G8 Summit in Evian - Protest Against Warmongers By Garrett Mullen FOR THE first time since the momentous events in Genoa in 2001, the G8 summit - the world’s seven richest countries plus Russia - returns to Europe. Tens of thousands of trade unionists, anti war activists, environmentalists and many unorganised workers and youth will demonstrate in Evian, France against the agenda which drove the Iraq war. The G8 acts as a board of management for global capitalism whose policies are implemented by the World Bank, IMF and the WTO – pushing for privatisation and deregulation in the mad dash for profits and debt repayments. The protests at Evian will be important. With the presence of Bush, Blair and Berlusconi it will be the focus for global protest both against the ongoing occupation of Iraq and against corporate globalisation. Two years ago the G8 protests in Genoa marked a turning point for the global anti-capitalist movement. The dominant ideas then being put forward by leading figures in the anti-capitalist movement focused on ways to reform capitalism, to give it a more humane face. US imperialism’s criminal war against Iraq and the profound effects of the developing crisis in the world economy have sharpened this discussion. The CWI has consistently argued in the anti-capitalist movement that the capitalist system must be replaced by socialism in order to solve the problems facing humanity. That means addressing the question of the how to wrest control of the world’s resources from the hands of the those represented at the G8 summit. The massive anti-war movement was swelled out by anti-capitalist protestors. Now many of those who protested against the Gulf war will see the need to go to Evian and to get active in the anti-capitalist movement. Ireland assumes the EU presidency for the first six months of 2004. During this period a European summit will be held in the South, possibly even in Dublin. This will be a hugely significant event with anti-capitalist protestors convergening on Ireland from all over Europe. Many of the 20,000 who protested in Belfast and the 150,000 who protested in Dublin on 15 February against the war on Iraq will see this as an opportunity to vent their anger and frustration against the excesses of capitalism and imperialism. This protest may also be a focus point for working class people in the South and the North who are angry at the anti-working class policies of the Ahern and Blair governments. The Socialist Party and the CWI will be building to ensure that the anti-capitalist protests in Evian and in Ireland are as large as possible. We will also be raising the need for this movement to adopt a socialist programme. Globalise
Resistance are running coaches from Dublin to Annemasse. Entertainment
as well as other activities are being arranged for the journey over and
back. Campsite accommodation is arranged. The cost is €165-210 and
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