Follow us on Twitter
Let's be friendsThe G20 summit - what was the result?
The leaders of the world's richest countries met in London recently, but what did they achieve?
People & Planet on the Put People First march
5 days after the mass Put People First march, attended by hundreds of People & Planet students, G20 leaders gathered in East London, to discuss the future of the global economy.
Outside voices calling for an alternative vision, one that prioritised the planet and people over short term greed, were being muffled. Authorties shut the alternative public summit at the University of East London and police violence and intimidation marred the counter demonstrations in London.
With much fanfare the G20 announced the results of their discussion, results that civil society organisations unanimously agreed did not deliver the break from ‘business as usual’ that the world needs.
In particular the lack of focus on the global issue of climate change was mind-boggling, as was their corresponding failure to seize the opportunity to build a new low carbon society. Similarly, the lack of concrete plans for acting on trade justice by giving poor countries a fair say in the world’s crisis fund - the IMF - were not forthcoming, despite a decision to increase its funding.
However other announcements clearly showed the impact of the Put People First campaign and were cautiously welcomed. These included measures to provide funds for the economies of rich and poor countries, and a new direction of increasing the transparency of tax havens and the wider shadow banking system.
At the press conference, Gordon Brown also proclaimed the Washington Consensus, the style of governing economies that created vast wealth for the few and vast poverty for the many, to be ‘dead’. This opens up new ground for civil society to hold the government to its word.
What the world leaders seem to have forgotten is that they were taking decisions on our behalf. As young people we are the ones that will have to deal with the increasing impacts of climate change and world poverty.
For more details on the outcome of the G20
To take action on climate change
To take action on trade justice
