G8

What exactly is the G8 Summit? We hear a lot about how people come from all over the world to demonstrate while it is meeting, but very few people know what it is or what its function is.

The Group of Eight (G8) started in the 1970s, as the Group of Six (G6), which was a study group to tackle the big issues facing the countries with the largest economies in the world, like the United States.

As time has gone on, the "Group" has worked its way up to a total of eight participating countries, with the Russian Federation being its newest member.

As with its genesis, the G8 summits are meant to tackle the contemporary major issues facing the economic prosperity of the industrialized world. Many people, hence the protesters, believe the G8 summits leave out important issues, like poverty in Africa.

With the upcoming G8 summit, being held this year in Heiligendamm, Mecklenberg-Vorpommern, Germany, on June 6-8, it is no wonder that we are already hearing about mass demonstrations that have led to many injuries, of both protesters and police.

Perhaps, the Germans should use some of their strong-armed tactics, for which they are infamous, to quell the demonstrations. I am sure such tactics would come with George W. Bush's seal of approval, considering he likes peace-and-quiet.