Toronto’s Communities Prepare for the G8 and G20 Summits

The leaders of the G20 countries, as well as their central bank governors, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the European Union (EU) will be in Toronto on June 26-27, 2010. Nearly 20,000 delegates, 15,000 armed police and 5,000 media personnel will descend on Toronto to make it a very hot June weekend indeed. Gay Pride festivities have been moved but visitors to the city will be here, as will thousands of protestors, activists and delegates. The real question is: will Toronto's residents and long-term social movements join them?

For Sabrina Gopaul, an organizer with LIFEmovement and Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty, the answer is clear: “Our people are hungry, they are jobless, we have few schools and lesser social services – all these attacks are a direct result of the G20 policies and we will protest against them. We have real community solutions on how to take care of each other, have good food, create economic opportunities and we will make sure that those are seen, heard and shared".'

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