France: Protesters use masks and sand portraits to draw G7's attention to inequality

W/S Protesters dressed as G7 leaders in firefighters' outfits with sign reading: 'inequality crisis', Biarritz
M/S People dressed as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
SOT, Robin Guittard, Oxfam member: "[Leaders of G7] say that they will put the question of inequality at the agenda of the summit, while basically we are saying that we need more action than just empty words."
W/S Protesters wearing G7 leaders masks and firefighters' outfit
M/S Protester dressed as French President Emmanuel Macron fighting drawn fire
SOT, Robin Guittard, Oxfam member: "By putting them as a firefighter adding fire to the fire of inequality, we want to send them a message that now it's time to change the system."
M/S Protester dressed as US President Donald Trump fanning drawn fire
C/U Protester fanning drawn fire
C/U Protester dressed as Macron
SOT, Robin Guittard Oxfam member: "What they can do is to show an example, they can start by having more progressive policies and inspire the world with the correct action."
W/S Protesters holding sign reading: 'inequality crisis'
M/S Protester dressed as Abe
M/S Protester dressed as Trudeau
SOT, Robin Guittard, Oxfam member: "We need a new tax system, a fair one and a more just where multinational and the richest people are paying the fair share of tax. We need more aid for developing countries, we need a real action against climate change. That [are] some key [elements], for example, that G7 need to take action [on] now."
W/S Protesters wearing G7 leaders' masks in firefighters' outfits
M/S Protester dressed as German Chancellor Angela Merkel
M/S Protester dressed as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnston
W/S Faces of G7 leaders drawn on sand
W/S Faces of G7 leaders drawn on sand reading: 'Turn the tide for gender inequality'
SOT, Mae Kurkjian, Activist: "So, my role is to put pressure on [the] world leaders to make sure that they deliver long-lasting changes for the poorest of the world."
M/S Person looking at picture
M/S Person drawing
W/S Person drawing face of Merkel
SOT, Mae Kurkjian, Activist: "We need to hold leaders accountable, so we need a better accountability and [a] follow up scheme to make sure that they implement the commitments that they have taken."
M/S Person looking at picture
M/S Person drawing
W/S Person drawing
M/S Person writing letter
SOT, Mae Kurkjian, Activist: "G7 is a golden opportunity to make progress on gender equality and so what we are trying to do with a drawing right here is to talk to G7 leaders and to ask them to make real progress and not just, you know, pronounce promises that they will never implement."
M/S Faces of G7 leaders draw on sand
M/S Face of Trudeau
W/S Beach with faces of G7 leaders and people
SCRIPT
The French city of Biarritz, which is soon to host the annual G7 meeting, saw people uniting to draw world leaders' attention to pressing issues, such as inequality and poverty, on Friday.
The demonstration organised by Oxfam, an organisation fighting with global poverty, had protesters dressed as the G7 leaders wearing firefighters' uniform, trying to extinguish imaginary fire by fueling it even more.
"By putting them as firefighters adding fire to the fire of inequality, we want to send them a message that now it's time to change the system," said Oxfam member Robin Guittard.
The city's beach, in turn, was adorned with the portraits of the G7 members, and, as activist Mae Kurkjian explained, this is the way "to talk to G7 leaders and to ask them to make real progress and not just, you know, pronounce promises that they will never implement."
The actions took place days before the G7 summit that will kick-off in Biarritz on Saturday and run from August 24 to August 26. It is thought the wildfires in the Amazon will feature high on the summit's agenda.