Protests held in Europe ahead of G20

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Source: CCTV.com | 03-29-2009 09:31

Tens of thousands of protestors have marched through European cities in the run-up to the G20 summit next week in London. They are demanding jobs, economic justice and environmental accountability.

Police officers keep order in front of a procession of demonstrators in London on  March 28, 2009. The Put People First group, an alliance of more than 150 unions, on  Saturday organized the demonstration,  calling on the leaders of the Group of 20 Countries (G20) to adopt sustainable  policies that can lead the world out of recession. The demonstrators also urged  the leaders to attach importance to global environment protection and to stablize the world political situation. The G20 leaders will meet in London on April 2.  (Xinhua/Zeng Yi)

In London on Saturday, more than 150 groups took part in a demonstration called the "Put People First" march. Police say around 35-thousand people made their way across the city toward Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park.

Protest organizers say they want leaders from the world's top 20 economies to adopt a more transparent and democratic economic recovery plan.

A Socialist Worker Party member said the G20 had the wrong priority.

Hannah Sell, Member of Socialist Worker Party said "They are saying there will be 90 million people pushed into absolute poverty internationally as a result of this recession and the leaders of the G20 are bailing out the banks, saving the finance system but there is nothing effective being done for ordinary people."