Skewed News

Around 35,000 protesters gathered in the rain in London today for a huge march for “jobs, justice and climate” in the first of a week of demonstrations ahead of the G20 summit.

The Put People First march involved an alliance of 150 groups, including unions, charities, environmental campaigners and faith organisations. Campaigners are expected to target bankers and city financiers who they blame for the global recession.

A massive security campaign was launched as the Metropolitan police warned of an “unprecedented” threat posed by the protests, but organisers stressed today’s events would not turn violent.

Ed Miliband, climate change secretary, met campaigners before the march got under way and said the “vast majority” were planning a peaceful protest. “There is a very important line between peaceful and non-peaceful protest,” he said. “I think the kind of campaigning that people are engaged in today – certainly what the organisers intend, what the vast majority of the people who are going on this march will do – is the kind of peaceful protest that is very much part of our society.”

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Council, who was due to lead speeches at the rally, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “If there are other groups who want to cause trouble, I don’t want to see them anywhere near our event. I read about other events being planned by other groups over the next couple of days. If people want to make their protest in other ways, not the peaceful ways that we are absolutely committed to, then they should go in other directions.”

Mr Barber is expected to say at the rally there was nothing inevitable about this recession and that it was right to be angry about people losing their jobs and homes. That, today is the birth of a powerful progressive voice, and it would not be the last time organisations would work together, but just the first.

Richard Chartres, the Bishop of London, said the atmosphere at the event was “positive” this morning, adding that it would be a “tragedy” if events turned violent.

An unprecedented alliance of 150 groups, including unions, charities, environmental campaigners, development and faith organisations, were marching to Hyde Park for a rally with speakers and entertainment including Luke Pritchard of the Kooks, comedian Mark Thomas and Mauritanian musician Daby Toure.

“We must realise that all these problems that we face come from the same place. Poverty, environmental problems, I believe these things can be eradicated, but Government must listen to the will of the people who put them in power. People who will be most affected by the decisions they make,” said Pritchard, singer and guitarist with the Kooks, a British indie rock band.

Campaigner Jake Corn, from Cambridge, said he was taking part to support a more sustainable future.

“We feel this is an important moment with the G20 coming here,” he said.

“We want to get our message across to as many people as possible.”

Nicoli Nicolosi, an Italian trade unionist, said he had travelled from Rome to take part.

“We are here to try and make a better world and protest against the G20,” he said.

Protestors have used social networking websites like Twitter to keep each other updated.

Organisations also showed their technological skills, with the Salvation Army offering regular inputs such as: “Today’s church service and march are a perfect opportunity to ask the G20 to consider the world’s most vulnerable people.”

Put People First’s own Twitter profile sent a good luck wish to people attending the rally.

Another event planned tonight aims to darken the skyline of London and other cities around the world.

At 8.30pm tonight millions of people are expected to turn their lights off for one hour.

Earth Hour, organised by the World Wildlife Foundation environmental group is aimed at showing global leaders the strong support for action to tackle climate change.

Landmarks including the London Eye, The Gherkin, and the BT Tower will take part.

But activists have warned companies in the financial sector they will shut down electricity supplies themselves unless the lights go out.

Further direct action is feared next week with police leave in London cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday, when campaigners are planning disruptions around the City’s Square Mile.

A professor said to be masterminding “mayhem” has already been suspended by his university after he warned bankers could be “hanging from lampposts”.

The University of East London confirmed a “full investigation” was launched following warnings of violence from Chris Knight, 66, from Lewisham, south London.

Murray Benham, head of campaigns at the World Development Movement, said: “The cost of the summit is clearly incredibly high. The only possible justification for this expenditure will be if the G20 leaders make the bold moves necessary to make the global economy work for people in the developing world, who are being hit the hardest by the credit crunch and climate change.”

Among the marchers were Derek Simpson, general secretary of the Unite union, and Tony Robinson the television presenter.

“This is about getting across the message that our members give to us about their concern over jobs and houses and the state of the economy.

“I think it’s an important message but whether it will get through to the people meeting in London I don’t know. Anyone who sees the numbers on this march should realise how important it is,” said Simpson.

Today’s march marks a “real sea change in opinion”, according to Robinson. Mr Robinson, who presents Channel 4’s Time Team, said: “Like 97% of the people here I’m absolutely hacked off with what’s happened in my country and internationally.”

He said the march itself would not change anything and was the beginning of a broader movement.

“This is just the beginning of the prelude of the prologue. The forces of greed are very tenacious and just because we march up and down it won’t make a difference on its own.”

He said he wanted to see the G20 summit seriously discuss “proper regulation of capital and a serious investment in a green economy.”

Police officers appeared to be keeping a relatively low profile at the march despite fears earlier this week that there may be clashes with some of the protesters.

Via the Times