Posted 17th July 2001

The Wall 2001

Campaigners commit to peaceful protest as they head for the G8 Genoa summit by train and coach, rickshaw, bicycle and double-decker bus - and virtually on the web. Around two thousand supporters of Drop the Debt and partner organisations such as CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, and the World Development Movement are making the journey to Italy from the UK alone to take part in a peaceful protest at the G8 Summit in Genoa this coming weekend.

The groups have reiterated their commitment to non-violent protest, and the majority of those planning to go have been undeterred by speculation about violence or travel disruptions. The response of the so-called global leaders? Panic, paranoia, missiles, machine guns and the great wall of Genoa - of steel this time rather than stone. An example of the sort of issue that drives people to Genoa to protest is the Drop the Debt group, who condemn any form of violence.

Supporters are coming for a peaceful and positive march to send a clear message to the G8 to cancel more debt. The debt burden in the poorest countries has been a central issue at the G8 annual summits since 70,000 peaceful campaigners filled the streets of Birmingham in May 1998. People on the streets at previous summits have forced the G8 to respond on debt cancellation, but the G8 have not reduced the debts of the poorest countries nearly far enough. Amidst the security concerns and speculation, the G8 must take on the criticisms of peaceful campaigners: 19,000 children still die each day because of the debt crisis - the G8 cannot turn a blind eye. The journey to Genoa will not be easy, as arrangements have been changed frequently by the authorities. Last Friday it was announced that the main train station will be closed, along with the airport, and the few trains running will be severely delayed as they circumnavigate the security zone in the centre of the city.

Drop the Debt supporters, numbering among them nuns, doctors, ministers, students, families, and retirees, are determined to get to Genoa in time for Saturday's march, Julia Ruxton, a picture researcher from London who is going to Genoa, said "I can do my bit by adding my voice to those in Genoa calling for more debt cancellation. It's worked before. The threat of fringe violence makes me even more determined to make the peaceful events bigger." Don't miss the bus A dozen or so coaches are leaving on Thursday from the UK. A group of 40 cyclists are coming from Leeds on bicycles and rickshaws, a journey which will have taken 3 weeks. And a London double-decker bus is also on its way, after a colourful and noisy send-off in Trafalgar Square last Friday.

The 40-year-old Routemaster bus has had an unusual campaigners' re-fit, with a shower, toilets and beds and a stack of campaigning posters, t-shirts and stickers to spread the debt message along the way. "Our bus makes James Bond's Aston-Martin look under-equipped, even though its maximum speed is only 40mph!" said its driver Ian, a school bus driver and campaigner from Lincolnshire. The eight campaigners aboard include two Ugandans 2, an artist from London and a doctor of mathematics from Leeds. All want to see more debt relief, for more countries, delivered more quickly.

Drop the Debt is not a negative message. Sure as hell they'll get a negative reception at Genoa.......

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