WDM heads off to Rostock

In a few hours myself (Tamsyn in the blue t-shirt below) and Leila(in the pink) will be rushing for the Eurostar and making the overnight train journey to Rostock in Germany to take part in the counter-activities that are happening during the G8 summit this week - we will be camping in the main campsite with thousands of activists from all around the world. A World Development Movement (WDM) flag will be flying from our tent and we plan to meet up with other WDM activists while we are there. Our experiences/perceptions will hopefully be captured in this blog.

There is an alternative summit running from 6-8 June, with over 120 different workshops and the World Development Movement plans to have a strong presence there. We have co-organised the only water debate at the conference, where we will create space to talk about the problems but also concrete solutions, and how to build up the movement calling for public sector reform. Climate change is also the hot topic and there are a number of workshops planned. We will be speaking about why climate change is a justice issue and also investigating ways that we can build and strengthen the global movement.

There will be ample opportunity to share ideas, take part in demonstations and network with others. There are also blocades and direct action activities planned. Whilst WDM will not be taking part in these directly we will be at the G8 as part of the movement that is there to challenge the legitimacy of this unelected body.

Apart from a million and one things we still have to do I also need to try and squeeze some time to learn a few words of German which I embarrassingly weak in. Another job for the train journey I think!