Germany prepares for G8 protests

It is still several days away but protests against the G8 summit in Germany are gathering pace. Authorities in the city of Rostock are preparing for a massive demonstration, with organisers claiming up to 100,000 people could attend. In a measure of how stringent security will be for the conference police have reintroduced border controls that were previously relaxed under Europe’s Schengen agreement.

Global warming is one of the main themes of the meeting of the world’s leading industrial nations and environmentalists will account for a large portion of the demonstrators. But anti-poverty campaigners and other groups will also be expected to make their presence felt.

There have already been small protests outside Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office in Berlin and at the city’s Brandenburg Gate. US President George Bush has unveiled a new strategy on combating climate change which has been welcome be some European leaders. But critics say the US and its G8 partners need to do much more.

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