G8 2005: The Booze Connection

As UK activists gear up for next year's G8 summit, the venue turns out to be owned by the producers of Smirnoff and Guinness.

The Gleneagles hotel in Perthshire, known for its exclusive golf courses, has been declared as the venue for next year's G8 summit. Corporate Watch can now reveal that Gleneagles Hotels Ltd. is owned by the massive UK multinational, Diageo PLC, the “world's leading premium drinks business”. Formed by a merger of Grand Met and Guinness in 1997, the corporation produces Smirnoff, Johnny Walker, Guinness, Baileys, J&B and Cuervo amongst many other alcoholic brands. Until recently they also owned Pillsbury and Burger King, and their current CEO, Paul Walsh, used to be director of the latter operation. In 2002-3 Diageo's turnover amounted to £9.4 billion, with operating profits of just over £2 billion. Directors’ emoluments for the year were £3 million. Corporate Watch will be working on a more extended profile of Diageo in the coming weeks. For the meantime, see http://www.diageo.com for the corporation's own material, including details on strategic marketing in Africa and the promotion of “responsible drinking” education as part of their cuddly corporate citizenship agenda.

This year's G8 summit recently took place at the secluded resort of Sea Island, Georgia. Amid heavy policing, tear gas and razor-wire, activists marched against the costs of the Iraq war, performed environmental remediation for toxic soil, cleaned and repaired run-down homes, and shared stories of visits with Palestinian families and their struggle to overcome Israeli occupation. Approximately 400 people representing over 35 different groups participated throughout the week long activities. Here in the UK, activists took action in solidarity with the protesters across the pond. In Cardiff, a section of the main shopping street was reclaimed by protesters for the afternoon. In Nottingham a “critical mass” bike ride around the city was followed, the next day, by a blockade of the oil terminal at Colwick. In Worthing, a new autonomous social centre named “23Topia” was opened in an abandoned nightclub, while Norwich and Ipswich anarchists staged protests as well as an “anti-G8 rebel football” match. In Cambridge there was a protest followed by a well-attended public forum. These and other groups are organising as part of the Dissent! network, which links anti-authoritarians around the country. Dissent! is planning a series of awareness raising events through the year and has been calling for both local and international participation.

See http://www.dissent.org.uk

ACTIVISTS DEFY MUGABE REGIME

Amid fierce political repression, an exciting civil resistance movement is gaining strength in Zimbabwe.

A bright yellow handprint emblazoned with the letter Z is appearing overnight on walls, bus stations and billboards across the country. Thousands of condoms and CDs are being distributed with the same symbol, and the invitation to “Get up! Stand Up!”. Newsletters are left anonymously in public places, calling Zimbabweans to “take courage and defy any person, state authority, organisation or business that infringes the basic rights of you, your family and your loved ones”.

The force behind these messages is Zvakwana, an underground group that intends to create space for freedom of movement and expression in Zimbabwe through acts that defy the repressive Mugabe regime. The name is vernacular for “enough is enough!”, echoing the Zapatistas’ slogan “Ya basta!”. The movement describes its objective as achieving “a system of governance that will remove the propensity for human rights abuses, and ensure that the rights of the individual are upheld regardless of gender, religion, race, sexual orientation or political persuasion”. Operating a website and email newsletter to spread information and encourage debate, Zvakwana also has an activist wing that engages in non-violent actions. The website also has tips for activists, including guidelines for civil disobedience and dealing with riot police. Zvakwana’s continuous campaigning and non-violent actions, and its independence from any political party, has led to its growing popularity. In an attempt to crack down on the movement, authorities have been raiding offices and houses, monitoring emails, and interrogating opposition politicians, journalists and musicians. But Zvakwana continues to grow, on the web and in the streets, reigniting the hope for democratic renewal in the country.
To find out more visit http://www.zvakwana.org and http://www.sokwanele.com