UNITED KINGDOM: THOUSANDS OF PROTESTORS IN BIRMINGHAM FORM HUGE HUMAN CHAIN TO CALL ON G8 SUMMIT LEADERS TO CANCEL THIRD WORLD DEBT

Record ID: 337686

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: THOUSANDS OF PROTESTORS IN BIRMINGHAM FORM HUGE HUMAN CHAIN TO CALL ON G8 SUMMIT LEADERS TO CANCEL THIRD WORLD DEBT
  • Date: 16th May 1998
  • Summary: BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 16, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS DEMONSTRATORS MAKING THEIR WAY TO CTIY CENTRE (4 SHOTS) 0.23 2. VARIOUS REVEREND DR. JENNI PARSONS PADDLING CORACLE IN CANAL/PEOPLE APPLAUDING (4 SHOT) 0.52 3. TILT UP/CU CHILDREN WATCHING/BANNER SAYING 'COTTERIDGE CHURCH BREAK THE CHAIN (2 SHOTS) 0.59 4. SCU PARSONS SAYING WHY SHE IS TAKING PART IN THE PROTEST (ENGLISH) 1.13 5. TOP SHOT OF DEMONSTRATORS MASSED IN CITY CENTRE 1.24 6. VARIOUS DEMONSTRATORS STANDING IN LINE, HOLDING HANDS, SINGING (3 SHOTS) 1.59 7. SV/SCU BRITISH MINISTER FOR OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT, AND LOCAL MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, CLARE SHORT SAYING SHE'S GLAD THE DEMONSTRATORS ARE HERE, THEY HAVE PUSHED THE ISSUE OF THIRD WORLD DEBT UP THE AGENDA OF THE SUMMIT (ENGLISH)/CAMERAMEN (3 SHOTS) 2.31 8. PAN/SV MORE OF PROTESTERS HOLDING HANDS (2 SHOTS) 2.50 9. LV PART OF HUMAN CHAIN OVER PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE 2.56 10. SV'S GIRLS CHANTING, BLOWING WHISTLES (2 SHOTS) 3.05 11. SLV PEOPLE JOINING CHAIN ACROSS ROAD 3.13 12. CU WOMAN FROM ZIMBABWE SAYING PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT, LET'S HOPE THEY ARE LISTENING ON THEIR RETREAT (ENGLISH) 3.22 13. CU GIRL SAYING: CANCEL THE DEBT, IT'S VERY VERY EASY (ENGLISH) 3.28 14. SCU NUN SAYING: THERE'S GREAT JOY HERE, YET THERE'S A GREAT MESSAGE TO DELIVER AS WELL (ENGISH) 3.37 15. TRACK/ZOOM IN MORE OF HUMAN CHAIN (2 SHOTS) 4.06 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st May 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City:
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Reuters ID: LVA8RGRQPQEKYO744HGQJC0I4201
  • Story Text: Blowing whistles and banging drums, thousands of protesters have gathered in Birmingham to form a huge human chain to press home a call on world leaders to cancel Third World debt.

    Tens of thousands of people formed a human chain around the main conference centre in the central English city of Birmingham on Saturday (May 16) where the leaders of the Group of Eight major countries are holding their annual summit.

    But the centre was empty on Saturday afternoon.

    The presidents and prime ministers were spending most of the day outside Birmingham at a stately home away from the prying eyes of the media.

    In what organisers of the chain said was a last-minute climbdown, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has agreed to meet campaigners for debt relief on his return from the country house retreat.

    Some of the demonstrators began their pilgrimage to Birmingham to join the chain several days ago, travelling by foot and bicycle from all corners of Britain.

    A woman priest, Reverend Dr Jenni Parsons paddled to the scene along the city's canal network in a replica of an ancient coracle boat.

    Britain's international development secretary, Clare Short, paid tribute to the demonstrators for raising awareness of the importance of debt relief for developing countries.

    Leaders of the Group of Eight -- the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia -- were due to issue a statement of support for the aims of Jubilee 2000, the group organising the demonstration.

    And at their retreat, the leaders were putting the finishing touches to a plan that British officials hope will speed up debt relief for nearly 30 countries, including some such as Rwanda and Liberia that bear the scars of recent conflicts.
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