The G8 reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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G8

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G-8 work session; July 20-22, 2002Enlarge

G-8 work session; July 20-22, 2002

The Group of Eight (G8) is coalition of eight of the world's leading industrialized nations: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, (the G6, 1975), Canada (the G7, 1978), and Russia (1998), as well as the European Union. The hallmark of the G8 is an annual economic and political summit of the heads of state with international officials, though there are numerous subsidiary meetings and policy research.

The current G8 leaders are:

The summits are often the focus of anti-globalization movement protests.

On July 20, 2001 the G8 held a summit in Genoa, Italy; see Genoa Group of Eight Summit protest

On July 26, 2002 the G8 began a summit meeting in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.

On June 1, 2003 the G8 began a summit meeting in Évian-les-Bains, France. On June 8, 2004 the G8 begins a summit meeting in Sea Island, Georgia, USA. See also : World Social Forum

The Group of Eight is also an association of Australia's leading universities.