Demonstrations mount as G20 summit nears

Source: Xinhua | 04-01-2009 10:09

LONDON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Protests against the upcoming G20 summit started last Saturday as tens of thousands of people marched through London to express their disappointment over the British government's failure to find answers to the current economic crisis.

London's poor weather on Saturday may have put off some from attending, but many others still braved the rain and wind to call for action in tackling unemployment and climate change.

The march brought together many causes. Taking to the streets were pacifists, environmentalists and anarchists. Some carried banners calling for nuclear disarmament while others demanded greater efforts to stop climate change.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) joined the procession with banners emblazoned with messages such as "Jobs not Bombs" and "Terminate Trident," Britain's nuclear defense initiative.

Many environmental groups swelled the numbers. One protester held a placard reading "Plan it with the Planet in Mind" highlighting the commonly felt sentiment that governments are ignoring environmental issues.

Tony Robinson, a well-known British television presenter who took part in the march, told reporters that "politics should be about people not profit." He said it was important that ordinary people's voices were heard. "It doesn't matter if you're unemployed, a TV presenter or whatever, this recession is affecting everybody," he said.

Saturday's march was peaceful. But authorities are increasingly concerned about protests planned for Wednesday and Thursday, when the G20 summit gets under way.