EVIAN, France (Reuters) - Brazil President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva challenged the Group of Eight world powers Sunday to help create a fund to fight global hunger.
Lula, one of a group of leaders from developing countries invited to Evian for the opening session on global issues at a G8 summit, spoke frankly to his hosts.
"Hunger cannot wait," he said, according to a copy of his speech. "My proposal is the creation of a global fund capable of feeding those who are hungry and at the same time creating the conditions to eradicate the structural causes of hunger."
The charismatic former metalworker said the fund could be financed either by taxing the international arms trade or by reinvesting a percentage of developing countries' debt payments.
"We didn't come here to complain...We're doing our part, implementing balanced economic policies," Lula said during an afternoon workshop.
Lula also took a swipe at trade subsidies that Brazil says are crippling developing economies.
"I am worried about the (World Trade Organization's) resistance to removing billionaire subsidies, principally against agriculture," he said.
The burly, bearded Lula took over as president in January with wide-ranging promises that included ensuring Brazil's 175 million people had three meals a day. He has launched his own anti-hunger program at home, signing up millions of volunteers.
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