PITCHING IN: (from top) Bono of U2 speaks at The Final Push concert of Live8; anti-poverty campaigners at the march; one of the banners held up by protesters

After campaigning unsuccessfully to have my own debt written off by the G8, (incidentally, you can make your donation to account number 22508133 ? all major credit cards accepted), I decided to heed Bob Geldof's rallying call and made for Edinburgh last Saturday. “We don’t want your money. We want you!” Just as well!

I was not alone. 2,25,000 plus others had made their way to my damp little country’s picture-postcard capital to make their voices heard. Some took the high road and some took the low road and they all were in Scotland afore the world’s leaders. At 11 am on a breezy overcast morning, we had begun assembling in the Meadows parkland before the craggy backdrop of Arthur’s Seat.

Tokyo had just finished its little singalong. Berlin, Paris, Rome, London, the Eden Project and Johannesburg were gearing up for theirs. Philadelphia and Darrie meanwhile, were still tucked in their bed. It was going to be the biggest global TV event ever, and Scotland’s largest ever demonstration wanted to get on the box too. The excitement was brewing. “Can you see us world? We’re making poverty history!”

The umbrella of organisations included Church and Islamist groups, charities, NGOs, student societies and minor political parties. Even the Mirror Group of newspapers joined the cause. (It’s not like British tabloid to uphold impartiality). Nearly everyone sported the white anti-poverty wristbands and most dressed in white in order to encircle the city in a white band of its own.

Placards, posters and banners were brandished by the young and the old alike with catchy slogans calling on the G8 leaders to ‘Drop the Debt’ and ensure ‘Fair Trade Not Free Trade’. Even the capital’s most famous landmark was not left untouched, as a large ‘Make Poverty History’ banner was draped around Edinburgh Castle.

The event also encouraged the highlighting of other political issues. These ranged from Darfur to Palestine, the Iraq war to climate change, women’s rights to AIDS. A sizeable chunk of the protesters were touting a vehemently anti-capitalist message ? so it was best not to be seen in your sweatshop-produced designer labels.

Ironically, some of these groups discovered a thriving market place. Literature and T-shirts were being sold at higher than normal prices. Even the Socialist Workers Party (comprising largely of bourgeois students who later graduate into bankers, insurers and corporate lawyers) added an extra 25 per cent charge to their newspaper as a ‘solidarity’ price. For some, like 34-year- old actor Shayne Masterson from Dublin, this left a slightly bitter taste in the mouth. “The whole thing is a crudely disguised PR exercise,” he remarked.

“What sounds better?” ? read a permanent billboard message on the city’s bus stop. “I went shopping or I was there?”

With Edinburgh’s main shopping thoroughfare Princes Street cordoned off to allow the march, the former proposition seemed more tempting than the later. (For once, there was nobody along the usually thriving street to get in your way when bargain hunting.) Businesses, though, were feeling the pinch. “It’s a Saturday and the first day of our sale,” explained a staff worker at the department store, John Lewis. “Yet it is so dead, it feels like a weekday morning in here,” she added.

The march was to take us from the Meadows down to the Royal Mile, on the Princes Street and then down the Mount behind the castle back to the start. For first-timers, this covered most of the city’s sight-seeing jewel, and casual eaves droppers would have noticed an assortment of foreign accents and tongues wagging amidst the throng. Enthusiastic linguists would no doubt have learned how to say: “When do we get started?” in myriad languages.

Due to the huge numbers, demonstrators had to be shepherded, flock at a time by police and stewards. Once underway though, feet stomped on streets to the sound of a continuous samba beat. Drummers, whistlers and horn blowers ensured a carnival atmosphere, as the more colourful demonstrators broke out into fits of impromptu dancing. The sun had now broken through and it could almost have been real.

In total, the march would take one-and-a-half to two hours to complete, but the steady stream of people ensured that it continued till six in the evening. The mood was jovial and goodnatured throughout, with demonstrators and police exchanging banter. “I thought it would be a really good day out,” explains Sarah Smith, 24, a water engineer from Exeter in the south of England. “It has been and has underlined a cause that I believe in. I just hope it makes an impact,” she added.

At 3 ’clock, church bells rang to signal the start of a minute’s silence for all the avoidable deaths that occur every three seconds in sub-Saharan Africa. All stopped to observe. A raucous cheer greeted the igniting of flares to mark the end of the 60 seconds. It was slightly self-congratulatory perhaps, but nevertheless a moment of poignancy amidst all the festivities.

Two stages featuring live bands and guest speakers ? most notably prominent human-rights activist Bianca Jagger ? kept those returning and those still waiting both entertained as well as reminded them of the real reasons they were there. Rock and pop groups performed along with folk musicians from Africa and Brazil. DJs played their sets and comedians ensured the crowd was bubbling in between acts. Large screens broadcasted clips from the various Live8 concerts kicking off across the planet.

Charities, NGOs and pressure groups had set up numerous stalls to highlight their activities and spread awareness about their cause. Burger vans, coffee stalls and ice cream stands ensured nobody was left hungry as they lounged on the grass. A mini football pitch was laid out for kids and various fair ground games were also set up.

Indeed, in truly inimitable Scottish style, the day’s mirth climaxed with an attempt to enter The Guinness Book of World Records for the largest Scottish country dance ever. 1,30,000 people answered the call to join in a massive eightsome real. A choir rounded off the day, leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of Auld lang syne (and as always, nobody properly knew the words).

The eyes of the world were again firmly fixed on Edinburgh, as it geared itself for one last push on Wednesday evening for the eleventh and final of the Live8 concerts. Buoyed by the news of London’s successful Olympic bid earlier that day, the 50,000-strong crowd created an “electric atmosphere” according to Danny Wilcox, a 27-year-old restaurant manager lucky enough to get ticket. The highlight for Wilcox was the performance of septuagenarian ‘Godfather of Soul’ James Brown.

It is known that these summits already have their negotiations finalised in advance thanks to months of diplomacy and meetings between the various finance ministers. Before cosily settling in by the home of golf, the G8 had already agreed to a doubling of aid to Africa and a cancelling of 18 nations’ debts. Yet, with Britain holding the G8 and EU presidency simultaneously, there has been a feeling that the country has a chance to punch above its weight on the international arena. Especially, as Messrs Kofi Annan, Thabo Mbeki, Hu Jintao, and Manmohan Singh have also joined the party at the ‘old boys club’ this week.

Thursday’s horrific news of bomb attacks in London, however, has spoiled what promised to be a potentially epoch-defining week. Despite the public brave face, it is hard to see how Prime Minister Blair could carry on with “business as usual” and use his rare moment of political leverage to orchestrate a positive change.

Of course, we are never told exactly what is discussed behind closed doors. As one of the millions who actively participated in Live8 2005, however, I can only hope that one great day of global solidarity aimed at creating a better world has not been ruined by eight dastardly acts of terrorism intent upon destroying it.