G8 protestors! - Page 2

08-07-2005, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by charley

Hi!
I've lurked here for a while and always thought this place to be fun, but this thread has changed my mind.
I am one of the protesters who have been (until today) camped out at the eco camp at Stirling, and have taken part in most of the peaceful protests that have happened in the last week.
I am not a hippie, or a nutter or a "right royal idiot"!! I am someone who cares passionatly about what is going on in the rest of the world, not just how I am going to be affected!! So your journey home will be slightly more differcult, boo hoo!! One week of disruption and everyone is up in arms!
I always had a postive attitude towards the police and the media but what I have seen in the last week has made me question everything I thought I knew. You label us without knowing us and the issues we stand for all because your day is slightly longer, shame on you!
The protesters are standing up in a non violent (dispite what the media would like) and making their voices heard, can you say the same shouting from behind a computer screen??

Some of us have been pointing out that the media representation of protestors may be distorting the picture (check the other protestor thread from earlier this week). Not been thanked for it mind you.

And I commend you for taking action (even though Chris might struggle to get home in time for Corrie

). I have been on the other end of provocative, aggressive and illegal policing so I can sympathise with what you are saying.

PS. Best not to use words such as 'lurking' debut posts - will no doubt bring troll accusations a flying

Welcome BTW.

mrlipring · 08-07-2005, 16:48

A friend managed to get some pics...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amcd/24...in/set-559605/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amcd/24...in/set-559605/

08-07-2005, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Link

Are we talking the same demo Rammy? Are we talking protestors like Charlie?

charley · 08-07-2005, 16:56

On behalf of myself, Thank you andyl

and for the welcome! Just as an example, dispite what you have been told the march on Aucterdar was peaceful. When a some group of people began to exchange insults with the police, a jorno i was next to announced loudly "oh great the hoodies are starting, this will make great news!" and thats the sad reality, the media isn't interested in peaceful protest (like dungavel, when and what you say? exactly!) they want the clashes, but when passions are stirring and inflamed its hard to rein them in!

punky · 08-07-2005, 17:12

*dons flameproof suit again*

If protestors insist on protesting causes and persuing idealism, why can't they do a sit down protest at home? Why should they always inflict misery and suffering on innocent people nothing to do with their cause? Whatever cause they are persuing usually isn't worth hurting or inconviencing innocent people. Always struck me as being rather selfish.

If protestors can protest a cause or a leader in such a way as they don't inconvience anyone else but themselves, like the guy did throwing purple powder at Tony Blair, then that's a different matter. I don't see why everyone else should suffer because they are p****d off about something.

charley · 08-07-2005, 17:21

@ Ramrod The times!!! Not the most liberal of papers! but I'll try to answer.
Firstly some of the protesters are in Scotland for the week and came in vans, along with all untensils and equipment to live comfortably for that week+. The Police had a tactic of stopping and searching these vechicles, so found items like cooking oil, knives and the like. They have no evidence the oil was intended for the road, and I know that was not going to happen. The protesters don't want to harm anyone, and would not have done something that potentally put lives at risk.
The damage to houses and cars in Stirling has been banded about on the internet and the media for the last few days, but there has been no photos. With the amount of images that have been captured you would think this would have been printed somewhere! The damage was limited to the retail park just outside the camp, to Burger king and PC World. The Police were taken by surprise with the blockade of the M9 and thats what they don't like. It caused massive disruption (even to protesters trying to get to Gleneagles) and was a great success!
They showed this when the next night the camp was subjected to a 2.30am raid by riot police! Fortuanatly we had a barrier and people blocked the entrence while the legal observers negiotated with the Police. Many people thought this was a step too far and decided to go home, then found they couldn't! We were barrcaded in (like animals, they wouldn't even allow the chemical toilets to be emptied) and subjected to searches if we attempted to leave (which you had to if you wanted to use the toilet!).

I am not saying there wasn't some who wanted to cause trouble, but why tar everyone together?? Believe me they had enough photos of us all to know the trouble makers!!!

punky · 08-07-2005, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by charley

@ Ramrod The times!!! Not the most liberal of papers! but I'll try to answer.

Why should that matter? Because a paper is liberal/leftist, that doesn't mean it is any more right/better than a right wing paper.

Graham · 08-07-2005, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

Quote:

Originally Posted by charley

@ Ramrod The times!!! Not the most liberal of papers! but I'll try to answer.

Why should that matter? Because a paper is liberal/leftist, that doesn't mean it is any more right/better than a right wing paper.

No, but the spin they put on stories can differ noticably!

**Stephen** · 08-07-2005, 17:36

Well rather than come straight home I did go into town just to take a look, I have never seen so many police in the same place! The protesters seems to be quiet peaceful, however the police did try and start to move them and it just wasn't happening, I saw at least 8 police van from where I was standing just under the Rail Bridge.

The traffic in and out of the town was mental. ended up just getting off the bus and walking across the Bridge.

charley · 08-07-2005, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by punky

*dons flameproof suit again*

If protestors insist on protesting causes and persuing idealism, why can't they do a sit down protest at home? Why should they always inflict misery and suffering on innocent people nothing to do with their cause? Whatever cause they are persuing usually isn't worth hurting or inconviencing innocent people. Always struck me as being rather selfish.

If protestors can protest a cause or a leader in such a way as they don't inconvience anyone else but themselves, like the guy did throwing purple powder at Tony Blair, then that's a different matter. I don't see why everyone else should suffer because they are p****d off about something.

I'm not going to flame, I'm a peaceful protester remember

BTW I'm not a troll either, lurking was the first word i could think of but i can understand the concern I may be. I'm not here to flame, nor argue. I just wanted to put the events from another angle! You don't have to agree, but if you open your mind a little then thats progress!
You state we are doing this against innocents with nothing to do with the cause. We all have something to do with it, we never asked to be part of the G8 and all the implications that it brings. The G8 has served the cause it was set up for and is now using it might and power to subject countries not within the group to horrendous trade and liberty restrictions. Tony is doing this in the name of the people of Britian.
Have you ever looked at a protest and made an effort to understand why they are doing it? The protest this week for example? have you spoken to someone who is passionate about the protests to greater understand the reasoning behind it? Maybe then you will find that most protests are not selfish but come about because of wanting to educate, though frustration, or just wanting a voice to be heard!
IF though protest change is brought, does that mean the change should only be given to the person who asked for it?? The guy who threw purple powder was supported by a huge team and didn't go into the Houses of Parliment alone! Alot of people aren't ****ed off with protest, alot do agree with the issues. Just as I can't speak for all the protesters at the camp, you can't speak for all people.

Paul · 08-07-2005, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by charley

Just as I can't speak for all the protesters at the camp, you can't speak for all people.

So what is this "protest" achieving? Apart from annoying a lot of people trying to get home? I don't think it's bothering any of the G8 leaders who aren't anywhere near the protest now.

charley · 08-07-2005, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarthYoda

Well rather than come straight home I did go into town just to take a look, I have never seen so many police in the same place! The protesters seems to be quiet peaceful, however the police did try and start to move them and it just wasn't happening, I saw at least 8 police van from where I was standing just under the Rail Bridge.

The traffic in and out of the town was mental. ended up just getting off the bus and walking across the Kingston Bridge.

All of the protests have been peaceful, and if the music was still playing you could have joined in, its a lovely night for it! I left early but it was looking like a great afternoon!
Can I ask that the title of the thread be changed please

Paul · 08-07-2005, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by charley

The damage to houses and cars in Stirling has been banded about on the internet and the media for the last few days, but there has been no photos. With the amount of images that have been captured you would think this would have been printed somewhere! The damage was limited to the retail park just outside the camp, to Burger king and PC World.

Strange that, I was watching the news the other night and a protester was videoed walking up to a parked, empty car in a residential area where he pulled a rod or something out of his jacket and smashed the car windows in.
Was I dreaming this then?
__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by charley

Can I ask that the title of the thread be changed please

You can, good luck getting it done though

Graham · 08-07-2005, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Strange that, I was watching the news the other night and a protester was videoed walking up to a parked, empty car in a residential area where he pulled a rod or something out of his jacket and smashed the car windows in.
Was I dreaming this then?

No, but you're making a mistake if you think that a) that's representative of all the protestors there, b) that that person actually *was* a protestor, rather than just a local lout who thought it would be a chance for some easy vandalism or theft without much chance of getting nicked or c) that wasn't something put on the news just because it was "good video".

charley · 08-07-2005, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

So what is this "protest" achieving? Apart from annoying a lot of people trying to get home? I don't think it's bothering any of the G8 leaders who aren't anywhere near the protest now.

I don't know if it is bothering any of the G8 leaders, but I do know that sitting at home doing nothing has never effected postive change in the past.

I would like to think we are having some effect, but that will never be stated publicly. Tony and Co. can't be seen to acknowledge direct action.

In answer to your post above, an inderpendent news group have tried to find the *protester* involved in that, but strangly have had no luck. How convient there happened to be a camera around at the right time.