g8 conference/protests

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 22 Jun 2005, 14:58

Anyone going to the g8 conference protests? If you are it'll be a good opportunity to hand out information about oil depletion.

marknorthfield · Post by **marknorthfield** » 22 Jun 2005, 17:02

Very good idea. Wish I was goin, but have major work commitments...

Perhaps we should collectively be trying to convince someone high profile like Geldof to help get the issue out there? I know it may seem a little old-fashioned now, but endorsement from certain pop/rock/TV stars might be a very useful way of spreading awareness. Celebrity culture has got to be good for something after all!

I'm also intrigued to know where PaulS's son found out about it (see the 'How Did You Find Out About PO' thread) - will have to ask!

revdode · Post by **revdode** » 22 Jun 2005, 21:47

I'll be there or about there depending on crowd mood, security and the weather. I'm just down the road and it seems a shame to miss the circus. I'm not sure if I have anything to hand out though, I don't know if there are any handy pamphlets to distribute to the good folks at the ecovillage.

theeggman · Post by **theeggman** » 22 Jun 2005, 22:07

I'll be there for "Make Poverty History" on the 2nd, the Alternative G8 conference on the Sunday and the Stop the War activities on both days, but got to come back on Monday 4th so will miss the actual G8 summit. I'm leafletting for FoE on the Saturday, but could do something Friday night or Sunday - where would I get leaflets from? Do I have to print them? If so, what location?

isenhand · Post by **isenhand** » 23 Jun 2005, 09:07

<<Anyone going to the g8 conference protests?>>

Is anybody ever convinced that protesting at such events work? The people who need to hear wont listen and the people who are there to protest probably know already.

Winged Energy of Delight · Post by **Winged Energy of Delight** » 23 Jun 2005, 09:59

I think if you submit to negativity, you may as well crawl up into a little ball and never think about any of this ever again. History is on our side and shows that there have always been protests from the minority and these have sometimes been triumphant. Countless revolutions, the evolution of trade union rights, the fight to even get global warming publically acknowledged and accepted in the first place. If what you're hoping for a big protest and then government(s) immediately listen and everything is hunky-dory, then this, yes, is frankly implausible. However, protests do not work as one cataclysm but as a series of erosions. Did the mammoth march against attacking Iraq achieve its objectives? No, in that Tony Blair didn't listen to his people and went ahead and did it anyway. Yes, in that even now it is frequently depicted on the news as the point in which political apathy gave way slightly and (especially the students and the young) suddenly wanted to search the Internet for information and undisclosed facts. It was the march that meant that Tony Blair was never really fully forgiven and was - and is - given a hard time (as he should be) ever since. It is the march that is the media's legacy of that time just before the Iraqi war (the media cared because of the quantity of people rather than the quality of the message but need that matter?). The media has immortalised that scene and there is nothing Tony Blair can do about that.

A series of erosions like this can demolish a wall just as effectively as a detonated bomb. Yes, it takes far longer - but since we must realise that as the 'common people' we will never be a metaphorical bomb, we must be satisfied with our ever-increasing wave of dissent and keep on eroding.

PowerSwitchJames · Post by **PowerSwitchJames** » 23 Jun 2005, 10:09

We have some leaflets here but we need better ones.

http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/portal/in ... &Itemid=39

revdode · Post by **revdode** » 23 Jun 2005, 10:09

isenhand wrote:Is anybody ever convinced that protesting at such events work? The people who need to hear wont listen and the people who are there to protest probably know already.

I don't think that protesting works directly but I believe it can do some good.
It raises the issues in the mainstream media, this can focus attention on areas that the media seems to prefer to ignore. It also makes it just a little harder for the G8 leaders to claim they are pushing along a program on which there is consensus. At the very least it's an opportunity to meet some like minded and not so like minded folks.

The big problem I have is big crowds, I don't like them much particularly when they turn nasty and almost all of the protests I've attended seem to have a minority for whom conflict is the aim and generally the police are more than happy to provide it.

theeggman · Post by **theeggman** » 23 Jun 2005, 12:29

isenhand wrote:<<Anyone going to the g8 conference protests?>>

Is anybody ever convinced that protesting at such events work? The people who need to hear wont listen and the people who are there to protest probably know already.

Winged Energy of Delight (fabulous name!) gave a very encouraging response. Personally I like creative non-violent direct action like the wonderful achievements of Cre8 Summat last week. I believe that the constantly growing anti-capitalist movement (with its wealth of intellect, talent and skill) will find ever more innovative and constructive ways to put their message across. Much better to 'demonstrate' by example how much can be achieved without capitalism, rules and leaders.

The G8 demonstrations, however, do promise to be big and as such, serve to unify people and to show others who don't yet have any strong views on the relevant issues the depth and strength of feeling that exists. Isn't that how we first noticed some issues ourselves?

So, whilst I prefer creative action, I believe that there is a definite place for demonstrations.

I share (with some considerable trepidation) Revdode's concerns about crowds and conflict - my inspiration: www.WeAreEverywhere.org

GD · Post by GD » 27 Jun 2005, 16:51

theeggman wrote:I'm leafletting for FoE on the Saturday, but could do something Friday night or Sunday - where would I get leaflets from?

Hello again eggman!
As a bit of an aside, do the FoE have a stance on Peak Oil at all, and if so what is it?

GD

theeggman · Post by **theeggman** » 28 Jun 2005, 18:27

Hiya GD, I don't think I've read anything yet from FoE on Peak Oil, but after the weekend I'll be a lot clearer and I'll let you know what they say. There are lots of opportunities to get messages to the G8 leaders, e.g. on bits of white cloth, but I don't know whether any will actually get read! (I doubt it). I wish we had some leaflets, as Edinburgh would have been a good opportunity to spread the word. Did you do your "End of Suburbia" screening?

GD · Post by GD » 28 Jun 2005, 20:27

theeggman wrote:Did you do your "End of Suburbia" screening?

Not a "proper" one, no. I've been getting family / friends to see it first. They might not do much for the time being, but at least now they know.

And down here in Devon, so far I'm passing it around my friends / colleagues and will soon contact some NGO's like FoE and action groups... Best to gather some willing support first!

isenhand · Post by **isenhand** » 29 Jun 2005, 10:15

Here is something about protests at the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4115132.stm

theeggman · Post by **theeggman** » 29 Jun 2005, 12:31

Interesting article thanks Isenhand. Now Custard pies is a whole topic in itself.....

There is so much more happening in Edinbugh & area than just a protest march. Workshops, plenaries, talks, rebel clown army, discussions, eco campsites, people's golf championship, concerts..... all about a different way of life that doesn't support war, poverty and environmental damage.

It will be interesting to see how the whole thing gets reported in the media, i.e. whether they emphasise any negatives, but I am convinced that there will be so many positive things to come from this event and that people will be inspired by the things they see, hear and feel.

Any anti-globilasation measures or those to combat climate change that turn out to be successful can only be beneficial to us Peakniks can't they?

theeggman · Post by **theeggman** » 09 Jul 2005, 09:38

Just a quick update - I'm still shattered after deciding to stay on in Scotland for the whole week after all and go to Gleneagles.

As I'm sure you are aware, all is not remotely like it is shown in the media. There are lots of alternative accounts on Indymedia http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2005/g8/ and I can say that many of these much more closely resemble the truth as I witnessed it.

I spoke to many members of FoE and couldn't find anyone who had any real knowledge of Peak Oil which is very suprising when you consider the impact it will have on the main topic "Climate Change".

I think we have a long way to go in promotion of knowledge of Peak Oil so I'm off to read the relevant forum articles to see how we are getting on with our campaign.