‘Why is there so much security for such a small demonstration?’

HEAVY security and the Japanese public’s relative political apathy gave anti-globalisation protests a much smaller profile in Japan than in many previous G8 summit meetings.

Two hours north of the summit meeting, in Sapporo, the largest city on Hokkaido, opponents of the G8 meeting held a third day of protests, including a march and an alternative summit meeting.

About 150 people, some made up as clowns or dressed in black-spotted cow suits, marched through downtown Sapporo to protest the globalisation of agriculture. While Japan has not been as hard hit as many poor countries by rising food prices, organisers said the food crisis was a chance to rethink agricultural trade and rely more on locally grown products.