Rambuchan
The Funky President
There are many things I wish to talk about here, it may be wise that some gets split off into different threads. I've just watched the latest news regarding the G8 summit and this is what struck me (and was reported on heavily).
1) It's a great big mess already.
Anarchists / Anti-Globalisation groups have been trashing Scotland's shops and cars, assaulting the police, who have been arresting and assaulting back, closing down motorways, rail lines and preventing people with a legitimate reason to be there from even getting to the summit.
Press conferences, concerts, meetings and briefings have been cancelled, because roads such as the A9 highway have been closed down by running battles between riot police and hooded activists.
I mean WTH are these anarchists trying to do? This is the first summit in which leaders have been convinced of the developing world's arguments and are willing to implement some change and it's been sabotaged.
2) Police have cancelled the main protest march.
In response to the violence what have the police done? They have cancelled the main protest. That's right. There will be NO peaceful protest at the G8 summit, according to a police briefing about 30 mins ago. Their reasoning is on grounds of public safety. Duh!!!!! You've got loads of protestors there who are not allowed to protest officially? That's safer?!! What are they going to do? Just go home? I don't think so.
Another reason they give is that the above mentioned sabotage has prevented many people from getting to the relevant parts of Scotland. There's a very real chance Geldof and Bono will fly into a half filled stadium to perform their awareness raising concerts to not very many people (cos the audience didn't fly in by helicopter). Well there will still be a great presence there and they have a right to protest.
Like I say, it's all a mess already. The public are not being allowed to take part in the discussion, despite the fact Tony Blair effectively invited them to come and protest as part of his plan to pressure the other leaders.
3) Trade decision has been put off till the autumn.
That's right. There will be NO decision on trade relations at this summit. Gordon Brown has urged us not to get our hopes up. So this summit will be much the same as all the others in this regard. What's the point in the debt cancellation and increased aid if the foundations of developing economies remain built on sinking sand?
1) It's a great big mess already.
Anarchists / Anti-Globalisation groups have been trashing Scotland's shops and cars, assaulting the police, who have been arresting and assaulting back, closing down motorways, rail lines and preventing people with a legitimate reason to be there from even getting to the summit.
Press conferences, concerts, meetings and briefings have been cancelled, because roads such as the A9 highway have been closed down by running battles between riot police and hooded activists.
Fair enough. But how are these actions helping?
I mean WTH are these anarchists trying to do? This is the first summit in which leaders have been convinced of the developing world's arguments and are willing to implement some change and it's been sabotaged.
2) Police have cancelled the main protest march.
In response to the violence what have the police done? They have cancelled the main protest. That's right. There will be NO peaceful protest at the G8 summit, according to a police briefing about 30 mins ago. Their reasoning is on grounds of public safety. Duh!!!!! You've got loads of protestors there who are not allowed to protest officially? That's safer?!! What are they going to do? Just go home? I don't think so.
Another reason they give is that the above mentioned sabotage has prevented many people from getting to the relevant parts of Scotland. There's a very real chance Geldof and Bono will fly into a half filled stadium to perform their awareness raising concerts to not very many people (cos the audience didn't fly in by helicopter). Well there will still be a great presence there and they have a right to protest.
Like I say, it's all a mess already. The public are not being allowed to take part in the discussion, despite the fact Tony Blair effectively invited them to come and protest as part of his plan to pressure the other leaders.
3) Trade decision has been put off till the autumn.
That's right. There will be NO decision on trade relations at this summit. Gordon Brown has urged us not to get our hopes up. So this summit will be much the same as all the others in this regard. What's the point in the debt cancellation and increased aid if the foundations of developing economies remain built on sinking sand?
