Protests took place yesterday on the eve of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit, which began today in Los Cabos, in the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Yesterday, thousands of representatives from different organizations marched through Mexico City to express their opposition to the G20 conference and the economic policies it represents.
Protestors denounced the role of neoliberal policies in the creation of social inequality and poverty throughout the world. Many citizens also used the march to express their rejection of current Mexican President Felipe Calderón, pointing to the rise in unemployment and the thousands of deaths due to organized crime that have taken place during his presidential term.
Another march of around 500 protestors took place in La Paz, which has become the headquarters for an international meeting of organizations and individuals determined to show their opposition to the economic, environmental, and social policies upheld by the G20. The Group of 20, the leaders of the most important industrialised and emerging economies, are meeting at a luxury beach resort in Los Cabos to discuss the most recent financial crisis. The majority of activists and organizations dedicated to opposing G20 policies were not allowed into Los Cabos due to security regulations established for the conference, but decided to carry out peaceful protests, forums, and workshops in the city of La Paz.
Some larger civil society organizations like Oxfam have expressed their concerns with the G20 to the press and in meetings with officials from participating governments. In an interview with CNN, Director of Oxfam Mexico Carlos Zarco asked that conference leaders think not only about how to rescue Greece and Spain, but to also think about long-term economic solutions that could help combat poverty in developing countries.
