Activists converge on Calgary to protest G-8

Gil McGowan, AFL Staff

Albertans concerned about the negative effects of corporate globalization are being encouraged to gather in Calgary later this month to participate in protests against the G-8 and its economic agenda.

Leaders from the world’s most powerful countries will be in Alberta on June 26 and 27 to attend the annual G-8 Summit, being held this year at Kananaskis Village. Delegates will discuss a controversial new aid plan for Africa and set the stage for the next round of international trade talks.

The Summit will be held behind an unprecedented, multi-million-dollar security cordon. So, activists have decided to focus their protest efforts in Calgary.

For months now, the federal government and the Calgary City government have attempted to discourage people from making the trip to Calgary by throwing up roadblocks to organized events.

But despite all the interference, activists have succeeded in organizing nearly a week of teach-ins, marches and other special events – all aimed at raising awareness about the policies of the G-8 and other influential international bodies such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"The federal government has tried to stop people from coming to Alberta by interfering with our efforts to organize a Solidarity Village near Kananaskis," says Alberta Federation of Labour president Les Steel.

"And the City of Calgary has tried to discourage participation by refusing to give us a permit to use a city park. But none of these efforts have stopped our planning, and they shouldn’t stop people from coming to take part in our events."

Edmonton activist Scott Harris says he plans to be in Calgary – and he’s encouraging people from around the country to do the same.

"It’s important that people go to Calgary, first to protest the G-8, but also to show that bullying tactics on the part of the federal government and the City of Calgary can’t stop people from democratically voicing dissent."

Counter Summit activities kick off on Friday, June 21 with a five-day conference dubbed "the Group of Six Billion People’s Summit". The G6B Summit will be held on the University of Calgary campus and will feature workshops, speakers and a number of special events.

Workshops will also be held throughout the week by a wide range of groups including the AFL and the Council of Canadians.

In addition, a daily lecture and film series will be held at the Daniel Sponagle Centre downtown – and a special Solidarity Entertainment Night will be held on June 26 at the Uptown Theatre, featuring the music of Bruce Cockburn.

(For a more complete listing of events, see our Activities Schedule on page 10.)

Organizers say the counter summit events will provide Canadians with a better understanding of the G-8 and how its policies touch the lives people throughout the world.

"One of the main things that people need to understand is that the G-8 is the real power within the World Trade Organization (WTO)," says Bill Moore-Kilgannon of the Council of Canadians.

"The United States, Britain, Canada and the other members of the G-8 are in effect the executive and they’ve been forcing other nations to adopt their agenda."

That agenda involves the relentless expansion of "rights" for corporations at the expense of rights for individuals, communities and duly elected national governments.

"The WTO is setting the rules that basically say what national governments can and can’t do when it comes to things like protecting the environment, social programs and workers rights," says Moore-Kilgannon. "The more rules enacted by the WTO, the more the hands of local governments are tied."