Protest against the G8

On 7-9 June, Prime Minister Tony Blair will be in Germany for the G8 annual summit, meeting the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, Russia and the European Union.
Two years earlier, when the G8 summit was held in the UK, over 250,000 people marched to Make Poverty History in Edinburgh - calling for the leaders to address the interlinked issues of trade justice, more and better aid and removing the crippling debts of many developing countries. UNISON members supported the campaign in their thousands.

This year the Your Voice Against Poverty grouping of NGOs and unions will be saying “The World Can’t Wait” any longer for the G8 Governments to keep their promises on aid, debt and trade. Support for the 2nd June mobilisation has been ratified by UNISON’s NEC; UNISON wants to say that two years on from the Edinburgh G8 summit, The World Can’t Wait for healthcare, education, safe water and sanitation for all in Africa and the rest of the developing world.

This is a good way to engage activists, ordinary members and even non-members in union campaigning. The demands of the campaign include healthcare, education and water for all.

There are a number of ways to be involved in the event, but the three most valuable ways that members can support The World Can’t Wait mobilisation are:

* Participate in the mobilisation on the banks of the River Thames around Westminster on Saturday 2nd June, wearing white and with a pocket alarm clock

* Send an e-action card (suggested text provided on the YVAP website below) to Angela Merkel, the German Federal Chancellor, whose country is hosting the G8 this year

* Send an email or letter to their MP, asking them to sign the House of Commons “The World Can’t Wait” Early Day Motion (No. 1219) to draw the attention of other MPs to the continued importance of international development issues, and the need for the UK Government to continue to play an influential role in G8 negotiations

There are other more light-hearted ways in which people can participate on the day, involving wearing white clothes, and carrying speech bubbles and alarm clocks (!), so it is being billed as a family fun event which won’t involve any serious marching.

The event is profiled at:

http://www.unison.org.uk/international/index.asp

But for more detailed information:

http://www.yourvoiceagainstpoverty.org.uk/

This site also has downloadable speech bubbles, posters and other materials.