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200,000 March in Scotland : G8 News

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Sat Jul 02, 2005 at 08:29:41 PM EST
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More than 200,000 people marched Saturday in Scotland -- where the G-8 summit will take place-- as part of the "Make Poverty History"

More than 200,000 anti-poverty campaigners formed a human chain around Scotland's capital on Saturday, echoing the musical call of the Live 8 concerts that world's wealthiest nations act to lift Africa out of misery. The "Make Poverty History" march launched a week of demonstrations ahead of the Group of Eight summit to be held near Edinburgh next week, with protesters hoping to pressure President Bush and his G-8 colleagues to end the misery of millions in the developing world.

Update: In my e-mail box tonight (no idea from whom):

Please tell Sir Bob that we fully support his efforts to get the G8 nations to eliminate poverty in Africa. We offered up our Sunday Mass for the success of his wonderful work.

Two New Zealand grandparents.

I doubt that Sir Bob is reading TalkLeft, but if he is, consider the message passed on, my pleasure.

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    • 200,000 March in Scotland : G8 News | 3 comments (3 topical)
    Re: 200,000 March in Scotland : G8 News (none / 0) (#1)
    by Andreas on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    From a leaflet which was distributed by supporters of the Socialist Equality Party at the “Make Poverty History” rally in Edinburgh:
    The Live 8 events, which are the focus of the “Make Poverty History” campaign, are perpetrating a political fraud against all those genuinely seeking to overcome the terrible hardship facing the poor of Africa. The organizers and spokesmen seek not only to provide a mask of humanitarian concern to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush, but to legitimize the designs of the imperialist powers on Africa. Live 8 amounts to a multimillion-dollar propaganda campaign on behalf of Blair and Bush at a time when both are anxious to put political distance between themselves and an occupation of Iraq that is proving to be a political disaster. All the leaders of the major powers will be happy that the hostile protests that have greeted previous G8 summits have been replaced by such a humble petition.
    “Live 8”--a political fraud on behalf of imperialism Statement by the Socialist Equality Party (Britain), 1 July 2005

    Re: 200,000 March in Scotland : G8 News (none / 0) (#2)
    by ppjakajim on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    et al - In the 10 years between 1993 and 2003 approxinately $568 billion dollars were spent in Africa to get rid of poverty. Sadly, it didn't work. And it won't work now. What must be done is simple. Create a political climate that will keep the best and brightest in their countries. Instead, they see the thugs, dictators and evil people running their country, so they leave, and do not come back. It is a "brain drain." In essence the G countries should stop all immigration from Africa and the ME, telling those would leave, "Sorry, but history has placed you in the middle of a bad situation. It isn't your fault, but you are going to have to fix it." Zimbabwea is a perfect example. A country that was once an exporter of food, cannot now feed itself. And the reason is simple. The government"
    Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. Opposition and labor groups launched general strikes in 2003 to pressure MUGABE to retire early; security forces continued their brutal repression of regime opponents.
    Does anyone think that anything given to Mugabe will not be destroyed or stolen? Indeed, all that will happen is that he will have more resources to kill and starve more people. Link I could go on, but I'll just invite you to look at the various countries. Some are trying, but many are not. And if things are bad now, what will happen in 5 to 8 years when the effects of HIV breaks into full blown AIDS? Some estimates say that one third of the population will die. Folks, that will ansolutely destroy a government, a country, a cvilization. So if the G8 wants to help they should start by ignoring the UN, whose troops and butreaucrats have proven too corrupt to be effective, and start putting their own Ministers into these countries to advise and help the locally elected officals. To make the advise effectibe, the Ministers must have veto power. Would this require some military power? Yes. But just as I see no real national interest, now, it is obvious we will have one within 10 years. And, like all problems, the earlier a solution is tried, the lower the cost and the greater the success/failure ratio. The above doesn't mean they we shouldn't provide food and medical aid, just that it be closely tied to need, and though administered by local officals, G8 agreement would be required. And absolutely NO weapons. And since many of the countries are the result of hodgepodge colonial groupings, some close attention needs to be paid to tribal groupings and historial problems. So now that Live 8 has brought attention, although calling for the wrong solution, perhaps G8 will do something positive.

    Re: 200,000 March in Scotland : G8 News (none / 0) (#3)
    by Andreas on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    The WSWS does not share the praise for that event:
    The “Make Poverty History” rally and march by 200,000 people in Edinburgh on July 2 was billed as “the largest and most successful mobilisation against global poverty in history.” Whatever the intentions of those assembled in Edinburgh, this was not an anti-establishment rally, but a march for and supported by the establishment. In essence, it was part of a multi-million dollar propaganda campaign on behalf of Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush.
    Live 8 Edinburgh: marching for the establishment By Mike Ingram, 4 July 2005

    200,000 March in Scotland : G8 News | 3 comments (3 topical)