Make the G8 History Blog

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.

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.

Walden Bello: 'Saturday was the big missed opportunity'

Alex Nunns interviews Walden Bello.

Regular readers might think that this has become the Walden Bello G8 blog, but us Red Pepperistas just keep bumping in to him. Today I sat next to him on a coach back from the Gleneagles demo, so I took the chance to get a quick reaction to the week so far.

The Abominable Live 8

Gabriele Zamparini, The Cat's Dream I felt dizzy when I read about Bono and World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz talking about poverty in Africa. But the worst had still to happen. I wanted to laugh – but I couldn’t – when I heard George W. Bush talking about the great generosity of US Government to help the developing countries. But the worst had still to happen. I felt sick when I saw Tony Blair and Sir Bob Geldof flirting and preaching on TV about Make Poverty History. But the worst had still to happen.

Cosa Nostra

by Gabriele Zamparini, The Cat's Dream

United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia. These are the countries of the G8. All of them have been colonial powers. All of them are responsible for massive crimes against humanity, from torture to war crimes to genocide. Their history (our history) has been written with the blood of their victims (our victims), slaughtered on the altar of imperialism. All of them have used complacent writers, historians and intellectuals to justify their unspeakable crimes and hide them behind the carpet of ‘civilisation’.

Make the G8 History

Welcome to the Red Pepper G8 blog. We'll be bringing you regular coverage and analysis in the run up to the meeting of the world's eight most powerful governments. From 2 to 8 July, we'll then bring you live coverage of the protests, counter-conferences and the summit itself.