Running into Leeds train station at 6.30am it became clear that this was going to be big. Reams of white cotton and a few hundred faces I didn’t recognise told me that.
One of the most significant factors in the march was its internationalism. African Drop the Debt campaigners protested alongside British Asians from Islamic Relief.
A huge white human chain snaked through the streets of Edinburgh for Saturday’s demonstration.
The Make Poverty History protest in Edinburgh on Saturday was the biggest demonstration in Scottish history — by a long way.
"We are not here to beg or plead or persuade but to show you, the small rich minority, that you do not represent the people of this planet. If you think you can save your reputations or your careers on the back of Make Poverty History then you are wrong. We are here to lay siege to you in Gleneagles."John Rees
Welcome to Edinburgh for the biggest political demonstration this city has ever seen. We will be making history here in July amid strong dissenting traditions.
Imagine a different G8. Flying in to Lagos, the centre of the United States of Benin, are the leaders of Great Zimbabwe, Katanga and Aksum. They will be joined by other leaders of Asia and South America to decide their latest proposals for lifting the debt burden from impoverished states in Europe.
Cotton used to be the big cash crop in eastern Uganda and a major contributor to the country’s agricultural sector, which employs over 80 percent of its population.
I am coming from Johannesburg to Edinburgh to be part of the movement confronting the G8 leaders. People from across the world will stand together in solidarity—fighting the battle to end poverty and exploitation.
Only 18 countries are helped by the latest G8 proposals
The focus of the protests at the G8 summit in Scotland has been on ending poverty in the developing world. But the G8 leaders are also set to make decisions on the environment and nuclear weapons.
