The G8 Summit

[Rambuchan]

If you were a police official charged with maintaining public order and safety, what would you do if faced with a situation like this?

That is not my job, so I don't have the answer. However, it is their job to facilitate peaceful protest. These are people going about their democratic duties in a peaceful way which I am talking about, who have specifically been encouraged by some G8 leaders, and the police are finding themselves in an inadequate position to assist them with it. That's poor policing and a failure of the 'democratic' way.

And there is plenty of peaceful protest at every G8 summit Hero. It is just certain groups, which hijack the media coverage and paint them all anarchist black, when clearly there are many groups represented who are in fact negotiating about the march with police.

And thanks for the update on the police reversing their decision anarres. Thought we were falling into Tony's totalitarian dream for a minute there. Just goes to show how ill prepared the fuzz are and how dangerous this lack of preparation could be.

 

[Rambuchan]

And I may add that once again it is a tragic bloody shame that we find ourselves discussing anarchists and police of all things when there is another G8 summit going on.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Wait.....


....are you seriously contesting that cancelling this march, for which thousands of people are already en-route to or arrived, would actually have stopped it going ahead?

Are you advocating mob rule? Who is calling the shots, the authorities, or the mob? IMO its not very wise for authorities to abdicate their responsibility to ensure public order. The violent protestors will smell blood and increase the violence in response.

Do you really believe that cancelling an event (on the day itself!) that can't be stopped would increase public safety???

There are no easy answers when violent people take to the streets. Blaiming the police for attempting to do their job doesnt make much sense to me.

 

[anarres]

Why is there an assumption that all demonstrators are violent?

I really want to know, because it's total BS and needs to be addressed.

 

[Hitro]

It is just certain groups, which hijack the media coverage and paint them all anarchist black

Ahm, I think it's a little questionable if it's really them who are using the media to paint all other anarchist black or vice versa...

Well, actually I don't think it is, I just disagree with the party you chose.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Where is the anger at the violent hooligans who are ruining this event for all the peaceful protesters who had a message that is now being obscured by these violent extremists? Why is the anger instead being directed at the police?

 

[classical_hero]

Well, peaceful protests are held all the time in the UK. The protest march has not yet started.

What exactly is your question?

If you seriously think that this protest will be peaceful, then you are crazy. Everytime there is a protest at these meeting, it always turns ugly, because the p[rotestors only want to cause trouble, not fix any problems, and they say. BTW, I was being sarcastic with my first post in this thread.

 

[anarres]

Ahm, I think it's a little questionable if it's really them who are using the media to paint all other anarchist black or vice versa...

Well, actually I don't think it is, I just disagree with the party you chose.

Heh, the "groups" who like to perpetrate the image of violent protesters is usually the POLICE, the TABLOID MEDIA, and the GOVERNMENT.

Not sure which groups Ram was referring to, and I don't know how you know that either Hitro.

It is very unusual for Tony to want the protesters - I really think he's going out on a political limb from which he may fall, but IMO he knows this is his "sunset" period, so he's going for broke.

 

[anarres]

If you seriously think that this protest will be peaceful, then you are crazy. Everytime there is a protest at these meeting, it always turns ugly, because the p[rotestors only want to cause trouble, not fix any problems, and they say. BTW, I was being sarcastic with my first post in this thread.

Man this just shows your age. You are touting total propaganda and know jack-all about the issue.

Speak to some protesters, find out what they want and why and how, and also make sure to actually LISTEN to them.

Until you do that, your words are very offensive, to me and to everyone else who has ever taken part in peaceful protest.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Anarres, and Ram, if I ran up to you and broke a bottle over your head, would you be angry at the police for arresting me?

 

[anarres]

Where is the anger at the violent hooligans who are ruining this event for all the peaceful protesters who had a message that is now being obscured by these violent extremists? Why is the anger instead being directed at the police?

I have a lot of anger for them, but it seems with everyone else in the world aiming for them they don't really need my hate.

OTOH, can you tell me if you think banning a march the day it is due to go ahead, when everyone is already en route, could possibly increase public safety?

So far you dodged the question quite well...

 

[luiz]

No trade decison? What's the point of this sumitt then?

 

[Hitro]

Heh, the "groups" who like to perpetrate the image of violent protesters is usually the POLICE, the TABLOID MEDIA, and the GOVERNMENT.

Not sure which groups Ram was referring to, and I don't know how you know that either Hitro.

He said that anarchist groups would hijack the media to present all protestors as anarchists. But that is not their aim, the reason why the media still does it is as you said.

 

[Hitro]

No trade decison? What's the point of this sumitt then?

Eating horrible British food, according to Chirac.

 

[classical_hero]

Until you do that, your words are very offensive, to me and to everyone else who has ever taken part in peaceful protest.

I have no problem with a peaceful protest, but this will not be one. I guarentee that this protest will get ugly, it has been the nature of them for as long as I can remember. If they were peaceful, i would have no problem with it. It is the violence that I detest.

 

[Oruc]

I hope you get beaten yourself emu, is that a fair statement?

Edit: The answer is no, it is disgusting and immoral. Just as you are for your post. I really hope no-one needed to read this edit to work that one out...

they shouldnt be protesting, these protests always end in violence and destruction of property

 

[Hitro]

I have no problem with a peaceful protest, but this will not be one. I guarentee that this protest will get ugly, it has been the nature of them for as long as I can remember. If they were peaceful, i would have no problem with it. It is the violence that I detest.

A few people might get violent. How is that the mistake of the thousands who don't?

 

[anarres]

Anarres, and Ram, if I ran up to you and broke a bottle over your head, would you be angry at the police for arresting me?

Stop with the nonsense. What is your point? That you believe the police are infallable and you can never criticise them?

Are YOU the government or something? Did you swallow a conformity pill and now can't question idiotic police decisions?

How does this soundbite post of your address ANYTHING? It doesn't - it's either just a pointless troll, or you don't want to/can't actually participate with logical coherant sentances.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

I have a lot of anger for them, but it seems with everyone else in the world aiming for them they don't really need my hate.

OTOH, can you tell me if you think banning a march the day it is due to go ahead, when everyone is already en route, could possibly increase public safety?

Like I said, thanks to the violent extremists, theres no easy way to completely avoid bloodshed. Cancelling it could lead to more violence, yes, but publicly reversing themselves in response to irresponsible political pressure could also lead to increased violence. Violent people only respect violence, not moderation and thoughtfulness. They correctly see it as a sign of weakness.

 

[anarres]

Bozo, carry on the soundbites and refuse to address the points rational people here raise and you just embarrass yourself.

I know you can think, I just wonder why you are acting like Curt today?

Edit: Sorrry, I cross-posted this with your last post. In response, it's only a pet theory of mine that Tony made them lift the ban. They could have just as easily been working through the mental process that made them realise they wouldn't be able to stop the people arriving since they cancelled it so late.

Apologies again if you're gonna carry on posting like a thoughtful person and not a soundbite-machine.