Before anyone knew it, G8 summits have become more politically pointed than the United Nations meetings. As the club of the richest and most powerful, they have naturally become a target -- increasingly protected -- of those fighting globalisation as practised by the mighty. But G8 has become also the G8-plus-five, with China, India, South Africa, Brazil and Mexico now regular and increasingly influential guests from the developing world. Before anyone knew it also, the protests against the eight of the G8 have worked; the agenda is not exclusively rich any more. Development, Africa, economic rights, human rights have all expanded across the conference tables.

G8 Summit 2009
July 8-10 L'Aquila - Italy