Protester Simon Murray is one of our G8 guest bloggers
There's been a bit of an information overload today. There's a G8 alternatives summit going on in Edinburgh, the sun is shining and the speakers and debates are spread across the city. Trying to learn how best to facilitate the end of capitalism is a hot and sweaty business.
I start by singling out the names I recognise and the talks that sound interesting but there are too many and in addition to this there is also a mountain of flyers, bumph, stickers, magazines, info sheets and papers on offer.
I have already been ridiculed for having the "SUV" of tents (in the spirit of the occasion it has been shared) and my overpacking also stretched to a toilet bag and a fold out chair. With all the added literature I am acquiring I will be even more weighed down on my return. At least I decided against the pillow.
I was involved in handing out some of this info myself at the march yesterday. Most seemed to be appreciated but quite a lot fell to the floor in disgust and I did receive some comments from white clad (usually white-haired) do-gooders such as: "Ooh, I don't believe in that, what good will shutting the G8 do? They're doing a good job." I hope all of these wasted flyers get recycled.
I left the march site to the warbling strains of Daniel Beddingfield (I think it was him but all these world saviours look and sound the same to me). People looked like they'd had a nice day out. They could even have bought a T-shirt as a memento of the happy occasion. Or a burger or an ice cream. What was it for again?
I did feel sorry, though, for the people who left before the huge Make Poverty History letters were lofted high by massive cranes. That would have been impressive. I wonder how many equivalent HIV vaccinations it would have cost ... ?
