G20 rally – things to do if you're going, and things to do if you're not

Just a few days to go until this Saturday's G20 rally, and with the pre-demonstration-buzz growing by the day, we thought we'd pull together a quick update on what's planned for the day, and what you can do to help even if you can't make it.

Working with others from the Put People First coalition (the group of organisations who've helped pull things together for the rally), we're looking for budding citizen journalists to send SMS and photo updates live from the rally. All you need to take part is a mobile and a Twitter profile (and if you've already got the former then you're pretty much sorted as the latter doesn't cost a penny). There are full instructions on how to take part here.

If you make it to London before 11am, then first of all well done for getting up early on a Saturday. But secondly, why not come along and march with our contingent and join the rally with a crowd of other Oxfam supporters? A big group of Oxfam staff and volunteers will meet at 11am on the corner of Middle Temple Lane and Embankment (map here). We'd love it if you could join us for a chat and help us wave some giant Oxfam banners.

And if you'd like to come to London for the rally but can't (we realise that getting there isn't possible, or realistic, for everyone), then there are other ways you can take part. First and foremost, you'll be able to watch as the SMS and photo updates steam through live. Secondly (and really you can do this whether you're going or you aren't), the Labour Party yesterday opened up their website for questions from the public for the G20 leaders. So if you've got a point to make about climate change, or a comment about the need to honour promises to meet aid commitments, then their website is the place to do it.

Quite how all these comments will be handed in and how the G20 will respond isn't clear. I like to think submissions will be sent via SMS direct to Barack Obama's mobile. But I guess that's being optimistic.

Right. Think that's about it. Apart from to say make sure you bring a raincoat and suncream (yes, I sound like nagging parent, but this is Britain and the weather could go either way).

Hopefully see you there.

Richard Casson, Oxfam campaigner