FOOLS RUSH IN

WHERE FINANCIAL LEADERS FEAR TO TREAD AT G20 SUMMIT

While the global economic meltdown continues, plans are afoot to welcome delegates to the forthcoming G20 summit meeting in Britain. On April 2nd finance ministers and central bank governors from nineteen of the world’s most ‘advanced’ and ‘emerging’ states plus the European Union will be meeting at the Excel Centre in Docklands.

Collectively, the G20 economies control 90% of global gross national product, 80% of world trade (including EU intra-trade) and two-thirds of the world population. In other words - it’s all their fault.

The summit has gotten off to a bad start even before they’ve met. The ‘Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ consists of er, 22 countries. The group that’s charged with saving the economy can’t even count in double figures. Even the blue-chip, pink pages of the FT aren’t exactly counting on salvation from the summit presided over by El Gordo. Vaguely worded principles about how they’re going to regulate the financial system (the same one that they deregulated) and the tried’n’ failed tactic of stuffing government money into the back pockets of bankers are what’s on offer.

The real solutions to the crisis (crises actually) are at hand though. There’s all sorts of anti-G20 action going on. Whether it’s illegal wars, environmental devastation or global economic thievery, take yer pick of reasons to throw a spanner in the works of this world leaders’ shindig.

As well as a traditional A to B march the Saturday beforehand, there’s plenty of political action in flavours other than vanilla. A whole range of up-fer-it direct action creativity is in the offing.
‘We can’t pay, we won’t pay and we are taking to the streets’ kicks off with four carnival parades on April 1st at 11am led by the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse from various rail stations – Moorgate (red horse for war), Liverpool St (green horse for climate chaos), London Bridge (silver for financial crimes) and Cannon St (black for land enclosures and borders - the 360th full circle anniversary of The Diggers). Financial Fools Day then heats up at 12 noon outside the den of sin and iniquity itself The Bank of England. Bring the apocalypse to ‘em!

CHOOSE YOUR HORSE

APRIL 1st (Financial & Fossil Fools Day)

* Financial Fools Day Street Party

Assemble at Cannon Street, Moorgate, Liverpool Street or London Bridge stations 11am to form four marching blocks heading towards the Bank of England for 12-noon, in the ‘Square Mile’ of the City of London. Bring a portable radio! www.g-20meltdown.org

* Climate Camp in the City

The climate camp are camping in the European Carbon Exchange, Hasilwood house, City of London 12-noon. Bring sleeping bag and goodies! www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20

* Fossil Fools Day: ‘Your Party’s Over!’

Climate Criminal BP is celebrating its centenary with cocktails and canapes at the British Musem. And we will be there too, between 6-7pm, to say ‘Your party’s over!’ Meet at 6pm at the British Museum’s Gt. Russell St. gate. Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery. www.fossilfoolsdayofaction.org

APRIL 2nd (The day of the G20 summit)

* Crash the Stock Exchange

Eat capitalism for breakfast. Disrupt the traders whose financial egomania perpetuates global injustice: let’s shutdown trading for the day. Meet outside the London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, City of London, London EC4M, 7am (traders arrive at 7am, trading commencing 8am). Nearest tube: St Pauls - have a pleasant journey in... tubes might be busy.

* Excel Centre

Direct action all day at the Excel Centre, Canning Town where the G20 will be meeting. ExceL London, One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL www.g-20meltdown.org

* A coalition of groups including The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, The British Muslim Initiative, and CND have called two protests against the G20; a march and rally in central London on the afternoon of April 1st, and a protest to the conference itself on April 2nd. http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1084&Itemid=27