PSI holds a symposium addressing the main issues of the G8 Summit

PSI Symposium

Participants from the PSI Asia-Pacific Region and President Okabe (front row, left) join the demonstration.

  President Okabe, Chair of PSI-JC, gave the welcoming speech: “In the Asia Pacific region, an area of such remarkable economic growth, problems such as climate change, widening wealth gaps, rights of migrant workers, depletion of public services and increasing poverty levels are also growing. We must actively promote policy proposals to the Lake Toya G8 summit, as providers of public services,” commented Mr. Okabe.
  Next Mr. Svend Robinson, Policy Officer for Public Administration at the PSI Headquarters, gave the keynote address, stressing the importance of PSI’s role, as the only Global Union Federation to participate in the People’s Summit, to make the voices of public sector workers heard by the G8. Mr. Katsuhiko Sato, the PSI Secretary for the Asia-Pacific Region, speaking next, mentioned the importance of raising the union membership rate in this region and also addressing the problems faced by migrant and informal sector workers.
  Following the speeches, the floor was opened to exchange opinions and ideas and Ms. Kuini Lutua, General Secretary of the Fiji Nursing Association, commented that very often the victims of ‘development’ are women and that we should demand that the G8 leaders respect the Millennium Development Goals and work towards sustainable development.

  In the afternoon, symposium participants joined the rally and peace walk organized by NGOs.