Newsblog in Edinburgh today

It’s a beautifully sunny day here in Edinburgh, and groups of backpackers and families are already strolling on the Royal Mile. Some shops have boarded up their windows in anticipation of trouble, but many are displaying solidarity with the demonstrators with Make Poverty History placards and posters in their windows.

Today’s march around Edinburgh, culminating at 3pm with a “white band” around the city centre, promises to be one of Scotland’s biggest ever demonstrations.

Police estimate that up to 120,000 people will be taking part in today’s march and rally at the Meadows, where the speakers include two Roman Catholic cardinals, Bianca Jagger, pop star Daniel Bedingfield, and actor Peter Postlethwaite. Pope Benedict has sent a message of support that will be read out. Later today Gordon Brown will be addressing a Christian Aid rally.

Our reporting team will be blogging from around the demonstration, getting first hand accounts from protesters. We’re based at the Bytes and Slices cafe on Waverley Steps; if you’re in Edinburgh today, drop by and share your impressions of the march on Newsblog. Alternatively, drop us a line here. We've also got contributions from guest bloggers.

Simon Jeffery will be interviewing Africa expert and Christian Aid partner Prof Martin Alain Sanou, from Burkina Faso, and Matthew Tempest will be interviewing Billy Bragg, before going on to the Stop the War demonstration here in the Scottish capital.

Gabrielle Procter will in the Meadows at the Gener8ion event for younger demonstrators, where visitors will “have a chance to express themselves through art at our Graffiti Wall, the written word at the Shout Wall, physically in a game of Unfair Football, vocally at Speakers Corner or by dancing their way to justice in our breakdance workshops”.

Live 8 concerts are taking place around the world. Our arts site provides full coverage including live commentary on our sister blog, Culture Vulture.

The Pride London gay rights march is also taking place today – Bob Geldof is due to address the crowd. And a flotilla of ships are sailing across the channel as part of Sail 8, a Geldof-led attempt to encourage people from outside the UK to travel to Edinburgh for the G8 summit at Gleneagles this coming week.