put people first

The Put People First G20 Counter Conference was one of two alternative G20 conferences held simultaneously in London and St Andrews on November 7th 2009 to coincide with the G20 finance ministers meeting on 7th-8th November.
Over three plenary sessions we invited academics, activists, campaigners, unions and policy makers to debate alternative policies to promote jobs, justice and a safe climate.

November  7 2009 – Westminster Central Hall – London.

Jobs, Justice, Climate – Alternatives to the G20 – Book NOW!
In March, we marched in our tens of thousands to demand the G20 Put People First. Far from putting people first we’ve seen nothing but a tinkering around the margins followed by the return to business as usual.
On Nov 7, as the G20 returns to the UK, the agenda on the table nurses an already failed economic model back to life, whilst looking to sew up an international climate deal of unprecedented urgency.

G20:  NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL

Friday 4 September 2009, 10am-6pm, Central London
This autumn the G20 is back. On Friday 4 September, the G20 Finance Ministers are meeting in London to discuss the financial crisis, for the first time since April’s G20 summit. So far they’ve flunked the challenge of putting people first in response to the financial crisis, preferring instead to patch up the old system that has led to poverty, inequality and the threat of climate chaos.

As the G20 sit down for their conference on 7 November, Put People First will be holding two parallel ‘counter conferences’, allowing academics, activists, campaigners, unions and policy makers in London and St Andrews to debate alternative policies to promote jobs, justice and a safe climate.
The initial details for the London event are out now, and you can get your bookings in online here.

Phew! What a couple of weeks it has been. World leaders have a habit of stirring up a lot of commotion whenever they get together, and last week was no exception. Rallies, protests, frantic blogging and a transport nightmare all made last week very interesting.  I unintentionally encountered the protests on Wednesday evening, when I was trying to make my way home by bus via Liverpool Street.

Glen Tarman of BOND, chair of Put People First, said:
“The G20 appears to have made progress on some critical issues but there are also missed opportunities, especially on building a green economy, and causes for real concern in other areas. G20 leaders have not yet gone far enough on the fundamental changes the world needs.
“Our campaign for jobs, justice and climate has clearly made some impact, but three big tests remain:

ITUC press release - 31 March 2009
Trade union leaders from around the world are converging on London this week to press their case at the G20 Summit on the global economic crisis. Meetings with the Summit host British Prime Minster Gordon Brown today (Tuesday) and Australian Prime Minster Kevin Rudd on Wednesday will round off dozens of similar meetings with heads of governments, organised by national union leaders in their home countries since the beginning of last week.


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This video was shown on a the stage screen at the Put People First London G20 rally in Hyde Park on Saturday 28 March 2009.

From CongressTV.tv

Church and agency leaders joined with 1500 Christians in an ecumenical service that formed part of the “Put People First” event on Saturday. Entitled “Standing for Justice, United in Hope,” the service took place at Central Hall in Westminster.

I’ve been learning a few things over my weekends lately. Like just because it looks sunny don’t rejoice too early and get out your flimsy summer dress. And that there are actually no loos on the top of Snowdon (good tip that, when you’re in for a 5 hour trek). And that one of the best ways you can spend a Saturday morning is not, contrary to popular belief, by molding yourself seamlessly to the sofa to watch some culinary masters conversing. But it may well be more satisfying to take a stroll through London with 34,999 of your fellow like-minded beings.