister |
 |
United Kingdom | David Cameron | Prime Minister |
 |
United States | Barack Obama | President |
 |
European Commission | Jose Manuel Barroso | President |
| European Council | Herman Van Rompuy | President | |
Special Guests and Invited Leaders
Sometimes, leaders from other nations are invited to attend the summit. They join in some of the discussions, but not all of them. For the 2012 summit, the US president invited leaders from four African countries:
Benin Yayi Boni, President
Ethiopia Meles Zenawi Prime Minister
Ghana John Atta-Mills, President
Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete, President
These leaders talked with the G8 members about making progress in food security in Africa. This means ensuring that people have enough food to eat.
Other important people and groups were also invited, including:
- African Development Bank, represented by Donald Kaberuka, its President.
- African Union, represented by Yayi Boni, its Chairperson.
- Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), represented by Strive Masiyiwa, its Chairman.
What Was Discussed at the Summit?
The host country of the G8 summit usually decides what topics will be discussed. The summit is a place for leaders to work through differences. They also aim to find common ground on important global issues.
Discussions at the 38th G8 summit covered many topics. Some of these issues had been talked about at earlier summits too.
Key topics included:
- Energy
- The situation in Afghanistan
- Changes happening in the Middle East and North Africa
- Climate change
- Food security (making sure everyone has enough food)
- The economic situation of Greece within the euro zone
- Iran’s nuclear energy plans
- Nutrition
Protests and Demonstrations
Before the summit, organizers expected that some groups might want to protest. These groups often use big events like the G8 summit to share their views.
The summit was originally planned for Chicago but was moved to Camp David. A White House spokesperson said this move was not because of security worries or protests. However, some protest groups believed their planned actions led to the change of location.
Business Opportunities from the Summit
For some businesses, the G8 summit was a chance to make money. For example, "G8 Summit" magazines have been published since 1998. These magazines provide information about the summit.
Local businesses near Camp David also hoped to benefit. They expected more visitors and customers because of the summit. This could lead to increased profits for them.
Related Information
- List of G8 summits
- University of Toronto: G8 Information Centre
- US Dept. of State, G8 Summit 2012; Media Resources
- Tourism Council of Frederick County Maryland, Camp David summit
- Parliament.uk, Graphic shows G8 in context
| Preceded by 37th G8 summit |
38th G8 summit Camp David 2012 |
Succeeded by 39th G8 summit |
Images for kids
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G8 Summit working session focused on global and economic issues.
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David Cameron, Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, José Manuel Barroso, François Hollande and others watch the overtime shootout of the Chelsea (England) vs. Bayern Munich (Germany) Champions League final. Cameron's happiness (United Kingdom) and Merkel's dismay (Germany) show the game's outcome, which Chelsea won.
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Canada Stephen Harper, Prime Minister -
France François Hollande, President -
Germany Angela Merkel, Chancellor -
Italy Mario Monti, Prime Minister -
Japan Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister -
Russia Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister -
United Kingdom David Cameron, Prime Minister -
United States Barack Obama, President
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See also
In Spanish: 38.ª Cumbre del G8 para niños
