Clearday-TRForce
11-18-2006, 04:21 AM
Protesters storm corporate offices ahead of G-20 meeting
Saturday, November 18, 2006
MELBOURNE - The Associated Press
Water pistol-wielding demonstrators launched a series of quick raids on corporate and government buildings on Friday in Melbourne, where financial stewards of the world's wealthiest economies gathered for annual talks.
The protests were peaceful and caused little damage, creating a colorful counterpoint to the more solemn agenda of the economic mandarins. U2's Bono and members of Pearl Jam made surprise appearances at an activist-organized concert.
Finance ministers and central bankers from 19 countries and the European Union, plus top officials of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) were set to meet for two days of talks starting Saturday, with energy security at the top of the agenda.
Chest-high metal fences have been erected around the plush downtown hotel where the talks were scheduled to be held, and hundreds of police have been deployed to keep anti-globalization protesters away. Organizers of a march planned for Saturday said they expected thousands to attend, but urged people not to be violent.
On Friday, shouting protesters entered and briefly occupied the lobbies of 14 commercial and government buildings in Melbourne, Victoria state Police Assistant Commissioner Gary Jamieson said. One group squirted water pistols inside a defense building, damaging furnishings, he said. There were no arrests and the demonstrators left peacefully.
Reform of the IMF, rising interest rates, the Chinese and Japanese currency levels and efforts to economically isolate nuclear-armed North Korea are also likely to come up at the closed-door meetings. IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato, who is attending the meetings, expressed satisfaction with the global economy.
The G-20 brings the Group of Seven advanced countries -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- and the EU together with other political and economic heavyweights including China, Brazil, India, Russia and South Korea.
Surging demand for oil and minerals from fast growing economies China and India have benefited commodity powers like Australia, while fanning concerns over the emergence of unstable supplies and market distortions.
On the sidelines of the meeting, U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt renewed Washington's call for China to move faster in reforming its currency, the yuan.
When a group representing major international mining companies -- the Energy and Minerals Business Council -- addresses G-20 delegates Saturday, it will be the first time a business group has had direct access to the forum, launched in 1999.
Argentina, Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey fill out the group, which altogether represents about 90 percent of the world's gross national product, 80 percent of the worlds' trade and two-thirds of its population.
Protesters acknowledge the world is getting richer but say the issue is one of more equitable distribution.
Bono, U2 guitarist the Edge and the members of Pearl Jam took the stage at a concert of local bands organized by the activist coalition Make Poverty History, and together performed Neil Young's “Keep On Rockin' In The Free World.”
“Politicians have to do what we tell them to do -- shout it from the mountain!” Bono exhorted the crowd. “Make poverty history.”
India, the United States and others said the officials would also press ahead with talks on reforming the World Bank and IMF.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui and World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz are among those attending the meeting.
regards,
CDTRF
Saturday, November 18, 2006
MELBOURNE - The Associated Press
Water pistol-wielding demonstrators launched a series of quick raids on corporate and government buildings on Friday in Melbourne, where financial stewards of the world's wealthiest economies gathered for annual talks.
The protests were peaceful and caused little damage, creating a colorful counterpoint to the more solemn agenda of the economic mandarins. U2's Bono and members of Pearl Jam made surprise appearances at an activist-organized concert.
Finance ministers and central bankers from 19 countries and the European Union, plus top officials of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) were set to meet for two days of talks starting Saturday, with energy security at the top of the agenda.
Chest-high metal fences have been erected around the plush downtown hotel where the talks were scheduled to be held, and hundreds of police have been deployed to keep anti-globalization protesters away. Organizers of a march planned for Saturday said they expected thousands to attend, but urged people not to be violent.
On Friday, shouting protesters entered and briefly occupied the lobbies of 14 commercial and government buildings in Melbourne, Victoria state Police Assistant Commissioner Gary Jamieson said. One group squirted water pistols inside a defense building, damaging furnishings, he said. There were no arrests and the demonstrators left peacefully.
Reform of the IMF, rising interest rates, the Chinese and Japanese currency levels and efforts to economically isolate nuclear-armed North Korea are also likely to come up at the closed-door meetings. IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato, who is attending the meetings, expressed satisfaction with the global economy.
The G-20 brings the Group of Seven advanced countries -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- and the EU together with other political and economic heavyweights including China, Brazil, India, Russia and South Korea.
Surging demand for oil and minerals from fast growing economies China and India have benefited commodity powers like Australia, while fanning concerns over the emergence of unstable supplies and market distortions.
On the sidelines of the meeting, U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt renewed Washington's call for China to move faster in reforming its currency, the yuan.
When a group representing major international mining companies -- the Energy and Minerals Business Council -- addresses G-20 delegates Saturday, it will be the first time a business group has had direct access to the forum, launched in 1999.
Argentina, Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey fill out the group, which altogether represents about 90 percent of the world's gross national product, 80 percent of the worlds' trade and two-thirds of its population.
Protesters acknowledge the world is getting richer but say the issue is one of more equitable distribution.
Bono, U2 guitarist the Edge and the members of Pearl Jam took the stage at a concert of local bands organized by the activist coalition Make Poverty History, and together performed Neil Young's “Keep On Rockin' In The Free World.”
“Politicians have to do what we tell them to do -- shout it from the mountain!” Bono exhorted the crowd. “Make poverty history.”
India, the United States and others said the officials would also press ahead with talks on reforming the World Bank and IMF.
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui and World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz are among those attending the meeting.
regards,
CDTRF