Global Activists on Economic Summit

As the G-20 convenes in Washington, D.C. this weekend to discuss the global financial system, grassroots activists working on poverty and other issues will be in D.C. and available for interviews.

Many are organizing protests and educational events in the coming days. Events in D.C. this weekend are listed online.

The following activists just arrived in the U.S. and will be here until early next week:

LIDY NACPIL
NJOKI NJEHU
Based in the Philippines, Nacpil is coordinator of the Jubilee South-Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development. Njehu is co-coordinator of Africa Jubilee South, based in Nairobi, Kenya. The Jubilee movement calls for the canceling of onerous debt that poor nations owe to major Western banks and institutions like the International Monetary Fund.

Nacpil said today: "The financial crisis has certainly had a detrimental impact on many in the U.S. and Europe, but it's important to see that the current financial system has been devastating to many around the world and fundamental changes are needed."

KUMI NAIDOO
Based in South Africa, Naidoo is co-chair of the Global Call for Action Against Poverty. He said today: "We need to see some moral courage from our leaders now. There is a storm ahead for millions of people already living in abject poverty. Servicing debts in the current climate is crippling fragile economies, leading to increased hunger, child labor as well as more domestic and community violence. We need to see the same urgency now that leaders demonstrated when it came to rescuing the banks just weeks ago."

Scores of nonprofit groups have signed a statement on the "Global Summit" and a statement outlining "New Principles and Rules to Build an Economic System that Works for People and the Planet." See Choike, an extensive portal on Global South civil societies.