UnPrecedented Protest Potential

As the global economic downturn gathers pace, police in the UK say protesters are planning in an "unprecedented" way for London's G20 summit next week. But who are those taking to the streets and what do they want?

The coming together of the world's biggest economic powers has always attracted vocal and sometimes violent demonstrations.

But this year there are fears that anger over the recession could make next week's G20 meeting of the world's most powerful countries the focus for mass protest on a scale not seen for some time.

Protest expert Professor George McKay, of the University of Salford, says the economic crisis has served to boost support for such street protests this year because it has made criticising capitalism acceptable again - something that had all but disappeared in the 1980s and 90s.

"Here we are at an absolutely pivotal point," he says. "That, I think, will add to a new level of angry energy."

...FULL BBC STORY HERE...

...G20 MELTDOWN...