Anti g8 protests update

national | miscellaneous | news report

Saturday May 31, 2003 20:11

by rory hearne - globalise resistance

Hundreds of protestors from Globalise Resistance in Ireland are joining up with hundreds of thousands of anti corporate globalisation demonstrators from across Europe and beyond. They are gathering in Geneva to protest at the policies of the G8 which is holding its summit in nearby Evian. From Geneva Globalise Resistance convenor Rory Hearne sent this report:

"The G8 summitt meeting in Evian is already under serious criticism.
Although the main anti-G8
protests are still two days away thousands of anti-capitalist activists and
individuals from the
global justice movement have already begun their 'alternative g8 summit'.
"Hundreds of activists involved in Globalise Resistance are travelling from
Ireland with the main group arriving
tomorrow [Saturday] morning.
The alternative summit is taking place in Annemasse, France and Geneva,
Switzerland. The main
focus is on the illegitimacy of the G8 in deciding the fate of the globe and
on the opposition to
war.
"Hundreds of meetings, discussions and debates are taking place showing up
as myth the idea
that the anti-capitalist movement is about reeking violence on cities.
"I am here in Geneva and the people of Geneva are very angry that their
government is effectively co-hosting the g8 summit with
France. Most shops and residential areas are full of flags for peace hanging
from the windows and
balconies. They want nothing to do with the G8 war makers.

"People on the street describe the
boarding up of shop windows -- which all the main ones are doing on the
basis of media hype and fear
about "violent protests" -- as crazy and unnecessary.

The Swiss have drafted in 5000 German riot police and 4000 soldiers have
been placed on the border. What are our rulers so scared of? They are
sepnding millions on preventing the democratic right of people to protest.
Their decisions
will push the agenda of neo-liberalism -- privatisation and cut backs in
public funding.

"These leaders also speak extending the so-called "war on terror" (the
colateral damage of which Amnesty recently highlighted).

Today a protest took place in Geneva at the headquarters of
capitalism..shell and other such
corporations..it was fired on by the police with tear gas. Tomorrow there
will be more discussions
on the global movement for a better world and preparations for sundays
protest.

"The protest will e huge with trade unions from France angry at Chirac's
pension reforms linking up with Trade
unionists from Geneva and feeding into the widespread anti-war and
anti-corporate led
globalisation sentiment on the streets"

* Globalise Resistance will forward further updates tomorrow and as news
breaks from Geneva and Evian