Update (14/06/05): The G8 leaders surfaced again at the Cowley Road Carnival where they were spotted worshipping chainstores, dancing to the samba and attempting to shake hands with the crowd.

Leaders of the powerful G8 countries ran wild in Oxford on Saturday, shaking hands, waving and dancing to samba rhythms.

The performance drew cheerful crowds and called for more power to be given to multinational corporations. Oxford residents were warmly invited to join the leaders at their next summit in July near Edinburgh. Vladimir Putin and George Bush cried out for people's support in practical terms, particularly by continuing to "work your boring jobs and do what you're told".

The oligarchal octet and its samba entourage also took in the army recruitment event in Gloucester Green, where the G8 leaders gave thanks for the help of the armed forces in controlling the world and opening new markets for corporate ownership. War was also praised as a great way to keep down the population of poor people, thus helping to reduce world poverty. Omitted were the ways in which military spending contribute to the global economy and create opportunities for governments to invest heavily in technical research while leaving the corporations in control of the final products.

Don't forget to come to the G8 action meeting at OARC (Oxford Action Resource Centre) on Wednesday 18 May, 6pm!

Report and Pictures | Corporate-Governmental Global Relationships and the G8 | New Corporate Watch Report on the G8 | Dissent Network | Oxford Action Resource Centre | Breach of the Peace Radical Samba Band