Below is a selection of Put People First member reactions to the G20 Summit Communique

ActionAid

Christian Aid

Friends of the Earth

Greenpeace

Jubilee Debt Campaign

Oxfam

Tearfund

Trade Justice Movement

TUC

Save the Children

War on Want

World Development Movement

April 7th, 2009 BOND

Loads more great films to check out:

• You count how many people were there
  An arial view of the whole march
• Interviews with marchers
  Fourman films meets people on the march to ask why they attended
• Kumi Naidoo speech
  GCAP co-chair Kumi Naidoo opens the rally
• Mark Thomas speech
  Activist Comedian Mark Thomas ridicules neo-liberal capitalism
• Mary Lou Malig speech
  Trade campaigner Mary Lou Malig explains how the unjust trade policies of rich countries hurt the poor.
• Brendan Barber speech
  The TUC General Secretary looks at solutions to the financial crisis that work for workers
• Susan George speech
  Ground breaking author Susan George says ‘they’re our banks’
• Sharan Burrow speech
  ITUC President Sharan Burrow brings greetings from the rest of the world
• Tony Juniper speech
  Pioneering environmentalist Tony Juniper says a greener world is possible

April 6th, 2009 BOND

Put People First press release 2 March 2009

Glen Tarman of BOND, chair of Put People First, said:

“The G20 appears to have made progress on some critical issues but there are also missed opportunities, especially on building a green economy, and causes for real concern in other areas. G20 leaders have not yet gone far enough on the fundamental changes the world needs.

“Our campaign for jobs, justice and climate has clearly made some impact, but three big tests remain:

• Will the G20, the UN and the Copenhagen climate conference do far more to break from the failed policies that brought about the global crisis?
• Will governments agree a comprehensive package of policies that will deliver a new financial architecture and ensure the world emerges from the global recession as a fairer and green place?
• Where there are positive words today, will they be turned into action tomorrow?

“Put People First – and campaigners all around the world – will continue to make the case for change throughout this critical year. Wherever world leaders go to discuss these issues they will hear the voices of ordinary people demanding change.”

Put People First is an unprecedented alliance of 160 unions, development, faith and climate change groups. More than 35,000 people marched through central London on Saturday under the Put People First banner to demand jobs, justice and climate.

Notes to editors:

For more information or interviews please call Anjali Kwatra on 07941 371357.

April 2nd, 2009 TUC

Put People First press release – April 2 2009

Gordon Brown and his fellow G20 leaders must agree an overhaul of the global economy to promote jobs, justice and climate when they meet today in London, according to Put People First (www.putpeoplefirst.org.uk), an unprecedented alliance of more than 160 unions, development, environment and faith groups.

Blind faith in markets must be replaced with an economic system that works in the interests of people and planet and provides sturdy foundations for future prosperity.

That means a strong package of reform including:

• Making financial institutions and multinationals transparent and publicly accountable
• Action on tax havens to stop business and rich people avoiding their social responsibilities at the expense of the poor
• An end to efforts to push developing countries to liberalise and deregulate their economies
• Massive investment in a ‘green new deal’ based on decent work and fair pay
• Increasing overseas aid and strengthening health, education and other public services at home and abroad
• Real progress towards a climate deal that will limit temperature increases to well below 2o°c
• Fundamentally reforming global institutions such as the World Bank and IMF to give poor countries a say in the decisions that affect their lives

More than 35,000 people protested in London on Saturday in support of ‘jobs, justice and climate’ – a visible demonstration that people from across the political spectrum support real change.

Barbara Stocking, Oxfam Chief Executive, said: “The time for talking by G20 leaders is over. Warm words must now be replaced by action to tackle poverty.

“The world cannot afford attempts to return to ‘business as usual’. Nor should differences between rich countries be used as an excuse for inaction. Millions of already poor men, women and children are becoming much more vulnerable, with many pushed to the edges of destitution.”

Ashok Sinha, Director of Stop Climate Chaos, said: “The heat is on to get a fair international climate change deal at Copenhagen in December that keeps global warming under 2C. The G20 is a major stepping-stone towards that goal.

“Instead of boosting more unsustainable consumption the hundreds of billions of dollars on the G20 table for a fiscal stimulus must be used to invest away from using fossil fuels in favour of low carbon economies, as well as supporting low carbon development in poor countries.

“With bold action G20 leaders can seize the opportunity to tackle both climate change and the economic downturn together at the same time.”

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “There will be radical voices at the summit, with at least some leaders signed up for a big fiscal stimulus, a green new deal, tough global regulation and action on inequality. The question is whether those voices will carry the day. If they don’t, our campaign goes on to the G8, the UN and other G20 meetings.

“This is a decisive year for the whole planet. A heavy responsibility lies on every nation to ensure that we don’t just counter the recession but set in place the structures and policies that will ensure the world is never again threatened by financial meltdown and emerges as a greener and fairer place.”

April 2nd, 2009 BOND

World Development Movement (WDM) and War On Want have had the offer of a pass to the G20 summit withdrawn. See WDM site (www.wdm.org.uk) and War On Want site (www.waronwant.org) for latest information, and WDM press release – 01/04/09.

April 2nd, 2009 World Development Movement