The World From Berlin

G-8 Protesters Praised for Non-Violent Civil Disobedience

The peaceful blockades by anti G-8 demonstrators at the summit in Heiligendamm have allayed fears of mass violence stoked by last Saturday's riot in Rostock, and have won praise in the German media. Also, commentators say America is starting to budge on global warming.

Thousands of anti-G-8 protesters staged peaceful demonstrations near Heiligendamm on Wednesday.

So far, fears that the Rostock riots of last Saturday will be repeated during the G-8 summit have been proven wrong. Demonstrators have managed to advance deep into the no-go zone around the Heiligendamm summit venue and many got as close as the security fence around the hotel.

But despite blockades of roads and railway tracks, there has been no major outbreak of violence. The anti-G-8 movement has profited because public debate is now focusing on the G-8 issues rather than on security, write German commentators.

Left-wing Die Tageszeitung writes:

"The blockades of access routes to the Heiligendamm summit zone show how protest can work. There's a big difference between civil disobedience and stone-throwing at mass demonstrations.

"The surprisingly large and successful blockades of roads and railway tracks brought many positive images into the media of peaceful demonstrators and peaceful forms of protest. It prompted the question: Why are the people doing that? And it meant that the discussion moved back to the G-8 issues and away from security."

Mass circulation Bild newspaper implores the G-8 leaders to save the world:

"Nine powerful rulers decide today on the future of 6.6 billion people. About whether our earth will remain liveable or if we're going to continue destroying it.

"There's no room for vanity and self-righteousness at the negotiating table. It's not important who gives in at the end, who manages to get his way.

"The only important thing is that a real step forward is taken in the fight against the climate disaster. TODAY!

"Our children and grandchildren will one day ask us what we did to make sure the earth remains a wonderful planet? We can't make excuses, we must offer answers.

"Don't disappoint us!"

Business daily Financial Times Deutschland writes:

"Many summit opponents adhere to the simple logic that the big breakthrough always fails because of President Bush. But there are signs that the US will adopt a far more active leadership role in this area (climate change). No one should expect a radical change of course -- not even if the next president should be a Democrat. There's no sign of a strong presidential candidate who will make the ecological revolution a central campaign issue."

David Crossland, 3:30 p.m. CET