G8 Alternatives

The meeting of the G8 Summit at Gleneagles, Scotland is getting quite a bit of press, and for many reasons.

The the potential £100 million price tag for police and set up is stirring up the pot.

What is a reasonable price tag for these major, rich and industrialized nations to come together to help solve some global problems? Should that pay their own way? Should they not meet at all? Would the consequences of not meeting be greater than the price tag?

There are many planned protests and books and websites that are " G8 Alternatives ".

The protesters have much to protest about. The G8 epspouses Western values frequently. It is especially capitalistic in its approaches. It frequently neglects the groups it claims it is helping--the structure of global politics, or lack thereof, removes accountability and enforcement.

The agenda-setting and topics on climate change will surely spark a row with the US.

It's like asking someone to vote away their right to vote. Some of the biggest offenders, like with climate change controls, are the developing nations themselves. What will it take to get these nations, like the US, to comply with the attempted 'humanitarian intervention'.

All of this is happening the summer before I start a program in International and European Politics! Naturally, I am excited to see how each of these issues and others are resolved in the press and in the board rooms of Gleneagle.