Participation of SAAPE delegates at the CSO events organised in Hokkaido, Japan from 4-9 July 2008 in relation to G8 Summit

JS APMDD group opposing G8 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan on 5th of july 2008. This rally was participated by more than 10,000 people representing various groups. Security was so tight that only half of the road was given for the demonstrators. More than 10 security helicopters were monitoring the demonstration from close range. Some people were arrested as they wanted to cover the entire road.

The 34th G8 summit took place in Toyako on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan from July 7-9, 2008. The G8 is an unofficial forum bringing together the heads of the richest industrialised countries: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada (since 1976), Russia (since 1998) and the President of the European Commission (since 1981). It must be noted that the G8 countries represent 14% of the world's population but control 2/3rd of global industry, 75 % of the world's military budget and almost all nuclear weapons except Israel, India and Pakistan.

The Summit was unusually marked by a high level of security and a number of activists were prohibited to enter the islands, the streets were full of posters seeking information about "terrorists" and the intimidating presence of more than 21,000 police (it was 18,000 at Rostock, Germany, last year). Quite a number of activists coming from other countries were deported from the airports of their entry and borders while the local activists were locked up as "preventive measures" for the last 28 days. It is in the backdrop of this democratic climate that the leaders of the G8 countries of the free world met.

In continuation with the tradition of consistent opposition to the global domination by G8, the social movements and the NGOs gathered in a counter-summit at Sapporo to voice their protests of the current global order and also the current crises (food crisis, climate crisis, energy crisis, financial crisis and the agricultural crisis) wrecked by the governments of the G8. There were a several demonstrations, meetings, workshops, plays and other programmes to articulate the protests, to speak about an alternative global order and also to exchange stories of successful struggles, ideas and opinions within activists, academicians, intellectual and others working for another world.

SAAPE members from Bangladesh, India and Nepal participated in the counter-summit at Sapporo and were present in a number of activities. Sushovan Dhar from India spoke at the public meeting on July 5th highlighting the illegitimacy of G8 and India's role and complicity. He also made a presentation on July 6th on the agricultural situation in India and the condition of peasants in a workshop organised by the Japanese peasants' organisation. He as well addressed the meeting at the closing programme of International Peoples Solidarity.

Similarly, Sarba Raj Khadka from Nepal presented the South Asian countries' situation on food and climate crises after decades of IFIs debts. He also presented the deteriorating situation of the people in the Least Developed Countries judged against fundamental human rights indicators. The majority of the people in these countries are compelled to live a life of misery and inadequacy in all respects. They are living for long under poverty, hunger, illiteracy, debt burden, poor health, etc. They are denied their access to state powers to govern themselves and productive resources to which they are the real owners. Hence, they are suffering due to debt, domination and inaction by the state and international community at par to their commitments. Therefore, he urged the G8 countries meeting here in Hokkaido and the IFIs to cancel all illegitimate debt and take total responsibility for current food, climate and energy crises hence act immediately to address all these problems.

Mr. Md Shamsuddoha from Bangladesh presented the scenario of Bangladesh in relation to climate change phenomena and the untold sufferings of the people. Bangladesh is at increased risk of flooding, cyclones and food insecurity due to rapidly changing climate patterns. Their livelihood is at risk and they are compelled to be in debt domination.

The SAAPE delegates also participated in demonstrations and mass rallies that were organised to warn G8 leaders and the IFIs to act responsibly otherwise be ready to face serious consequences.

The outcomes and declarations of the G8 Summit belied expectations. The G8's communiqué regarding their action on climate is actually inaction being masked as movement. It is a great fraud being perpetrated on the global community that would significantly reduce the global community's capacity to contain climate change. Another setback to the cause of effective climate action was the G8's endorsement of the World Bank's Climate Investment Funds, to which the communiqué said certain countries had already pledged $6 billion. Civil society groups monitoring the Bank's environment program had already warned the G8 that there are very serious concerns that the funds would be heavily oriented toward funding large-scale coal plants. Without a clear definition of clean technology, the funds may be used to finance projects that do not clearly mitigate climate change or may take up resources that bring only minor or incremental change at a time that fundamental change is needed.