First, I want to mention the 12 km long fence in Heiligendamm. The whole area of the hotel where the politicians meet is surrounded by a high fence. This fence costs over 11 million Euros and it looks like a prison to most inhabitants. This expensive fence will be pulled down after the G8 summit. There are only two passages: one for pedestrians und cyclists and another for cars.
From May, 30 till June, 9 the historical train with a steam engine “Molli´´ cannot be used by the public, because it will be a shuttle train for journalists between Heiligendamm and Kühlungsborn. There will be buses as a substitute for the train, but without stops in Heiligendamm. I could imagine that “Molli´´ is an attractive sight for tourists, so Heiligendamm could lose tourists and money during that time. From June, 3 the harbour near Heiligendamm will also be closed for the public, so that cyclists, walkers and beach visitors have to expect obstacles on their tours.
From June, 3 6 p.m. till June, 9 6 p.m. there will be a “come-in and sail-out ban” in the harbour of Kühlungsborn. At this time fishermen, for example, are not allowed to sail out to work so they won’t earn any money. There cannot be any sightseeing tours by ship either, so another attraction for tourists will be missing. Yachtsmen should inform themselves where and when they are allowed to sail out.
You have to expect traffic restrictions in Kühlungsborn from May, 30 on because of the closure of the safety-fence around Heiligendamm. You have to take the B105 through Reddelich/Staffenshagen/Wittenbeck and Kröpelin if you want to come to Heiligendamm. Police officers announced temporary controls on the motorways A19, A20 and in Kühlungsborn.
written by A. O., 22.05.2007
P(oor)8 – a special kind of protest against G8
June 1, 2007
People do not lend anybody their ear, so the biggest problem is how to inform them about the G8 summit and possible negative aspects connected with it. Some famous people have thought about catching the public’s attention with the help of a special event – the idea of the P8 concert was born. The place was easy to find… Rostock is suitable and very close to Heiligendamm where the summit will take place.
This concert is against poverty. Its slogan is “Music & Messages”. Famous artist try to inform people about poverty in poor countries. There are a lot of musicians who support this event such as Bono, Herbert Grönemeyer, Die Fantastischen Vier, Die Toten Hosen, Seeed, Silbermond, 2-Raumwohnung and Sportfreunde Stiller. All these artists will perform some of their songs to get the attention of the people.
The “Poor8” concert is a kind of protest against the G8 summit. It is just a peaceful demonstration for better development policies of the rich industrialized countries. It will take place on June 7th 2007 in the IGA-park in Rostock Lütten-Klein.
The price for the tickets is very low, because you just have to pay the tax for the advance sales. For this reason, many people of all social strata can be reached. It is probably one of the biggest and most important cultural events which have taken place in this area. This is why newspapers named the P8 concert “Woodstock in Rostock” and all big radio stations will report about this event, too.
Famous faces and music are the best ways to catch the attention of the people. Also, young men and women will listen to them and nobody will look away any more.
written by A.N., 22.05.2007
Do not forget them!
June 1, 2007
Helpful development policies could be so easy. For bridging the gap between global poverty and rich countries it is necessary to enable people in developing countries to have access to education. Only three percent of the budget of the global armaments industry are needed to guarantee education for the 150 million children without a chance to go to school.
Development policies in Africa, especially in Zimbabwe or Darfur, two of the most forgotten countries, has nothing to do with blind good-natured attitudes of industrial countries. It must be the aim of the rich part of the world to support the poor states because we live in one world. Third-world countries like Zimbabwe are dependent on foreign support. If the eight richest countries and governments do not believe in this increasing duty, poverty-states will be alone in their hopeless hell, as for example the citizens of Zimbabwe.
Since 1980 Robert Mugabe, the aged “democratic president” of Zimbabwe, has commited crimes against humanity to Zimbabwe’s people. “Zimbabwe – Africa´s Paradise” – this slogan is history. In Zimbabwe there is a high rate of “death by starvation”, an unemployment rate of nearly 70 % and an inflation rate of 1700 (!) percent. It means that a majority of the country’s population is not able to buy products for daily life in a bankrupt and corrupt state. The fact that it is an ominous police state is another reason for Zimbabwe’s miserable situation. Zimbabwe is nearly completely isolated from global flows of money, contacts and information, despite the considerable harvests of cereal. Mugabe has created a police state. Every tenth citizen works for the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), in which people observe their own neighbours. Mugabe is a tyrant who also uses violence to destroy political opposition in order to secure his position.
People in Africa are dependent on foreign support like never before: “Unterstützt uns, damit wir wieder zu Kräften kommen, um für die Demokratie zu kämpfen!” (Mrs. Stevenson – courageous member of Zimbabwe’s political opposition). In my opinion, education is an essential precondition for a successful independent future of Third World countries. What the G8 have to do is to support courageous members of political and non-political organisations instead of governments which finance terrorism against their own people.
(sources: “Beten für den Tod” in: Zeit, 03.05.2007, S.10; Unicef report 1/2007)
written by F.T., 22.05.2007
