The G8 in Genoa - The peaceful protestors



22nd July, 2001.

Their message risks being drowned out by the Genoa violence but who are the peaceful protestors at the G8 summit, and what do they want? A brief guide to some of the major protest groups

Drop the debt (www.dropthedebt.org)

Who are they?
International campaign for debt relief, succeeding the international Jubilee 2000 campaign.

Goals
Free poorest countries from crippling burden of historic debt, to enable anti-poverty, health, education and development strategies.

Methods
In Genoa because "protest can make a difference". Put debt relief on the G8 agenda with human chain of 70,000 people at G8 Birmingham summit in May 1998, followed by similar demonstration at Cologne in December and worldwide petition signed by 24 million.

Achievements
In three years, global campaign moved debt relief from marginal issue to global attention. Won pledge of 100 per cent debt relief to poorest countries from US and rest of G7.

Concerns
Delivery. "The public perception of victory is false". World Bank and IMF have cancelled only 50 per cent of debt owed to them by the poorest countries. 22 countries had begun to receive relief on their debt payments worth $1 billion each year but they still pay more on debt than health.

Genoa viewpoint
"Anything that begins to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa has to be welcome, but the G8's failure to resolve the debt crisis means that they are giving one hand and taking with the other. Six weeks after the G8 leave their luxury liners in Genoa, Africa will have paid back in debt repayments every penny of the $1.5 billion announced today for the health trust fund.

This year the G8's big idea is to fight disease in the poorest countries. But most people are sick to death of G8 initiatives that never quite get delivered. In 1999, it was debt. Last year, it was computers. This year it is health. Next year, we know it will be education. Every unfinished initiative is another blow to the credibility of the G8. They were half way there with debt - this summit is on its way to being a tragic missed opportunity." Adrian Lovett, Director, Drop the Debt

Drop the Debt Campaign partners include Oxfam, whose Genoa briefing papers can be read at Oxfam: G8 Promises, G8 Failures and Oxfam: Failing the world's children

World Development Movement (www.wdm.org.uk)

Who are they?
"Britain's largest organisation dedicated to campaigning on third world and development issues", with over 10,000 supporters and 120 active local groups. Member of the Jubilee Debt campaign.

Goals
Tackle root causes of poverty

Methods
Lobbying decision-makers, researching alternatives, campaigning alongside developing world advocates

Achievements
1994 court victory over government stopping aid money being used on Pergau Dam in Malaysia was most prominent achievement of campaigns on aid, arms sales and GM food.

Genoa viewpoint
"This G8 meeting is a gesture summit, where leaders declare themselves for good and against evil, then move swiftly on to the next issue. Two years ago the G8 promised $100 billion in debt relief, since then less than $3 billion has been provided. Why can the G8 only find $1.5 billion for the Fund when Sub-Saharan Africa is paying out $40 million every week in debt service? G8 leaders must fulfil their old promises before making new ones."

On the violence
"They are not real protestors. They have no concern for the poorest people in the world. We condemn the violence. It is morally unacceptable and it simply gives the G8 an excuse to do nothing about the urgent crisis of debt and poverty.

Jubilee Plus (www.jubileeplus.org)

Who are they?
A programme of the New Economics Foundation and official successor organisation to Jubilee 2000 UK

Goals
A more accountable and transparent process for lending, borrowing and debt negotiations, making human rights central, and developing policies for financing development in a more self-reliant way.

Activities
"We are a think-and-do tank": to provide up-to-date accurate analysis, news and data and facilitate communication to the north and south debt relief movement, and promote effective campaigning and action.

Major concerns: Slow progress on debt leaves poorest countries still facing insolvency.

Genoa viewpoint
Welcomes Bush proposals to provide grants, not loans, to poorest countries. "The poorest countries cannot afford to repay existing debts, never mind new debts. President Bush is right to argue that the debt should not be compounded by new loans. Instead, the World Bank should give grants to these countries."

"European leaders oppose to Bush's proposal are simply defending corporate interest in their own countries. World Bank loans effectively provide subsidies to big companies wanting to do business in developing countries. They are good for big business in the North but bad for the poor in the South."
Liana Cisneros, Jubilee Plus Latin American co-ordinator

The Genoa Social Forum http://www.genoa-g8.org/home.htm

Who are they: Umbrella organisation for 700 groups committed to non-violence and peaceful protest.

Activities: Protests and public forum debates under the theme Another world is possible

Genoa viewpoint: Following death of protestor, called for immediate halt to the summit: "This G8 is covered in blood and must be stopped immediately"

On the violence: "It is unacceptable. We have been provoked by a level of state and anarchist violence that was unimaginable. The G8 and the government must be blamed, but we must accept our share of responsibility."

CAFOD http://www.cafod.org.uk/

Who they are: British Catholic development charity, tackling Third World poverty since 1962

Activities: Advised 500 supporters not to take part in march to highlight debt relief because of safety fears as violence continued. Instead held vigil in the church with supporters holding a human chain outside the church afterwards.

Genoa viewpoint: "Violence gets press coverage, but poverty does not. The violence in Genoa must not distract the world from the real violence of poverty in the poorest countries.Promises have been broken. G8 nations are misleading public opinion when they pretend to have given 100 percent debt cancellation. The poorest countries have only had, on average, a third of their debt servicing payments chopped off the bill. Some countries have received no reduction in debt servicing at all. Most poor countries are paying more in debt servicing than on vitally needed health care or education programmes. In the context of stemming the spread HIV/AIDS pandemic, policies that limit expenditure increases in these areas are grossly irresponsible and unjust."
Henry Northover, CAFOD's debt expert

On the violence
'This is a double tragedy. We condemn all violence and loss of life. It is very sad for our campaigners who've made their way from London that they will no longer be taking part in the debt protest. It is our democratic right to have a voice. We represent the millions of people who have no voice. That is no longer possible under these circumstances. The violence has destroyed our campaigners chance to have their issues heard.'

Christian Aid http://www.christian-aid.org.uk

Who they are: Development charity created by the British and Irish churches in 1945.

Activities: Funds a large range of development projects and campaigns, including as part of the Drop the Debt coalition, on the root causes of poverty. Campaigners are in Genoa to campaign on debt. "We believe that it is our duty to address the causes of poverty. Many of these causes, such as debt or trade, are essentially political or economic in origin."

Genoa viewpoint: Debt relief must be the top priority to meet the needs of developing countries. "G8 leaders promised debt cancellation two years ago, but they haven't yet delivered.It's time for them to keep that promise." The value of debt relief in practice can be seen in countries like Uganda, but much more needs to be done. "If all of Uganda's debt was written off it wouldn't provide enough to look after all its people's basic needs, but it would be a start." Vicious Circle: Christian Aid Genoa debt briefing

On the violence: Condemns violence and believe value of peaceful protest must be asserted. "Over 100,000 people protested peacefully in Birmingham and Cologne, and at previous G8 meetings, to say that poor country debts had to be cancelled. G8 leaders have taken the point and some debts have been cancelled, as a direct result of those protests. There are children in school in Uganda today, because committed people were prepared to take the streets and it is vital they are able to do so again in Italy."
Tim Moulds, Director, Christian Aid.