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G8 2007 Heiligendamm, Germany
2 to 8 June 2007: Rally in London and various events in Germany
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Reports from the G8 summit at Heiligendamm and Rostock, GermanyWDM will be there in Rostock (just down the road from the official meeting) participating in an alternative summit with hundreds of other activists. We will provide regular blogs on what is happening and what we are up to at http://g8germany.blogspot.com/ |
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New Statesman G8 BlogArticles written for the New Statesman by Tamsyn and Leila. |
It’s that time of year again. The self-selecting group of some of the world’s most powerful countries – the G8 – is meeting; this time in the German resort town of Heiligendamm from 6 to 8 June.
Remember the G8 in Scotland in 2005, where progress on debt cancellation was undermined by a refusal to stop pushing free market policies on poor countries through the WTO, World Bank and IMF and the weak promises on aid? Well again, at G8 2007, the agenda will be dominated by ‘Africa’, this time with climate also featuring in the mix.
Don’t expect much. The G8 is not accountable to anyone so rarely delivers on the promises made – even the weak ones. In a desperate attempt to be seen as more legitimate and ‘reaching out’, a few larger developing countries will be invited in for a chat but this can’t hide the fact that this group is out of date and irrelevant.
WDM will also be taking part in a mobilisation in London on 2 June. (see below)
WDM has followed the G8 for many years; opposing, cajoling, scrutinising and exposing. To get a flavour of previous campaigning on the G8, and a sense of the gaping chasm between the G8’s rhetoric and global reality, please take a look at our past G8 publications.
Another world is possible- just don’t hold your breath waiting for the G8 to deliver it.
If you like what we do, join WDM as a member.
Press enquiries:
Kate Blagojevic
Press officer, World Development Movement
0207 820 4900/4913, 07711 875 345, Email:
Events
June 2 Major rally in Rostock, Germany
Tens of thousands people will gather in the city centre of Rostock to send their message to the G8 leaders: Another World Is Possible!
From 11 am, music, speeches and entertainment will start at two different meeting points. There will be two different marches which converge on the final big rallying point which will take place at Rostock harbour starting at 4 pm.
June 2 ‘The world can’t wait’ march in London, UK
June 3 Culture, concerts and church activities
June 4 Action day on war and migration
June 5 Action day on war
June 5-7 Alternative summit
The alternative summit is jointly organised by a variety of European organisations, including, Attac, WEED, Friends of the Earth and many others.
The summit offers an alternative view on the issues the G8 is looking at (and those they are ignoring) and is open to everyone. Over 100 workshops will bring groups across the country to challenge the assumptions made by the rich world and put forward a different vision. There will also be larger sessions with international speakers (including Vandana Shiva, Walden Bello and Susan George) film, comedy, debate and more….
WDM will be involved in several workshops to spread the word and build both its water and climate campaigns, working alongside Practical Action, People and Planet, Greenpeace and various groups from the European water struggles. Find WDM staff, Leila and Tamsyn, speaking at ‘The G8 and global water struggles’, ‘Building a global action network on climate change’ and ‘Climate justice: what does the world need’
More information about the alternative summit (external link)
June 6
Several blockades against the summit will begin across the area.
More information from Dissent (external link)
June 7
A concert, further blockades and demonstrations.
June 6-8
The G8 summit takes place. The leaders will meet on a hotel on a peninsula in Heiligendamm.
Accommodation in Germany
A camp is being organised close to Rostock as well as at various locations in the wider area. There will be info-points across the city for those arriving without accommodation and there is an assurance that camps will provide room for up to 20,000. We will update this as we hear more.
Getting there
The cheapest and most low carbon way to travel is via coach from London to Lubeck (Germany) and then via train to Rostock. If you want to go for the whole week of the G8, 2 to 8 June you could:
- Depart London Victoria Coach Station 14:30 on 1 June (check in 13:30) and arrive in Hamburg Eurolines Coach Station 7:00 on 2 June.
- Return from Hamburg Eurolines Coach Station at 22:30 on 8 June and arrives in London at 12.20 on 9 June.
Trains go frequently between Hamburg and Rostock and take just under 2 hours. - The coach to Hamburg costs £71 return and you can book online with Eurolines. Groups of ten or more get a 10 per cent discount. The train from Hamburg to Rostock costs about ten euros per person each way if you book in advance in a group of six. Group travel page
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