Who's going along to the G20 protests?

[durruti02]

Here's some photos:

what was the deal with the green helmets ed?

 

[editor]

They all said: "Green recovery now, avaaz.org'

I guess someone from that site was dishing them out.

 

[DownwardDog]

That comment just makes you look like a really ignorant bigot. Perhaps that's just what you are.

You're half right.

 

[editor]

You're half right.

You're ignorant or you're a bigot?

 

[Talkie Toaster]

Great photos editor. Good to see you briefly. I'm amazed we didn't meet you earlier, judging by a lot of the photos we must have spent quite a bit of time in the same bit of the march!

 

[Divisive Cotton]

I've just got back - a nice stroll through London at the very least.

What struck me is that there may have been 50,000 people there but within in that there were a 1,000 different positions and causes...

Which, in one way is good, but I can't really see where a movement like that will go - in fact, it's not a movement at all it's just a march.

There were a lot of young faces there.

The march seemed to be cut into two - with one section massively lagging behind the first section. I'm not sure what happened there ...

This lot above seemed to take delight in stopping every ten metres...

We left the anarchists standing around at Speakers Corner with the police keeping an eye on them

 

[Hocus Eye.]

Superb photos Editor, lots of them and plenty of variety.

 

[durruti02]

They all said: "Green recovery now, avaaz.org'

I guess someone from that site was dishing them out.

cheers .. interesting .. a new group .. seems to be something to do with moveon.org .. they claim 3.2 million members :O

http://www.avaaz.org/en/about.php

 

[Borusa]

I'm totally p'd off with things at the moment and really tempted to go. I'm sick to death of hearing all the crap about what needs to be done for the bankers, while your average Joe struggles by worrying if he'll have a job next month.

One of the things that's putting me off is, I've never been on a demo before. I know my friends and family will think it's a waste of time, so if I do go, I'll be going down on my tod.

As I'm now one of the masses who face signing on the dole next month, I've had enough. It seems the only way to highlight what's really happening to people, is to go on a demo down London. The media will probably try and portray everyone as lazy out of work students or anarchist, but by going myself I'll know they're not.

So anybody going from the Birmingham area with space for one more?

 

[gabi]

You miss the point entirely.The G20 are not there to "sort it out" its not like they made a mistake and are ernestly trying to fix it.They are the problem. This crisis is endemic to an economic system that they are still committed to and that they have every intention of safeguarding at our expense.
The discussion at G20 is about the best way to make us pay for a rapidly developing world depression. Its about how to safeguard their interests and the interests of those that they represent. And that will be done by making us, our class, pay the costs of it so their profits will be safeguarded
They know this, and they know whose side they are on, and it aint ours. This really is about taking sides. The G20 demonstrations are about that, about saying we know which side we are on too and it ain't the side of the people in those meetings.

So, what's your solution? Genuine question.

 

[Divisive Cotton]

I'm totally p'd off with things at the moment and really tempted to go. I'm sick to death of hearing all the crap about what needs to be done for the bankers, while your average Joe struggles by worrying if he'll have a job next month.

One of the things that's putting me off is, I've never been on a demo before. I know my friends and family will think it's a waste of time, so if I do go, I'll be going down on my tod.

As I'm now one of the masses who face signing on the dole next month, I've had enough. It seems the only way to highlight what's really happening to people, is to go on a demo down London. The media will probably try and portray everyone as lazy out of work students or anarchist, but by going myself I'll know they're not.

So anybody going from the Birmingham area with space for one more?

You missed it mate unfortunately - it was today, although there is other stuff in London the coming week

 

[editor]

Great photos editor. Good to see you briefly. I'm amazed we didn't meet you earlier, judging by a lot of the photos we must have spent quite a bit of time in the same bit of the march!

Cheers. Some of them could really use a bit of tweaking, but I wanted to get them up quick.

 

[editor]

So, what's your solution? Genuine question.

There is no magic 'solution' yet, but I'd say shaking off complacency, letting the world leaders know that things are most definitely beginning to stir amongst the masses (i.e. voters) and driving the issues to the top of the agenda is as good a start as any.

Today was just the start. As more peoples lives get fucked up more because of the decisions of our 'leaders' who seem to carry on regardless, there's going to be more and more angry folks looking for alternatives - and that's why it's important to start the discussion now and keep re,minding the fuckers that the people should come before business.

As one woman said today: why is it that when things are good those at the top rake it in, but when things get tight, it's always the poor that suffer?

 

[Blagsta]

Are you illiterate or just dim?

At no point have I said that community organising is a sign of weakness, nor have I passed judgement on anybody's fashion specifically, what I have said is that summit based activism, like personal lifestyle choices such as diet or dress sense, is a dead end as a form of political action.

I agree with you as it happens. However, in these circumstances, I think big symobolic actions are needed, as a way of showing anger and also to try to politicise people. Big demos are some people's first contact with being politically active, their way in to making contact with active groups.

 

[Blagsta]

Forgive me for I'm a bit dumb I guess. So the people protesting are anti-capitalism right? They've spent the last 9 years pretty much silent every May Day while the British economy has been running quite nicely thank you very much.

So, in 2009, with capitalism pretty much fucked - NOW they're protesting? What the fuck. Surely they should be celebrating They got what they wanted. I just dont get it. Is it just some warped joke?

Weird. I'd normally be in for a good old fashioned protest, but I really don't get what this one's about. Seems juvenile at best.

Eh?

 

[Blagsta]

So, you *don't* want the 20 most influential people in the world to meet to try to sort these concerns out?

This one seems a bit opportunistic and foolhardy imo. Let them try to sort it out. There's no other choice at this point unfortunately. Why disrupt it? There's no time to waste if you do actually give a shit about the things you list above.

They're the ones that got us in this mess. They have no chance of sorting anything out.

 

[newbie]

The march seemed to be cut into two - with one section massively lagging behind the first section. I'm not sure what happened there ...

the samba band kept stopping and the people in front of them got further and further away. The gap started opening at the bottom of Whitehall and just got wider and wider until we saw the front part of the march vanish into the distance somewhere before Piccadilly. very odd, we couldn't work out if it was some sort of deliberate intention or just random.

 

[paolo]

I joined/snapped at Westminster, and there were some big gaps there already.

From saw a few groups doing stops. At the time I just thought that's the way it works - was a great photo-op for the amateurs and journos alike. But obviously if the group ahead wasn't doing those same kind stops, the gaps were going to get bigger and bigger - as it seems they did.

 

[portman]

Well I went but I'm under no illusions that it will make one jot of difference to the attendees at G20. Aside from the usual suspects turning up - some of whom I thought had faded into obscurity - I did get the impression that there was a decent turn out of younger people. Anyway, here's a link to some of the photos I took today - http://www.flickr.com/photos/27857042@N05/sets/72157616039841886/

 

[tangentlama]

There is no magic 'solution' yet, but I'd say shaking off complacency, letting the world leaders know that things are most definitely beginning to stir amongst the masses (i.e. voters) and driving the issues to the top of the agenda is as good a start as any.

Today was just the start. As more peoples lives get fucked up more because of the decisions of our 'leaders' who seem to carry on regardless, there's going to be more and more angry folks looking for alternatives - and that's why it's important to start the discussion now and keep re,minding the fuckers that the people should come before business.

As one woman said today: why is it that when things are good those at the top rake it in, but when things get tight, it's always the poor that suffer?

^This

 

[Borusa]

You missed it mate unfortunately - it was today, although there is other stuff in London the coming week

The ones later in the week, are the ons I'm interested in. They'll get more attention, with the big wigs in town then.

 

[Garcia Lorca]

One of the things that's putting me off is, I've never been on a demo before. I know my friends and family will think it's a waste of time, so if I do go, I'll be going down on my tod.

dont let that put you off. i goto demos mostly on my own as people around are apathetic to the cause. You l meet plenty of friendly people at them who feel the same and get the same from those around.

 

[toblerone3]

Just making it into Hyde Park now. The crowd is very mixed - loads of Trade Unionists, campaigners and old folks - and although it's ruddy chilly, the vibe is upbeat.

Great to see Offline regulars Barking Bateria at the front of the march!

The Barking Batteria were formed by Chris Knight in 1996. The same Chris Knight who has been interviewed about the effigies from lampposts this week.

 

[Blagsta]

some of my photos

rest here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blagsta/sets/72157615956351181/

 

[cantsin]

So, you *don't* want the 20 most influential people in the world to meet to try to sort these concerns out?

This one seems a bit opportunistic and foolhardy imo. Let them try to sort it out. There's no other choice at this point unfortunately. Why disrupt it? There's no time to waste if you do actually give a shit about the things you list above.

lol - you reaaaaallllly thing that's what the G20's about ????

 

[paolo]

"Let them try to sort it out" - WTF?

That's gobsmacking. I don't have a generic loonspuddy conspiracy hate for world leaders as such, but you're saying that they should make incredibly important decisions in isolation? Not be troubled by public opinion? Fuck, that's like bowing down to a dictator. "We should do what he knows best."

Bollocks to that.

If a handful of people protest outside a small venue, or 40k have a wander through London, or a few million do anti war march... it's good stuff, gets noticed in relative terms, and is something we should cherish.

I'd go as far as "supporting" the countryside alliance demos (whose ideas I couldn't stand) because free speech is fundamentally important.

The idea we should all shut up and "let them get on with it" is ridiculous.

 

[Bernie Gunther]

Look at it this way, the banks were given a huge amount of our money (or money created by mortgaging our grandchildren, to be more accurate) on the basis that it would get them lending to business again in order to prevent recession. Problem is that they have not done so in general. Instead they've used that money to buy other banks or to otherwise consolidate their power.

I think that's worth protesting about myself.

If you want a specific agenda, how about flat-out nationalising the banks and putting civil servants charged with the task of getting the economy going or indeed, random bozos off the street in charge of them?

They could hardly do any worse than the grotesquely overpaid public-school twats who got us into this mess could they?

 

[editor]

The BBC's report goes a fair way to overturn the usual stereotypes about protesters:

Tens of thousands of people have marched through London demanding action on poverty, climate change and jobs, ahead of next week's G20 summit.

The Put People First alliance of 150 charities and unions walked from Embankment to Hyde Park for a rally.

Speakers called on G20 leaders to pursue a new kind of global justice.

Police estimate 35,000 marchers took part in the event. Its organisers say people wanted the chance to air their views peacefully.

Protesters described a "carnival-like atmosphere" with brass bands, piercing whistles and stereos blasting music as the slow-paced procession weaved through the streets....

Families with children in pushchairs were among those marching along the 4.2-mile route under banners with slogans including 'capitalists - you are the crisis' and 'justice for the world's poor'.

As protesters passed the heavily-policed gates of Downing Street, there were chants and jeers with one person shouting "enjoy the overtime".

BBC News reporter Mario Cacciottolo said people were clearly angry, but the atmosphere was not tense.

Milton McKenzie, 73, from Essex, told him: "How the hell can we have a situation here in Britain where we have people out of work and the bankers just cream it off and are helped by the government."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7968721.stm

 

[cesare]

Well I went but I'm under no illusions that it will make one jot of difference to the attendees at G20. Aside from the usual suspects turning up - some of whom I thought had faded into obscurity - I did get the impression that there was a decent turn out of younger people. Anyway, here's a link to some of the photos I took today - http://www.flickr.com/photos/27857042@N05/sets/72157616039841886/

Yep. I really liked your photos, quite different from the normal banner shots.

 

[hp66]

wednesday: sunny intervals
thursday: gray clouds
yeah i'll go & be fluffy rather than watford, watford, watford
fair weather protester, me