Live 8 and protests in Edinburgh call for an end to World poverty |
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Sun, 03 Jul 2005 10:35
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SCOTLAND: Live8 kicked off yesterday with the first concert taking place in Tokyo. Simultaneously, a huge tidal wave of at least 120,000 people arrived in Edinburgh for the ‘Make Poverty History’ march. The protesters walked through the streets and later make a huge human chain around central Edinburgh. Although mostly peaceful, there were reports of one or two incidents, which required police intervention.
The local police in Edinburgh made all the necessary arrangements to make sure the march will go off peacefully. The march hoped to cause a change of heart among G8 leaders slated to meet in Gleneagles Wednesday. The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US - wealthy industrialised nations who can make a difference to the world if they wish to. The campaigners hope the G8 leaders will make a commitment to tackle poverty in Africa.
The Edinburgh march was one of a number of events planned as run-up to the G8 summit. The concert held in London’s Hyde Park, simultaneously with those being held in cities around the world is expected to add further attention to the needs of Africa.
The idea is not to raise money but to cancel debt, debt already repaid in many cases, increase general aid to combat treatable disease and more importantly to lift trade barriers to World agricultural markets, enabling Africa itself to reduce poverty. Schemes such as the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) in Europe currently close the European market and pay European farmers billions of pounds every year; this is just one thing that Live 8 wants to address; the idea is simply 'Fair Trade.'
The city of Edinburgh has perhaps never before seen hordes of people arriving simultaneously from every direction. At the railway station, a constant stream of people was pouring out and being filmed by the police a security measure. Many complained about being searched and photographed. Three coach-loads of people from Belfast said their bags were searched and they had been photographed.
Protesters arriving from Euston complained that police offers stopped them and did not allow them to board the trains until their pictures were taken by the police.
Several shops along Edinburgh streets had boarded up their windows fearing trouble from such an uncontrollable mass of people. Protest groups said there was no need for fear and promised a peaceful demonstration.
Chancellor Gordon Brown and First Minister Jack McConnell along with religious leaders will address the rally. A catholic leader will read out a message from Pope Benedict XVI.
At Hyde park yesterday, pop stars like Madonna, U2, Pink Floyd, REM and Coldplay performed before a capacity audience of some 205,000 fans.
The series of concerts is organised by singer Bob Geldof who had organised the previous Live Aid series. Protesters will call for more aid, debt cancellation and fairer trade.
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