Act on food crisis: Rahul Bose to G-8 leaders

Actor Rahul Bose has joined hands with his Hollywood counterparts to appeal to G-8 leaders to address poverty and food crises issues. The three-day G-8 summit is beginning in Tokyo on Monday.

Known for his intense acting in alternative and art house films like English August, Takshak, Mr and Mrs Iyer,  Everybody says I am fine as also mainstream Bollywood films like Pyar Ke Side Effects, Chameli and Jhankar Beats, the actor's latest concern is the global food crisis.

An ambassador of British aid agency Oxfam, Bose has found time between rugby practice and films to join celebrities like Scarlett Johansson, Colin Firth and Kristin Davis in urging global leaders to tackle the food crisis and climate changes. These issues are essential to realise the Millennium Development Goals.

"Food crisis is pushing millions of people towards poverty and that's why we have appealed to the world leaders to increase the amount of aid to the poor countries," the actor says.

"By raising these issues, I think a change in the opinion can be initiated but to take these changes forward required political and economic will power," Bose told PTI over phone.

In an open letter to the G-8 members, Bose, alongwith actors Bill Nighy (who is currently at the G8), Colin Firth, Djimon Hounsou, Gael Garcia Bernal, Kristin Davis, Minnie Driver and Scarlett Johansson has appealed to the world leaders to increase the help to the poorest countries like Africa.

"The G-8 nations have not fulfilled their commitment of increasing the development aid by 60 billions by 2010 if we want to fulfill our commitment of realising the Millennium

Development Goals," says Bose.

The Oxfam ambassadors have issued a call to action to the heads of state, reminding them that it is the world's poor who are most vulnerable to increased food prices and the negative impacts of climate change.

"We look to you to address the global economic uncertainty, but you must also look beyond your own borders and not turn your backs on the world's poorest people," the letter says.

"Only then will you lead the way to a more prosperous and safer future for us all," it said.

The highlight of the G-8 summit is the current  food crisis that has affected the poorest countries worst. The issue of climate change, oil prices, inflation and the economy, and African development are also on the agenda of the summit.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is attending the summit and nuclear energy would top on his agenda but what about issues like climate change and poverty?

"I am sure he is going to raise these issues. I am quite hopeful about it," says Bose when asked about India's role in the global challenges.

"With the current food crisis there is an urgent need to make new commitments to address the needs of the poorest nations. It is a massive responsibility," he says.

The actor, who plays rugby at international levels, is also an active social worker. "I am currently working with six NGOs working on issues like gender equality, communal harmony, AIDS, education and malnutrition," says Bose.