This weekend, an estimated 100,000 people were in the streets of Genoa, Italy, to express dissent against the closed meetings of the Group of 8. The 'G8' - the leaders of the world's most economically powerful countries, meets yearly to discuss general international policy direction. Demonstrators from all over Europe converged on Genoa to present alternative visions of the way the world's population could organize to undo poverty, inequality and environmental disintegration. The G8 members claim that they are democratically elected representatives. But the club is an exclusive one - it excludes the greater part of humanity and their representatives. The decisions they take there affect us all, so why don't the rest of the world's governments have a say? This club is an attempt to by-pass the UN system where other governments will have a say. The self appointed club have no right to claim they represent the overwhelming majority of the people of the third world. That is why there is such a groundswell of opposition. And no amount of tokenism by having a few tame African leaders attend the meeting as they did in Genoa is going to change that. Why aren't their deliberations public? The G8 cabal has no legitimacy to determine the future and livelihood of the rest of the world.

100,000 face G8 in Genoa. Full coverage from Independent Media:

Genoa Fails; Big Promise for Next Year: Oxfam’s reaction to the conclusion of the Genoa G8:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/educationnow/g8genoa.htm
World Development Movement: statements on Genoa:
http://www.wdm.org.uk/campaign/genmed.htm
Genoa Social Forum:
http://www.genoa-g8.org/
Riots Force review of Summits:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/globalisation/story/0,7369,526082,00.html
Men in Black Behind Chaos:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/globalisation/story/0,7369,525999,00.html
Stay Home for Awhile: Katharine Ainger, the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/globalisation/story/0,7369,526077,00.html