ITQ goes to the G20: It's like a giant First Ministers meeting, really

By kadyomalley - Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 4:14 AM - 39 Comments

Note: This post will be updated throughout the day, so check back regularly for the latest bulletins.

7:24:41 AM

Welcome to Camp G20! Are your papers in order? They’d better be if you don’t want to be left standing by the road, staring plaintively at the departing courtesy buses. Or, to be precise, left standing in the parking lot by the train station where yet another bus deposited us a few minutes ago. We’ve not yet gone through the *real* clearance process — although our passports have been leafed through by determinedly chipper and friendly security types every fifteen feet or so. As soon as the lot ahead of us gets through the xray station, we’ll be heading off to the accreditation tent, but right now, we’re in a holding pattern. Thank goodness for jaffa cakes.

Continue…

ITQ goes to the G20: From protest theory to practice (burning effigies not included)

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 10:41 AM - 19 Comments

1:55:28 PM: The lunch break is over and the briefing session has, presumably, resumed, but those acquainted with ITQ and her allergy to sitting inside when there are events to be liveblogged has joined a small G20Voice breakaway sect, and is now playing hookey in The City, which is where The Protests are supposed to happen (or Happen). We’re a miscreant band of rebels from the G20Voice briefing, some of whom are dutifully photoblogging the annoyingly controlled chaos that is not so much breaking loose as politely introducing itself through the winding streets of the financial sector. It’s definitely a bigger and more diverse crowd than you’d find on the Hill at any given rally, but not exactly the blood in the streets that was billed. Has anyone coined the phrase “protest porn”? Because I think the leadup to this definitely applies. Anyway, we’ve now wandered off in search of a wily band of climate change protesters, which is also giving ITQ a rather unique introduction to London. Forget Big Ben – what does that sign say, and why is it upside down?

And yes, if I see a pro-G20 “Capitalism! Give it one more chance!” demonstration, I’ll totally stop by.

2:19:30 PM: As one of my fellow protest tourists just pointed out, using the megaphone to shout the phrase, “We have workshops!” is not the most effective street outreach strategy. Also, there was almost a confrontation between an angry man in a wheelchair and the climate change activists who have blocked off the street, but then he changed his mind, called off the blocade running and is currently smoking a cigarette.

2:24:16 PM: Off to try to catch a “horse charge”, which is exactly what it sounds like, and which will apparently be happening back at Bankers Are Evil headquarters. Every now and then we pass a cluster of suit-clad bankerish looking people huddled in alleys outside Hy’sian restaurants, who are clearly the target of the sprinkled pockets of carefully choreographed rage. They look just like Hill staffers watching a noontime protest — not angry, just wondering whether it’s worth going back to work. After living through the chaos of O-Day, I can empathize. Being inside the security cordon is so much less exciting than you’d think. Continue…

ITQ goes to the G20: So why are we gathered here today?

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 10:38 AM - 13 Comments

12:05:46 PM: Oh my. I’m — not sure what I’ve gotten myself into. Or rather, what we’ve all collectively gotten me into. I do hate ending sentences with a preposition, but I haven’t slept since yesterday morning, so cut me some slack. Anyway, after an adventurous wander through the ultrahigh security zone that is Westminster, I’ve made it to the briefing, just in time for the tail end of a presentation by Save The Children, which is quite insistent that we – the G20Voice bloggers – make sure that the leaders meeting tomorrow are reminded that the economic crisis isn’t the only one. I think that pretty much sums it up; as I’ve already noted, I was a bit late. Aside: Even for an O-Day survivor, it’s quite surreal outside this oasis of earnest, well-meaning calm that is the Methodist Central Hall. Everywhere you look, there are police – bobbies, I guess, but it feels so pretentious to call them that – strolling in pairs, huddled in clumps, standing at tube stations, alone but steadfast and waving at the people in the trains going by. Oh, and being accosted by rapidly-approaching-frazzled Canadian journalists asking timidly for directions, of course. Unfortunately, most of them weren’t able to help because, as the first one so besieged explained, they’ve been brought in from all over the country, so in most cases, aren’t any more well versed in Londonian urban geography than I am. Okay, so this event – the prebriefing – has, while I was typing the above missive, now transformed from presentation to roundtable. Well, it’s in the process of transforming; it’s a very consensus-keen group, so the question of whether to break off into table-sized chats or hold a room-wide plenary is being debated, in the politest possible sense of the word. Right now, however, someone whose name I didn’t so much miss as was never given at all – at least, not while I’ve been here – is waxing angrily eloquent about Germany, and its resistence to adopt the proposed financial regulatory system proposed by the other European countries. It’s an “overarching denial”, apparently. Anyway, the moderator throws it to the floor, and the guy sitting next to me eagerly seizes the microphone to agree with him: if there is insufficient stimulus for developing countries, the future is bleak for dealing with IMF loans and — saving the children. Oh, and apparently this session is being livestreamed – so if anyone out there is watching, you may get to see me — or at least the top of my head, bent as it is over this BlackBerry. I don’t think anyone in this room disagrees with the main point — that tomorrow’s meeting has to deal with the issues facing the developing world. “It’s going to be a mess,” another speaker predicts. Not sure if he means the conference or, you know, civilization as we know it. “We need signposts at this summit.” Continue…

ITQ goes to the G20: And amazingly, she only gets lost once on her way to the hotel!

By kadyomalley - Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 8:36 AM - 10 Comments

Of course, it was within two stations of her ultimate destination, and technically, she did it twice, but still.

Anyway, the liveblogger has landed, although I’m not sure how much liveblogging will be done today, since I’m spending most of it in a pre-summit briefing hosted by G20 Voice (provided I can find *that*, of course). I’ll definitely post an update on my pre-adventures sometime later today, but at the moment, internet access is a bit dodgy; I’m actually sending this post as an email to one of my fabulous colleagues back home.

Flight report: Middle seat. What more is there to say, really? Thank goodness there’s Sugar Free Red Bull available just steps from the baggage claim at Heathrow, that’s what. As you can imagine, I didn’t get much sleep, so I’m not sure how much of today’s session will penetrate my jetlagged brain, but I’ll do my best to take notes for y’all. Tomorrow, of course, is the conference itself, and the security clearance festivities get underway at the crack of 6am, but I’m sure I’ll find a way to get online between now and then with a lookahead report. Or more stories of getting lost in the tubes, depending on how today unfolds. Wish me luck – and, if you’re feeling especially benevolent, a sudden burst of mad navigational skills too.

ITQ goes to the G20: We're definitely not inside the Queensway anymore, Toto.

By kadyomalley - Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 10:03 AM - 37 Comments

Oh my goodness, you guys! I’m going to London! Today, even! I fly out from lovely YOW this afternoon, and should be landing at Heathrow at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning, whereupon I will likely immediately get hopelessly lost. (Just playing the odds here, people.)

Anyway, I fully intend to provide as constant coverage as I can of the various pre- and post-conference events, as well as as-close-to-live-as-possible-blogging of the meeting itself on Thursday, so check back regularly for updates starting — hmm, around 3am tomorrow, I guess. Stupid timezones. Oh well, it’ll be there when you wake up.

Fun fact: Did you know that Toto was originally intended to be a Boston Terrier, and was even drawn as such in several subsequent Oz books? Wikipedia says so,at least, so it must be true.

The lengths to which my colleagues will go to get rid of me for a few days …

By kadyomalley - Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 6:26 AM - 46 Comments

Hey, remember that whole send-ITQ-to-the-G20 campaign that Colleague Wells started  a few weeks back? Well, the results are in — and all I can say is: Wow.

You people are amazing. Remind me not to get on your bad side.

Anyway, I’ll fill you in on all the details of you can expect from ITQ’s first transatlantic adventure as soon as I get more information, but for the moment, let’s just pause and appreciate the whee! factor here – because this is going to be so much fun.