A coalition of anti-globalization groups will be taking its message on the road to 11 Alberta communities.
"It's for people who aren't necessarily planning or able to get down to the protests or get down to the conference in Calgary during the G-8," said Ricardo Acuna, executive director of the Parkland Institute, a left-leaning public policy group based at the University of Alberta and one of the sponsors.
Acuna said the talks will try to highlight how the global economic issues of the
G-8 can affect people on the local level for things such as livestock operations.
Organizers want to get the message out before it gets lost in protests surrounding the June 26-27 summit of the leaders of the world's eight most powerful nations in Kananaskis. "We want to take the opportunity now before all of this comes to a boil and just discuss these things."
While the groups would like their audience to be aware of the negative consequences of globalization, Acuna said there is more to their message.
"Groups tend to highlight the negative and we want to get some discussion going about what else is there," he said. "Not a kind of fatalistic, pessimistic approach, but highlighting there are alternatives. And the local community level is a good place to start."
The two speakers will be Sarah Kerr, a community development worker who specializes in sustainable community issues and Pam Foster, co-ordinator of the Halifax Initiative, in favour of reforms to the international financial system.
The other sponsor is the Alberta Council for Global Co-operation, a coalition of socially-oriented non-governmental organizations.
G-8 ROAD SHOW ITINERARY
Talking G-8: The Travelling Road Show stops in the following Alberta communities:
- Grande Prairie
Sat., May 25. Room D208, Grande Prairie Regional College. Workshop 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Talk 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Edmonton
Sun., May 26. International Centre, 172 HUB Mall, University of Alberta. 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Fort McMurray
Mon., May 27. MacDonald Island Pavilion. 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
- St. Paul
Tues., May 28. St. Paul Regional high school. 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
- Red Deer
Sun., June 2. Red Deer and District Museum, Stewart Room. Workshop
1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Talk 7 p.m.-9p.m.
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