Maryland: Occupy The G8

For a summary of events, see below. For more information, see OccupyG8-2012.org, OccupyG8Thurmont.net, or Occupy G8 Peoples Summit.

via Occupy G8 Thurmont:

Why we are protesting the G8 Summit:
According to Wikipedia, G8 consists of representatives of the governments of the 8 countries with the largest Gross Domestic Product (GPD), totaling the majority of the world’s GDP. They are listed as: The USA, European Union, UK, France, Japan, Russia, Canada, and Italy. Members of G20 will also be there as observers (including China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia, etc.) G8 will meet at Camp David near Thurmont, Maryland on May 18 and 19. A NATO summit will take place the next two days, May 20 and 21, in Chicago, where large demonstrations are planned. Some Marylanders will be carpooling from Frederick to Chicago, leaving Saturday night, May 19. The G8 summit was moved from Chicago to Camp David because of threatened protests in Chicago.

According to the G8 Information Center, G8’s agenda includes:

• nuclear policy
• Arabic fossil fuels
• agribusiness
• NATO’s role in Afghanistan.

We propose a Peoples’ 99% Agenda against the imperialist (corporate-dictated) agenda. We propose that protesters including the Occupy movement go to Thurmont, Maryland, and demonstrate our concerns regarding nuclear policy, energy policy, resource wars, agribusiness, the 1% corporate dictatorship, and other international issues.

Instead of the G8 agenda, we suggest a Peoples’ 99% Agenda:

• universal nuclear disarmament
• label all GMO food (90% of corn and soy beans)
• save the global climate
• justice for developing countries
• international banking reform for the 99%
• geothermal, solar, wind, conservation, efficiency

via October2011.org:

People Organize to Protest G8, Present Alternative Economic View

The G8 Economic Summit fled Chicago to avoid protest, but organizers from multiple-Occupy’s and advocacy groups have organized several events to make sure the people’s voices are heard.

October2011/OccupyWashingtonDC.org has organized an Occupy G8 People’s Summit that will examine how to build a sustainable, democratized economy from the bottom up; the impact of the wealth divide on people’s well-being and on policy creation; and alternative economic structures that create a more democratic, sustainable economy. The event, which will be held in the Frederick Public Library from 10 to 2 on Friday, May 18th will feature the voices of the 99% along with experts on the Robin Hood Tax, food, water and energy issues, trade agreements, the wealth divide and a democratized economy. You can see the full schedule and details on the website of our partner organization, Its Our Economy.

Occupy Frederick is organizing events in Frederick, Maryland, fifteen minutes from Camp David. After the Summit people will march through downtown Frederick and will hold a “Counter-G8 Community Bloc Party” on Saturday, May 19th from 11 AM to 9 PM in Baker Park (band shell side) near 2nd and N. Bentz. The event is inclusive of all ages for radicals and residents alike and will include live music, workshops, speakers, face painting and a truly free market. You can see the details here.

Occupy Baltimore is organizing legal, non-violent protests on the public sidewalks in Thurmont, MD on Friday and Saturday (May 18th and 19th) from 8 AM until sundown on both days. People are urged to bring signs, banners, folding chairs, food and drink. Overnight camping is available nearby. Thurmont is located just a few minutes from Camp David off of Route 15. You can get details here.

Law enforcement has been very active in preparing for our actions. Authorities took the uncommon step of closing Cunningham Falls State Park at the request of the Secret Service. The Baltimore Sun described this as “highly unusual and may be without precedent.” In addition, designated First Amendment areas that had been open for previous summits at Camp David have also been closed.

Please join us at these events. The whole world will be watching. We need to show the G8 and the world that we want an economy for the people, built from the bottom up not from the top down and that is democratic, sustainable and fair.

In Solidarity

October2011.org/
OccupyWashington, DC

P.S. If you’d like to contribute to these efforts, donate here.