I'm really looking forward to the demo in Edinburgh this weekend. For those that can't be there Barky is directing the blogosphere to the virtual G8 summit set up by ActionAid where you can get the world's most powerful people to do whatever you like- fight, drink, dance etc... very funny!
I'm hoping to get the opportunity to hear George Monbiot speak on Sunday. He's one of my anti-capitalist hero's alongside Naomi Klien, Noreena Hertz et al- but i was disappointed to read this article by him where he slates Bono and Geldof...
"Take their response to the debt relief package for the world’s poorest countries that the G7 finance ministers announced ten days ago. Anyone with a grasp of development politics who had read and understood the ministers’ statement could see that the conditions it contains – enforced liberalisation and privatisation – are as onerous as the debts it relieves. But Bob Geldof praised it as “a victory for the millions of people in the campaigns around the world”, and Bono pronounced it “a little piece of history.” Like many of those – especially the African campaigners I know – who have been trying to highlight the harm done by such conditions, I feel betrayed by these statements. Bono and Geldof have made our job more difficult."
"Geldof and Bono’s campaign for philanthropy portrays the enemies of the poor as their saviours. The good these two remarkable men have done is in danger of being outweighed by the harm."
Blimey, a little harsh me thinks! Maybe i won't go and see George Monbiot after all. Truth be told, despite my attempts at buying organic and fair-trade and avoiding Gap and MacDonalds (except on the odd occasion), I think i might be a bit of a common-moderate in this whole movement!
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