Protesters strip off to call for finance tax

Thousands of protesters – some naked except for pointed Robin Hood caps – converged on the French Riviera yesterday, urging the Group of 20 leading economies to focus on spreading global largesse to people instead of saving banks and pleasing financial markets.

They marched through sunny Nice accompanied by drumbeats. “Peasants Before Finance,” “Life, not the Market” read banners they carried.

Scores of French and international activist groups with a range of missions – from a tax on financial transactions to better environmental protection and fairer labour laws – are organising protests around the summit of G20 leaders in Cannes on tomorrow and Friday.

While some of their goals overlap with that of the Occupy Wall Street movement that has spread to cities around North America and Europe, the protesters in Nice have not latched on to the Occupy name.

The protesters here planned their actions many months ago and are pushing agendas that they have long championed.

During yesterday’s march, some protesters dressed as clowns performed in front of police in anti-riot gear.

Activists from Oxfam took off their clothes but left on their Robin Hood hats as part of their push for a small tax on all international financial transactions that would be used for development aid to poorer nations.

Protesters are planning to march tomorrow on Monaco, known for its friendly tax laws, to urge an end to tax havens.

Security is a major concern. More than 12,000 police are deployed to maintain order, with police speedboats stationed in front of luxury yachts in the Riviera harbors.