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The Put People First G20 Counter Conference was one of two alternative G20 conferences held simultaneously in London and St Andrews on November 7th to coincide with the G20 finance ministers meeting on 7th-8th November. Over three plenary sessions, we invited academics, activists, campaigners, unions, and policymakers to debate alternative policies to promote jobs, justice and a safe climate. Smaller breakout sessions gave participants the opportunity to take part in more focused debates on the linkages between the economy, environment, and international development and in addition, discuss how we can mobilize and turn our ideas into action. You can listen to the conference audios here:

Plenary Session 1

Topic: The failure of a paradigm but has anything really changed? Chair: Peter Chowla (Bretton Woods Project) Speakers: Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (PES), Diane Elson (University of Essex), Lidy Nacpil (Jubilee South), Louise Plaatjes (UNI Africa)

Plenary Session 2

Topic: What are the alternatives that work for people and planet Chair: Bhumika Muchhala (Third World Network) Speakers: John Hilary (War on Want), Beatriz Souviron (Bolivian Ambassador to the UK), Andrew Simms (new economics foundation), Vimbai Mushongera (Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions)

Breakout session 2: How do we mobilize?

Discussion leader: Noel Hatch (Compass Youth) Speakers: Jon Cruddas MP, Jessica Kennedy (Citizens: UK), Willie Sullivan (Vote for a Change)

Closing Plenary

Topic: Taking alternatives forward Chair: Owen Tudor (TUC) Speakers: Billy Hayes (general secretary CWU), Deborah Doane (WDM), Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth)

Jobs, Justice, Climate – Alternatives to the G20 – Book NOW! In March, we marched in our tens of thousands to demand the G20 Put People First. Far from putting people first, we’ve seen nothing but tinkering around the margins followed by the return to business as usual. On Nov 7, as the G20 returns to the UK, the agenda on the table nurses an already failed economic model back to life, whilst looking to sew up an international climate deal of unprecedented urgency. They bailed out the banks to the tune of billions, and now the only choice offered is between what cuts are made to pay for it. Government intervention to create a Green New Deal is slipping off the agenda, and yet strong alliances are forming – environmentalists and trade unionists have been standing side by side at Vestas to save the UK’s largest wind turbine factory.

• In the run-up to Copenhagen, how do we get a global agreement on climate that truly puts climate justice at its heart?
• How do we respond to the jobs crisis and growing poverty around the world
• How do we ensure the global green new deal the world needs?
• How do we show that cuts are not the only option, and demonstrate what Putting People First really looks like?

This counter-conference will bring together academics, activists, campaigners, unions, policymakers, and YOU to share ideas on what the alternatives are to cuts, cuts, and more cuts, and how we must organize across our issues, of jobs, justice, and climate, to make the alternative the reality. Speakers include:

• Sarah-Jayne Clifton, Friends of the Earth
• Jon Cruddas MP
• Deborah Doane, World Development Movement
• Diane Elson, University of Essex
• Jesse Griffiths, Bretton Woods Project
• Noel Hatch, Compass Youth
• Billy Hayes, CWU
• John Hilary, War on Want
• Catherine Howarth, FairPensions
• Tony Juniper, Princes Rainforests Projects
• Neal Lawson, Compass
• Larry Lohman, The Corner House
• Caroline Lucas MEP
• Poul Nyrup Rasmussen MEP
• Andrew Simms, New Economics Foundation
• Glen Tarman, BOND
• Hilary Wainwright, Red Pepper
• Mel Whitter, UNITE

Book your FREE place now for an inspirational day of discussion and organizing and help spread the word:

• Register for the counter conference
• Download the conference agenda (pdf)
• Download the conference flyer
• Join us on Facebook

The conference is supported by: ActionAid, Action for a Global Climate Community, BOND, BrettonWoods Project, Change is Coming, Compass, Ekklesia, Fairtrade Foundation, Friends of the Earth, Global Call to Action Against Poverty, GMB, Helpage International, Jubilee Scotland, Jubilee Debt Campaign, National Union of Teachers, New Economics Foundation, New Internationalist, People and Planet, Progressio, Stop AIDS Campaign, Stop Climate Chaos, Stamp out Poverty, TUC, UNISON, WILPF, World Development, Movement, War on Want, WWF

G20: NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL

This autumn the G20 is back. On Friday 4 September, the G20 Finance Ministers are meeting in London to discuss the financial crisis, for the first time since April’s G20 summit. So far they’ve flunked the challenge of putting people first in response to the financial crisis, preferring instead to patch up the old system that has led to poverty, inequality and the threat of climate chaos. Join us in central London this Friday to tell the G20: No More Business As Usual. We’ll be demanding action on jobs, justice and climate, learning more about some of the key institutions behind the crisis, and discussing what’s next for Put People First campaigning.

10.30am-11.15am:
A media stunt at which 20 powerful world leaders will carry a throne of money through the City of London. Campaigners will tell them that it’s time to put people before money. Location Lloyds Building, Leadenhall St.
11.15am-1pm:
A walking tour of companies and institutions that have contributed to the economic crisis. Activists will meet at Liverpool Street (outside the rail station next to the McDonalds).
2pm-6pm:
International speakers and a worker from the Vestas wind turbine plant will address a conference of activists from across the UK. The Woolfson Theatre, London School of Economics

As the G20 sit down for their conference on 7 November, Put People First will be holding two parallel ‘counter conferences’, allowing academics, activists, campaigners, unions, and policymakers in London and St Andrews to debate alternative policies to promote jobs, justice, and a safe climate. The initial details for the London event are out now, and you can get your bookings online here.

Loads more great films to check out:

• You count how many people were there An aerial view of the whole march
• Interviews with marchers Fourman films meets people on the march to ask why they attended
• 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 Groundbreaking 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