Jonathan Falla
Author. journalist. nurse and former aid worker. His latest novel, Poor Mercy. is out now.
'I don't want anything from the G8 at all. Outside interference in Africa — aid included — has caused far more grief than benefit. Now it is proposed that Africa‘s future be decided outside Africa by non-Africans. This is no different from the Berlin conference of 1884 that began the infamous scramble fer colonies.’
Micky
G/oba/ise Resistance direct action protesior
‘We're demonstrating against poverty and inequality. We want to stop the G8 conference going ahead. In Geneva we blockaded the roads and bridges. We're peaceful 7- we're not attacking police or smashing MacDonalds. We want to get Africa's debt to the IMF wiped. lhey've already paid back $.7400bn on a C390bn loan and now they're just paying interest'
Ian Dickinson
ssistant Chief Constable. I othian and Borders Police ‘Ihe march will be the single largest protest ever held in Scotland and I hope that all the planning and preparation by I othian and Borders police. City of f dinburgh Council and Make Poverty History will ensure that the day is a great success fer everyone involved'
Y 0 UR- .C. .0 M? R WENSWF
The radical fringe
A number of alternative events are taking place alongside the mass rallies in the first week of July. Allan Radcliffe reports.
radition dictates that every mainstream event must
have its fringe. So. alongside the Make Poverty
History march and Midge Ure's Live8 beano at Murraytield Stadium. at number of alternative events will be taking place. But who are these alternative voices and why are they making the trip north?
The main G8 Alternatives Summit takes place on Sunday 3 July at the Usher Hall. Queen‘s Hall and Edinburgh University (the affiliated Counter Conference at the Assembly Hall on the Royal Mile takes place on the same day) complemented by an alternative rally in Auchterarder on Wednesday (3 July. For the lidinburgh summit. the organisers have assembled an impressive array of representatives from trade unions. environmental. peace. anti-war and anti-racism groups as well as sortie insights from individual speakers and an inspiring programme of workshops on such subjects as Globalisation and Women‘s ()ppression and Resisting Global Corporate Media.
Among those appearing who might be termed the ‘usual suspects' among British radical writers and speakers are journalist and thorn in the side of big business. George Monbiot. Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan and Respect MP and anti-war campaigner George Galloway. Bob Crow. left-wing lirebrand general secretary of the RMT trade union. and Green Party politicians Caroline Lucas and Mark Ballard will also be making their views known. as will representatives of Friends of the Earth. CNI). Focus on the Global South and other organisations. Contributions from lesser-known figures. such as Heidi Giuliani. whose son died in the Genoa protests two years ago. Moanem Be ’g. the British citizen held in Guantanamo Bay for more than two years. and Rose Gentle. mother of Gordon. a British soldier killed in Iraq. should be just as significant.
The summit will also welcome overseas visitors. including Nigeria's Ken Wiwa. leading commentator on issues relating to globalisation and son of playwright and ecologist Ken Saro-Wiwa. and former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter. There will be contributions from campaigners hailing from African countries. (including Charles Abugre of the Ghana Anti-Privatisation Forum and South African gay and lesbian rights campaigner Zackic Achmat) as well as the Philippines. Malaysia. Palestine and Iraq. A loose coalition of voices and agendas this may be. But there‘s something for everyone.
Alternative GB Summit, Sun 3 Jul, Usher Hall, Queen’s Hall and Edinburgh University. 0131 228 1 155, www.98alternatives.org.uk. See listings.
G U '9? T-9___T__H_F___-9..§
Sunday 26
THEATRE
Globaieyes Royal Lyceum Theatre. Grindlay Street. 248 4848. 25—1250. See Thursday 23. VISUAL ART
Looking Both Ways See Thursday 23.
Monday 27
THEATRE
Globaieyes Royal Lyceum Theatre. Grindlay Street. 248 4848. 7.30pm. 25—1250. See Thursday 23.
VISUAL ART
Looking Both Ways City Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 529 3993. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm. Sun noon-5pm. Free. See Thursday 23.
The Forgotten Women St Giles Cathedral. Royal Mile. 9am—7pm. Free. Sensitive exhibition by photojournalist Fiona Lloyd-Davies depicting women who survived the conflict in east Congo. Fee of Life Project St Giles Cathedral. Royal Mile. Free. Sculpture of decommissioned weapons.
Tuesday 28
THEATRE
Globaleyes Royal Lyceum Theatre. Grindlay Street, 248 4848. 7.30pm 935—1250. See Thursday 23.
VISUAL ART
Looking Both Ways See Thursday 23. The Forgotten Women See Monday 27.
Wednesday 29
TALKS
Out of Control on Africa Traverse Theatre. Cambridge Street. 228 1404. 7.30pm. 22. Author Jonathan Falla discusses his experiences as a former aid worker in Africa and reads from his new novel about a famine relief team in Sudan. THEATRE
Globaleyes Royal Lyceum Theatre. Grindlay Street. 248 4848. 7.30pm. SIS—12.50. 7.30pm. See Thursday 23.
VISUAL ART
Looking Both Ways See Thursday 23.
The Forgotten Women See Monday 27.
Thursday 30 TALKS
an. -
Making Poverty History Traverse Theatre. Cambridge Street. 228 1404. 7.30pm. £2. Broadcaster and journalist Lesley Riddoch introduces entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Hunter as he discusses the importance of the G8 summit and its consequences for African poverty. What’s it all about? St John's Church, Princes Street. 2—3.30pm. Free. Mary Cullen. chair of Make Poverty HistOry Scotland. hosts this discussion of the campaign and the G8. THEATRE
Black Sun Over Genoa Festival Theatre. 13—29 Nicolson Street. 529 6000. 7.30pm. £15 ($7.50). To coincide with the G8 summit at Gleneagles. Theatre Workshop presents a powerful account of the protests in Genoa in 2001. It uses film footage. carnival-style
9-23 Jun 2005 THE LIST 17