Who will remember this G20?

[Barking_Mad]

Put 29 people who think the same way in a room and its unlikely anything really groundbreaking will happen. The media will make a play of any disagreement and make it sound like a massive deal - but these fools in suits didn't get where they are by thinking differently. Birds of a feather........

 

[brasicritique]

I same from other side, saw Green Party flags in the distance and thought it was Hamas initially

.

rofl

 

[brasicritique]

Are you bloody on one again?

Actually I am being nice and asking a question .I am not trolling and i have not flamed anyone on this thread. I am at worst comforting myself with humour given the fact that all the fat cats have got away with billions and the politicians met to give away more billions to bankers whilst ignoring the growing poverty in the world. And no one can, or has done nothing about it. And todays demo has achieved nothing really so while i dont doubt the good intentions of those that went it has to be said the opposite of tradegy is comedy and whether intentional or not there is some funny things being said on this thread IMO.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

I wish I could have gone and would obviously personally remember it if I had. But perhaps it will only be worth remembering if it is the start of something rather than a one off. We cant just react to big meetings of the elite. We cant wait for the next one like people wait for World Cups or something.

Climate Camp looks to have achieved a lot but I think we should stop buggering about and just go for a full scale occupation of the parliament. The fuckers have no legitimacy and very little power anyway.

 

[Nigel]

Im in favour of people being able to protest but I just feel slightly as though the whole protesting thing is futile and wont achieve anything. It needs to be part of a broader political movement which does more than just tramp the streets. What is more who can actually go to the protests; students, the unemployed?

This is a form of protest and political activity that goes back possibly to the late seventies and definitely to the early eighties with Stop The City.

In an interview after 1984 Stop The City, with some Toss Pot Merchant B/Wanker, asking what he thought. He said something along the lines of that this sort of activity would'nt Stop The City in its activity, let alone bring down Capitalism and the real threat was from Arthur Scargill and the Miners. Never a true word said by the opposition.

However I would not say that these activities are not worthwhile, these sort of events touch the consciousness of people involved and act as a propaganda instrument that arguably has helped change the mainstream consciousness of society; Global Warming is now accepted and seen for the danger that it is by all, but a few cranks, environmental issues have to be considered in areas of social policy, civil & construction projects etc., it is not seen as off the wall to argue that policies of Corporate Capitalism have at least some responsibility for the situation in the developing world, Whole Foods/Ethical/Vegetarian/Vegan products are sold in almost all major retailers.
All these issues are on, used and exploited by a capitalist agenda. However this has changed society for the better.

 

[bluestreak]

In what sense?

I've got a lot of sympathy for many of the causes represented today, however I think a bit more coherence wouldn't go amiss next time. If they wanna attack capitalism, fine - attack it. Don't confuse hundreds of causes in with that, it makes the whole exercise somewhat futile.

Tis basic common sense - do you think today was effective?

But there are hundreds of causes. Some people on that demo are anti-capitalism, some are anti-militarism, or anti-this war. Some are pro-capitalist but are reformist. Some are nihilist or just angry. Lots of people called demos for the same day. This wasn't one incoherent demo, this was lots of demoes with lots of different philosophies and reasons. You'd have to lack critical analysis to think otherwise.

 

[jonnyboy]

Breaking news from the Guardian protester dies following collapse

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

fuck.

 

[gabi]

But there are hundreds of causes. Some people on that demo are anti-capitalism, some are anti-militarism, or anti-this war. Some are pro-capitalist but are reformist. Some are nihilist or just angry. Lots of people called demos for the same day. This wasn't one incoherent demo, this was lots of demoes with lots of different philosophies and reasons. You'd have to lack critical analysis to think otherwise.

Laying the blame for all of these those issues at the door of the BoE as seemed to happen today smacks of ignorance.

Mervyn King is powerful, yes. But I doubt somehow he can sort out a two-state solution in Israel/Palestine or get China out of Tibet. Not sure how much influence he has over investigating whether MI5 were responsible for 7/7.

The climate change demo seemed well-thought out and well-targetted. But yeh, as such, less covered by the media, which is a great fucking shame.

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

The climate change demo seemed well-thought out and well-targetted. But yeh, as such, less covered by the media, which is a great fucking shame.

Less covered because it WAS well thought out and peaceful. It's not the story the media want.

It is essential when capitalism has been shown to be such a crock that the opponents be smeared and stereotyped as violent loons.

Dear god, can anyone tell me why ANYONE believes the endless shit in the media?

 

[shagnasty]

I think for once the guardian leader got it almost right saying the politiciian will hail it a success but everyone else a failure .i think gordy was hoping this would cut the tory poll lead i don,t think so.the mail coverage excelled itself

 

[Urbanblues]

What is more who can actually go to the protests; students, the unemployed?

Do students get the time to protest today? This isn't the 1960s and 1970s when students received full maintenance grants; today many of the fuckers have to hold down full time jobs in order to live.

 

[derf]

I'll certainly remember it, as will the people who were there and maybe some people who were inspired by what they saw on TV/web.

I'm sure those that were there will remember it for a very long time but I can't see many more caring. Most importantly that statement covers those inside the talks who are well protected from it.

 

[BlackArab]

Do students get the time to protest today? This isn't the 1960s and 1970s when students received full maintenance grants; today many of the fuckers have to hold down full time jobs in order to live.

Depends on the students background, at my Uni (Bristol) I seemed to be one of the few that needed to.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I've got mates who were there today - and I've no idea why you're suggesting I only read mainstream media. And I don't have a tele either thanks.

The cops acted fucking atrociously from what I understand, yes. But how many more of these demos have to happen before someone has the bright idea of actually co-ordinating everyone under one banner?

Given that the protests, while putatively aimed specifically at the G20 meeting, are about wider issues than a meeting of government heads, "co-ordination" might be a little difficult.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Or the people attending their first demo who were penned in by police for hours and not allowed to leave.

Fuck those cops. They are supposedly paid to "protect and serve" yet they imprison people for hours on end and refuse to let them leave for any reason.

Bunch of fucking traitors. Woould they treat their own family like that? I think not.

You're missing the point, which is who and what the police are there to "protect and serve". You need to remember that they don't mean us.

 

[Prince Rhyus]

G20? Who are they? Are they some sort of new boyband?

 

[shagnasty]

G20? Who are they? Are they some sort of new boyband?

Were's stock aitken and waterman when you need them

 

[taffboy gwyrdd]

Ok, I wasn't there, I followed it on indymedia but not overly so.

There can be a good positive legacy from this week and I think we owe it to the dead guy to at least have a go at building it.

The only way that will happen (sorry to repeat myself) is for this to have been the START of street based action rather than a relative one-off.

Untill we build increasingly large and regular demos (neednt always be in London) and civil disobedience, rather than once or twice a year ones, we will continue to be on the back foot.

Fortunatley, Mayday is soon enough to keep up the momentum.

Sincere thanks to all those who made their voices heard, from someone who couldnt on this occasion.