G8 and the people

The meeting of the world's richest 8 nations, the G8, will start today in Heiligendamm, Germany. Eight presidents and prime ministers are supposed to help solve some of the world's major problems such as poverty and climate change. All eight countries claim to be democratic, which means that their leaders claim to represent the people. But far from mingling with the people, they are hiding in a no-go area, surrounded by 11 kilometer long temporary fence. The biggest police operation in Germany since the end of the Second World War has been set in motion to protect eight leaders and their courtiers. 16,000 police or 5% of Germany total will be mobilized. The so-called "democratically elected" leaders are afraid of the people. Demonstrators of all stripes and colors are protesting against this elitist summit. (The Times: With three days to go, police are braced for further violence)

The composition of the G8 itself is wrong. Why let 4 European countries participate in addition to the president of the E.U. Commission? Why Italy, not Spain? With all due respect to Canada, why Canada, not Brazil?

How can the rich 8 solve anything if they don't talk to other countries? The big 'poor' countries held their own summit in Berlin and are invited to join the G8 in an "outreach session" on Friday. Why not join from day one?

The G8 should be discontinued. The place to discuss the world's problems is the United Nations. Not all countries have to participate in all meetings, because that would become too unwieldy to lead to any solutions, but all countries should be able to have their voices heard. The G8 is a nice photo opportunity for 8 presidents and prime ministers, but it never solves any problems. The last G* Summit in Gleneagles promised to double annual aid to poor countries to 50 billion dollar a year, but in 2006 global aid actually fell for the first time in 10 years. (The Independent: The true value of what the G8 gives in aid)

Stop the dictatorship of the G8 and bring some needed democracy to international relations.