| In
a speech at Chatham House in London last night (23 Feb), Hilary Benn talked about
the need for action on corruption and climate change. He said: "The
truth is if we if we don't do something about climate change, aid from rich countries
will look pitiful by comparison with the consequences and the costs for developing
countries." "Competition
over natural resources already causes conflict. Climate change will make this
worse. By 2025, only 20 years away, more than 3 billion people could be affected
by serious water shortages. Some argue that we need a new agricultural revolution
for water: a 'blue revolution' to ensure the gains in food production are not
wiped out as rivers run dry and underground reservoirs empty. "I'd
like to talk about how bad governance can create insecurity and conflict, and
lead to large scale theft and the squandering of the wealth and resources of poor
countries. The DRC is an example of a country with huge natural resource wealth,
above the ground, below the ground, but which has seen terrible conflict, bad
governance and as a result desperate poverty." This
speech was the fifth in the series on the consultation for a new direction for
international development policy - our new White Paper. For
the latest news and views on these issues, visit the newsblog
at Guardian Unlimited, our media partner. Or, go straight to our website for
the full
text of Hilary Benn's speech on climate change, corruption, trade and migration
and more about the new White Paper.
 You can
also sign up for the DFID e-bulletin and receive early news on the speeches. Information
on how to do this is at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/wp2006/
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