[Onthebarricades] Summit Protests - G8 and more, Apr-Aug 2008

[Andy]

ON THE BARRICADES:  Global Resistance Roundup, April-August 2008
https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/onthebarricades
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance/



*  JAPAN:  G8-related repression leads to revolt by casual workers in 
Kamagasaki/Nishinari, in the town of Osaka

*  JAPAN:  Thousands rally at G8 summit despite repression

*  PHILIPPINES:  Japanese embassy picketed in G8 protest

*  US:  North American Summit marked by protests

*  US:  Conspiracy theorists turn out for Bilderburg Group protest in 
Virginia

*  US:  Denver Democratic Convention protests start

*  PHILIPPINES:  Migrant groups plan to protest migration summit

*  CANADA:  Protest at Pacific Northwest economic summit

*  INDIA:  Farmers' group holds protest against WTO talks in Andhra Pradesh

*  INDONESIA:  Anti-WTO protest

*  US:  Steelworkers to protest NAFTA

*  US/GLOBAL:  Seattle protesters to donate lawsuit winnings to global 
projects

*  PHILIPPINES:  Leftists to protest Arroyo-Bush summit


http://www.indymedia.org/en/2008/06/908979.shtml

Resistance action against police in Kamagasaki
29 Jun 2008 15:09 GMT

On 12th June 2008, just in the afternoon before the G8 Finance Ministers' 
Meeting had began in Osaka with many guards and excessive security, one of 
the daily labourers in Kamagasaki was tortured by the police. From the next 
day 13th, many of the daily labourers and neighbourhood youth began to 
resist against the police repression and violence. Most Japanese mainstream 
media just copied the official announcements by the police and reported this 
as a "riot" for the first time after 18 years since the last one in 1990.
10pm, 17th June: 5th nights from the beginning, reporters told us that 
dozens of labourers and youth were arrested. 4am, 18th June: Are they 
"suppressed"?
19th June: Over the past week and a half, an unprecedented political 
crackdown has been enacted in advance of a series of economic summits around 
the country. Despite this, the brave workers of Kamagasaki stood up against 
the stiff security environment in riots against the brutal beating of a day 
laborer over the past five days. The twin situations of repression and 
revolt deserve to be examined in more detail.
VIDEO: [1 (it)] | PHOTOS: [13 June] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [14]
G8 LINKS: background | schedule | online media | local media centers | camp 
site | music | events | communications
G8 MEDIA: G8 Media Network | No-G8 | Alt-G8 | IMC Japan | Teiko (ru)
June in Kamagasaki -- Repression and Revolt in Japan
Over the past week and a half, an unprecedented political crackdown has been 
enacted in advance of a series of economic summits around the country. 
Despite this, the brave workers of Kamagasaki stood up against the stiff 
security environment in riots against the brutal beating of a day laborer 
over the past five days. The twin situations of repression and revolt 
deserve to be examined in more detail.
Repression
In the run-up to the series of summits, over 40 people were arrested in 
pre-emptive sweeps of broad left and anarchist groups.
On May 29th, 38 people were arrested at Hosei University in Tokyo at a 
political assembly against the G8. These large-scale arrests were carried 
out by over 100 public security agents after the students staged after a 
march across campus protesting the 
summits.[http://hosei29.blog.shinobi.jp/Date/20080531/] All of the arrestees 
are still jailed, and among them are apparently some leadership of the 
Chuukaku-ha Leninist organization, one of the largest organizations of its 
kind in Japan.
On June 4th, Tabi Rounin, an active anarchist from the Kansai region, was 
arrested on accusation of having his address registered at a location other 
than where he was living. When arrested, his computer, cell phone, political 
flyers and more was taken from him; these items were used when detectives 
interrogated him, asking him about his relationship to internationals 
possibly arriving for the G8, as well as his activity around Osaka. He would 
be the first obviously political arrest masked as routine police work.[Tabi 
Rounin was thankfully released after a week in jail, and is back home]
On June 12th, an activist from the Kamagasaki Patrol (an Osaka squatter and 
anti-capitalist group), was arrested for allegedly defrauding lifestyle 
assistance payments. This person has been constantly followed by 
plainclothes police and even helicopters during demonstrations. Clearly, his 
arrest was planned with the idea of keeping him away from the major 
anti-summit mobilizations and he will be held without bail for the maximum 
of 23 until the summit is over. The office of an anarchist organization 
called the Free Worker was raided in order to look for 'evidence' in this 
comrade's case.
The same day the Rakunan union in Kyoto was raided, with police officers 
searching their offices and arresting two of their members on suspicion of 
fraudulent unemployment insurance receipt. One of these two arrested are 
accused of funneling money received from unemployment insurance to the Asian 
Wide Campaign, which was organizing against the economic summits. [The 
Rakunan Union can be contacted at the following address: Kyoto-fu Uji-shi 
Hironocho Nishiura 99-14 Pal Dai-ichi Biru 3F Rakunan Union / Jiritsu Roudou 
Kumiai Rengou / TEL: 0774-43-8721 / Fax: 0774-44-3102]
In the meantime, Osaka city mobilized thousands of police with the pretext 
of preventing terrorism against the summit, setting up inspection points and 
monitoring all around the city. But the strengthened state high on its own 
power inevitably deployed it in violence, and turned the day laborers of 
southern Osaka against it in riot.
Revolt
Kamagasaki is a traditionally day laborer neighborhood that has experienced 
over thirty riots since the early 1960s. The last riot in Kamagasaki was 
sparked in 1990 by police brutality and the exposure of connections between 
the police and Yakuza gangs.
The causes this time were not much different. A man was arrested in a 
shopping arcade near Kamagasaki and taken to the Nishinari police station 
where he was punched repeatedly in the face by four detectives one after 
another. Then he was kicked and hung upside down by rope to be beaten some 
more.
He was released the next day and went to show his friends the wounds from 
the beatings and the rope. This brought over 200 workers to surround the 
police station and demand that the police chief come out and apologize. 
Later people also started demanding that the four detectives be fired.
Met with steel shields and a barricaded police station, the crowd began to 
riot, throwing stones and bottles into the police station. Scraps with the 
riot police resulted in some of their shields and equipment being 
temporarily seized. The riot stopped around midnight with the riot police 
being backed into the police station. The next day they brought over 35 
police buses and riot vehicles into the Naniwa police station with the 
intention of using these against the rioters.
During the riot, the police surveilled rioters from the top of the police 
station, from plainclothes positions and from a helicopter. Riot police with 
steel shields were deployed all around the neighborhood in strategic places 
to charge in when the action kicked off. The workers organizations which by 
the second day were maintaining the protest had chosen a good time to do so 
because the police department proved unwilling to unleash the direct, brutal 
charges seen in the 1990 riot due to the international spotlight focused on 
them. On Saturday a police infiltrator was found in the crowd, pushed up 
against a fence and smashed in the head with a metal bar.
The riot has lasted since the 13th and every night there is a resumption of 
hostility between the day laborers and the cops. Workers so far refuse 
anything less than the fulfillment of their demands in light of the police 
brutality incident. Despite the call from more "moderate" NGOs to "stop the 
violence" there has been no let-up in hostility towards the police, although 
the real level of violent confrontation is not as strong as the weekend of 
the 13th-15th. The riot has been characterized by the participation of young 
people as well as the older day laborers in confrontation with the police. 
As the guarantors of everyday exploitation under capitalism who have to 
assertively maintain the constant dispossession of the urban working class, 
the police have many enemies. This they are finding out every night.[Updates 
about the situation in Kamagasaki are being posted here (Japanese) 
www1.odn.ne.jp/‾cex38710/thesedays13.htm]
Over the past couple of days there have been points where more than 500 
people have gathered and rioted around the neighborhood. Police have 
responded mainly by defending the Nishinari police station, their home base, 
while getting back up from the local Naniwa police station, which has a riot 
countermeasure practicing lot, and holds tens of anti-riot vehicles. Despite 
this mighty arsenal, the police were perhaps surprised when they deployed 
their tear gas cannon on the first day only to be met with cries of joy and 
laughter. The use of force no longer has any spell of intimidation, it is 
simply expected.
Still, the combined brutality of the police and their riot vehicles has 
netted over 40 arrests (including of many young people), many injuries and 
even blinded one worker with a direct shot of tear gas water to his right 
eye.
The struggle here is inevitably limited by the particular situations of day 
laborers, who are dispatched to their job sites and have no direct access to 
the means of production that standard wage workers would. This prevents them 
from for instance calling political strikes against police brutality, and 
hitting powerful interests in the city where they really hurt. As workers 
deprived of these means to struggle, the day laborers will always have the 
riot as a method not only of collective defense but for also forcing 
concessions from the city in the form of expanding welfare access, creating 
jobs, backing off of eviction campaigns etc. While these are more or less 
important gains strictly in terms of survival, it is important to explore 
the possibilities of spreading the antagonism of the Kamagasaki workers to 
the larger population of exploited people in order to imagine doing away 
with this power structure once and for all.
It is unclear exactly where the situation is headed, but we can know for 
sure that the real repression in Kamagasaki will arrive after the summits 
have ended and the focus is off of the Japanese government. Then we will see 
the raids, the arrests and the scapegoating of particular individuals for 
the righteous outburst of class violence that these riots are. Instead of 
quietly accepting their fates as people to be trampled upon, the 
participants have directly attacked the wardens of wage labor who guarantee 
the violence of everyday slum life.
Overall, the ongoing repression against those involved in organizing against 
the G8 summit as well as Kamagasaki should not convince anyone that the 
ruling class here is once again afraid of the working class. In repressing 
certain left groups organizing against the economic summits, the Japanese 
government is more interested in preventing a movement from emerging that 
starts to question capital at the macro level, than actually attacking an 
existing one. On the other hand in Kamagasaki, the state tries to deny the 
possibility of antagonism in a major metropole and the visibility of this 
revolt, for fear of it spreading. This is why most news reports have blacked 
out the ongoing riots in Kamagasaki. The concreteness and universality of 
the Kamagasaki revolt truly threatens to expand beyond the borders of police 
violence. Visitors to Kamagasaki from near and far have over the past five 
days participated and found their own struggle in riots fought by total 
strangers. The ruling class fears and knows that it cannot control this 
horizontal sympathy and the real practice of revolt that accompanies it.
We Denounce the Arrest of Squatter Activist and Comrade Tabi Rounin!
On the morning of June 5th, the squatter liberation activist Tabi Rounin was 
arrested via warrant claiming that he was a member of the "Black Helmets, a 
violent ultra-left group" and charged with "falsifying address registration" 
(the 'crime' of registering his driver's license at his parent's house), 
which led to his residence being searched three times and 21 items being 
taken by the police including his PC, cell phone, work resume, texts related 
to social movements and flyers. Tabi was taken to Nara prefecture's Koriyama 
police station and slapped with a 10 day extension of custody the next day. 
Special detectives in Nara prefecture assigned to the 'ultra-left' and Osaka 
city public order police came to investigate.
We only feel contempt for the idiocy and greed for budget money which 
motivates the public order police in their incessant tailing and 
eavesdropping over the past six months. Their focus was absolutely on the 
movement against the G8 summit, foreign guests, Tabi Rounin's relationship 
with social and solidarity movements, and of course the naked aim of 
economically bankrupting Tabi Rounin, who had a job interview the next day. 
The material seized in the search of his apartment verifies all this.
Thanks to all those who supported Tabi, we were able to win his freedom on 
June 13th.. Allow us to thank you for your efforts and support.
However the twists and turns continue here. Hearing the story of a worker 
who was brutally beaten in the investigation room of the Nishinari police 
department in Kamagasaki, hundreds of day laborers and squatting/homeless 
workers gathered for several days in response to the call of the Kamagasaki 
labor union in front of the Nishinari police station and begun an 
autonomous, physical struggle with many arrests in the late nights after the 
labor unions leave. One of our number who went to visit an arrestee in jail 
was stopped by police and questioned, leading to our Free Worker offices 
here in Osaka to be watched by public order police. Just yesterday, June 
18th, our offices were searched in relation to another G8 arrestee although 
no items were taken. We are preparing for second and third waves of 
repression against our members.
Please keep a focus on the events here as they transpire.
June 17th, 2008 Anarchist Black Cross Osaka-shi Kita-ku Nakazakicho 
3-3-1-401 Jiyuu Roudousha Rengou Tsuke Post office bank account (Yuubin 
Furikae Kouza) 00200-5-38572 Name (Meigi) S-16 Kokushoku Kyuuenkai Mail : 
abc-j (at) sanpal.co.jp

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/401194.html

Update on Riots in Osaka, Japan with Photos
Some folks far from home | 15.06.2008 16:26 | Repression | Social Struggles 
| Workers' Movements | World
Here is an update on the situation happening in Osaka, Sunday 15th June.
We previously reported riots broken out in Osaka by workers, against police 
repression and brutality. Despite local news to the contrary the riots have 
happened for the third night running, still focused around Nishinari police 
station where a worker was badly abused on Thursday. Early tonight people 
set up burning barricades and were breaking the pavement to use as 
ammunition against the riot police. There were still a lot of people out on 
the streets after a long weekend.

We have reports that over Friday and Saturday night about 20 people were 
arrested.

Here are some photos from the rioting yesterday.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/401172.html

Rioting in Osaka Japan
Some folks far from home | 15.06.2008 05:19 | Repression | Social Struggles 
| Workers' Movements | World
Riots erupted this weekend in Osaka as a result of a day labourer being 
arrested, after an argument over food he paid for and did not receive. When 
he was taken into custody he was tied to a chair and subjected to brutal 
beatings by 4 police.
Riots erupted this weekend in Osaka as a result of a day labourer being 
arrested, after an argument over food he paid for and did not receive. When 
he was taken into custody he was tied to a chair and subjected to brutal 
beatings by 4 police. When he was released on Friday 13th he told people 
what had happened, and a demo was held outside the police station where he 
was held. The demands of demonstrators were very simple, for the chief of 
police to come out and apologise and for the officers responsible for the 
beating to be fired. These demands were not heard and rioting broke out, 
with 7 arrests.

The area in which this happened is an area with a long history of working 
class struggle and solidarity. In 1990 a riot erupted there that lasted 4 
days and later in the 90’s there was more rioting. However people say that 
this is the first militant struggle of this nature against police and state 
repression here since the mid 90’s.

Day labourers in Japan, as everywhere, don’t know if they have a job from 
one day to the next and so are very open to exploitation from Yakuza (the 
Japanese mafia) and other rich bosses.

On Saturday by 6pm at least 3 or 4 hundred people were surrounding the 
police station, denouncing the police over a loudspeaker, making demands 
that the people inside have access to lawyers, and that an apology and 
compensation be given.

Most of the people were day labourers, men over 40.

Riot police were outside the entrance to the station, barricading the gate, 
and also police surveillance from above- video and photographs being taken. 
There was a 2 hour stand off, the police being attacked with bottles, 
rubbish and metal bars.

Many obvious plain clothes cops are in the area, one was severely beaten 
against a wall by a huge crowd of people.
Yakuza drive through the crowd, the anger briefly turning away from the 
police and towards them.

(we do not know what happened during the next 2 hours- the tension was 
rising as it became dark.)

By around 10pm the area directly in front of the station had been cleared, 
with lines of riot police with 2 water cannons and a cherrypicker with video 
surveillance protecting the station. By this time there was a wider range of 
people, including many more young people, and people who have traveled to 
come and support.
For hours the people are throwing many stones and bottles, with the police 
using water cannons to temporarily move back the crowd. Barricades are built 
from bicycles and traffic cones. At this point the demonstration was very 
much isolated to one side of the police station, with riot police and secret 
police occasionally blocking off the road behind the demonstrators, however 
there was no move to mass arrest or make a serious move to clear the road.

At the point where we left the demo there was very much a stalemate 
happening with people throwing bricks and bottles at the police, the police 
then clearing the road with the water cannon, and it starting all over 
again.

At this point we are unclear of the number of arrests from last night, 
although we will try to update the information.

It seems more then likely that the trouble will continue tonight, as peoples 
anger is far from abated.
Some folks far from home

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/06/401304.html

Osaka Riots A Personal Account
Ann On | 16.06.2008 17:31 | Repression | Social Struggles | Workers' 
Movements | World
This is one persons account of the riots in Osaka, the time they are talking 
about is Friday 13th the day of the G8 Finance Ministers meeting.
I heard someone should write a report so I'm doing it now.
There were no camera from media, so they probably won't report the 
situation.

Last night(or today in early morning)3am, police was called in a shop at 
Tsurumibashi
and the worker was taken to Nishinari Police station.

It wasn't a eat and run,it was just that the worker complained about gruff 
manner of the shop person.
Then at a cell in the second floor(3F),the worker was punched,kicked, by the 
each of the 4 detectives,and ended up being hanged wrong side up as they 
holds the worker's foot.

When the worker started feeling far, the detectives began spraying something 
to him.
The protest action against this incident started, as always, with sound 
truck parked at
the front door of Nishinari Police station.

I had to go to Daikokucho, so I was passing by watching the action.But when 
I came back
around 8:30pm ,passing through the Deshiro intersection and reaching to 
Nankai-line underpass, I bumped into a riot police platoon waiting in array. 
Then I though the protest is still going on,and went to see it so I found no 
less than 300 workers surrounding Nishinari station.

The protest with sound car ended about 19:30 pm, and usually when it's over 
people starts to leave but this time it just got bigger.
I checked for my acquaintance but found no one.

I met the people from protest action and the worker who were beaten by 
detectives. He showed me his swelled face by being punched and scars in his 
neck from being roped.
Is it normal to rope people at interrogation?
The person who took the worker to hospital said the doctor told "They've 
done too much".

When the worker was telling his stories other workers come and say"I've had 
that,too ", as usual.
Some cried saying "More power to you".But after 21pm this excitement is 
unusual.

Before i arrived a young policeman came from the front door and said 
something rude, then ended up beating few people so the situation had got 
bigger.

The policeman was a new face who didn't know how workers usually react to 
these things.
There were no police outside the station , and inside of the wall every kind 
of thrown objects was scattered.The streets nearby looked trashed.
I was shocked by the Nishinary police behaving horrible as usual.They are 
the one causing this trouble.

The front gate became quiet as people moved to the north gate and a big wave 
of people were trying to break the gate.
The stainless made gate is not easily breakable, and there is a car the 
other side to protect the gate but people began to chant, not losing hope.

A white smoke appeared and covered the street.I though they used the tear 
gas and covered my mouth by a towel but it was a fire extinguisher someone 
had thrown.
repeating angry voices
Sound of glass being broken
Bikes are thrown
Someone got hit in head by a "cup sake" (glass bottle of rice wine about the 
size of a half pint glass) thrown by our friends, but other than that,
we didn't experience injuries.

The riot police walked toward us from Nankai line guard,where there were 
waiting.
The situation became tense. But they were not many and that was obvious sign 
of
no intention to intimidate the workers. So the excited workers jumped to the 
riot cops
who were about to enter the police station from the gate.Then a fight 
started.
Some young workers runs with stolen the police helmets and shields.

A young riot cop fall down during the fight at the gate.It was out friends E 
and K
who carried him saying "this is serious.". The cop was totally unconscious, 
so if we left him there he might be beaten up.That's why E and K saved him.
They talked to the riot cops crowded at the gate and left him inside then 
came back to us.
The riot cops reformed themselves and tried to come out again but were 
attacked by "cup sakes", then they had to back off.

Today was the first day of 8 finance minister meeting, the main force of 
riot police is probably concentrated there.
30 cops wouldn't do.
The workers knows the situation well, some even complacently say "They gave 
us the untrained bunch".

Considering that, why the Nishinari police would make this trouble in such 
time?
They are just too foolish.The Chief of police should have come out and 
apologize frankly
before causing all this mess.

I couldn't witness the whole thing because I had thing to do, but it's the 
first report for now.
I hope someone will fill the gap of this lacking report.
I also hope we see no more arrest or injury.
Ann On

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/summit/20080706TDY02311.htm

2,500 rally in Sapporo to protest G-8 summit
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Activists march carrying signs to protest against the upcoming Group of 
Eight summit meeting in Sapporo on Saturday under heavy police guard.
SAPPORO--Nongovernmental organizations marched in central Sapporo on 
Saturday to protest against the upcoming Group of Eight summit meeting in 
Toyakocho, Hokkaido.
About 2,500 activists from Japan and European, Southeast Asian and African 
countries participated in the rally. The rally's organizer had informed the 
police when applying for a permit to hold the rally that it expected up to 
8,000 people would take part.
The protesters marched about 2.5 kilometers carrying signs emblazoned with 
slogans such as "Stop global warming!" and "Crush G-8."
During the march, some activists clashed with riot police, who arrested four 
people, including a 48-year-old Japanese Reuters photographer, on suspicion 
of obstructing police officers from performing their duties.
In front of Sapporo Central Police Station, where the four were detained, 
about 100 people gathered to protest against the arrests and clashed with 
police officers again at about 5:50 p.m. on the day.
(Jul 6, 2008)

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2008/07/2008755522967115.html

Protests precede G8 summit
Protesters are urging world leaders to
ensure access to food for the poor [AFP]

Protesters have gathered in the Japanese city of Sapporo to demonstrate 
against rising food prices, ahead of a summit of the Group of Eight (G8) 
rich nations.
Thousands of people, including many farmers, are taking part in Saturday's 
protest.
About 21,000 police officers have been deployed near Toyako, the northern 
Japanese lakeside resort where G8 leaders will meet on Monday.
The demonstrators are calling for the G8 to pay more attention to food 
producers.
"We should have a more balanced food supply in the world," Eiichi 
Hayashizaki, a rice farmer at the protest, said.
"Japan imports the majority of its food from overseas, so we don't starve 
ourselves, but the government should stop controlling rice production in the 
country," he said.
Food rights
Oxfam International has said that soaring food prices and climate change are 
having a negative impact on world poverty.
"This isn't the time for a holiday, this is the time for sorting out 
problems," Lucy Brinicombe, an Oxfam International spokesperson, said.
"They shouldn't be distracted from finding solutions for the food crisis and 
climate change."
Earlier this week, Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, called for 
G8 leaders to address rising food prices at their summit.
The crisis, which is limiting many poor peoples' access to staple 
foodstuffs, is a "man-made catastrophe" which is overwhelming the bank's 
resources, he said.
Global food prices have nearly doubled in three years, according to the 
World Bank.
There have been a string of protests in parts of the developing world over 
the sharp price increases.
Leaders of the eight major industrial powers - Britain, Canada, France, 
Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States - are reportedly set to 
install a system of "food reserves" to help nations that have limited 
immediate access to food.
Activists said that Japanese immigration authorities barred the entry of 
more than two dozen South Koreans who planned to take part in Saturday's 
demonstration.
South Koreans have a reputation for being particularly impassioned on issues 
of global trade.
A farmer from South Korea stabbed himself to death in 2003 during a protest 
at global trade negotiations in Mexico.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/217179,rally-held-to-protest-g8-in-northern-japan.html

Rally held to protest G8 in northern Japan
Posted : Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:34:02 GMT
Author : DPA
Category : Asia (World)

Tokyo - As the leaders of the world's largest economies gathered in the 
northern island of Hokkaido Monday for the Group of Eight (G8) summit, an 
estimated 150 people set out on a protest rally from the town of Date. 
Demonstrators shouted slogans such as, "Stop exporting nuclear power 
plants," "Stop G8" and "G8 should take responsibility of world poverty and 
food crisis."
No arrests were made during Monday's protest, which was held on the opposite 
side of Lake Toya from where the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, 
Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States are meeting in a luxury 
hotel.
Four people were arrested Saturday in Sapporo, when an estimated 5,000 
people from non-governmental and civil groups demonstrated against the G8's 
failure to deal with world poverty and war.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4601506a12.html

G8 summit protesters scuffle with police
Reuters | Monday, 30 June 2008
JUST GR8: An anti-G8 protester scuffles with riot police during a rally 
against next month's G8 summit in Hokkaido, northern Japan, in Tokyo.

Anti-G8 summit protesters have danced to blaring music and marched down the 
streets of Tokyo in heavy rain, accusing the Group of Eight rich nations of 
causing poverty and world instability.
The protests, which have become a fixture at Group of Eight summits, came as 
Japan tightened security ahead of this year's July 7-9 gathering in 
Hokkaido, northern Japan.
Two separate rallies in the nation's capital gathered over 1,000 people, 
including anti-capitalists, labour union members and protesters from abroad, 
such as Spain and South Korea.
Security was heavy with hundreds of anti-riot police guarding the streets as 
protesters walked down Tokyo's central shopping districts, carrying signs 
proclaiming various agendas such as "shut down G8 summit" and "G8hunger".
Some protesters scuffled with the police. Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi said 
two people were arrested. Police could not confirm the report.
"Issues like environmental destruction and poverty in Africa, these are all 
caused by the G8 governments," said Yu Ando, a 31-year-old working for a 
municipal government in western Japan.
"I can't stand that they are proclaiming to solve these issues."
For the summit at Lake Toya, about 760km north of Tokyo, domestic and 
international NGOs such as Oxfam plan to protest a range of topics including 
globalisation, the food crisis and wars.
Protests are expected near the summit venue – where protesters are expected 
to gather at three camp sites – as well as in Tokyo and Sapporo, capital of 
Hokkaido.
But tight security and the sheer cost of travel to the vicinity of the 
remote summit site could dampen turnout.
Human rights lawyers have said Japanese immigration authorities are making 
it tough for some activists to get visas by complicating the application 
process, and media reports said some activists were detained for hours at 
immigration.
At last year's G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, an estimated 30,000 
protesters flocked to the area and entered a restricted zone set up for the 
summit, as well as blocking land routes into the area.
At Lake Toya, leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 
Russia and the United States will discuss soaring food and oil prices, along 
with climate change and African development. Japan has also invited eight 
other nations, including Brazil, China and India, to hold talks on climate 
change on the sidelines.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/T309898.htm

RPT-Japan anti-G8 summit protesters scuffle with police
29 Jun 2008 23:15:57 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Repeats to additional subscribers)
TOKYO, June 29 (Reuters) - Anti-G8 summit protesters danced to blaring music 
and marched down the streets of Tokyo in heavy rain on Sunday, accusing the 
Group of Eight rich nations of causing poverty and world instability.
The protests, which have become a fixture at Group of Eight summits, came as 
Japan tightened security ahead of this year's July 7-9 gathering in 
Hokkaido, northern Japan.
Two separate rallies in the nation's capital gathered over 1,000 people, 
including anti-capitalists, labour union members and protesters from abroad, 
such as Spain and South Korea.
Security was heavy with hundreds of anti-riot police guarding the streets as 
protesters walked down Tokyo's central shopping districts, carrying signs 
proclaiming various agendas such as "shut down G8 summit" and "G8=hunger".
Some protesters scuffled with the police. Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi said 
two people were arrested. Police could not confirm the report.
"Issues like environmental destruction and poverty in Africa, these are all 
caused by the G8 governments," said Yu Ando, a 31-year-old working for a 
municipal government in western Japan.
"I can't stand that they are proclaiming to solve these issues."
For the summit at Lake Toya, about 760 km (470 miles) north of Tokyo, 
domestic and international NGOs such as Oxfam plan to protest a range of 
topics including globalisation, the food crisis and wars.
Protests are expected near the summit venue -- where protesters are expected 
to gather at three camp sites -- as well as in Tokyo and Sapporo, capital of 
Hokkaido.
But tight security and the sheer cost of travel to the vicinity of the 
remote summit site could dampen turnout.
Human rights lawyers have said Japanese immigration authorities are making 
it tough for some activists to get visas by complicating the application 
process, and media reports said some activists were detained for hours at 
immigration.
At last year's G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, an estimated 30,000 
protesters flocked to the area and entered a restricted zone set up for the 
summit, as well as blocking land routes into the area.
At Lake Toya, leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 
Russia and the United States will discuss soaring food and oil prices, along 
with climate change and African development. Japan has also invited eight 
other nations, including Brazil, China and India, to hold talks on climate 
change on the sidelines. (Reporting by Yoko Kubota; Editing by Jeremy 
Laurence)

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/function/0,,12215_cid_3463815,00.html?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
 | 06.07.2008 | 04:00 UTC
Protesters arrested before G-8 summit
Four people have been arrested during a demonstration against the Group of 
Eight summit in Japan. Amongst those detained was a cameraman for the 
Reuters international news agency. Thousands of protesters are in the 
northern city of Sapporo, the closest major city to the lakeside resort of 
Toyako as the leaders of the top eight industrialised nations make their way 
to Japan. German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned in a pre-summit statement 
that rising food prices and shortages could cause international insecurity. 
She also said that the G-8 countries had to underscore their intent to keep 
their commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20080707-146956/G8-protesters-in-tense-stand-off-with-police

G8 protesters in tense stand-off with police

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 16:14:00 07/07/2008
DATE -- Protesters and police engaged in a tense stand-off on Monday as 
Japanese authorities blocked demonstrators from nearing a summit of the 
world's most powerful leaders at a secluded mountain resort.
Around 50 anti-globalization protesters, mostly from abroad, marched towards 
the Group of Eight leaders' luxury hilltop hotel but before they could come 
close they were stopped by more than 100 anti-riot police with 20 vans.
"This isn't what democracy looks like," one of the protesters howled at the 
police, who stood guard with shields under pouring rain.
A police negotiator replied to them: "Go back. I'm warning you that you will 
be arrested."
After a 30-minute stand-off in the town of Toyoura, the protesters, some 
covered with hoods and scarves, retreated to their remote campsite.
"In Japan the right to demonstrate is very strongly repressed," a Spanish 
activist said. "It's not only this time, but there's a permanent lack of 
access for Japanese citizens to express their ideas in any way that is 
difficult."
Thousands of demonstrators chanted slogans Saturday in Hokkaido's largest 
city of Sapporo, with police arresting three demonstrators and one 
journalist, but no protesters have been able to get near the isolated summit 
venue.
The closest demonstrators got was the edge of Lake Toya, some 10 kilometers 
(six miles) in diameter, where they shouted slogans in the vain hope that 
the leaders on the other side could hear them.
Activists ranging from German punk rockers to Japanese indigenous activists 
are camping here some 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from Toyako, where the 
G8 industrial powers were holding annual talks.
Japanese authorities agreed to let activists stay for free at far-removed 
campsites in a bid to make up for a hotel shortage and keep better control 
over protesters to prevent any violence.
Colorful flags and banners reading "No G8!" fluttered from tents on the 
crowded campsite as a few dozen local farmers watched.
Organizers of the campsite put up signs offering to buy vegetables from 
local farmers and asking them to join the movement.
While many of the protesters are foreigners, they also include Ainu -- the 
indigenous people here on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido.
Kenichi Kawamura, whose Ainu name is Shinrit e-oripak Aynu, performed a 
traditional ritual to pray to the gods for successful demonstrations against 
the Group of Eight summit.
"The G8 are coming to our land to do whatever they please. Please protect 
us," said the 57-year-old, wearing an Ainu gown and a headband during the 
ritual, which was carried out in his indigenous language.
The Ainu were displaced when settlers from Japan's main island of Honshu 
settled Hokkaido in the 19th century. They still lag behind in education and 
income in the Asian economic power.
A group of German punk rockers lying down on the lawn at the campsite 
remembered that last year's protests were very different.
Militant activists threw Molotov cocktails and stones during demonstrations 
at the summit in Germany that drew tens of thousands of protesters from 
around the world.
"Demonstrations here are smaller than the German protests we saw last year," 
said Posti, the drummer of punk band Sprengsatz who goes by one name.

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=434938

Tough G-8 Protests for Korean Activists
Japan took strong actions to prevent activists from reaching protest sites

Ida Grandas (jezaky)    Email Article  Print Article

 Published 2008-07-22 05:12 (KST)

The G-8 protests in Japan were both a disappointment and a good experience 
for Korean activists Do Young and Cho Yak-gol. On Saturday afternoon, they 
spoke about their experiences at a screening held by the radical language 
exchange group Seoulidarity at Kuchu Camp in Hongdea, Seoul.

About 30 people came to see the screenings. One of the documentaries for 
which Seoulidarity provided the subtitles was produced by the Korean 
activist group NO G-8.

Seoulidarity was formed two years ago. The group has a Web site with 
articles and documentaries in both Korean and English. The aim is to reach 
out to foreigners living in Korea and to people in other counties about 
social struggles in Korea.

Both Do and Cho joined already for the preventive protests in Tokyo and then 
moved on to Sapporo and finally the Toyoura campsites.

Do is a media activist and the G-8 protest was the first time for him to do 
a joint media action together with Japanese. In a park in Sapporo, they did 
laser tagging -- a way to make people reach out with what they want to say 
through projecting tags on big buildings. When they started the action, the 
police did not say anything. But then they came back.

"I told the police in Korean to fuck off. Then we moved to next place," Do 
said.

In the end the police stopped bothering them, and they could go through with 
their action.

The protests in Japan were smaller than in previous years. Not many people 
from Europe could travel the whole way for the protests and many Korean 
activists did not come because of the ongoing protests in Seoul. 
Furthermore, Japan took strong actions to prevent activists from getting to 
the protests. Some activists were stopped at the airport and people were 
forced to leave fingerprints. Do erased his fingerprints before going to 
Japan.

"The Immigration officer asked me why I didn't have any," Do said. "I said 
I've been working too hard."

Cho and Do found it hard to go through with the protests. There were three 
campsites located 20 kilometers from the hotel where the meetings were held 
and the long walks in the heat only exhausted people.

"That stopped us from doing many things," said Do.

The large number of police officers and the violence against the protesters 
were also limiting. The protesters started to demonstrate against the 
police.

"Even in the middle of nowhere they have to use this kind of violence, 
that's the only way to go through with the meetings." said Cho.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/2252071/Protesters-train-at-camps-before-Japan-G8-summit.html

Protesters train at camps before Japan G8 summit
Dreadlocks flailing in the wind, the man emitted a fierce cry as he ran down 
the quiet country lane towards me, brandishing a bamboo stick in each hand.

By Danielle Demetriou in Tobestu, Hokkaido
Last Updated: 8:05PM BST 05 Jul 2008
Japan has deployed 40,000 armed police across the country Photo: EPA
Normally, I would turn and flee. But we were both playing roles in a 
training exercise for demonstrators preparing for Monday's G8 summit in 
Hokkaido in northern Japan, and my own face was covered by a menacing 
revolutionary scarf.
Thousands of protesters have marched, danced and drummed their way through 
the streets near a highly secured hotel on the remote Lake Toya where the 
leaders will meet.
For many people, the focus has already shifted from Gordon Brown's stance on 
climate change and the contents of Carla Bruni's wardrobe to the students, 
farmers, trade unionists and anarchists trying to disrupt proceedings.
Japan, where such protest training camps have never been set up before, is 
taking the threat very seriously: it has deployed 40,000 armed police across 
the country and is spending £142 million on security.
The police have arrested three demonstrators after angry scuffles, including 
the disc-jockey on a mobile protest float.
The protesters have been carefully planning their response in a rural camp 
in nearby Tobetsu.
The programme covers direct action workshops, protest tactic discussions, 
legal advisory training, puppet making, football tournaments and drumming 
sessions.
In the guise of a Western protester, The Telegraph infiltrated the camp, 
which adheres to a strict "no media" policy.
It was a 20-minute walk through green fields backed by mist-shrouded 
mountains and drizzly skies. But as the string of colourful tents came into 
view, a car could also be seen in the distance, manned by plain clothes 
police keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.
The camp was set in the grounds of a former school, where flourescent 
anti-G8 banners fluttered in the breeze and a large sign read: "Alternative 
village."
Inside a reception tent, two Japanese activists slouched on a sofa, handed 
out a list of rules and politely asked for a daily Y1,500 (£7) donation to 
help run the camp.
About three quarters of the protesters are Japanese from a variety of 
backgrounds, including trade unionists, farmers, activists, and the Japanese 
Communist party.
Many of them are students, but there were plenty of older Japanese citizens 
as well, including Hiroshi Tsuchira, 71, a retired airport worker.
"Life is difficult for people in Japan and I have never been to march this 
big before but it is important for people to hear our voice," he said. "Our 
future will not be good if it lies in the hands of the G8 leaders."
Other activists came from San Francisco, London and Nantes.
They included people from charities like Oxfam and more riotous protesters 
from a French anarcho-syndicalist commune.
"We are protesting against a structure of capitalism that has been created 
by the G8 summit," said Nakata-san, a political science student from Tokyo. 
"We want to create our own ideal system in this campsite community."
Despite its anarchic credentials, the campsite offers a perfect template of 
Japan's renowned organisational skills. Neat piles of placards, T-shirts and 
recycling bins line the entrance, while leaflets offer advice on protest 
etiquette.
Japanese bamboo flute music is as prominent as punk rock on the internal 
sound system, which also broadcasts sudden and surreal messages: "Will 
volunteers please help peel vegetables for dinner!" or "Rave party in the 
gym at 5pm!"
The gym is a vast space filled with piles of anti-G8 banners and brightly 
coloured protest "puppets" – including eight wooden creations on sticks 
emblazoned with skulls on one side and the faces of G8 leaders on the other.
And there are many meetings. After a long discussion about colour-coded 
washing-up bowls and whether sheets should be used with futons, the cultural 
differences suddenly came to light.
"Is there nothing else to talk about?" muttered Sarah, a straight-talking 
activist who spent two months travelling overland to Japan from London. "I'm 
stunned."
Beneath the veneer of domesticity, serious training sessions are under way 
for the 1,000 protesters at three camps near Lake Toya.
One teaches how to avoid arrest. "It was hands on, direct and practical," 
said James, a 19-year-old Cambridge undergraduate. "It's useful for people 
who want to go to these protests and make an impact without getting 
arrested."
>From intricate diagrams of where to stand in a crowd to stunts like dressing 
up as clowns, the discussions are painstakingly detailed.
For protesters who need to sleep, there are tents or, for an additional fee, 
three neatly organised rooms, equipped with futons and blankets.
And for those too hungry to continue training on behalf of the world's poor, 
there are delicious vegan meals of curry, risotto, seaweed salad and fresh 
fruit prepared by a "food collective" that also works around the clock to 
make fresh hemp bread from cannabis seeds.
Late arrivals were disappointed to learn that they had missed the last of 
the direct action workshops laid on over previous days. They were 
masterminded by Lisa Fithian, an American activist - and so fearful are the 
Japanese authorities over the risk of disruption to the summit that she was 
reportedly only allowed into the country on condition that she left before 
the summit had even begun.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20080705-146695/Protests-greet-rich-nations-meet

Protests greet rich nations’ meet
Filipino anti-debt campaigners among protesters

Agence France-Presse, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 22:05:00 07/05/2008
SAPPORO, Japan -- Thousands of farmers and activists from around the world 
demonstrated Saturday in the northern Japanese city of Sapporo ahead of next 
week's summit of the Group of Eight rich nations.
Japan mobilized thousands of riot police to prevent any violence on the 
streets of Sapporo, the closest major city to the lakeside resort of Toyako, 
where world leaders will meet from Monday.
Dozens of masked protesters marching to rock music were warned by police 
against entering restricted areas as Japanese organizers of the rally called 
on the demonstrators to avoid violence and clashes with police. Organizers 
said two protestors were arrested.
"No violence! Please follow rules," said one of the organizers with a 
loudspeaker before the protesters hit the street. "Thousands of police have 
come here from throughout the nation and are watching us!"
Security was tight for the rally, which brought together union activists, 
anti-war demonstrators, farmers, and students in a park in Sapporo.
Riot police wearing helmets and carrying shields patrolled downtown streets 
and the central park, part of a 21,000-strong force deployed to ensure 
security for the summit.
"Of course violence is not good," said a protestor from London. "It does not 
cause any good."
"But look at the number of cops here," said the man, 50, who declined to be 
identified.
Organizers estimated 5,000 people took part in the rally.
Among them are Filipino debt campaigners who challenged rich nations to do 
more than promise more aid, by canceling illegitimate debts that people of 
some 100 developing countries are being forced to pay.
Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Jubilee South-Asia Pacific Movement on Debt 
and Development coordinator, said the total external debt claimed from 
Southern countries is about US$2.7 trillion.
"Illegitimate debts involve the gross violation of basic assumptions of debt 
contracts, as well as widely accepted ethical, social, political, economic, 
environmental values, standards, and principles. They cause harm to the well 
being of the people and communities in whose name the debts were incurred 
and who are the ones paying for these debts," she explained.
Milo Tanchuling, secretary general of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), 
said that as of 2007, the Philippines has $6.23 billion debts claimed by G8 
countries, or 45.6 percent of the country’s total foreign debts minus the 
bonds. He said more than $5 billion of these debts or almost 39 percent is 
claimed by Japan alone.
Violent anti-globalization rallies have marred past G8 summits -- last year 
militant activists threw Molotov cocktails and stones during demonstrations 
in Germany that drew tens of thousands of protesters.
Japanese authorities were taking no chances, refusing entry to 19 South 
Koreans, with others still detained at airports.
A speaker from the Korean Federation of Trade Unions deplored the move.
"We will not back down due to such suppression," he said to applause.
Ahead of the demonstration, around 100 farmers and fishermen waved banners 
and shouted slogans in the park, calling for the G8 to pay more attention to 
food producers.
"We should have a more balanced food supply in the world," said Japanese 
rice farmer Eiichi Hayashizaki, 69, holding a straw-woven banner saying, 
"Power to food producers!"
"Japan imports the majority of its food from overseas, so we don't starve 
ourselves. But the government should stop controlling rice production in the 
country."
Activists from charity Oxfam International warned of the impact of soaring 
food prices and climate change on world poverty as they performed their 
customary skit mocking the eight world leaders including Japanese Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda and United States President George W. Bush.
Wearing traditional Japanese kimonos, they sang a karaoke version of the 
Abba song "Money, Money, Money."
"This isn't the time for a holiday, this is the time for sorting out 
problems," said Lucy Brinicombe of Oxfam International. "They shouldn't be 
distracted from finding solutions for the food crisis and climate change."
Global food prices have nearly doubled in three years, according to the 
World Bank, setting off riots in parts of the developing world.
Leaders of the eight major industrial powers -- Britain, Canada, France, 
Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States -- are reportedly set to 
agree on a new system of "food reserves" to assist hungry nations when they 
meet.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/105573/RP-militants-stage-peaceful-protest-vs-G-8-meeting

RP militants stage peaceful protest vs G-8 meeting
07/07/2008 | 09:36 PM
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MANILA, Philippines - Members of militant groups on Monday staged a peaceful 
picket in front of the Japanese Embassy in Manila to join other protesters 
worldwide in denouncing the ongoing three-day G-8 summit in Japan.

The activists, belonging to the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and joined by the 
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, said deplored the meeting, saying that it was 
sham meant to preserve profits of big business.

"What a great lie for the G-8 to proclaim that their top agenda is to 
alleviate the peoples of the world from price spikes of basic commodities. 
The leaders of the G8 countries and their capitalist cohorts have created 
and aggravated the crisis that all of us endure today, "KMU Chair Elmer 
Labog said.

The G-8 countries are composed of Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, 
Russia, the United States, France, Canada and Italy.

Labog, who is also the first deputy secretary General International League 
of People's Struggle said that, "Imperialists such as the G8 heads direct a 
world economy that ensures primarily the super-profits of big business at 
the expense of widespread poverty and exploitation."

He added that big businesses resort to cheap labor and massive lay-offs to 
avoid loss of income amid the global crisis.

"Despite the spate of price hikes, people from exploited countries are 
refused of substantial wage hikes. They are threatened that factories will 
close down, even if top corporations enjoy rising incomes," said Labog.

To bolster his argument, Labog noted that the net income of top 1,000 
corporations to have increased by 327.23% from $2.3 billion in 2001 to $10 
billion in 2005.

Labog predicts worldwide unemployment increase because of the capitalists' 
absurd cost-cutting measures.

The International Labor Organization said earlier this year that before the 
start of the looming economic crisis, more than 5 million more would be 
added to the 189.9 million who were already unemployed in the world in 2008.

"Indeed, the workers and the people's welfare are the last priority in the 
summit of the international directors of the crisis," he said.

Earlier, activists have accused some G-8 countries, particularly France, 
Canada and Italy, of skimping on aid to Africa, and urged them to ramp up 
their contributions. - GMANews.TV

http://www.mathaba.net/rss/?x=589594

North American Summit gets under way amid tight security, protests
Posted: 2008/04/22
From: Mathaba

With street closures and traffic restrictions, security was tightest around 
in the Central Business District, where the North American leaders will 
engage in most of their summit-related activities.

NEW ORLEANS, THE UNITED STATES, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The fourth annual 
summit of leaders of the United States, Canada and Mexico, dubbed the "Three 
Amigos summit," got underway Monday in New Orleans, the city still marred by 
the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, amid tight security and sporadic protests.

During the two-day event, U.S. President George W. Bush will confer with 
Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper 
in promoting integrated trade and security arrangements under the framework 
of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).

With street closures and traffic restrictions, security was tightest around 
in the Central Business District, where the North American leaders will 
engage in most of their summit-related activities.

But the morning scene inside the Gallier Hall, a historic building which 
used to serve as New Orleans' city hall, was messy as workers were still in 
last-minute preparations for Bush's arrival later in the day for a meeting 
with business executives.

Local police and secret service agents lined the streets surrounding the 
luxury Windsor-Court Hotel, where the three leaders will be staying during 
the summit, effectively blocking traffic and authorized personnel from 
getting too close.

Prior to the leaders' arrival, under the watch of police officers, a small 
number of protesters gathered in front of the hotel, chanting anti-summit 
slogans and waving placards that read: "No North American Union", "U.S. 
citizens say no to tyranny," etc.

"They (The leaders) are doing this without consulting with the American 
people," Thomas Anderson, a protester from Texas, told Xinhua, saying that 
they were calling for transparency from the meeting.

Anderson accused the leaders at the summit of ignoring the concerns of 
ordinary people and engaging in secrete discussions that violate the U.S. 
constitution and endanger the sovereignty of the United States.

Jim Stachowiak, a New Orleans native who operates an independent on-line 
radio station, said that through their protests, they wanted the American 
people to know that the "real enemies" are not in Iraq, but "in Washington 
D.C.."

"We are pleading, begging them to listen to the American people," Stachowiak 
said.

The protesters demonstrated for several hours outside the hotel and later 
left peacefully in the afternoon. But elsewhere in the business district, 
small groups of demonstrators could still be seen sporadically.

Some activists said they expected protests of larger scale to take place on 
Tuesday when Bush, Harper and Calderon are due to have a more formal meeting 
before wrapping up the summit.

http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-04/22/content_8026905.htm

Protest against North American leaders' summit

Protesters demonstrate as U.S. President George W. Bush arrives for the 
North American Leaders' Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 21, 2008. 
President Bush hosted the leaders of Mexico and Canada on Monday in the 
historic city of New Orleans to discuss progress moving toward integrated 
trade and security. (Xinhua/Zhang Yan)

http://www.roguegovernment.com/news.php?id=9880

Epoch Times Covers Bilderberg Protests
06-10-2008
Epoch Times
CHANTILLY, VA—While over a hundred of the most influential people in the 
world are believed to gather at the Westfields Marriott hotel in Chantilly, 
Virginia, for several days (June 5–8) all the major media, except for the 
Epoch Times, are apparently silent about it. The event is an annual 
gathering of the Bilderberg Group.
Former Secretary of State Madelin Albright, Chairman of the Federal Reserve 
Ben Bernanke, Henry Kissinger, Vernon Jordan, and others were seen by 
witnesses and some of them were confirmed by others just outside of the 
hotel. Photos and videotapes were taken of them. (See the websites operated 
by Alex Jones at the bottom of this report that have posted some of the 
videos and photos.)
Alex Jones, syndicate radio talk show host and documentary film maker, says 
that he invited the Washington Post, the Fairfax Times, and asked 16 million 
listeners of the Coast to Coast AM radio show to call on the press to cover 
the event. But no major media showed.
"This is a criminal group. They're involved in very bad things," said Alex 
Jones, referring to the Bilderberg Group.
He said, "They violate the Logan Act. The federal law says that they can't 
come here and discuss policy with private interest in secret because we have 
the right to know. The only place they can discuss things in secret is in 
national security meetings, in the Congress, or in the Capitol, and that's 
amongst themselves ... This is illegal what they're doing … That's why we 
have moles inside reporting to us what's happened."
He continued, "This isn't about the federal government. This is about 
private interest meeting with members of the government, outside of the 
government, violating federal law, and the Logan Act. We are here because 
this is a criminal summit … These are globalists. They want one world 
government. They want to reduce liberty."
Alex Jones is also the producer of Endgames: Blueprint for Global 
Enslavement.
When asked about evidence for Bilderberg Group's influence over U.S. 
Presidential candidates, he said, "From our sources, they decide who they 
like best and they put their weight behind him. These people own the media. 
They own the big corporations. They've got trillions of dollars together. 
And when you get the nod from the big boys, you tend to get the support ... 
Do they have total control over society? No. Do they have total control over 
the candidates? No. But they're steering it. They're massively influencing 
it."
The Washington Post published an article on June 9 with headline, "Obama 
Adviser Faces Scrutiny Over Mortgage Deals." It reports that James A. 
Johnson, former Fannie Mae CEO, is leading Sen. Barack Obama's 
vice-presidential search process, and that Johnson is a member of the 
American Friends of Bilderberg.
Jim Tucker, co-founder of American Free Press (AFP), has been investigating 
the Bilderberg Group for over a quarter of a century. His research on the 
Bilderberg Group was highly praised by participants of the protests at 
Chantilly. He is the author of Jim Tucker's Bilderberg Diary (2005). Jon 
Ronson, author of Them, describes the Bilderberg Group for CNN several years 
ago:
"Many members of the Bilderberg see themselves in much the same way as the 
conspiracy theorists see them: as shadowy figures out to influence world 
events. They see themselves as wise globalist centrists. Many of the 
anti-Bilderberg conspiricists see themselves as twigs in a tidal wave of 
globalization; they see themselves as nationalists. World government is what 
Bilderberg are into—the idea of a global community and a 'one world order.'
"The Bilderberg Group sees themselves as head hunters. They'll get an up and 
coming politician who they think may be President or Prime Minister one day 
and as globalist and industrialist leaders, they try to influence them. 
Bilderberg secrecy hulks back to Henry Kissenger who loves the idea of 
working in the shadows. The secrecy gives rise to conspiracy theories."
The CNN interview can be seen on You Tube: CNN interview with author Jon 
Ronson.
Free Press International offers some interesting resources on the Bilderberg 
Group.
These websites, owned and run by Alex Jones, show photos and videos of the 
Chantilly event:
http://infowars.net
http://prisonplanet.com
There appears to be a wide range of opinions about the Bilderberg Group. 
This report represents only the tip of the iceberg.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CVN_CONVENTION_PROTESTS?SITE=ILROR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Aug 25, 1:45 PM EDT
Protesters: We're being treated like prisoners
By JUDITH KOHLER
Associated Press Writer

DENVER (AP) -- A small group of protesters marched to the demonstration zone 
outside the Democratic National Convention, complaining they are being 
treated like political prisoners.
A contingent from the protest group Recreate 68 Alliance walked from a 
downtown pedestrian mall to the fenced-off zone Monday, although they had 
vowed earlier they would never return because they oppose the limits on 
where they can demonstrate.
Protesters derisively call the 47,000-square-foot zone the "Freedom Cage." 
It's separated from the parking lot around the convention hall by metal 
fences atop concrete barriers, about 700 feet from the Pepsi Center, where 
the delegates start gathering Monday night.
"We're being treated by the city of Denver and the Secret Service like 
political prisoners, like pariahs," said Recreate 68 organizer Mark Cohen.
Cohen and his wife, Barbara, each wore a red inverted triangle similar to 
the type political prisoners in Nazi Germany were forced to wear.
"We're going to stay here for just a couple of minutes to state our disgust 
with this abomination, the way the city and Secret Service are tearing the 
Constitution of the United States to shreds and then we will leave," Mark 
Cohen said.
Another protester, Holly Heiman, 40, of Green Mountain Falls, said she 
wanted to show her opposition to what she believes is an oppressive 
government that won't change no matter who is elected.
Elsewhere, about 100 people rallied at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver 
to draw attention to people they consider to be political prisoners in the 
U.S., including American Indian activist Leonard Peltier, who's serving a 
life sentence for killing two FBI agents during a 1975 standoff on the Pine 
Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20080818-155400/Migrant-groups-to-protest-global-forum-on-migration

Migrant groups to protest global forum on migration
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:09:00 08/18/2008
MANILA, Philippines—An international coalition of overseas workers and 
migrants' rights advocates vowed Monday to stage "the strongest opposition" 
against the Second Global Forum on Migration and Development that the 
Philippines will host in October.
"The 10 days leading to the GFMD, from October 19 to 29, shall be marked by 
the strongest opposition mounted by grassroots migrants all over the world," 
Eni Lestari, chairperson of the International Migrants Alliance, said in an 
e-mail to media outlets.
"For 10 days, we shall shake the GFMD down to its core agenda," Lestari 
said.
Lestari said the "10 Days to Shake the GFMD" campaign will feature dramatic 
actions from different countries that will highlight migrants' national and 
international concerns.
Noting that the forum will take place in the middle of a crisis, Lestari 
said the GFMD will only "intensify the labor export industry, aggravate the 
conditions in many backward and poor countries, and perpetuate forced 
migration of people."
Arguing against globalization in general and state-sanctioned labor 
migration, the IMA chairperson said globalization has increased the 
disparity between rich and poor countries, and has caused the present global 
crisis. On the other hand, labor migration has become a major source of 
income for poor countries.
Lestari also said that while combined remittance of migrant workers around 
the world total $2.26 trillion, the main stakeholders -- the migrants 
themselves -- are not party to the forum.
"For the GFMD to talk about the rights of migrants is devoid of sincerity 
and full of hypocrisy," Lestari said.
"Attacks to the rights of migrants, immigrants, refugees, and other 
displaced people are happening everywhere, every day. Ironically, the 
violators of the rights of migrants -- through grave anti-migrant 
policies -- are the same countries in the GFMD," Lestari said.
The IMA leader also criticized the GFMD organizers for holding the 
Philippine labor export in high esteem, calling it "scandalous given the 
Philippine government's worse than poor record in upholding the rights of 
its overseas nationals."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080720/national/economic_summit

Protesters demonstrate against Pacific Northwest Economic Region Summit
Module body
Sun Jul 20, 11:02 PM
VANCOUVER - A handful of protesters armed with pots and pans staged a loud 
demonstration outside a political trade meeting in Vancouver Sunday.
The Pacific Northwest Economic Region Summit brings together politicians and 
business representatives from across western North America to discuss issues 
like cross-border trade, long-term sustainability and transportation for the 
upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics.
The group of about 20 people waved placards and made noise outside the posh 
hotel where the summit was taking place.
Rally organizer Cynthia Oka said the summit was organized in a secretive 
manner with no public input for those most affected by the policies being 
discussed.
"Part of our objective in having these public rallies is to raise awareness 
about what's happening when these things are taking place," she said. "We'll 
try in various ways to disrupt the agenda, to protest it, to educate other 
people about it."
Dressed in a florescent workers vest and a hard hat with toy snakes wrapped 
around it, Joan Russow came over with a group from Victoria called Snakes in 
the Grass. She said some of the groups attending the summit weren't going to 
get off the hook just by showing up.
"All the major polluters are here and this is diluting the public," she 
said. "Why are they here discussing solutions to solve the problems in the 
northwest?"
Matt Morrison, spokesman of the PNER said the format of the summit will 
include open panels and discussions and organizers are relying on the media 
to relay the outcome of the event.
"We do pride ourselves on engagement and inclusion. All parties, all 
communities. We're really looking at what we can share as a community with 
the region, beyond borders," he said.
He said despite the expensive registration fee, the summit was open to 
anyone interested in attending.
The U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins is scheduled to address the 
summit on Monday.
Delegates from Alaska, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Saskatchewan, 
Washington and Yukon were registered to take part.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080720/national/economic_summit

Protesters demonstrate against Pacific Northwest Economic Region Summit
Module body
Sun Jul 20, 11:02 PM

VANCOUVER - A handful of protesters armed with pots and pans staged a loud 
demonstration outside a political trade meeting in Vancouver Sunday.
The Pacific Northwest Economic Region Summit brings together politicians and 
business representatives from across western North America to discuss issues 
like cross-border trade, long-term sustainability and transportation for the 
upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics.
The group of about 20 people waved placards and made noise outside the posh 
hotel where the summit was taking place.
Rally organizer Cynthia Oka said the summit was organized in a secretive 
manner with no public input for those most affected by the policies being 
discussed.
"Part of our objective in having these public rallies is to raise awareness 
about what's happening when these things are taking place," she said. "We'll 
try in various ways to disrupt the agenda, to protest it, to educate other 
people about it."
Dressed in a florescent workers vest and a hard hat with toy snakes wrapped 
around it, Joan Russow came over with a group from Victoria called Snakes in 
the Grass. She said some of the groups attending the summit weren't going to 
get off the hook just by showing up.
"All the major polluters are here and this is diluting the public," she 
said. "Why are they here discussing solutions to solve the problems in the 
northwest?"
Matt Morrison, spokesman of the PNER said the format of the summit will 
include open panels and discussions and organizers are relying on the media 
to relay the outcome of the event.
"We do pride ourselves on engagement and inclusion. All parties, all 
communities. We're really looking at what we can share as a community with 
the region, beyond borders," he said.
He said despite the expensive registration fee, the summit was open to 
anyone interested in attending.
The U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins is scheduled to address the 
summit on Monday.
Delegates from Alaska, Alberta, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Saskatchewan, 
Washington and Yukon were registered to take part.

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/31/stories/2008073151510300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool

Raithu Sangham protest against WTO talks
Special Correspondent
KURNOOL: The supporters of Raithu Sangham (CPI affiliation) held a 
demonstration here on Wednesday protesting against the participation of 
India in the WTO-sponsored Doha round of talks.
Raithu Sangham district secretary K. Jagannatham and other leaders urged the 
Indian government to drop out from the negotiations on the ground that it 
was detrimental to the interests of Indian farmers.
They said the WTO was fully under the control of the United States and any 
outcome there would be in favour of the super power. According to them, the 
impact of the WTO agreements could result in reduced subsidy to the farm 
sector, cut in bank lending to priority sector and import of foreign 
agriculture products in a big way.
A deeper agrarian crisis would hit the country with increased suicides among 
farmers, indebtedness of farmers and lack of remunerative prices for farm 
products.
All sectors in the country would be hit by the crisis, they added.

http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafp080721143244.ghgwxas3p2&show_article=1

An anti-World Trade Organization (WTO) protest in Jakarta
PREV LARGER VERSION NEXT

Indonesian activists give a performance during an anti-World Trade 
Organization (WTO) protest in Jakarta. The United States and European Union 
took aim at emerging economies at crucial WTO trade talks, warning them to 
open up their markets if the seven-year Doha Round is to succeed.
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/BIZ/807300346/-1/BIZ09

Steel union to protest NAFTA
Journal Gazette
The United Steelworkers and area labor groups will protest free-trade deals 
today in front of Rep. Mark Souder’s Fort Wayne office.
Street theater featuring a giant "Toxic Trader" puppet and a rally will 
start at 3 p.m. at 1300 S. Harrison St. in downtown, a statement from the 
USW said. The rally will be followed by a march to the Allen County 
Courthouse.
Steelworkers are protesting because of the support shown by Souder, R-3rd, 
of recent free-trade agreements with Peru and Chile. The union said the 
agreements lacked protection for workers and the environment.
"If companies operating in the U.S. must obey these rules, then it’s unfair 
competition when foreign firms don’t," the statement said.
Souder said in a written statement that he has long opposed the North 
American Free Trade Agreement, and if he had been in Congress when the law 
was passed, he would have voted against it.
"I have always stood with the workers of this district," Souder wrote.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0520-01.htm

WTO Protesters to Donate Class Action Settlement Funds through ‘Money to 
Movements’
Landmark Seattle Court Ruling Fuels Global Justice Mission
  SEATTLE, WA - May 20 - Members of A class-action lawsuit have joined 
forces to DONATE a portion of settlement funds to fund organizations 
carrying on the work of the global justice movement through the Money to 
Movements Project. In a landmark decision for First Amendment rights, a 
Seattle civil jury has found that police acted unconstitutionally in 
arresting more than 175 peaceful protesters as part of the World Trade 
Organization protests in 1999.
The plaintiffs involved in the case were arrested in downtown Seattle’s 
Westlake Park, part of a "no protest zone" hastily designated by city 
officials as the WTO meetings convened in November of 1999. The suit was 
brought by Trial Lawyers for Public Justice (TLPJ), a Washington, D.C.-based 
public interest law firm, who charged that the plaintiffs were arrested 
without probable cause while engaging in a constitutionally-protected act of 
free speech.
The WTO conference drew about 50,000 protestors to Seattle in 1999. Groups 
such as farm-workers unions, environmental activists, indigenous rights 
advocates, and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) gathered to protest 
the policies of the World Trade Organization, triggering what observers 
characterized as an UNCONSTITUIONAL reaction by police, national guard and 
government officials. Crowd-control tactics such as tear-gas, pepper spray, 
percussion grenades and rubber bullets were employed. A state of emergency 
was declared and over 600 mostly peaceful protesters were arrested and 
detained. Nearly all charges were later dropped.
The Money to Movements project was created by a group of plaintiffs involved 
in the Westlake Park case in order to help channel funds obtained through 
the court settlement back into the global justice (formerly known as 
anti-globalization) movement. "We brought this suit for everyone who faced 
inappropriate police behavior at the protests," said Erica Kay, of Seattle’s 
Community Action Network. "We want to see this money put to good purpose."
David Solnit, A CO-founder of the Direct Action Network and an organizer of 
the nonviolent direct action shutdown of the WTO’s opening day said, "These 
funds were won from a struggle for global justice. We wanted to make sure 
that a portion of those funds were put back into those struggles.
So far, 15 of the plaintiffs involved in the Westlake case have donated to 
the Money to Movements project, totaling $15,000. The ultimate goal of the 
project is to raise $40,000 through donations and matching grants, a figure 
equivalent to 10% of the settlement after legal fees.
Groups selected for funding include: Domestic Workers United (New York, NY), 
Critical Resistance (national), Community Coalition for Environmental 
Justice (Seattle, WA), The Jena 6 Legal Defense Fund (national), Bus Riders 
Union (national), Mothers for Police Accountability (Seattle, WA), 
RiseUp.net (international), Seattle WTO ’99 People’s History Project 
(national), Southwest Workers Union (San Antonio, TX), Democracy Now! 
(national), Community Alliance for Global Justice (international), Earth 
First! Journal (national), Grassroots Global Justice (national), Destiny 
Arts Center (Oakland, CA), Pan Left Productions (national), The Catalyst 
Project (San Francisco, CA), and Legacy of Equality, Leadership and 
Organizing (Seattle, WA),
Groups were selected for their commitment to global justice, including 
environmental, racial and economic justice, worker’s rights, police 
accountability and justice system reform, independent media, and 
activist/youth nonviolent action training. They were chosen by those 
plaintiffs participating in the Money to Movements project.
Money to Movements has timed the announcement of groups benefiting to 
coincide with the screening of the new movie The Battle in Seattle by 
director Stuart Townsend at the Seattle Film Festival, a fictional drama set 
during the WTO protests.
"The mission of the global justice movement is to keep transnational 
corporations from profiting at the expense of people and the planet," said 
Holly Roach, Money to Movements co-founder and Westlake Class member. "Our 
intention with Money to Movements is to direct funds to those groups that 
are currently driving the global justice movement, and to help inspire a new 
generation of activists."
"The WTO protests are an incredible model of ‘people power’ standing up the 
global elites," said Solnit. "We hope these funds will help to bring 
attention to the current strength of the global justice movement, and to 
help to fuel the work."
Money to Movements is currently seeking matching grants and individual 
donations to reach the projected total of $40,000. All donations are 
tax-deductible through Money to Movements fiscal sponsor, the Agape 
Foundation.
More information at www.realbattleinseattle.org

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20080530-139741/Leftists-to-protest-Arroyo-Bush-meeting

Leftists to protest Arroyo-Bush meeting
By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 12:20:00 05/30/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino leftist groups in the United States will 
protest the meeting between "unpopulars" Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 
and George W. Bush in Washington DC next month, the Bagong Alyansang 
Makabayan (Bayan, New Patriotic Alliance) said Friday.
"Protests actions are already being readied by Bayan-USA and its affiliate 
organizations in time for Arroyo’s arrival in the US," Bayan secretary 
general Renato Reyes said.
Malacañang and the White House have confirmed the June 24 meeting, during 
which the two leaders will discuss a wide range of concerns.
Among the issues up for discussion, according to the White House, are the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Burma, counterterrorism, defense 
reform, food security, and regional economic integration.
Bayan accuses the US government’s "borderless war on terror and continued US 
military assistance to the Arroyo government for the spate of human rights 
abuses in the Philippines."
Reyes said the Philippines’ counterinsurgency campaign was "inspired by the 
US war on terror," citing the training of Filipino soldiers by American 
troops. This, he claimed, leads Filipino soldiers to commit "human rights 
atrocities."
Bayan is also protesting the Visiting Forces Agreement and the government’s 
economic relations with the US.
Reyes said the Philippine government is following the US’ "one-sided 
economic patterns.
"Just look at the American-owned independent power producers. They continue 
to enjoy perks such as take-or-pay provisions which pass on unconscionable 
costs to consumers. Just look at the American-owned oil companies and how 
they continue to reap super-profits from the misery of consumers. Just look 
at our dependence on American imports, inputs and foreign debt and our 
dependence on exports to the US. This economic pattern has not helped the 
Philippines develop into a self-reliant nation," he said.