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.
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, and at Dungavel detention centre. And as well as action, there will a 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 Faslane Nuclear Submarine Base called by Scottish CND and Trident Ploughshares (for further information see http://www.faslaneg8.com) E TUESDAY JULY 5Demonstrate at Dungavel Detention Centre, called by Glasgow Campaign to welcome • WEDNESDAY JULY 6 -Demonstration at G8 summit, Gleneagles. • FRIDAY JULY 8 Climate Justice Direct action • For further information see www.g8alternatives.org.uk/ of the political themes of the protests in Scotland, such as how capitalism robs the poor, immigration, war, Aids and what we mean by Global Justice.
This year the question of racism, self-organisation of the oppressed, Malcolm X and Black Power will be a major theme for revolutionaries of all nationalities to debate within the context of permanent war and the continuation of resistance in Iraq. In France, school students have been in regular confrontation with the government and police over attacks on the education system, whilst tens of thousands of workers have struck over neoliberal reforms. Hundreds of students from these struggles will be at the camp. Last year Fl supporters from England, as well as young people from the Scottish Socialist Party joined the camp in Northern Spain.
This year Socialist Resistance supporters hope to take even more people and look forward to seeing all our friends, supporters and people we have worked alongside in the last year in the anti war movement, Respect, and student campaigns.
If you are interested in going to the camp email: [email protected] or phone 0208 800 7460.