About
We are a group of Canadian cross-media activists concerned about the erosion of democracy in our Country. We volunteer our time to bring you this site.
Mission Statement
Our mainstream media has failed to report the real issues that have motivated thousands of people to protest the G8/G20 Summits. It has failed to critically address the intimidation, abuse and illegal actions of the police, which have resulted in the broad abuse of our civil rights.
The Real G8/G20: A Civil Society Response is a political and artistic response to this failure, and a showcase of diverse concerns about global economic, social and climate injustice.
It is a content-rich forum for citizen media: video, film, photography and editorial works by artists, activists, social justice organizations and independent media.
Www.therealg8g20.com refuses to let the mainstream media shape the story of the G8/G20 through a myopic lens. As a repository of the perspectives of those who filled the streets in protest, it provides a counter-reference through which history was made.
Join the conversation
Visit our “Submit Content” page:
therealg8g20.com/submit
LIZ MARSHALL – Project Lead / Curator for The Real G8/G20
Liz Marshall is a Canadian social-issue documentary filmmaker. For the last 15 years she has devoted herself to projects that focus on justice issues, such as: the right to water; HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa; the rights of girls; censorship; war-affected children; corporate globalization; sweatshop labour, and refugees. Liz’s most recent film Water On The Table, is a theatrical documentary featuring water-warrior Maude Barlow. Liz formed the group The Real G8/G20: A Civil Society Response as a result of feeling overwhelmed and distressed by the mainstream media coverage. She was proud to participate in the Canoe Flotilla G8 protest in Huntsville, and in the enormously mobilized G20 protest on the streets of Toronto. Liz is thrilled to work with a talented team to co-facilitate a hub for meaningful content.
MICHAEL NAPIORKOWSKI – Web Designer / Developer for the The Real G8/G20
Michael is a web designer, web developer, new media specialist and video hobbyist who began to notice the slow deterioration and erosion of active citizenship in himself and the people around him. He grew uneasy with the complacency, disregard and disinterest of people’s relationship to the political system and their concern for other humans, the earth and future generations. This led him to start becoming actively involved in different groups to help bring about social, environmental and political change. He uses his skills in web and video to communicate philosophical, social and political messages.
ANANYA OHRI – Curator for The Real G8/G20
Ananya is currently finishing her Master’s in Cinema and Media Studies at York University. Her research is based on participatory documentary processes ranging from community based video work in India and Canada, to cyber-community video creations that can be found on YouTube and on the Internet in general. For the last two years she has worked on several filmmaking projects for both Indian and Canadian NGOs, including UNICEF and Association for Women’s Rights and Development. Ananya is most interested in the relationship between media and democracy and is thrilled to be part of the Real G8/G20 project!
LISA SANTONATO – Social Media Marketer / Co-Curator for The Real G8/G20
Lisa Santonato is a writer and video producer with twenty years’ combined experience working in film, television, book and magazine publishing, and new media production. As Director of FTP Media, a communications media company, Lisa has been producing video online for clients in mainly the not-for-profit sectors since 1999. Having watched the G20 events unfold with outrage via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, Lisa commits her passion for democratic rights and values and her wealth of new media content development experience to The Real G8/G20.
ELizabeth Hartnett, Co-Curator for The Real G8/G20
Elizabeth Hartnett recently completed her Masters in Environmental Studies at York University, where she focused on environmental education and animal advocacy. Her research explores the animal rights movement and how it intersects with other social movements – particularly feminist, postcolonial, and environmental/local food movements. Elizabeth is inspired by the emergence of independent media and creative work illuminating the issues surrounding the G8/G20 protests, and is thrilled to be a part of this project!
Alexandra Byers, Co-Curator for The Real G8/G20
Alexandra Byers is a graduate of York University’s film production program. Her work as a cinematographer while attending York included the documentary Hope is in the Air, a look at the future of green energy in Canada. As a photographer, she has worked with War Child Canada and her independent coverage of the G8/G20 protests in Toronto was featured on CBC.ca. She remains a committed video and photojournalist and is happy to be joining the team here at The Real G8/G20.
ELIZABETH LITTLEJOHN – Co-Curator and Contributing Blogger for The Real G8/G20
Elizabeth Littlejohn is professor of Communication, Culture and Information Technology at Sheridan College. Her blog is Railroaded by Metrolinx. She noted that the constructive forums which occurred in the week prior to the G20, which included the People’s Summit and Shout Out for Global Justice, were completely ignored by the mainstream media. Elizabeth hopes that The Real G8/G20 will remedy the imbalance of this reportage, and enable the transformational sharing of information for social, environmental, and trade justice.
KIM ELLIOTT – Outreach Coordinator / Co-Curator for The Real G8/G20
Kim Elliott is publisher of rabble.ca – Canada’s national on-line source for alternative news, views, reviews, podcasts, videos and discussion.