Make the G8 History Blog

African civil society groups slam G8 deal

As ageing rock stars Bono and Geldof were praising the G8 leaders for their aid and debt promises and Geldof was shouting down anyone who dared to criticise the summit's outcomes, African civil society groups gathered in Gleneagles were singing from a very different hymn sheet. They have issued a joint statement condemning what they regard as a 'disappointing' deal well short of their minimum expectations.

G8 policing condemned

The G8 Legal Support Group has released an initial statement on the policing of the G8 protests in Scotland in early July and it makes grim reading. The group claims that during the protests, police detained or arrested more than 700 people, of which some 366 people were charged with one or more offences. The statement goes on to criticise the "draconian bail conditions" imposed by Scottish courts on protesters, which not only barred their further involvement in any demonstrations but also "forced those not resident in Scotland to leave at an impossible speed, making the conditions impossible to comply with. As a direct result of this tactic, some people were rearrested for breach of bail." The most alarming aspect of the Legal Support's Group report is its assertion that those people unable to give a UK address "have been remanded in prison, even though in all the cases we are aware of, none faces serious enough charges to result in a prison sentence even if convicted."  See the G8 Legal Support website for the full statement.

In their own words: how campaigners responded to the G8 communique

Although our hearts and minds are elsewhere, Red Pepper has been working hard to maintain our live coverage of the G8 summit and its aftermath. Below you will find a large number of links to statements and press releases issued by NGOs, social movements and other campaigning organisations to Friday 8 July’s controversial G8 communique. This page will be constantly updated over the next weeks - we are particular interested in responses from Southern civil society groups and the UK's African diaspora. SH

Gleneagles Demo: Send in the Clowns.

Gaius. There were three types of official looking yellow bibs on the Gleneagles demo. Two comprised our friends the Old Bill, a little disorganised and anxious for once, and the G8 Alternatives stewards, totally disorganised and incompetent. While protesters were busy reclaiming the fields outside the Hotel to stop the summit, G8 Alternative stewards (staffed mostly by everyone’s favourite liberals, the SWP and their allies, who’ve been trying for months to get a seat at the table with Geldof and Bono), were busy telling people to get back on the road, and stay on the agreed route like good boys and girls. After all, they needed to rush back to the field to hear the reassuring tones of Lindsey German and Chris Nineham, who were there to address the masses at 4pm (and it was already 3.30!!!).

G8, Africa and climate change: a good time to bury bad news

Friday 8 July. Stuart Hodkinson in Edinburgh. When the news of the bombs hitting London broke on our campsite in Craigmillar, we all immediately reached for our mobile phones in the hope that friends were ok. In that moment, the G8, Africa, the protests and the police all became irrelevant. As  good news filtered through, political minds inevitably began to drift back to the wider political implications. "This will definitely mean ID cards,” one sighed. "Iran will be next for the neo-cons," said another. "And Muslims are going to be hammered." Debates and disagreements broke out but on one thing everyone was agreed: this was “a good time to bury bad news”. And yesterday's announcement of the G8 deal on Africa and climate change contained a lot of bad news, whatever those idiots Geldof and Bono say.

Police make good on their promise to 'get the Wombles'

Stuart Hodkinson. As the central London terrorists were going through their final preparations to detonate deadly explosive devices and kill innocent working class people in revenge for the Iraq war, at least 1500 London Met officers were working with more than 10,000 fellow officers from around the UK to shut down the streets of Scotland and stop protesters exercising their right to dissent. And it is tonight becoming disturbingly clear that the police's public threat, as reported here on Sunday. to target the anti-capitalist group, the Wombles, has been delivered. Using information from a reliable poster on Indymedia, what follows is a deeply disturbing account of how a small network of well-known activists have been subjected to a week of intimidation and harrassment in which rights and liberties we are supposed to be defending against the terrorists have been ripped up by the police themselves.

G8 and London terror

Oscar Reyes in London. We learnt from 9/11 that initial responses to a terror attack tend to confirm existing prejudices rather than force us to raise critical questions. There can be no hesitation in condemning the bombing of innocent civilians. But our condolences and horror at the attacks should not blind us to the dangerous political uses to which they will be put.

Scotland protesters told to stay put, plus update on London blasts

NG. 17.45 GMT. G8 protesters bound for London today are being told to stay put, says Network Rail.

Although mainline rail services are continuing to run as near normal service as possible, people are asked not to make any unnecessary journeys into London today. King's Cross station, a natural depot for trains to and from Scotland, is likely to remain closed 'for some time'. GNER trains are currently terminating in Peterborough.

London Blasts: Don't Let Them Win

Gabriele Zamparini. London, the city where I live, has been attacked. Ordinary people are paying the price, once again. Killing innocent people is an infamous act, never legitimate. Never justified. Never. But if we want to understand what’s going on without hysteria, we must look at the full picture. Again, not to apologize. But to understand. And hopefully to do something to build a better world.

G8 summit continues despite London blasts

Natasha Grzincic in London. Following explosions that have paralysed London, prime minister Tony Blair announced that the G8 leaders have no intention of cancelling the summit.

In a live national broadcast from Gleneagles Hotel at 12.05GMT, Blair said it was the will of the G8 leaders to carry on as usual.

'All the leaders share our determination to defeat this terrorism,' said Blair.