G20 cheat sheet

[AdamSmith]

Everything you always wanted to know about the G20 meeting but were afraid to ask.

Those key G20 questions answered

The big issue is: can they agree a plan to rebuild the world economy? But there are other pressing questions: Who should we be watching? What's in the Downing St goodie bag? And who's the new Carla Bruni?

1. Why 20?

Um, it's not. In a nutshell, Gordon Brown has invited his fellow G20 members (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the US and whoever happens to hold the rotating EU presidency, currently the Czechs), plus Spain, the Netherlands, the respective chairs of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the African Union Commission, and the president of the EU Commission. Not to forget, of course, the heads of the UN, World Bank and International Monetary Fund. By my reckoning, that makes 29 if you include the hosts (that's us). The G20's regular meetings are for finance ministers and central bankers from what are described as "systemically important industrialised and developing economies"; this one is for the leaders of those economies because the world's finances, in case you hadn't noticed, are in something of a state.

JH

2. Why Spain?

That's a very good question. Ditto, the Netherlands. Certainly, Spain now has a pretty serious economy (the world's eighth biggest, in fact) but, as something of a latecomer to both democracy and the membership of major international institutions, it is not part of the G20. What seems to have happened is that when the first big we're-in-meltdown-what-are-we-going-to-do-about-it jamboree was held in Washington late last year, France found itself with two seats (as a G20 member, and as then president of the EU). Spain and the Netherlands lobbied furiously for the spare one, and Spain won. Then the Netherlands sulked, and because it has a financial sector out of all proportion to its size, everyone took pity. And, of course, it was only fair that everyone who attended the Washington party should get an invite to this one. So there you are.

JH

3. How many Gs are there anyway?

If a country wants to get ahead in the modern world economy, it must follow two cast-iron rules. It has to band together with other like-minded nations, who should then refer to themselves by a number prefixed with the letter G (standing for group). The G20 is meant to be a supercharged version of the G8 - which is the group of seven richest nations with an extra place set for Russia. Until the mid-80s, economic power was divvied up between Britain, France, Germany, Japan and America, otherwise known as the G5. And when they were in the mood to talk to a few more European states, that club was naturally called the G10. The number after the G doesn't have to be accurate. So the G77 group, which represents developing nations at the UN, has 130 members. But there are three golden principles. First, these groups only matter if there is a crisis or if they have a trade grievance to voice. Second, the fact that there are so many of them is evidence that we need a fairer system of running the world economy. And third, the lower the number after the G, the more important it is. The most effective clubs have a few powerful members who can agree a joint policy fast. Some might argue that the most effective group would consist only of America and China. They call it the G2.

AC

4. Who will the world be watching?

Barack Obama, of course. "We're ready to lead," he has said, but is the rest of the world willing to follow? The other traditional headline-grabbers are France's Nicolas Sarkozy, the ultimate Little Big Man and as heavy a hitter internationally as he is loathed and despised domestically; Germany's Angela Merkel, who represents the biggest economy in Europe and who is not entirely ecstatic about the Brown/Obama stimulus plan (Germans with memories of Weimar have an understandable reluctance to engage with proposals for unsecured spending), and may well become the focus of opposition to it; and, at a stretch, our very own Gordon Brown, whose baby (in a sense) this whole extravaganza is. Russia is always a crowd-puller too, but what role it ends up playing depends what mood it is in. The Russians, you see, thought they were going to be ruling the world by now, but then the oil price collapsed.

JH

5. OK, but who REALLY matters?

Brazil. The future. Huge emerging economy, and, in President Lula, a hugely confident leader who is not about to be told what's what by some guy in a suit. China, of course: the next superpower of the 21st century, or an undemocratic disaster waiting to happen (many observers fear that if China's economy falters, the power of the protesting poverty-stricken masses may cause the place to implode). Most importantly for now, though, China is the world's banker, and the US economy in particular is basically running on Chinese-financed debt. Japan, the dread spectre, will be influential: it has had 10 years' experience of what the rest of us are now going through. South Korea, a vibrant Asian economy; and Turkey, one of the great coming powers, at the crossroads of pretty much everything. Plus Saudi Arabia, of course: let's have those petro-dollars, guys! Bring on the sovereign wealth funds!

JH

6. And who's only along for the free snacks?

Argentina: not a great deal of traction as far as the global economy goes. Australia: Kevin Rudd's centre-left politics are a relief from those of his predecessor, but he is widely seen as just a wee bit conventional (some might say nerdy). Canada: nice, but irrelevant. India: another vast emerging economy, but one that somehow never quite fulfils its promise; too many problems and an octogenarian leadership. Indonesia: the world's largest Muslim country, so kind of had to be there really. Italy: all sizzle, no steak. Mexico: too many (drug) problems at home. The Netherlands: who? South Africa: potentially important, but the jury's still out on where it's heading. Spain: fell out with Bush after pulling troops out of Iraq, and now with Obama after announcing withdrawal from Kosovo too.

JH

7. Why do those US Secret Service agents always wear shades?

First, they don't always, and second, to protect their eyes from the sun's glare, which is the explanation the Secret Service gives on its website. The third reason is that a key part of the job is scanning the crowd for anomalies - the expressionless stare amid a sea of cheering spectators, or the overexcited member of an otherwise attentive audience - so it doesn't hurt that would-be attackers can't quite tell in which direction the agents are looking. Shades might make them more identifiable, but it's a misconception that they're trying to go unnoticed: if they were, do you think there'd be such a preponderance of burly men with buzz-cuts in near-identical suits and ill-concealed earpieces? If presidential protection were invisible, a stupid assassin might imagine there wasn't any, while a rational one might disregard it as an unknowable risk. In either case, they'd be more likely to shoot. Far better to foster the panicky half-awareness that the crowd is seething with agents ready to pounce.

OB

8. Why is Obama flying to Stansted?

"When President Bush flew to Heathrow a few years ago," says a Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman, "it was a bit of nightmare, and caused lots of disruption to other flights." So the 44th President of the US will descend into Essex aboard US presidential jet Air Force One. Why not RAF Northolt? "Five airports around London were considered but, for security reasons, we won't explain why Stansted was chosen." Won't this disrupt all the Ryanair passengers flying to grim-sounding places for 50p return? "No it won't," says a Stansted spokesman, "because he won't arrive at the main terminal." Obama will land at Stansted's allegedly executive Harrods terminal, whose facilities include a shop selling Harrods teddy bears which, unless we underestimate Obama, he won't be buying for Malia and Sasha.

SJ

9. How much kit and personnel is the US president bringing?

Air Force One has a gym, electronic defence units and shielding to protect it from nuclear blasts. At Stansted, Obama will transfer to his helicopter Marine One, which has flares and anti-missile countermeasures to deal with heat-seeking and radar-guided missiles. Obama will travel around London aboard Cadillac One, which does eight miles to the gallon and is described as "a panic room on wheels". It is equipped with shotguns, tear gas, a night-vision camera and bags of Obama's blood (group AB). Among the 500 or so US personnel who will travel with the president are nurses and surgeons. The lengths people go to to avoid NHS treatment. Other staff include security agents and Obama's personal aide Reggie Love, who will hand the president his (ideally bomb-free) basketball each morning so he can shoot hoops.

SJ

10. And where will he be staying?

Not at the Ritz, but at Winfield House, the official residence of the US Ambassador to the Court of St James's. Hidden behind 15ft iron gates, with a garden second only in size to that of Buckingham Palace, the house itself is a real slice of Americana in London. It might have been designed by a British architect, Leonard Rome Guthrie [1880-1958], on the site of one of John Nash's original eight grand villas around Regent's Park, but its mid-1930s, neo-Georgian style speaks Washington DC loud and clear. This isn't surprising, for the house was built for the American society heiress Barbara Hutton, who had inherited about $40m from her grandfather, Frank Winfield Woolworth. Yes, the Woolworth of one-time high-street fame. After Hutton left when war broke out in 1939, the house served as an RAF recruiting station. She then sold it for a dollar to the US government at the end of the war. Since then, the house, laden with gifts of antique furnishings, paintings, exotic chandeliers and restored Chinese Regency silk wallpaper and oak panelling, has been redecorated several times. Today, its opulent style oozes English country-house charm as seen through the eyes of a Hollywood set designer.

JG

11. Why is Obama codenamed 'Renegade'?

Sometimes, it's hard to escape the conclusion that the men and women surrounding the president are as excited by the coolness of the job as any ordinary fan of The West Wing or 24. How else to explain the Secret Service codenames? Once, they were a precaution against radio eavesdropping, but these days, no agency in the world has better access to encryption technologies - which is partly why nobody tries too hard to stop the codenames leaking out. Obama was given some say in choosing his codename: it had to be clearly distinguishable in radio communications, and all the first family's names had to begin with the letter R. "Renegade" fits Obama's message of change, though its outlaw connotations makes it an eyebrow-raising choice; more awkwardly still, it comes from an old Spanish word meaning a Christian who converts to Islam. Michelle Obama, more soothingly, is Renaissance, Malia is Radiance, and Sasha is Rosebud. John McCain opted for Phoenix - combining loyalty to Arizona with a message of Republican rebirth - while his wife, oddly, was Parasol. (Al Gore liked to joke that he was so boring, his codename was "Al Gore", though, in fact, it was Sawhorse, and later Sundance.) Sarah and Todd Palin went respectively for Denali, after an Alaskan mountain, and Driller, surely the only example of a codename embodying a campaign pledge.

OB

12. What will Jamie Oliver cook for the Downing Street banquet?

Last year, an 18-course extravaganza enjoyed by world leaders at a Japanese summit to discuss food shortages unsurprisingly went down like a lead balloon on the political stage. So tomorrow night, Brown's guests are expected to tuck in to a more modest dinner. The six courses that Jamie Oliver has devised apparently comprise "honest high-street products", and avoid costly "fancy" ingredients. The precise details of what Oliver will rustle up at this "pretty cool gig" (as he calls it on his website) remain a closely guarded secret (all we know is that pork will not be served). Perhaps there's a clue in the fact that his 40-strong team on the night will include staff from his restaurant Fifteen). It is not even definite that Oliver will be there to oversee the meal, as his wife Jools is due to give birth on Thursday. Not perfect timing, as he won't even be allowed to have a mobile handy due to security measures. He'll be contactable only through Downing Street officials.

AF

13. Where do I go if I want to protest?

If you wait long enough, one will come to you. There are protests planned for the City, east London, the West End and at many embassies around the capital most of tomorrow and Thursday. First off will be four simultaneous marches, led by effigies of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, which will leave Moorgate, Liverpool Street, Cannon Street and London Bridge stations at 11am, converging on the Bank of England. Take your pick from war, climate chaos, financial crimes and land enclosures. Meanwhile, 1,500 people plan to bring tents and erect a climate camp in the City outside the European Climate Exchange at Bishopsgate at lunchtime. On top of that, the Stop the War coalition will march from the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square to Trafalgar Square in the afternoon. On Thursday, the official day of the summit, protests will centre on the Excel centre in Canning Town.

JV

14. Will I be in danger if I go to the protests?

Most unlikely. These are peaceful protests and while many people have said they are prepared to take non-violent direct action, including occupation of premises and potential damage to property, hardly anyone is expected to seek physical confrontation. The police have ramped up the possibility of violence, saying that many groups are coming "out of retirement" to cause damage. There is little evidence of this. In recent years, police tactics have been to surround large groups, not allowing anyone in or out of tight cordons until late in the evening. This can lead to immense frustration and a possible backlash. This is the biggest police operation in nearly five years and, with so much of the world's media here, there is huge pressure on the police to be seen to be in complete control.

JV

15. Who decides where everyone sits at dinner?

Ask No 10, says the Foreign Office. Ask the Foreign Office, says No 10. I ask you. But it seems the seating plan for Wednesday night's Downing Street dinner for delegation leaders (ï¬nance ministers and central bankers are going to a dinner, hosted by Alistair Darling, at Tate Modern) is a matter for No 10. Protocol says the host and heads of state (as opposed to mere heads of government) should be seated towards the centre and out on the end is generally punishment for something (where Gordon Brown was placed by his Japanese hosts at a G8 dinner last summer). It's also important to put VIPs next to people they might get on with. Everyone might like to be beside Obama, but Silvio Berlusconi at his unreconstructed best might not ï¬nd full favour with Argentina's centre-left feminista Christina Fernàndez. For the summit itself, the Foreign Office will say only that the "protocol of seating arrangements at G20 meetings is decided by the host country and based on a logical ordering system, for example alphabetical order". Of course.

JH

16. What about the goodie bag?

After tomorrow's dinner, Gordon Brown will present goodie bags that will showcase "British creativity". They will include a tie designed by one of three British tailors (Ozwald Boateng, Timothy Everest and Richard James), a tea towel from Ulster-based linen producer Thomas Ferguson Irish Linen, Kelly Hoppen candles, and Rococo chocolates. What about those world leaders who don't wear ties – German chancellor Angela Merkel, say, or Nehru-jacket-sporting Indian premier Manmohan Singh? Will they get an alternative gift? "I don't know," sighs a long-suffering No 10 spokesman. "I'll get someone to call you back with that information." At the time of going to press, no one has.

SJ

17. Who are the partners to watch?

It was billed as the Michelle and Carla show, with Sarah B as their lady-in-waiting. Sadly, the legendary chanteuse has made a last minute diplomatic withdrawal as the French would consider it a mortal sin if the two ï¬rst ladies were to meet for their style battle on British soil. But never mind, there's always Veronica Lario, Silvio Berlusconi's wife, as long as she turns up – the Italian embassy was spectacularly vague on the matter last night. We can't expect to hear much from Liu Yongqing, wife of Chinese president Hu Jintao; she has barely said a word in public. The Russian president's wife, Svetlana Medvedev, is just as publicity shy; and it would cause a sensation if any of the four wives of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia were seen, let alone heard.

Sadly there will be no male wags present. Joachim Sauer, the German chemistry professor at the Humboldt University of Berlin, has always been rather grumpy about being roped in as Angela Merkel's sidekick on official occasions, so he has ducked out with a prior engagement. Nestor Kirchner, husband of the Argentine president Cristina Fernandez, is also giving London a miss. He was Argentina's president before he retired to give his wife a go, so probably feels tagging along is a bit infra-dig.

JC

18. Who's the new Carla Bruni?

Big summits are the world cup of politics. And as we learned from the 2006 World Cup, it doesn't matter how badly your other half fares on the pitch, you can still go home feeling like a winner if you dress the best. With Carla Bruni away, and Michelle Obama already feeling a little old hat (fashion moves fast), this could be the chance for an outsider to shine. Step forward Sonsoles Espinosa, opera singer and wife of Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Previous public appearances have seen her working a range of looks from Pucci-esque prints to this sharp tux outï¬t, complete with skinny black trousers and heels. History proves she knows how to wear colour too (witness one striking orange shift), and she has even been photographed next to Penelope Cruz and held her ground. Perhaps most importantly, she understands that even when circumstances present the most restrictive of dress codes, you can always let a good haircut and a piece of statement jewellery do your talking for you.

PC

19. How much is this jamboree costing?

According to Foreign Office estimates, the summit will cost the government about £20m. This includes the hiring of the ExCeL London conference centre, event security and policing. The Foreign Office insists proper procurement processes have been followed to ensure value for money, and that all costs will be found from within existing budgets (which rather suggests that existing budgets normally have £20m of slack built in.) The Foreign Office justifies the spend by pointing out the summit is a good investment. "If action agreed at the summit adds just 0.1% to economic growth," it says, "this would be worth over £1bn to the UK this year alone." Still, the London summit is a great deal cheaper than other recent global get-togethers. Security for the 2007 G8 Heiligendamm summit in Germany came to ¤92m, while the 2008 G8 summit in Japan cost an astonishing $285m. Go ï¬ gure why a meeting of eight countries costs nearly 10 times more than one of 20.

JC

20. Finally, who's the party animal?

Once they ï¬nish setting the world to rights and go on the lash, is Gordon Brown going to show the world's lightweights – sorry, leaders – how to chug, Brit style? It seems unlikely. Most likely world leader to party like it's 2009 is Australian premier Kevin Rudd. It was Rudd who apologised to his wife a couple of years ago for going to a New York strip club after a heavy drinking session. He admitted to her that he'd been "a bit of a goose" and it's not impossible he'll be texting Jacqui Smith's husband from Spearmint Rhino

around 3am to see if he can come and join the after-hours fun with Gord, Sarko, Barack, Angie and the rest.

SJ

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/31/g20

[TampaYankee]

Adam, thanks for the post. Both entertaining and informative.

Pretty shrewd idea for the G7/8 to bump up the number to 20 + groupies. Those extra bodies may provide some cover if shooting breaks out.

[Guest StuCotts]

My understanding of why 20 is that together they represent 90% of the planet's wealth, which guarantees the shindig's place among Important Happenings. In practical terms, the participants' great number and the limited time to be devoted to actual business ( 8+ hours by some estimates ) amid an exhausting schedule of social events, pretty much guarantees that little or nothing will be decided or agreed upon. I bet the dignitaries lining up to have their picture taken with Obama and/or Michelle will stretch for miles.

[Guest rstaker]

Argentina: not a great deal of traction as far as the global economy goes. Australia: Kevin Rudd's centre-left politics are a relief from those of his predecessor, but he is widely seen as just a wee bit conventional (some might say nerdy). Canada: nice, but irrelevant. India: another vast emerging economy, but one that somehow never quite fulfils its promise; too many problems and an octogenarian leadership. Indonesia: the world's largest Muslim country, so kind of had to be there really. Italy: all sizzle, no steak. Mexico: too many (drug) problems at home. The Netherlands: who? South Africa: potentially important, but the jury's still out on where it's heading. Spain: fell out with Bush after pulling troops out of Iraq, and now with Obama after announcing withdrawal from Kosovo too.

JH

Canada: nice, but irrelevant? Now, is that a nice thing to say?

[TampaYankee]

My understanding of why 20 is that together they represent 90% of the planet's wealth...

If that's the case then why aren't California, Gates and Buffet there?

[TampaYankee]

Canada: nice, but irrelevant? Now, is that a nice thing to say?

Canada is very relevant to my interests. Selfishly, I like it best when it's dollar has plunged relative to the greenback.

[AdamSmith]

Canada is very relevant to my interests. Selfishly, I like it best when it's dollar has plunged relative to the greenback.

Speaking of plungers (sorry!)...

Where's Canada? 'Bathroom break' scuppers G20 family photo

Spot the gap. World Leaders including U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chinese President Hu Jintao, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva pose for a group photograph at the G20 summit

Summit etiquette has it that every major gathering of world leaders features a "family photo", in which - no matter how fierce the rows and recriminations behind the scenes - all the kings, presidents and prime ministers line up football-team style to smile for the cameras in a show of unity.

But it seems that for the 2009 London Summit of the G20 there will be no comprehensive memento of all those attending, not because of any furious bust-ups or walkouts but - apparently - due to a simple call of nature.

When the world leaders lined up for the scheduled photo-call after their working breakfast at the ExCeL Centre in Docklands this morning, cameras were already flashing before the whisper went round from some of the more eagle-eyed photographers: "Where's Canada?"

By the time it was realised that Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper was indeed not present, the brief picture session was over, and his fellow world leaders were moving on to the next round of discussions. Rumour has it that Mr Harper had chosen an inopportune moment to take a "bathroom break".

While Mr Harper was missing his opportunity to feature in the photographic record of the summit, Italy's Silvio Berlusconi used his showbiz instincts to ensure himself prime position.

Every leader at this conference wants to be pictured close to glamorous new American president Barack Obama, but few would have the chutzpah to do it the way Berlusconi did.

As the leaders got into place for the line-up, the Italian PM flung his arms around the shoulders of Mr Obama and Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and the three of them beamed into the camera lenses - Obama with his thumbs up - for all the world like a trio of old buddies.

The organisers of the summit made a second attempt to arrange a family photo after the first two-hour session of talks, but their efforts to get all the G20 leaders on film was again thwarted, as this time Mr Berlusconi and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono were missing. It is thought unlikely there will be time to make a third attempt.

As Mr Harper arrived for the second photo-call, he was subjected to some light-hearted joshing by Mr Obama, who went over to welcome him with a pat on the back as if to congratulate him for having made it this time.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/po...to-1660658.html

[Guest zachary]

good post, tks, enjoyed reading it.

[Guest JamesWilson]

Canada: nice, but irrelevant? Now, is that a nice thing to say?

Actually, many of us like being irrelevant/ignored. That way we can go on doing what we do in relative peace and quiet!