(Strasbourg, November 15h) During the European Development Days in Strasbourg, the French Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) - an alliance comprising a growing number of civil society organizations which mobilize to fight extreme poverty - organized an event in the center of town to draw attention to the current economic crisis afflicting poor countries. The symbolic action took place on November 15, while the G-20 economic summit was taking place in Washington, D.C.

The event, which attracted a lot of attention from the media and public at large, centered around golden parachutes, representing the G-20 countries. During this symbolic action, the members of the G-20, comprising the G-8 plus the biggest emerging economies, drank champagne while "stepping over" the 170 countries left aside during their meeting, including some of the poorest countries in the world.

Poor countries have been waiting for reform of the global economic and financial system for decades. They are the primary victims of the current crisis, yet they are left on the sidelines during important decisions.

See the photos of the event