[Dissent-announce] Dissent! Update (accommodation/travel, and all that)

[jono]

G8 Summit 2005: Dissent! Update.

Important information about anti-G8 Summit activities in Scotland, 
including arrival and accommodation.

The following sections are included:

(1) General, (2) Transport to the Summit (3) Arrival in Edinburgh (4) 
Accommodation in Edinburgh (5) Arrival in Glasgow (6) Accommodation in 
Glasgow (7) Rural Convergence Space (8) Timetable of actions.

Protests and Resistance to the 2005 G8 Summit looks likely to be enormous. 
Many people are arriving now, and asking about accommodation and getting 
further involved. Others are asking about convergence spaces and 
accommodation for the days leading up to and during the Summit. This 
article should give the basic information you require, or point to sources 
of more information.

Note, it appears that as the authorities cannot publicly disagree with the 
sentiment to Make Poverty History', and hence the protests, they are 
attempting to limit numbers coming here by highlighting a supposed lack of 
accommodation. The police and media regularly intimidate anyone offering 
space to those against the G8, of any political stripe. Do not be 
intimidated by this. There is legal accommodation for those who require 
it, but perhaps not enough for everybody. Families and those with other 
legal concerns will be prioritised with legal places to stay. There are 
plenty of other accommodation options. There are already sorted 
convergence spaces.

Finally, we need more people to get involved now, resources and money. 
Help out with all of the below, donate things we need 
(http://www.dissent.org.uk/content/view/195/125/), or donation against the 
G8! (http://www.tenpounds.org/)

1. GENERAL


If you coming to protest and resist the G8 be as self sufficient as 
possible. Bring a tent, sleeping bag, waterproofs, warm clothes, strong 
footware, plate, cup and cutlery and an imagination! In general head for 
convergence spaces' - places where people can find information, meet, 
socialise, organise actions and get cheap food. Some convergence spaces 
offer accommodation.

Enquiries can be sent to dissent-enquiries at riseup.net or telephone 07913 
263 515. But always check the website and websearch (google') your enquiry 
first. You can also call the following numbers Edinburgh numbers: 0131 477 
2954 (London Road Anti-G8 office), and  0131 561 1356 (Leith Walk 
InfoPoint).

There will be a free newspaper for the protests, with all the practical 
information you need. Look out for this.

2. TRANSPORT TO THE SUMMIT PROTESTS.


Anti-G8 Transport Hubs, offering lifts, and explanations of how to get to 
Scotland, from the rest of the UK and from Europe as cheap as possible are 
here: [http://www.cambridgeaction.net/taxonomy/page/or/2934]. You can add 
your transport offers here too.

Special trains from London to Edinburgh can be booked now at 
[www.resistg8.org.uk]. Book now to guarantee a place.

Transport is also being organised by other mobilisations. See: 
[http://www.resist.org.uk/reports/archive/g82005/g82005-05.php] or 
[http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/mph/transport/view.do?code=G8]


3. ARRIVAL IN EDINBURGH


Go to Edinburgh Dissent! InfoPoint now open, 24 hours per day at:
10 Albert Place, Leith Walk, Edinburgh. EH7 5HN.

Forest Caf, 3 Bristo Place, is a volunteer-run caf and arts space, and is 
also a useful point of information. It has a big Anti-G8 noticeboard with 
info about meetings. The street entrance next to Forest Caf will go to the 
Indymedia space above, setup from 25th June.

University Convergence Space. Part of Edinburgh student union is booked 
for Dissent! to hold convergence meetings, and workshops etc., from 29th 
July to 7th July. The address is Teviot buildings, Edinburgh Students 
Union Building, Bristo Square, Edinburgh.
Other parts of the university are being used by other groups.

4. ACCOMMODATION IN EDINBURGH.


Before the Summit:
Goto the Dissent! infoshop, 10 Albert Place, Leith Walk, see above 
section, and we will find you somewhere from there. Exact accommodation 
will depend on numbers, and specific needs. Prepare to be flexible! It may 
be necessary to send people to Glasgow for accommodation before the 1st 
July. We are still actively looking for large warehouse space, and all 
other avenues. However, options in Edinburgh are almost exhausted.

During the Summit:
Our ideal scenario is to have a legal self-managed space for the week. 
However, the attitude of the local council, the volume of people expected 
and the focus on the rural convergence site (see below) mean this is not 
yet finalised, and may not be.

The following options exist.
The council is providing camping space on the outskirts of Edinburgh, near 
Craigmillar, a bus ride from town. The cost is likely to be 10 for the 
week. The council has currently put in
place restrictions including potential searches and no meetings, but 
people involved in Dissent! are in dialogue with the council to remove 
these restrictions. The space is for 15,000 people, but the council also 
have a long list of back-up accommodation sites.

Concern has been expressed that due to poor community consultation there 
is significant local opposition to site in Craigmiller. Some efforts to 
ensure community support in other parts of Edinburgh to hosting protestors 
are being made.

The local media have repeatedly run stories that people will camp in the 
parks of Edinburgh such as Holyrood, and action will not be taken by the 
police to stop or evict city-centre camping over the week of the main 
protests.


5. ARRIVAL IN GLASGOW.


Goto the Dissent! InfoPoint, open 24 hours a day:

G42 Collective, Suite 3, 674 Pollockshaws Road, Glasgow, G41. This is on 
South Glasgow, get either the 44, 22, 23, 57 in Central Glasgow and ask 
for Eglington Toll. It is approx 30 mins walk from the city centre. If you 
have problems call 07981 954 132.


6. ACCOMMODATION IN GLASGOW.


Before the Summit: goto the G42 Collective space, and you will be directed 
to the Dissent! warehouse sleeping space which is open from now until well 
after the Summit.

During the Summit: the same warehouse space will be available. Additional 
space will be obtained if necessary.

The warehouse space is self-managed and is also used as a convergence 
space for meetings.


7. RURAL CONVEGENCE SPACE.


The rural convergence space will be a large self-managed outdoor space 
near Gleneagles: a space for all who aspire to radical decentralized 
alternatives to capital, power and ecological collapse. A place to meet, 
chat, eat, sleep, organise, and more.

Over the past 6 months, people from the Dissent! network have been trying 
to secure a large piece of land near Gleneagles. Lots of sites have fallen 
through which appears to have happened because of police pressure. The 
police appear happier to see people in the cities, as they know that the 
area close to Gleneagles is where we can really shut the G8 down!

We have now been offered a site, but are still negotiating for yet more 
rural space as the land isn't as big as some of the others. To put an end 
to rumour we make clear that it is not on the site of an old landfill, but 
nearby one filled in over 20 yrs ago. It is large enough for thousands to 
sleep, eat, plan and act from. Families and those with other legal 
concerns will be prioritised space to stay on the legal sites. Other 
people may want to form autonomous camping sites in the beautiful Scottish 
countryside around Gleneagles.

The rural convergence space will operate around a "neighborhood" system, 
similar to the "barrio" system used at some previous resistance camps. 
Neighborhoods will host camping, eating and meeting together and will be 
the focal point of decision making on the site. The neighborhoods will be 
information and discussion areas to aid communication across the site and 
beyond. Inter-neighborhood meetings will manage the whole site.
Many groups are already hosting neighbourhoods but more are needed. You 
don't need to be a huge group or have loads of equipment to host a 
neighbourhood. The neighborhoods should be self running, once people start 
arriving. The aim is for each neighborhood to be as autonomous as 
possible, with its own kitchen or food serving facilities, 
alternative-technology power sources and meeting space. A neighborhood 
could also include anything else you would like to bring, like a library, 
cinema, crche or spaceship.
A site plan has been created by the 40+ participants at the recent Earth 
Activist training course'. People are needed to be on site setting up the 
space on the 25th June until the site opens.

Lots of stuff is needed for the site, see 
http://www.dissent.org.uk/content/view/195/125/ for the full list. Please 
provide what you can. Transport is available to get larger objects to the 
site, although if you can find a way of getting it here yourself, then all 
the better.

The site will be open to all from the 1st June. Bring a tent and your 
dreams of another world!

8. PUBLIC ACTIONS, DEMOSTRATIONS AND PROTESTS.


Late June
Rural Convergence Centre, with accommodation, opens near Gleneagles. Open 
to everyone. Camping equipment required.  www.g8convergence2005.org

>From Saturday 11th June
Cre8 Summat. Cre8 a community garden and social space along the proposed 
and widely opposed M74 motorway, Glasgow, until 18 June.
See Cre8 section.

Friday 17 June
Anti-G8 Bike Ride, leaves Brighton for Scotland.
www.g8bikeride.org.uk

Sunday 29 June
Cre8 Summat. Community festival, Glasgow, until 3 July.

Saturday 2 July
Make Poverty History demonstration, Edinburgh

Sunday 3 July
Make Borders History. Tour in Glasgow
www.makebordershistory.org

Monday 4 July
Day of Action against the armed wing of global capitalism. Blockade of 
Faslane nuclear submarine base. www.faslaneg8.com

Carnival for Full Enjoyment, No wage slavery, No Benefits Slavery, No Debt 
Slavery, No Army Slavery. Raucous party visiting the institutions 
responsible for the increasingly insecure way we experience our lives. 
Meet 12.00 @ West End of Princes St, Edinburgh. www.nodeal.org.uk

Tuesday 5 July
Open Borders, Close Dungavel Asylum Seeker Detention Centre! "Close 
Dungavel, No-one is Illegal!" mass protest near Glasgow. Glasgow Campaign 
to Welcome Refugees. glascamref at hotmail.com

Beacons of Dissent! Lighting beacons on the hills to south of the G8 
Summit.

Wednesday 6 July
Mass blockades of the G8 Summit. A diversity of tactics will be used to 
blockade the various routes to Gleneagles. Come along to the Convergence 
Spaces, meet with others and start organising how to disrupt the 
Superpower Summit! www.g8blockades.org.uk

Global Day of Action. An anti-capitalist day of action against the G8 in 
cities, towns and villages worldwide.Peoples' Global Action (PGA): 
www.agp.org

Hill-walking actions in the Ochil Hills, southeast of Gleneagles. 
Continuing throughout the Summit.

Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army's Operation H.A.H.A.A.' (House 
Arresting Half-witted Authoritarian Androids) begins. www.clownarmy.org

Thursday 7 July
Peoples' Golfing Association (PGA) Golf Tournament at Gleneagles! Dress 
for golf, rain or shine. www.dissent.org.uk/pga.html
Friday 8 July
International day of action against the root causes of climate change. 
Stop climate chaos - flood the G8!
www.dissent.org.uk/g8climateaction

Other actions are also being prepared by G8 Feminist Action 
(g8feministaction.frockon.org), a queer anti-G8 group 
(www.queeruption.org.uk/queerg8), an autonomous kids group and many, many 
others.