Over 12,000 march, rally for jobs, justice, climate ahead of G20 summit

Source: Xinhua | 03-29-2009 08:30

LONDON, Mar. 28 (Xinhua) -- Over 12,000 people from across Britain and Europe marched through central London on Saturday ahead of the G20 summit, demanding decent jobs and public services for all, an end to global poverty and inequality, as well as a green economy.

The march organized under the banner of "Put People First" started at 11:00 in the morning, drawing members from over 150 unions, development, faith and environment groups in a unified call for a coordinated fiscal stimulus to create and preserve jobs, international action to ensure that an out-of-control finance sector never threatens the stability of the global economy again and a commitment from world leaders that they will move to a low carbon economy.

In an unprecedented alliance of supporters of Put People First which range from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to the Salvation Army, Friends of the Earth to Oxfam and Shelter to War on Want, the demonstrators held out slogans such as "Workers for the world united," "Knowledge is power," "Drop the debt," "Clean up global finance," "Smash Capitalism" and "Climate emergency," expressing their anger at the policies that have seen poverty exist alongside huge top banker bonuses.

"We're angry because this is not a natural disaster, but a crisis due to irresponsible and reckless behavior. We're angry about the inequality that ordinary people are paying the price," said Brendan Barber, General Secretary of Trade Union Congress (TUC) which represents 6.5 million people, later at a rally held in Hyde Park.