View Full Version : Selective G8 Activists
I have just discovered, quite by accident, a minor reference saying that this years G8 Summit has been held.
In view of the fact that every previous G8 Summit has been accompanied by mass demonstrations which have been well publicised and organised long before the event why has this years been different?
Have all the World's economic problems been solved? Has poverty in Africa ceased to exist? Has Globalisation vanished from the face of the Earth?
Unless all the Economic Problems of the World has been solved then where were the usual thousands of Demonstrators intent on drawing attention to these problems?
What was different his year as compared with every other year when they have been only too eager to make their presence felt?
There must be somebody who knows the reason why this years G8 seems to have been avoided like the plague, or have all the activists suddenly lost interest for some reason?
It all seems rather strange especially after the huge efforts of last year.
I have just discovered, quite by accident, a minor reference saying that this years G8 Summit has been held.
In view of the fact that every previous G8 Summit has been accompanied by mass demonstrations which have been well publicised and organised long before the event why has this years been different?
Have all the World's economic problems been solved? Has poverty in Africa ceased to exist? Has Globalisation vanished from the face of the Earth?
Unless all the Economic Problems of the World has been solved then where were the usual thousands of Demonstrators intent on drawing attention to these problems?
What was different his year as compared with every other year when they have been only too eager to make their presence felt?
There must be somebody who knows the reason why this years G8 seems to have been avoided like the plague, or have all the activists suddenly lost interest for some reason?
It all seems rather strange especially after the huge efforts of last year.
JAWS, the G8 Meeting got lots of press in Canada.
My son is an activist and I'll ask him what his take on the reasons for the lack of protest might be. I suspect that in Russia the crowd control was pretty strick.
I have a fuller answer. Sometimes these things attrack more attention than other times.
I suspect that last year because it was in Scotland it got lots of press attention for you. In Canada this year we had our normal amount of coverage of a G8 summit held at a European host site.
The issue with the protest had to do with the Russian control over and thus restrictions on protesting. (My son's words: "You don't protest in Russia.")The host city is the site of the major protest and the other world protests are held in support of the major on site protest. So, with no on site protest, others were not held.
But you are correct, the issues have not gone away.
Countryman
19-Jul-06, 16:52
Of course the "Activist" or what ever you want to call them, trouble makers, freeloaders are not in Russia.
In Scotland we welcomed them the Scottish Socalist Party and Tommy Sheridan joined them. The Scottish Executive and Perth Council gave them camp sites. We must be off our heads but not the Russians they arrest them for damage and trouble making we should have done the same.
Some were arrested but what happened they were released without charge.
Of course the "Activist" or what ever you want to call them, trouble makers, freeloaders are not in Russia.
In Scotland we welcomed them the Scottish Socalist Party and Tommy Sheridan joined them. The Scottish Executive and Perth Council gave them camp sites. We must be off our heads but not the Russians they arrest them for damage and trouble making we should have done the same.
Some were arrested but what happened they were released without charge.
They were also conducting their plans of action athe the Students Union at Edi University, and being allowed to, and being fed and watered, at our expense, the Russians have the right idea, no nonsense
Can you hear yourselves?????
Why should people not have the right to protest? Isnt that part of why various people fought and died in two world wars and countless other conflicts? Arent you all proud of the fact we CAN protest here in the UK in a way that people cant do without being reckless with their lives in other places. Arent you proud that we made proper preparations and that people were able to protest safely and without it turning into a riot?
Long live the right to protest, to chain yourselves to trees, railings, to shout that you DISAGREE at the top of your voice and be certain that you arent going to get a bullet between the shoulder blades for daring to think differently than countryman or golach.
Can you hear yourselves?????
Why should people not have the right to protest? Isnt that part of why various people fought and died in two world wars and countless other conflicts? Arent you all proud of the fact we CAN protest here in the UK in a way that people cant do without being reckless with their lives in other places. Arent you proud that we made proper preparations and that people were able to protest safely and without it turning into a riot?
Long live the right to protest, to chain yourselves to trees, railings, to shout that you DISAGREE at the top of your voice and be certain that you arent going to get a bullet between the shoulder blades for daring to think differently than countryman or golach.
Squidge, I was in Edinburgh during the Last G8 summit fiasco, and I as a council tax payer am still paying for the mindless thugs that ran riot in Princes Street causing havoc and thousands of pounds worth of damage in Edinburgh alone, not counting the millions that were spent elsewhere around Gleneagles.
I have no problem with peaceful protest, but that was out and out confrontation with the authorities, and all being planned in a Students Union bar and canteen within Ediburgh University.
Peacefull protest YES I shout, but anarchy for anarchys sake then NO WAY!!!!!!
But the Anarchists were a bit too scared to try the same tactics over in Russia, where the Authorities are a bit more harsh in dealing with wrongdoers.
Squidge, I was in Edinburgh during the Last G8 summit fiasco, and I as a council tax payer am still paying for the mindless thugs that ran riot in Princes Street causing havoc and thousands of pounds worth of damage in Edinburgh alone, not counting the millions that were spent elsewhere around Gleneagles.
I have no problem with peaceful protest, but that was out and out confrontation with the authorities, and all being planned in a Students Union bar and canteen within Ediburgh University.
Peacefull protest YES I shout, but anarchy for anarchys sake then NO WAY!!!!!!
But the Anarchists were a bit too scared to try the same tactics over in Russia, where the Authorities are a bit more harsh in dealing with wrongdoers.
I highly doubt that the havoc wreckers were planning their carnage in the Students Union at the U of E. At all protests there are those who go beyond what is reasonable. That is the price we pay for the freedom to protest.
The young protesters whom I know are law abiding, peaceable, pay their own way people. They lament the trouble makers just as much as you and I do.
Cedric Farthsbottom III
19-Jul-06, 21:32
No much activists fae wit I've heard and read.George Bush did forget to switch his microphone off and say"How ye gettin' on Blair!!!!!":lol: :lol:
Has there been a G8 Summit in the last ten years or so in which there hasn't been a good deal of violence?
I am just puzzled why not one of the groups who invariably attend these Meetings as a matter of principle in order to draw the attention of the World to the plight of various deserving groups suddenly found it necessary to abandon their principles.
Why have they suddenly abandoned their consciences and remained well hidden?
Does anybody wish to try and convince me that they will have recovered their bravery and will be at the nect G8 Meeting next year having suddenly and c9onveniently recovered their moral indignation at the horrific behaviour of the G8 once again.
I love it when Moral Indignation can be turned on and off at will.
Cedric Farthsbottom III
20-Jul-06, 22:29
Has there been a G8 Summit in the last ten years or so in which there hasn't been a good deal of violence?
I am just puzzled why not one of the groups who invariably attend these Meetings as a matter of principle in order to draw the attention of the World to the plight of various deserving groups suddenly found it necessary to abandon their principles.
Why have they suddenly abandoned their consciences and remained well hidden?
Does anybody wish to try and convince me that they will have recovered their bravery and will be at the nect G8 Meeting next year having suddenly and c9onveniently recovered their moral indignation at the horrific behaviour of the G8 once again.
I love it when Moral Indignation can be turned on and off at will.
Maybe its too cold in Russia!!!:roll:
I must say I'm very surprised too. I wouldn't say it's about how strict they are tho... I've been to Berlin on MayDay.. they get out the wassercannons and teargas and mean looking balaclavad up militants.. thousands of them with batons... war... all out three way war and everyone they catch gets beaten up and thrown in the back of truck and off to the clink... where you might be unlucky and end up in a cell full of neo-nazis.
it surely doesn't put off the anti-fascist crew there? so what was it about Russia? tis harder to get through customs in Russia and they require a visa which is a process to get one.. or perhaps the bears on feeble chains downtown st. p?:D
Has there been a G8 Summit in the last ten years or so in which there hasn't been a good deal of violence?
I am just puzzled why not one of the groups who invariably attend these Meetings as a matter of principle in order to draw the attention of the World to the plight of various deserving groups suddenly found it necessary to abandon their principles.
Why have they suddenly abandoned their consciences and remained well hidden?
Does anybody wish to try and convince me that they will have recovered their bravery and will be at the nect G8 Meeting next year having suddenly and c9onveniently recovered their moral indignation at the horrific behaviour of the G8 once again.
I love it when Moral Indignation can be turned on and off at will.
I suppose that we really won't know the answer until people start organizing for 2007 and Heiligendamm, Germany.
I don't think that the fact that there was no protest was an abandonment of conscience. I doubt that most protesters could get visas into Russia. And under the conditions of strict crowd control there would likely be more focus placed on that than on any issues the protesters might raise. They wouldn't organize under those conditions. Protesting is about raising societal awareness, not turning moral indignation on and off.
Cedric Farthsbottom III
20-Jul-06, 23:13
I suppose that we really won't know the answer until people start organizing for 2007 and Heiligendamm, Germany.
I don't think that the fact that there was no protest was an abandonment of conscience. I doubt that most protesters could get visas into Russia. And under the conditions of strict crowd control there would likely be more focus placed on that than on any issues the protesters might raise. They wouldn't organize under those conditions. Protesting is about raising societal awareness, not turning moral indignation on and off.
Totally agree canuck.Thats why I always vote every General Election.I've no got the money to go to G8 meetings.But I have my "Canada" fund!!!!!:lol: :lol:
I love it when Moral Indignation can be turned on and off at will.
Jaws, this happens every day in CCWS [lol]
Jaws, this happens every day in CCWS [lol]Oops, what can I say? I think I'd better take the Fifth on the grounds that anything I say will definitely incriminate me!
Countryman
21-Jul-06, 10:55
Can you hear yourselves?????
Why should people not have the right to protest? Isnt that part of why various people fought and died in two world wars and countless other conflicts? Arent you all proud of the fact we CAN protest here in the UK in a way that people cant do without being reckless with their lives in other places. Arent you proud that we made proper preparations and that people were able to protest safely and without it turning into a riot?
Long live the right to protest, to chain yourselves to trees, railings, to shout that you DISAGREE at the top of your voice and be certain that you arent going to get a bullet between the shoulder blades for daring to think differently than countryman or golach.
No problem with protests in every form but come on squidge you cannot condone wilful damage attacks on inocent bystanders and smashing shop windows. There must be law and order or the anarchist will take over where is your Justice the scales are not level except in your pecture.
The worry for me country man comes when the right to protest is removed because someone's windows have been broken. The right to Protest is there and it SHOULD be there and people must have the right to protest. If htey break the law they should be arrested and charged.
The two arent mutually exclusive - the law gets broken so we dont allow protests or we allow protests but overlook illegal behaviour.
If illegal behaviour takes place then the Police have absolutely no right to ignore it and people should be punished for breaking the law NOT for protesting. There is a Difference.
The right to Protest is there and it SHOULD be there and people must have the right to protest..
I am fairly sure you have said these words before so I will use them on you.
With 'Rights' comes 'Responsibility'
:Razz
rhegehad you are full of wee one liners that actually offer little to the discussion in one or two threads recently - i remember i pointed this out to you to your dismay and i am doing so again. Surely you arent being as selective as Fred?
Did you actually read the rest of my post? The bit where i said
If htey break the law they should be arrested and charged.
And
If illegal behaviour takes place then the Police have absolutely no right to ignore it and people should be punished for breaking the law NOT for protesting.
Youa re right - with rights comes responsibility and the expectation that if you fail that you will be subjected to the penalties which breaking the law leads to. I am not condoning illegal behaviour but I am upholding the right to protest. The minute we start saying - there should be no right to protest incase the law gets broken we are being ridiculous.
If htey break the law they should be arrested and charged.
Things aren't that black and white...
Things aren't that black and white...
You are right they aren't black and white.
I agree with squidge that with rights go responsibilities. The discussion gets broadened when one asks if people with rights have a further right to take action when others are not accepting their responsibilities. We can do that with street justice and end up with anarchy or we can do it with governmentally organized forces and end up with extreme socialism where the government sets the agenda of rights and enforces them. Or we stop somewhere along the spectrum and try to live lives in a healthy, caring manner. Each of us probably has an idea where we would like to settle along the continum.
There is no doubt that we are mixing apples and oranges in this discussion of protesting at the G8. Okay, maybe apples and rotten eggs. Protesting is a responsible way within our society to call government and non-government leaders to account. Any gathering of people is an opportunity for a few to cause choas for their own personal need to be seen, or just because they have lost sight of the boundaries we live by. It happens at sporting events just as regularly as at protests.
I know things arent that black and white they rarely are. Thats why i said ...
The two arent mutually exclusive - the law gets broken so we dont allow protests or we allow protests but overlook illegal behaviour. ...
in reference to the posts that came before. I dont beleive the answer is to remove the right for people to protest.
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