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Bristol G8 Dissent! update

Dee Senta | 22.10.2004 20:32 | G8 2005 | Globalisation | Social Struggles | London

From 1 January 2005 for one year, Britain will be the 'host' nation of the G8 (group of eight major industrial democracies - not necessarily the 8 richest, nor most democratic). 'Dissent! a network of resistance against the G8' held a stall at last weekends ESF conference, as well as a day long series of packed out workshops on Friday 15 October at the Beyond ESF event. At the Bristol Dissent meeting on 26 October, Bristolians who attended the workshops will report back on the discussions and progress of the campaign.

Also available will be a stack of info & literature relating to the G8 and the campaign. All are welcome to attend the meeting, from 7.30pm at Kebele, 14 Robertson Rd, Easton, BS5 (please note that the Bristol & national Dissent networks operate in line with the PGA hallmarks - see www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/pga/hallm.htm)

Tony Blair has signalled that during Britains host year, he wants to focus the G8 on issues including Africa, climate change, and sustainability. All very worthy, but ironic given that since it's inception in 1975, the G8 has spectactularily failed to resolve these problems. For instance, the US has failed to sign up to the now outdated Kyoto agreement, Russia has only just signalled it's willingness to do so, whilst harmful emissions & global warming increase apace. In Africa, 20 years on from Band & Live Aid, approx 6 million Ethiopians face famine this year, the Sudan crisis worsens, and poverty across the continent has increased. The national & Bristol Dissent groups believe that aid, whilst well intentioned, is merely a sticking plaster across a failing worldwide socio-economic system, and that more fundamental social & economic change is required.

In response to Blair's 3 main issues, the Bristol group will in the coming months produe a series of fact sheets on these issues, as well as an introductory fact sheet on the workings of the G8. We will also highlight the alternatives to the failing economic programme of the G8. If you have ideas & information to contribute to these please get in touch.

Other upcoming Bristol Dissent events include:
4 November - benefit night at The Plough pub, Easton Rd, Easton, from 8pm, with bands/DJ's.
6 November - first in a series of monthly info street stalls around Bristol.

More details available at the meeting. You can contact Bristol Dissent at  dissentbristol@susbsection.org.uk or by post to Box 102, Greenleaf Books, 82 Colston St, Bristol, BS1 5BB. Info will be generally available from Kebele, ring 0117 939 9469.

Let's get busy - see you there!

Dee Senta

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  1. Come on, Dissent!, where's your radicalness? :-) — Ozymandias