The G8 Summit

[Rambuchan]

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?

Dude, I am equally furious with the extremists. I mean really cos they do this year after year. I used to be quite active on these matters and, despite all the efforts you go to, the message which gets reported was the fact a bunch of psychos in black hoods went and smashed up the local Burger King. I mean . You've got environmental groups like Greenpeace, WWF and so on. You've got civil rights groups and charitable organisations burdened by the problems created by G8 country policies. Farming lobbies from the poorest countries. Left wing intelligensia. Students finding their voice. All sorts of groups and who do we see on the news? The Goonies dressed in black!

And the media are equally to blame to going for the hype.

And the police reaction is pathetic. Britain has had a MAJOR police strength and tradition (it's no wonder we've never come close to revolution here ) and they can't deal with these guys in motor cycle helmets weilding baseball bats? I mean WTH??!

And Hero man - you've gotta untwist your knickers mate. Your posts are the reason why I am so mad at these saboteurs. People are left with no idea of the vast majority who turn up at these events, make a perfectly legitimate and purposeful protest, which often achieves results - and has done so in the case of this year's G8.

 

[classical_hero]

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

Well, why aren't they standing up for what they believe? If they wanted to be peaceful, then they should stand up to those who are being violent. I do find it funny that you often see these protesters with products that could only have been produced by Capitalism, the same thing the are fighting against. I do think that most of have double standards.

 

[Rambuchan]

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?

No but I'd be angry if they took away my right to protest against global trade injustice.

Besides, one bottle for two heads? Can I go first please?

 

[anarres]

Dude, I am equally furious with the extremists. I mean really cos they do this year after year. I used to be quite active on these matters and, despite all the efforts you go to, the message which gets reported was the fact a bunch of psychos in black hoods went and smashed up the local Burger King. I mean . You've got environmental groups like Greenpeace, WWF and so on. You've got civil rights groups and charitable organisations burdened by the problems created by G8 country policies. Farming lobbies from the poorest countries. Left wing intelligensia. Students finding their voice. All sorts of groups and who do we see on the news? The Goonies dressed in black!

And the media are equally to blame to going for the hype.

And the police reaction is pathetic. Britain has had a MAJOR police strength and tradition (it's no wonder we've never come close to revolution here ) and they can't deal with these guys in motor cycle helmets weilding baseball bats? I mean WTH??!

And Hero man - you've gotta untwist your knickers mate. Your posts are the reason why I am so mad at these saboteurs. People are left with no idea of the vast majority who turn up at these events, make a perfectly legitimate and purposeful protest, which often achieves results - and has done so in the case of this year's G8.

Ram just said what I think and feel very concisely.

 

[Hitro]

Well, why aren't they standing up for what they believe? If they wanted to be peaceful, then they should stand up to those who are being violent.

How? With violence?

 

[anarres]

Well, why aren't they standing up for what they believe? If they wanted to be peaceful, then they should stand up to those who are being violent. I do find it funny that you often see these protesters with products that could only have been produced by Capitalism, the same thing the are fighting against. I do think that most of have double standards.

OMG you are nuts. Do you think you want to go up to 5 people in ski masks weilding baseball bats and say "excuse me mate but I don't think that's a very constructive way to achieve your political goals"?

Amazingly, I HAVE done this at the Newbury bypass protests, and they were actually quite nice-mannered people, but there was no ****ing way they were going to suddenly change their world-view because of me.

Or maybe you suggest we carry out violence againt them? Surely THAT would be a true double standard, since most protesters are actually commited to non-violence.

As a protester, how would you suggest one lives, to avoid your wrath for being a "hypocrite".

So much for Christians not judging, let alone pre-judging.
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[anarres]

No but I'd be angry if they took away my right to protest against global trade injustice.

Besides, one bottle for two heads? Can I go first please?

haha, a whole new meaning for "sloppy seconds"

 

[Bozo Erectus]

One bottle should be more than enough, provided you stand close together. The element of surprise would be key. Next to me is my friend from Barcelona.

 

[classical_hero]

Why do so many protests at G8 meetings turn violent? They are ruining the cause that some here believe in.

 

[Rambuchan]

Why do so many protests at G8 meetings turn violent? They are ruining the cause that some here believe in.

Because the G8 summit is a prime target for anti-globalisation movements, which still leave me wondering what their world views are, given they just go round smashing everything up. Anarchists are often implicated in these groups and, again, the G8 summit is a logical target for them.

 

[Hitro]

Because the G8 summit is a prime target for anti-globalisation movements, which still leave me wondering what their world views are, given they just go round smashing everything up. Anarchists are often implicated in these groups and, again, the G8 summit is a logical target for them.

Great. Now you're making the same mistake you pointed out earlier.

The "anti-globalisation" movement isn't violent either. There as well only a small minority of anarchists like to smash up things.

 

[Rambuchan]

Great. Now you're making the same mistake you pointed out earlier.

The "anti-globalisation" movement isn't violent either. There as well only a small minority of anarchists like to smash up things.

Care to elaborate rather than exasperate?

 

[classical_hero]

Because the G8 summit is a prime target for anti-globalisation movements, which still leave me wondering what their world views are, given they just go round smashing everything up. Anarchists are often implicated in these groups and, again, the G8 summit is a logical target for them.

Isn't it wonderful how some people ruin you views for their own gain, rather than to get more people to believe in their views.

 

[anarres]

I have to ask though hero, what your point is?

You started by saying all protesters want violence, you still haven't retracted that or apologised.

Where do you now stand? I still feel deeply offended by your statement.

 

[Hitro]

Care to elaborate rather than exasperate?

You said "the anti-globalization movement" would do nothing and have no views besides "going around and smashing things up".

Now that is simply untrue, just like you correctly pointed out about the protestors in general.

Groups like attac, which I'd classify as "anti-globalization", have pretty elaborate goals and views. And "smashing things up" doesn't belong to those. The "anti globalization" movement probably makes up for the biggest part of the peaceful protesters.

 

[Rambuchan]

You said "the anti-globalization movement" would do nothing and have no views besides "going around and smashing things up".

Now that is simply untrue, just like you correctly pointed out about the protestors in general.

Groups like attac, which I'd classify as "anti-globalization", have pretty elaborate goals and views. And "smashing things up" doesn't belong to those. The "anti globalization" movement probably makes up for the biggest part of the peaceful protesters.

This is good stuff man. Can you break it down somemore and name more groups and their purposes and politics? It's obvious I need to find out just as much as ahem Hero.

 

[classical_hero]

You seem to have interpretated that I was referring to all protesters everywhere. I was and only ever referring to the G8 protests, which is the topic of this thread. If there are peaceful protests at these meetings, make sure that there is publicity there. All we every see is the violent protests. You have to make your voices louder, if you are to be heard. Stand up to those who are ruining what you believe in. Show them that you do not want violence and show them that your message is important and what these protests are really about. I don't want violence and that is what i hate the most about these "protests". Once it is become violent, I no longer consider it a protest, but anarchy in display.

Perhaps you are one of them, because you are an "anarchist settler".

 

[anarres]

Not surprisingly I know some people at the G8 protest, and they are peaceful.

FWIW the march is now peacefully underway, with offical (under)estimates at 4000. (It is well known police underestimate protests by about 50% - this is simple historical fact).

If 20 people start a fight with the police, and the media shows that fight on TV and not the other 6000 to 8000 people, you would still think they are all violent hero.

I really suggest you stop swallowing the media BS and look for decent news sources. Here, from the BBC, is an article about the kind of protesters I know:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4654077.stm

Not exactly violent thugs...

 

[Hitro]

This is good stuff man. Can you break it down somemore and name more groups and their purposes and politics? It's obvious I need to find out just as much as ahem Hero.

I can't give you any specific group names besides attac, about which you find out alot more on their website.

As I am not part of that movement I am not so much into it that I could name other organizations, but I know that often members of various broader organizations (political parties, environmentalists like Greenpeace, etc.) subscribe to this cause as well.

What unites them is the point of view that globalization will be harmful to people in the developing world (attac), the developed world (leftist parties) and the environment (environmentalists).

Now one might agree with that or not, but it's unfair to claim they would only be "in it" for the riots.

 

[Rambuchan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4654077.stm

Not exactly violent thugs...

Cha! Eco-brute-crusty-terrorist-psycho-mofos!