Thousands attend London 'Put People First' protest
Colourful banners, interesting costumes and musical instruments were present along the Thames last Saturday as thousands gathered in London as part of the first protests related to the G20 summit on the financial crisis in East London this Thursday.
The march had a variety of stated aims, with a slogan calling for world leaders to take action for"jobs, justice and climate". The organisers said "We will challenge the G20 to make the right choices for a fairer and more sustainable world". They want to ensure "Decent jobs and public services for all", the "End of global poverty and inequality" and the construction of a green economy. Such vague and varied aims perhaps contributed to its very large turnout on a cold March afternoon.
The demonstration was organised by an alliance of over 150 unions, environment, charity, faith, NGOs, political parties and development groups who joined together under the name 'Put People First'. Organisations involved included ActionAid, the Jubilee Debt Campaign, Oxfam, Stop the War Coalition, the United Nations Association and the Muslim Council of Britain.
The London Metropolitan Police believe that around 35,000 people attended the demonstration. Despite thousands of police being called in as a precautionary measure to control the march, it was a peaceful, calm day with few reported problems. This is likely to be a great contrast from the planned protests in the financial sector of the City of London on Wednesday, where bankers have been advised to work from home and dress inconspicuously.
Read more of our special coverage of the G20 London Summit here:
- 04/04/09 - Protests against the G20 summit in London, by Naomi Christie
- 03/04/09 - G20 London Summit: 'A summit like no other', by cj
- 02/02/09 - Live twittering (with more photos) from the summit margins took place here: http://twitter.com/cafebabellondon
on 30-03-2009 By Katherine - G20 London Summit
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Comments
I guess the U.S. need to accept the suggestions of the E.U., and the E.U.and the other nations need to adopt an advanced smart grid technology, which is worth the deficit for job creation and economic activity, is something to do ultimately.
I think like USA, the world economy also urgently needs job creation, and like internet, the global economy requires common ground, that is why The World-Wide Green New Deal is necessary.
We can not rebuild grand economy on the volatile, declining energy base, instead, the world has enough technology and its potential, I suppose.
Thank you !
Revolutions in governance have always coincided with revolution in technology and energy.
Industrialisation and the steam machine came with the end of monarchy. Oil has seen big empires rise such as the USA, the Soviet Union or various rent economies in the Middle East.
Next on the energy site are renewable sources and small scale power production sites. But what will it be on the political scale? If you look how billions and billions are pumped into the system to sustain an old economic model based on cash maximization, short term rents and fossil energies, I have doubts that this summit will bring anything good.
je suis daccord!! :)
c clair et net les amis!
la vie change chaque seconde ouiiiii:)
parfois faut faire attention
et pourquoi ne pas refaire ca une fois encore
faut surtout respecter ses idees
seulement ceux qui vivent ca peuvent savoir combien c difficile
lavenir est prometteur dans ce domaine :)
une idee parmis autres
c pas si difficile que ca non?!!