Two of the 'buddies' made by schoolchildren.
Photograph: Global campaign for education
Polly Curtis is education correspondent for Guardian Unlimited. Polly writes:
Gordon Brown might be getting his knickers in a twist about what debt cancellation means, and whether he's planning it, but there's a group of young people in Dunblane who think they can explain a thing or two. The C8 conference has just published its list of recommendations to the G8 leaders and there's no mincing words here in Dunblane.
They want an end to poverty, free education, a crackdown on violence against children and improved systems of government - including a children's commissioner in every single country.
Improved health and nutrition, eradication of child labour and access for everyone to HIV/Aids drugs also feature.
It might all sound a bit too easy, but the feeling here is that if there's a will, there's a way. "These are such simple messages," says Priyah, a 14-year old from east London taking part today. "But everyone makes it so complicated. It doesn't have to be complicated. People probably think I'm being simplistic but: make poverty history. Why can't we do that?"
Other young people I've spoken with include a 17-year old from Guinea who left home at 11 because her uncle wouldn't let her go to school and another from Lesotho whose family has been wiped out by Aids. They both really believe that this week is going to start a process of change.
Scotland's first minister, Jack McConnell, is expected this afternoon to hear what they've been up to. He's being asked to deliver the recommendations to the G8 along with some "buddies"- paper cut-outs of children bearing the message "send my friend to school". Nearly 3m buddies have been made by schoolchildren around the world - 20,000 are on display at the Dunblane Hilton today.
Incidentally, on my journey to Dunblane this morning at one point two out of three vehicles heading for Edinburgh were police vans, ferrying coppers from Stirling University where those drafted in from other forces are staying.
