From Saturday July 2 through
for the next week, Scotland will
be a hot bed of resistance as
anti-globalisation activist converge to give the leaders of the
world's richest and powerful a hot summer. The Summit itself
takes place in Gleneagles from July 6-8.
In the 30 years since the G8 - or rather the G7 as it was then - has done nothing to alleviate poverty. Rather the gap between rich and poor has continued to grow. The world is a more dangerous place in the era of globalised war as the occupation of Iraq continues and threats are increasingly made against Iran and Syria.
In this issue of SR (see adjacent article) we look in detail at the issues surrounding climate change and the G8 - and in future issues in the run up to July will look at some of the other topics that the protests will focus on.
At the same time, a fight back has developed at many levels. Young people, trade unionists, anti-racist activists, peace campaigners and many more besides have come together on the streets in protests like Seattle and Genoa and in conferences such as the World Social Forums and the European Social Forums to fight for - and discuss how to work for - the different world that is desperately needed.
G8 Alternatives, the umbrella body co-ordinating the actions, is not only seeking to bring activists from across the world to Scotland, but to build on a tradition of mobilisations in Scotland on the same
subject.
So as well as the Make
Poverty History demonstration
on the Saturday and the planned protest at Gleneagles itself as the summit opens, actions will take place at sites such as the Faslane nuclear submarine basis, where the four Trident submarines have a destructive power 1000 times greater than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima and at Dungavel detention centre.
And as well as action, there will be time for debate at the counter-summit, which will bring together a range of speakers including Zachie Achmat from the Treatment Action campaign in South Africa, Haidi Guliani, and Susan George.
The calendar of action planned so far is • SAT JULY 2 Make Poverty History demonstration -Edinburgh from 11am • SUN JULY 3 - Counter Summit, Edinburgh • MONDAY JULY 4 - Blockade of Fasiane Nuclear Submarine Base called by Scottish CND and Trident Ploughshares (for further information see http://www.faslaneg8.com) • TUESDAY JULY 5 -Demonstrate at Dungavel Detention Centre, called by Glasgow Campaign to welcome WEDNESDAY JULY 6 -Demonstration at G8 summit, Gleneagles. ME FRIDAY JULY 8 Climate Justice Direct action - For further information see www.g8alternatives.org.uk/
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POUR FOCALITT