A voluntary association of concerned Lancaster citizens had organised a public meeting in the local Town Hall. Around a hundred people watched a presentation in the Banqueting Room about the G8 and global democracy, asked questions and made comments. The presentation showed that there is a disproportionate distribution of health and wealth and that the few who are rich have control over the many who are poor. The same old story, but as usual some contemporary analysis was included. Worthy of note were figures about Gordon Brown's idea of how to make povery history with his friends Sir Bob Geldorf and Nelson Mandela. It was somehow possible to look at the same numbers as Brown wants to solve the problems of the world with and see that, in fact, the poor countries were going to get less aid!? Governments often make promises, but less often keep them and they do sometimes lie to people, so even this could be true, - who knows?

After the presentation and a break people split into working groups around six practical projects to get on with it: (i) cre8 summat - local social and environmental community work and art projects; (ii) Indymedia - how to get involved in independent reporting around the summit; (iii) Cycle caravan - hosting and organising a critical mass for the www.g8bikeride.org.uk ; (iv) Go to scotland - organising transport and "camping"; (v) Climate change - day of action July 8; (vi) Wimmin and queer mobilisation - networking and outreach; (vii) Fundraising - local gigs.

There is a website in the making to keep track of the developments - it can be found here:
 http://testbed.lancasteraction.co.uk/CMS/content/section/7/30/

Meanwhile, the presentation and the flyers, posters etc. can all be downloaded here (for free use):
 http://www.lancs.ac.uk/ug/pedersen/cre8/

Some mailinglists will be set up and further meetings are being organised!

An idea about a Lancaster Social Forum was mentioned - a possible model can be found here:
 http://www.sheffieldsocialforum.org/

The public meeting was very successful and most people left in a good mood, motivated to do things.

See also  http://www.virtual-lancaster.net/