Europeans Protest the Failing Capitalist System, Ahead of the G-20 Summit in London

2009-03-29 13:28:18  

    BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) --

Tens of thousands of people marched and rallied in major European cities Saturday ahead of theG20 summit, demanding decent jobs, environmental accountability, as well as end of poverty and inequality.

    In London, protests organized under the banner of "Put People First" started at 11:00 in the morning, drawing members from over 150 unions, development, faith and environment groups.

    The demonstrations were launched in a unified call for a coordinated fiscal stimulus to create and preserve jobs, international action to ensure that an out-of-control finance sector never threatens the stability of the global economy again and a commitment from world leaders that they will move to a low carbon economy.

    In an unprecedented alliance of supporters of "Put People First," the demonstrators held out slogans such as "Workers for the world united," "Knowledge is power," "Drop the debt," "Clean up global finance," "Smash Capitalism" and "Climate emergency," expressing their anger at the policies that have seen poverty exist alongside huge top banker bonuses.

    "We're angry because this is not a natural disaster, but a crisis due to irresponsible and reckless behavior. We're angry about the inequality that ordinary people are paying the price," said Brendan Barber, General Secretary of Trade Union Congress (TUC) which represents 6.5 million people, later at a rally held in Hyde Park.

    He called on leaders of the G20 countries to take up measures now and lay the foundation for a better world where wealth is distributed more fairly, and every one will have food, shelter and health care.

    Demonstrators also want the G20 leaders to use the financial crisis to solve social and environmental crisis, pressing them to recognize that only just, fair and sustainable policies can lead the world out of recession.

    In Germany, demonstrations, organized by trade unionists, environmentalists, and anti-globalization activists, were staged in Berlin and Frankfurt.

    "We will not pay for your crisis," was the motto of the German campaign spearheaded by the anti-globalization network Attac.

    Some demonstrators held placards asking banks to be held accountable for the crisis, rather than employees and the world's poor who are suffering as a result of the economic downturn. Some demonstrators carried a coffin, saying it was time to bury capitalism.

    A speaker for Attac said about 15,000 people had joined into the Frankfurt demonstration, while in Berlin, there were also several thousand people took part in the protest, according to the police estimation.

    In Vienna, around 6,500 people gathered in the city center, carrying signs reading "Capitalism can't be reformed" and "We won't pay for your crisis."

    Over 200 people in Geneva took to the streets to pour their bitterness about the financial crisis. They carried banners reading "Capitalism is a mistake" and called for changes.

    In Paris, several hundreds protesters dumped a pile of sand outside the city's stock market to mock supposed island tax havens and had it demolished to express their anger on tax frauds in this difficult time.

    The protest in Rome drew around 6,000 people, according to organizers. They threw eggs and smoke bombs at banks, insurance companies and estate agencies in an outpour of resentment.

Editor: Deng Shasha

2009-03-29 01:40:14  

·Over 12,000 people marched through central London on Saturday ahead of the G20 summit. ·The march drew members from over 150 unions, development, faith and environment groups. ·The rally marks the first of a series of protests in the coming week to coincide with the G20 summit.

    LONDON, Mar. 28 (Xinhua) -- Over 12,000 people from across Britain and Europe marched through central London on Saturday ahead of the G20 summit, demanding decent jobs and public services for all, an end to global poverty and inequality, as well as a green economy.

    The march organized under the banner of "Put People First" started at 11:00 in the morning, drawing members from over 150 unions, development, faith and environment groups in a unified call for a coordinated fiscal stimulus to create and preserve jobs, international action to ensure that an out-of-control finance sector never threatens the stability of the global economy again and a commitment from world leaders that they will move to a low carbon economy.

    In an unprecedented alliance of supporters of Put People First which range from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the Salvation Army, Friends of the Earth to Oxfam and Shelter to War on Want, the demonstrators held out slogans such as "Workers for the world united," "Knowledge is power," "Drop the debt," "Clean up global finance," "Smash Capitalism" and "Climate emergency," expressing their anger at the policies that have seen poverty exist alongside huge top banker bonuses.

    "We're angry because this is not a natural disaster, but a crisis due to irresponsible and reckless behavior. We're angry about the inequality that ordinary people are paying the price," said Brendan Barber, General Secretary of Trade Union Congress (TUC) which represents 6.5 million people, later at a rally held in Hyde Park.

    He called on leaders of the G20 countries to take up measures now and lay the foundation for a better world where wealth is distributed more fairly, and every one will have food, shelter and health care.

    Barber also urged the leaders who will meet next week in London to "take responsibility and make the right decision."

    According to him, never before has such a wide coalition come together with such a clear message for world leaders. "The old ideas of unregulated free markets do not work, and have brought the world's economy to near collapse, failed to fight poverty and have done far too little to move to a low-carbon economy... Leaders must sign up to both boost the world economy and govern it better, and show us that they are trying to build a better world."

    Kumi Naidoo of Global Campaign Against Poverty joined the rally from South Africa. He led the audiences in a call for Gordon Brown and U.S. President Barack Obama to "Put People First," chanting in unison "We can do it, we must do it, we will do it."

    Demonstrators also want the G20 leaders to use the financial crisis to solve social and environmental crisis, pressing them to recognize that only just, fair and sustainable policies can lead the world out of recession.

    Union delegations and poverty campaigners came from around the world, including Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Korea, USA, Australia, South Africa, Zambia, Canada and the Philippines, for the march and rally.

    Organizers believe that both the march and rally will give ordinary people a voice so that G20 leaders must not just fix the recession but make sure that the world emerges a fairer and greener place, and does not go back to pre-downturn business as usual.

    The peaceful march and rally lasted almost five hours, with no feared incidence of violence.

    Glen Tarman of BOND, chair of the organizing team, insisted: "Put People First is not organizing or collectively supporting any other demonstrations or protest events being held in the subsequent week to coincide with the G20 summit."

    Thousands of police were mobilized to keep order on the day. Saturday's rally marks the first of a series of protests in the coming week to coincide with the G20 summit that falls on April 2.It is believed that the upcoming protest on April 1 and 2 could turn violent as anarchists trying to take advantage of people's anger to the current financial crisis.

2009-03-29 19:00:18  

    LONDON, March 29 (Xinhua) --

The up-coming G20 summit will not come up with any quick fix for the economy, a senior British government official said.

    As thousands prepare to protest over the financial crisis on Saturday, Lord Peter Mandelson, the Business Secretary, insisted the success of the talks cannot be judged for at least another 12 months.

    Mandelson said that despite understanding why people are angry, it will take time for the agreements to start working.

    Speaking to Sky TV, Lord Mandelson said that "When we look ahead to the summit that's going to take place in London, they're going to say, 'Right, action now. Decisions today. Changes overnight.' It's not going to happen like that."

    "What we're seeing is the beginning of a process and the time to judge the outcome of the G20 summit in London is in a year's time, when people have followed up the decisions that they will have taken."

    Trade unionists will be among huge numbers of protesters planning to take part in rallies, marches and stunts to coincide with Thursday's meeting of G20 leaders.

    Thousands of police officers will be on duty in central London for the run-up to the summit and officers' leave has been cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday.

    Meanwhile, the British government has dismissed a report in a German magazine that suggested it plans to push for G20 nations to back a 1.4 trillion pounds (about 2 trillion U.S. dollars) global stimulus package.

    Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who will host the April 2 summit, has said he expects world leaders to do "whatever it takes" to create growth and jobs when they come together.

Editor: Sun

2009-03-29 19:58:04  

·The G20 countries will engage in a globally coordinated action to end the economic meltdown. ·China's proposal for creating a global currency to replace dollar was dismissed as "unnecessary." ·Many in Britain have expressed the view that the G20 is just a waste of time.

    by Dongying Wang

    LONDON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- There is arguably no immediate remedy for fixing the sagging world economy. Yet the forthcoming London G20 summit has drawn worldwide attention, as it aims to make a mark in putting the global economy on the road to recovery.

    So will the London event live up to expectations?

    Since late last year, the U.S. financial crisis has spilled over into all economic sectors, and is taking its toll on a global scale. The world economy has suffered an unprecedented setback, and is expected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to shrink for the first time in 60 years in 2009 by up to 2 percent.

    The collapse of businesses, the loss of jobs and falling confidence all paint a bleak picture of what is believed to be the worst recession since the 1930s Great Depression.

    Up to 2 trillion U.S. dollars involved in the global fiscal stimulus measures have yet to yield any encouraging results.

    The consequent growing government deficits have become a topic of concern among the British and U.S. public. Many people are worried that their governments have created massive debts for future generations of taxpayers.

    The G20 countries have been urged by the IMF to invest the equivalent of 2 percent of their GDP into stimulus efforts during 2009 and 2010. But the proposals have failed to draw unanimous support from many of the G20 members.

    WHY LONDON SUMMIT MATTERS

    The London summit is the second major gathering of G20 states, bringing together leaders of the countries for discussion on the economic crisis. Last November's Washington summit laid the groundwork for the London meeting.

    The G20 countries, which represent 85 percent of the world's GDP, will make decisions, which will matter to each country as to how they will engage in a globally coordinated action to end the meltdown.

    The knock-on effects of the economic crisis have highlighted the increased interconnectivity of countries in a globalized world. This also underlines the need to overhaul the international financial systems with the developing world having a bigger say in international financial institutions.

    However, this would not be easily achieved, as developed countries, especially the U.S., are unwilling to give up their dominance of global financial institutions and markets.

    China's recent proposal for creating a global currency to replace the dollar has been dismissed as "unnecessary," with many leaders, including Barack Obama, Gordon Brown and Kevin Rudd, arguing that the U.S. dollar remains strong. However, the IMF has forecast that the U.S. will see a 2.6 percent drop in GDP in 2009.

    For the developed countries, the G20 offers an opportunity to show their courage, willingness and capacity to take on the challenge of fixing the world economy, with an emphasis on wider global issues and taking into account aspects affecting poorer countries.

    The European Union (EU) nations have already agreed to develop principles for regulating the banking sector and to make 100 billion U.S. dollars in loans available to the IMF to support the developing world.

    CYNICISM TOWARD G20

    To rally support for his rescue initiatives, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been traveling throughout Europe and to the American continent, meeting with bankers and finance ministers, in efforts to make the April meeting a success.

    His efforts have been greeted with little enthusiasm at home and many have expressed the view that the G20 is just a waste of time.

    "I don't really care about the meeting because it is meaningless. There is more rhetoric than action," a driving instructor, Julia Freeman, told Xinhua.

    "Unfortunately, we have a weak government, which is only interested in getting whatever they can from the country instead of serving the country," said a pensioner who identified herself only as Alice. "I do not believe the G20 will bring any change to this country," she added.

    Recent disputes between Brown and Bank of England Governor Mervyn King over whether Britain should have a new fiscal stimulus plan have also worried the British public. Some people have even raised the question as to who is running Britain: the Prime Minister or the Governor?

    In addition, Britain's involvement in Iraqi War has been highlighted as one of the reasons behind the country's increased financial burdens.

    For environmentalists, the one-day summit, which will cost in excess of 19 million pounds (28 million U.S. dollars), is a waste of resources. They also assert that the summit is environmentally unfriendly and will not achieve anything tangible.

    "In this hi-tech world, they could talk by teleconference through the Internet, so do they really need to gather to fix a solution? They should consider their carbon footprints," says environmentalist Amy Scott.

    Rising unemployment and mounting financial difficulties, along with unethical gains by bankers, have sparked a wave of public anger, some of which has turned into violence.

    An unprecedented week of demonstrations began during the weekend before the G20. On Saturday, protesters marched through London demanding action to tackle unemployment. Many also called for efforts to curb climate change and fringe issues.

    But the authorities are preparing for potentially violent protests when anti-capitalist demonstrators descend on London's financial center as the G20 begins.

    The cost of policing for these protests is estimated to exceed 7.2 million pounds (around 11 million U.S. dollars).

    ACHIEVEMENTS EXPECTED

    "The success of the summit is whether we can make the recessions hallower and shorter than it would otherwise have been," Gordon Brown's G20 Special Envoy, Lord Malloch-Brown, said during a web chat with the public on Friday.

    "The early test of the results will be whether we see a stop to the drift towards protectionism and whether we see banks lending again," he added.

    Protectionism will end the benefits of the globalization, that is mutually reinforcing the cycle of job creation and falling product prices, he said.

    However, the core achievement of this meeting must be the recovery of confidence, not just for investors but for all consumers and voters, said Lord Malloch-Brown, who is also British Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN.

    "The G20 leaders have to convince a global constituency that they are in charge and that they know what they are doing. If they don't, they will obviously add to a sense of drift and crisis," he warned.

    "There is no national recovery strategy, ultimately just a global one that our national actions need to support," he said, adding that "If we start to think and act nationally, and forget the global, we're not going to get out of this."

    SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION IS THE REMEDY

    Though the G20 is not specifically intended to seek climate change solutions, it is expected to give a push to attendees toward making a commitment to a post-2012 global climate change framework, something that is to be agreed in Copenhagen at the end of this year.

    Bringing about recovery of the global economy, whilst maintaining sustainability, remains high on the G20 agenda. The G20 countries, especially the richer ones, have been urged to take a lead in sustainable consumption, which is regarded as a key force for fighting climate change.

    The real cause of climate change is not cities themselves but high-consumption lifestyles, says a study released recently by the International Institute for Environment and Development states.

    Many cities have surprisingly low per capita emissions, but what is clear is that most emissions come from the world's wealthier nations, according to Dr David Dodman, the author of the study.

    "High-income countries need to take the lead in showing how a high quality of life for all individuals can be achieved without placing an unsustainable load on environmental systems," Dodman said during an interview with Xinhua.

    "Now we are fighting the fire, but as the crisis passes the debate will shift to environmental and social concerns and indeed a whole discussion of how we can live in better balance with our neighbors and the world, not only between borrowing and saving nations, but also in our consumption and how we live and use non-renewable resources," Lord Malloch-Brown said.

    The EU has recently agreed a 5 billion euro (6.8 billion U.S. dollars) package in funding for renewable energy and broadband projects to enable an economic recovery in Europe in both a green and hi-tech approach.