[g8-sheffield] Re: g8-sheffield Digest, Vol 5, Issue 12

Chris Malins chrismalins at gmail.com
Fri Jul 15 16:41:02 BST 2005


Excellent in the sense that...

IAN WALLACE wrote:
> In response to Dan and anybody else who 'likes' the quote from the SWP 
> conference bulletin. The quote is excellent. Nothing wrong with it at 
> all. As anybody who has built a 'local' (eg Nether Edge) anti war group 
> will know.
> Ian 
> 
> */g8-sheffield-request at lists.aktivix.org/* wrote:
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> 
>     Today's Topics:
> 
>     1. Why SWP undermined social forums? (Dan)
>     2. Re: [ssf] Why SWP undermined social forums? (Chris Malins)
>     3. Re: [ssf] Why SWP undermined social forums? (Alan Dawson)
>     4. Re: [matilda] Sheffield Hacklab proposal we have the
>     (worldwarfree at riseup.net)
>     5. Statement on the policing of protests (adriana)
> 
> 
>     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>     Message: 1
>     Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 15:34:34 +0100
>     From: Dan
>     Subject: [g8-sheffield] Why SWP undermined social forums?
>     To: SF UK , SSF
>     , G8 Sheffield
>     Message-ID: <42D677FA.7060402 at aktivix.org>
>     Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
> 
>     Hey up,
> 
>     Just got forwarded this little snippet from the Conference proceedings
>     of 2004 SWP annual conference. As usual, I really can't quite believe
>     anyone would be so stupid. Sectarian? Oh yeah - we're sectarian if we
>     don't do what the SWP thinks is right - I forget. Bloody hell - I
>     try to
>     get over it and just chill out, then I read something like this! AAAUGH!
> 
>     “Because of the presence revolutionary socialists in the leadership of
>     the Stop the War Coalition! , the anti-war movement has come to
>     occupy the
>     radical space occupied in France by ATTAC or in Italy by the social
>     forums and, later, the anti-war movement.
> 
>     "This is why attempts by the sectarian left to supplant the Stop the
>     War
>     Coalition by social forums have failed and deserve to fail. Such
>     attempts, portrayed as a programmatic shift to left (because social
>     forums raise issues of economic exploitation as well as war), would in
>     practice be a move to the right because they undermine the attempt to
>     break the Blair government over the issue on which it is most
>     vulnerable.”
> 
>     http://www.swp.org.uk/resources/Conference2004.pdf
> 
>     Dan
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     ------------------------------
> 
>     Message: 2
>     Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 15:54:41 +0100
>     From: Chris Malins
>     Subject: [g8-sheffield] Re: [ssf] Why SWP undermined social forums?
>     To: Dan
>     Cc: SF UK , SSF
>     , G8 Sheffield
>     Message-ID: <42D67CB1.8040609 at gmail.com>
>     Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
> 
>     Lets focus on breaking the Blair government, that way if we're really
>     lucky we'll get the Tories back in. Any attempt to have an intelligent
>     political dialogue which could suggest a solution other than
>     oscillatory
>     two party politics is a swing to the right. Love the SWP.
> 
>     Dan wrote:
>      > Hey up,
>      >
>      > Just got forwarded this little snippet from the Conference
>     proceedings
>      > of 2004 SWP annual conference. As usual, I really can't quite
>     believe
>      > anyone would be so stupid. Sectarian? Oh yeah - we're sectarian
>     if we
>      > don't do what the SWP thinks is right - I forget. Bloody hell - I
>     try to
>      > get over it and just chill out, then I read something like this!
>     AAAUGH!
>      >
>      > “Because of the presence revolutionary soci! alists in the
>     leadership of
>      > the Stop the War Coalition, the anti-war movement has come to
>     occupy the
>      > radical space occupied in France by ATTAC or in Italy by the social
>      > forums and, later, the anti-war movement.
>      >
>      > "This is why attempts by the sectarian left to supplant the Stop
>     the War
>      > Coalition by social forums have failed and deserve to fail. Such
>      > attempts, portrayed as a programmatic shift to left (because social
>      > forums raise issues of economic exploitation as well as war),
>     would in
>      > practice be a move to the right because they undermine the
>     attempt to
>      > break the Blair government over the issue on which it is most
>     vulnerable.”
>      >
>      > http://www.swp.org.uk/resources/Conference2004.pdf
>      >
>      > Dan
>      >
>      >
>      >
>      > _______________________________________________
>      > ssf mailing list
>      > ssf at lists.aktivix.org
>      > http://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/ssf
>      >
> 
>     ------------------------------
> 
>     Message: 3
>     Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 16:07:48 +0100
>     From: Alan Dawson
>     Subject: [g8-sheffield] Re: [ssf] Why SWP undermined social forums?
>     To: Dan
>     Cc: SF UK , SSF
>     , G8 Sheffield
>     Message-ID: <1121353668.42d67fc486f37 at springnight.burngreave.net>
>     Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
>     Quoting Dan :
> 
> 
>      > "This is why attempts by the sectarian left to supplant the Stop
>     the War
>      > Coalition by social forums have failed and deserve to fail. Such
>      > attempts, portrayed as a programmatic shift to left (because social
>      > forums raise issues of economic exploitation as well as war),
>     would in
>      > practice be a move to the right because they undermine the
>     attempt to
>      >! ; break the Blair government over the issue on which it is most
>     vulnerable.”
>      >
> 
>     "You are a slow learner," said O'Brien gently. "How can I help it?"
>     Winston
>     blubbered. "How can I help seeing what is in front of my eyes? Two
>     and two are
>     four."
> 
>     "Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes they are five. Sometimes they are three.
>     Sometimes they are all of them at once. You must try harder. It is
>     not easy to
>     become sane," O'Brien shrieked. "You must love Big Brother. It is
>     not enough to
>     obey him .... Room 101!"
> 
>     AED
>     -- 
>     "If you make decisions about software -- or anything -- based solely on
>     short-term cost and benefit, someone with a longer view can easily
>     manoeuver you into a trap from which it is hard to escape."
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     ------------------------------
> 
>     Message: 4
>     Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:38:23 -0700
>     From: worldwarfree at riseup.net
>     Subject: [g8-sheffield] Re: [matilda] Sheffield Hacklab proposal we
>     have the
>     To: Chr! is
>     Cc: "M.A.T.I.L.D.A." , Sheffield IMC
>     , "List for organising protests at
>     the G8 meeting in Sheffield."
>     Message-ID: <1121362703.42d6a30f2b2ba at mail.riseup.net>
>     Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
>     wood tools. a room with own front door onto matlida street.. In the
>     next few
>     days ill draw some lose ideas ie plans onto paper.. was thinking of just
>     takeing down the benches where the lab is now.. haveing looked it
>     would be to
>     much of a job.. there is enough wood to create new desktops.. we
>     have all the
>     computers including scanner printer ill bung in two cd burners.. i
>     reckon talk
>     monday come up with a day for building the benches into the room..
>     doing other
>     task such as fixing locks repairing the broken windows cleaning the
>     stairs
>     toilet and kitchen area.. it might be cool to get some paint from re
>     paint do a
>     ! re paint on the space as we are doing the other work.. then move
>     in the donated
>     computers.. set up the net work and we should be running.. ill bung
>     these
>     thoughts onto paper with the plans.. all we are in need off is some
>     chairs and
>     kitchen stuff ie mugs kettle that kind of shit.. all the other stuff
>     we need is
>     here in the space.. so with a weekend of hardish work we could have
>     the space
>     running..
> 
>     0742
> 
>     ------------------------------
> 
>     Message: 5
>     Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 23:29:59 +0100
>     From: adriana
>     Subject: [g8-sheffield] Statement on the policing of protests
>     To: g8-sheffield at lists.aktivix.org
>     Message-ID: <42D6E767.8020209 at mixmail.com>
>     Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
> 
>      >>>> >>Sorry if you already have received this report. There is a call
>     for witnesses of arrests on last paragraphs and useful contact numbers
>     for those concerned.
> 
>      >> >&! gt; Updates will continue to appear on the G8 Legal Support
>     Group
>     website:
>      >>>> >> www.g8legalsupport.info
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> The G8 Legal Support Group can be contacted by email:
>      >>>> >> g8legalsupport at riseup.net
> 
> 
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> Initial Statement on the Policing of the Protests against
>     the G8 in
>      >>>> >> Scotland in July 2005
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> G8 Legal Support Group
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> During the protests against the G8 over 700 people were
>     detained by the
>      >>>> >> police, often overnight, and around 354 people have been
>     arrested and
>      >>>> >> charged. The cou! rts have imposed draconian bail conditions,
>     not only
>      >>>> >> preventing those arrested from continuing their protests
>     against the G8
>      >>>> >> summit, but forcing those not resident in Scotland to leave
>     at an
>      >>>> >> impossible speed. As a direct result of this tactic, some
>     people have
>      >>>> >> been rearrested for breach of bail. People unable to give an
>     address
> 
>     in
> 
>      >>>> >> the UK have been remanded in prison, even though in all the
>     cases we
> 
>     are
> 
>      >>>> >> aware of, none faces serious enough charges to result in a
>     prison
>      >>>> >> sentence
>      >>>> >> even if convicted. Amongst those remanded in custody is one
>     person
> 
>     aged
> 
>      >>>> >> 16 and a woman with a child.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>! ;> >> The police made widespread use and abuse of powers under
>     Section 60 of
>      >>>> >> the
>      >>>> >> Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994. This section is
>     supposed to
>      >>>> >> be
>      >>>> >> used to search for weapons. However it has been used as a
>     blanket
>      >>>> >> authority to stop and search in a manner designed simply to
>     intimidate
>      >>>> >> protesters. For example, everyone attending the protest at
>     Dungavel
>      >>>> >> Detention Centre was subject to a bag search. At the Hori-zone
>      >>>> >> ecovillage
>      >>>> >> in Stirling, the police at times searched everyone who came
>     and
>     went.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> The police also often placed protesters in cordons, the
>     legality of
>      >>&g! t;> >> which
>      >>>> >> is still uncertain, detaining people for many hours. At the
>     Hori-zone
>      >>>> >> ecovillage in Stirling for long periods of time the poilce
>     refused to
>      >>>> >> let
>      >>>> >> anyone leave. No legal justification was provided for this
>     abuse of
>      >>>> >> power.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> The police also banned protests. They cancelled the G8
>     Alternatives
>      >>>> >> demo
>      >>>> >> at Gleneagles "for reasons of public safety" and this led to
>     coaches of
>      >>>> >> protesters being detented on a roundabout eleven miles away
>     from
>      >>>> >> Auchterarder for an hour. Eventually the protest was
>     allowed to go
>      >>>> >> ahead.
>      >>>> >> On the this and! other days many protesters were arrested
>     whilst
>      >>>> >> travelling
>      >>>> >> to protests and held for alleged conspiracy. At Waverly train
>     station
>      >>>> >> in
>      >>>> >> Edinburgh peole were prevented from holding a spontanous
>     protest
> 
>     against
> 
>      >>>> >> the ongoing 'war on terror'.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> The public were prevented from attending the sheriff's court,
>     meaning
>      >>>> >> that
>      >>>> >> people faced the court without support from friends.
>     Apparently the
>      >>>> >> reason was that their may be protests at Court, although there
>     had been
>      >>>> >> no
>      >>>> >> actual protests just groups of concerned friends.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> Finally we note that this was the largest policing operation
>     ever seen
>      >>>> >> in
>      >>>> >> the UK. The state was clearly prepared to devote unlimited
>     resources
> 
>     to
> 
>      >>>> >> the policing operation, all with the sole aim of preventing
>     the
>     leaders
>      >>>> >> of
>      >>>> >> the G8 of being aware of the popular discontent with their
>     policies and
>      >>>> >> the effect of those policies on the vast majority of the worlds
>      >>>> >> population.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> For these reasons we unreservedly condemn the policing of the
>     protests
>      >>>> >> at
>      >>>> >> the G8 summit in Scotland in July 2005.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> NOTES
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> Updates will continue to appear on the G8 Legal Support Group
>     website:
>      >>>> >> www.g8legalsupport.info
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> The G8 Legal Support Group can be contacted by email:
>      >>>> >> g8legalsupport at riseup.net
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> The G8 Legal Support Group urgently needs to hear from
>     witnesses to
>      >>>> >> arrests. Please email us or complete the witness form on our
>     website.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> The G8 Legal Support Group will issue a full report on the
>     Policing of
>      >>>> >> the
>      >>>> >> Protests against the G8 in Scot! land in July 2005 in due
>     course.
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> A prisoner support group is being set up. Contact: July 2005
>     Prisoner
>      >>>> >> Support Group, c/o 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh, EH7
>     5HA.
> 
>     Phone:
> 
>      >>>> >> 0131 208 0767 Email: july2005solidarity at yahoo.co.uk
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> www.ldmg.org.uk
>      >>>> >> Postal address: LDMG, C/o BM Haven, London WC1N 3XX
>      >>>> >>
>      >>>> >> ---------------------------------
>     -- 
> 
> 
>     Please, never despise the translator. She is the mailman of human
>     civilisation.
>     (Pushkin).
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     ------------------------------
> 
>     _______________________________________________
>     http://www.sheffield.dissent.org.uk/
>     http://wiki.sheffieldsocialforum.org.uk/G8
>     g8-sheffield mailing list
>     g8-sheffield at lists.aktivix.org
>     http://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/g8-sheffield
> 
> 
>     End of g8-sheffield Digest, Vol 5, Issue 12
>     *******************************************
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
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> http://wiki.sheffieldsocialforum.org.uk/G8
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