[g8-sheffield] Flyer text n stuff

[Dan]

Hia,

Amended text below.  I've changed a few other things, coz I don't know 
where they came from - we didn't agree them at the meeting.  Listed below:

1. Info points?  Eh?  Removed that.  I know it says workshops in the 
minutes, but it won't be workshops, will it?  It'll just be people 
breaking down into groups.  Unless anyone on this list can say right now 
that they're planning x number of workshops...
2. makecapitalismhistory.org was explicitly NOT agreed to be the website 
for this.  Or did I miss something there?  I've replaced it with the 
national dissent one - can we post something newsy to this?  I'll do 
this later today maybe.
3. Can we not have a more user-friendly e-mail?  E.g. just 
g8-sheffield at lists.aktivix.org ?  Then the moderators can pick them up?
4. Who's is the phone number?  We need to agree who is the public contact.
5. Address needs some context: I've added some, hope it helps.
6. I've changed the text to focus on the specific issues of terrorism 
that they'll be discussing, whilst trying to keep the G8 intro stuff.  
Comments to list before 3, when M will be printing!
7. I rather like the 'WE ARE GOING TO BE MEETING THEM' bit!  It's a 
loose use of the word 'meet', but that's precisely the aim - not blind 
protest, but meeting their arguments head on.  I just hope no-one thinks 
we're actually going to be meeting them...

THE G8 IS COMING TO SHEFFIELD from JUNE 15th - 17th
TO CONTINUE PLANNING THEIR WAR ON TERRORISM
WE ARE GOING TO BE MEETING THEM
WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED?
THEN COME TO OUR OPEN MEETING
-SHARE YOUR IDEAS FOR ACTION-
WHEN?
WED 20th APRIL 2005  FROM 7pm
WHERE?
Adrenalin Recording Studios
111 Matilda Street
Sheffield S1 4QF
Near the old NCPM

e-mail: g8-sheffield at lists.aktivix.org
p: 07786907084
w: http://www.dissent.org.uk/

The G8 comes to Sheffield...

G8 means simply 'group of eight' nations: an exclusive grouping of the 
political leaders of eight specific countries. These are of course the 
world's most industrialised, wealthy and powerful states.

In July, they will be meeting in Scotland.  Before that - from June 15th 
- 17th - Sheffield is to host a G8 'mini-summit'.  Its focus will be the 
'War on Terror'.  This 'war' has meant attacks on our liberties, and the 
emergence of an international network of torture.  British citizens can 
now be detained without charge, based on evidence obtained under this 
torture.  The 'war' has meant acceptance of pre-emptive attacks on 
anyone, anywhere if the US decides they are a threat.  It has meant 
rising tension between different communities in Sheffield and 
elsewhere.  Above all, it has left the vast majority of us much more 
terrified - not of terrorists, but of the kind of future the G8 leaders 
are making for us.

Their visit is a chance for us to tell them what we think. 

G8 background...

The G8 began as a group of six countries at a time of significant global 
economic insecurity in the 1970s. The leaders of these countries would argue
that they gathered, as the leading nations, in order to manage this 
crisis in the interests of global stability.  A stability that of course 
ensured that they
retained their power, with their interests at the heart of the global 
agenda. 

This has meant the nudging of the global economy in a direction which 
reinforces the supremacy of private and corporate interests over 
democratic and collective ones.

The membership of the g8 has evolved over time to include the US, UK, 
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Canada and the president of the 
European Union.
The scope of the topics of discussion have also evolved from the first, 
supposedly one -off meeting that focussed on economic policy.  Now 
issues of security, trade, relations with developing countries and other 
trans-national issues and even domestic issues, such as employment have 
been discussed.

It is important to be clear that the G8 Summits are not a policy-making 
forum.  They are a time for the leaders of these states to network and 
build relationships. They are a time to discuss complex international 
issues and crises, to allow for a more powerful collective response.  
The co-ordination of these nations and their unequal influence over 
international institutions such as the WTO, IMF and G20 ensures that 
their interests dominate the world order.

As such the G8 Summits have always been a focus for protests and counter 
summits.  Following the Peoples Global Action call for a united global 
day of
action in 1998, the Summit protests have, however, grown and 
strengthened, forcing the G8 Summits to more and more remote locations 
with ever increasing
security costs.

For more information on the G8 please check out these links:
G8 Information Centre based at the University of Toronto. To be read 
critically.
www.g7.utoronto.ca
Offical Website: www.g8.gov.uk
www.perthshireg8.com
http://www.geocities.com/ericsquire/g8calgary.htm
http://www.web.ca/acgc/issues/g8
http://g8.activist.ca/print/
http://www.dissent.org.uk/