[g8-sheffield] Terror n torture

[Philippe Deux]

> 


> p.s. I'm more sort of arguing with myself here - just openly trying 
> to find some ways through to make June something different.  It's a 
> very, very rare chance that won't come again.  The spirit of the War 
> or Terror is coming to visit!  What are we going to do?
> 
> It seems to me that Derby has made a few people say, 'well - we don't
>  just want to end up in a protest pen!' But equally, the vital thing 
> about protest - however 'successful' - has always been to make it 
> clear to all that there *is* opposition.  We need to do something. So
> - what are we going to do?

Dan, it seems to me that you are really *glad* that the g8 summit is
being held in this country. (!)
You have a point there about the terrorist threat (i mean, in the face
of the media) but surely there are means , resources, equipments and the
hidden paraphernalia already protecting the summit,
my thesis is that enormous sums of money are being wasted because the
level of protesters (not terrorists) is much smaller than what is being
said. It 's been swollen , blown up to appear much more dangerous than
what it is (any *violence* in Derby?). Then someone asks us (a newly
created g8-sheffield) to make an oath that we won't be *violent* when
from the beginning to me at least it was clear that we are peaceful as
sheep may be.
So that would be adding insult to injury too.
Now some other entrepreneurial souls here have decided to use the topics
issues around the g8  to build up actions, performances, lectures, etc.
to whom the g8 might be an opportunity as to become profitable.




Dan wrote:

> Yes, they use terrorism as a justification for war, oppression, and 
> keeping us in fear.  ("Of course the people don't want war... etc")
> 
> My point is - none of this changes that fact that there is, in fact, 
> a terrorist threat.  (One year on from the Madrid bombings, who would
>  deny the threat still exists?  Except perhaps a few folk who think 
> governments would bomb their own citizens for political capital?  I 
> personally think we should get as far away from such conspiracy 
> theories as humanly possible.)
> 
> And of course, there's a blurring of the line between terrorism and 
> 'violent protest' (as the Star predicts will happen in June.)  Which 
> is why we need to be all the sharper in making the distinctions 
> crystal clear - to the media especially.
> 
> Going about shouting "bush, blair, CIA, how many kids did you kill 
> today?" ain't gonna do that.
> 
> The cordon in Derby checked a top official of the World Bank several 
> times before he got through.  Cars and personnel were all checked 
> thoroughly. The police need a strategy for both making sure they do 
> everything to stop a bomb attack - and however unlikely, it's not 
> impossible - as well as containing protestors.  If I were in charge 
> of policing such an event, protestors would be the least of my 
> worries. I'm not saying it's a good thing - I'm just saying it's a 
> thing!  And replying, 'they need terrorism to justify permanent war' 
> still does nothing to actually address the fact of that terrorism, or
>  the use of it to engender more fear. *This* is what I'm saying we 
> have to imagine some way of dealing with - along with shining a light
>  (as much as we can) on things like the global torture network / arms
>  fairs in London / erosion of civil liberties...
> 
> And I'd also say that the global oil system is much more heavily 
> dependent on the fact that people continue to buy cars, and our goods
>  transport continues to need oil.  If you got rid of the fear, I 
> don't think anyone would be casting off their vehicles suddenly, or 
> that we'd need our ocean and road goods networks any less, to keep 
> ourselves kept in the style to which we're accustomed.
> 
> p.s. I'm more sort of arguing with myself here - just openly trying 
> to find some ways through to make June something different.  It's a 
> very, very rare chance that won't come again.  The spirit of the War 
> or Terror is coming to visit!  What are we going to do?
> 
> It seems to me that Derby has made a few people say, 'well - we don't
>  just want to end up in a protest pen!' But equally, the vital thing 
> about protest - however 'successful' - has always been to make it 
> clear to all that there *is* opposition.  We need to do something. So
> - what are we going to do?
> 
> Dan ----
> 
> Chris wrote:
> 
>> Hi
>> 
>> On Mon 21-Mar-2005 at 10:25:56AM +0000, Dan wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>> We can argue all we like about 'yeah, but they're terrorists 
>>> too!'  Nevertheless, the threat exists. That's what they're 
>>> mainly policing, not us.
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Eh? The police operation in Derby was aimed at preventing any 
>> decent protests happening and wasn't about preventing a terrorist 
>> attack on the city...
>> 
>> 
>>> Is G8 Sheffield against both?
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Of course!
>> 
>> They appear to me to be two sides of the same coin -- the UK / US 
>> governments / global capitalist oil based system currently is 
>> heavily dependant on fear of terrorism, it's this centuries 
>> equilivant of the cold war. They need terrorism to justify their 
>> permanant war.
>> 
>> Chris
>> 
>> 
>> 
> 
> _______________________________________________ g8-sheffield mailing 
> list g8-sheffield at lists.aktivix.org 
> http://lists.aktivix.org/mailman/listinfo/g8-sheffield
> 
> 


-- 
------
"It's hard to differentiate schizophrenic ramblings like 'Modernity
chunk where the sink goes flying on the ping-pang' from legitimate
terminology like 'Unstable equilibria lie on the nodal points of a
separatrix in phase space."
apologies for any cross-posting.

==========
  Norther Bulletin News Service
==========

Resists G8 Sheffield "Letter to G8" – asks governments behind the G8 to
disband – Press release- Press conference, (date, place, contact)

resist g8 2005 – media coverage – www.agp.org


Press Release Wednesday xxxxxxx 2005

Over 2005, the UK holds the Presidency of the G8, and over this year
will be hosting a series of ministerial meetings around the UK,
culminating in the heads of state summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, on
6-8th July Ministers from the G8 countries will gather to discuss a
range of issues from security, trade, relations with developing
countries, energy and the environment. Even domestic issues, such as
employment will be discussed. The meeting to be held in Sheffield will
be on justice and home affairs issues, including including
counter-terrorism, migration, law enforcement, legal affairs and hi-tech
crime.
Over the past several years G8 Summits have been a focus for protests
and counter summits. Following the Peoples Global Action call for a
united global day of action in 1998, the Summit protests have, however,
grown and strengthened, forcing the G8 Summits to more inaccesible
locations with ever increasing security costs. The venue for the
Ministerial meetings in Sheffield and the security implications that
will follow are not yet known.

In the words of activist Casey Vayan Todos:  "TV cameras will show
contextless images, newspapers will report the protests as isolated
aberrations, "failures of the democratic process". Those who are there
will know better, that we're reaching towards a better, more directly
democratic idea. We know that with the chains we break and the
friendships we make this summer, we will take more steps towards
building the new world that exists in all of our hearts."
A petition for the G8 to disband will be distributed for further
publication.
Press Conference - Home Office, London - Thursday 3rd March 12.00 noon









For years anti-detention and anti-racist campaigners have been
highlighting alleged violence and abuse against immigration detainees by
Home Office contractors during detention and the removal process.

Many of our allegations have been substantiated by various government
reports but little has changed.

For the last 9 months we have provided input into the BBC's 60 minute
"Asylum Undercover" documentary which will be broadcast on BBC1
Wednesday 2nd March at 9pm

"The Real Story goes undercover to expose evidence of racism and
violence at the heart of UK's asylum system. Over a period of three
months, two BBC journalists worked undercover in a detention centre and
for a company that escorts asylum seekers and immigrants around the
country. Their investigation uncovers disturbing evidence of a culture
of violence, abuse and assaults against detainees. Contains very strong
language."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcone/listings/programme.shtml?day=wednesday&service_id=4223&filename=20050302/20050302_2100_4223_57791_60

Despite a wealth of reports from detainees, anti-detention campaigners,
government officials, and independent monitory bodies - perpetrators of
violence and abuse against detainees have not been adequately held to
account and, indeed, the private profit making companies involved have
been rewarded with further lucrative contracts, the details of which
often remain "commercially confidential".

No less significant than racism and physical violence are the less
visible abuses which undermine asylum claims - unreasonable asylum
determinations based on flawed material, lack of legal representation
and the erosion of access to appeal rights.

Press Conference - Home Office, London - Thursday 3rd March 12.00 noon
--
   Disclaimer:



In support of global demonstrations against xxxxxx
, a broad grouping of people will protest on XXXXXto educate people of
Sheffield about the negative impacts of Capitalism.

Protests begin at XXXpm at the XXXX, 11-16 XXXXXX
Press Contact:	xXXXXXX or XXXX: 089999333

On Tuesday 26 September a group of Belfast residents plan to highlight
problems created by the governments behind the G8 summit.  While many
people consider these institutions to only create problems in developing
countries, local activists point out that the economic liberalisation
policies  advocate can be traced to Brightside in Sheffield. These
concerns are the same as those echoed by thousands of protesters on the
streets everywhere.  Activists claim that G8 policies can be addressed
by consumers here in Sheffield.

Over 2005, the UK holds the Presidency of the G8, and over this year
will be hosting a series of ministerial meetings around the UK,
culminating in the heads of state summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, on
6-8th July Ministers from the G8 countries will gather to discuss a
range of issues from security, trade, relations with developing
countries, energy and the environment. Even domestic issues, such as
employment will be discussed. The meeting to be held in Sheffield will
be on justice and home affairs issues, including including
counter-terrorism, migration, law enforcement, legal affairs and hi-tech
crime.
Over the past several years G8 Summits have been a focus for protests
and counter summits. Following the Peoples Global Action call for a
united global day of action in 1998, the Summit protests have, however,
grown and strengthened, forcing the G8 Summits to more inaccesible
locations with ever increasing security costs. The venue for the
Ministerial meetings in Sheffield and the security implications that
will follow are not yet known. Organiser XXXXXXXX  explains why the
Belfast S26 collective is protesting outside of the Ulster Bank.  “The
world's major banks are involved in underwriting or selling bonds in the
World Bank.  This includes the Ulster Bank, part of the Natwest Group,
and HSBC and Barclays Bank.” Instead of helping the poor, these funds
are then passed on to multinationals like Exxon who have recently been
handed millions to fund a 600 mile oil pipeline from Chad to Cameroon,
which will wreck the local environment and destroy local communities.
“These banks are trading in misery for the Third World and reaping the
profits from environmental destruction. Demand that these institutions
divest from the World Bank – and boycott World Bank bonds.”

Event organiser Jason Kirkpatrick also expressed concern about global
labour policies of Disney, explaining that workers in Haiti and China
have their basic human rights violated in order to bring cheap Mickey
Mouse tee shirts to Belfast.  “Workers live in appalling conditions and
are forced to meet production quotas in Haiti that are impossible to
meet.  Because they can’t meet the quotas, they only receive pay valued
at less than a pound a day.”  Similar conditions exist in China and one
worker there recently stated that her Chinese co-workers at the plant
making Disney clothes had no hopes and no dreams for themselves or their
families. (www.cleanclothes.org)

Spokesperson for the Derry S26 collective, Goretti Horgan, says "there
are so many reasons to protest against the IMF and World Bank, it's hard
to know where to start. But it's clear from our campaigning on the
streets of Derry that the majority of people here want to see third
world debt scrapped immediately. Ms. Horgan claims that "The
International Monetary Fund (IMF) which is meeting in Prague this week
squeezes billions from the poor. Between 1980 and 1992 the poorest
countries paid 3 times more to the IMF and World Bank than their
original debt. The debt burden of the poorest countries kills 19,000
children every day. The poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa owe more
than £300 billion in debts. In Ethiopia debt repayments are four times
greater than spending on health. In Tanzania, where 40 percent of people
die before the age of 35, debt repayments are six times more than health
spending.”  (More IMF/World Bank info at: www.inpeg.org)

The Belfast group urges community groups, trade unions, families, young
people, and anyone concerned with the future of Sheffield to attend
demonstrations on xxxx.  Protests begin at 3:30pm at the xxxxxxxx, and
proceed up Royal Avenue.

For further information, see:  http://praha.indymedia.org/, or the S26
site at:   http://www.x21.org/s26/

SADY, NCADC and CARF invite you to a Press Conference outside the office
of the
Home Secretary
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
SADY, NCADC and CARF