CRI听力：Protesters Demand Immediate Action from G8 Summit

The world's top industrialized nations begin their annual summit Monday confronted with demands they reinvigorate the world economy, push ahead languishing climate change talks and make good on pledges to battle poverty and hunger.

Leaders from the Group of Eight--the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Canada, Italy and Russia--started gathering in the northern Japanese resort village of Toyako on Sunday for three days of meetings.

Also attending the meetings are some african leaders, and the Chinese President Hu Jintao.

In the meantime, protesters continue to rally through the northern Japanese city of Sapporo as world leaders begin arriving for their annual Group of Eight summit.

Japanese police have been out in force to ensure security during the summit, which starts Monday in Toyako, about 100 kilometres south of Sapporo.

Protesters were demanding the breakup of the G-8 and the adoption of urgent measures to solve climate change and world hunger.

"This G8 summit is meaningless. They just want to act important."

"Speak with other countries. Speak with all countries in the world. Do it together. Not only eight countries."

Meanwhile, members of a non-governmental organization, Global Call to Action against Poverty, wore oversized masks of the G-8 leaders to mock them.

Ciara O'Sullivan is the organization's spokeswoman.(Www.hxen.net)

"People have gone online and asked for more money to be spent on education, more money to be spent on health, HIV Aids, on addressing climate change, and also on making sure they fulfil their commitments on aid."

Earlier on Saturday, about 2,500 protesters held a demonstration that lead to a brief clash with police. Four people were detained afterwards.

Leaders at the G8 meeting are expected to discuss global warming, rising inflation, slowing global economic growth, and soaring oil and food prices.