WEDNESDAY 8th JUNE 2005
There was a `reclaim the streets` protest outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday to demand the right of free demonstrations at Gleneagles and elsewhere. A crowd of around 100 gathered in the bright sunshine outside what Tommy Sheridan calls `A kiddie on Parliament`.
There were several asylum seekers present and some MSPs including Sandra White of the Scottish National Party and 3 members of the Scottish Socialist Party – Colin Fox, Carolyn Leckie and Frances Curran. The two Marks, Mark Ballard and Mark Ruskell represented the Green Party. The banners, placards and posters can be seen in the ten attached photos. There were chants of “Whose Streets? Our Streets!” and “2,4,6,8, we demand to demonstrate!”
I was informed by Sandra White of the SNP that Margaret Curran the Minister for Parliamentary Business had said that the Freedom of Information act was being suspended in the case of Gleneagles and the G8 – a sinister development indeed.
The momentum is growing for the big marches early next month including the `Make poverty history` day on Saturday July 2nd and the demonstration at Gleneagles on Wednesday July 6th at the start of the G8 meeting. There was an all Scotland G8 alternatives meeting at St Georges West, Shandwick Place, Edinburgh on Tuesday 7th June. I estimate between 50 and 100 people were present including MSPs Mark Ballard of the Greens and SSP convenor Colin Fox. The meeting reminded me of the ones leading up to the huge demonstrations of February 15th 2003 when Scotland saw its biggest ever demo in Glasgow when an estimated 100,000 turned up at the Labour Party conference to shout their opposition to Blair’s war. In fact Blair was so scared that day that he made his speech two hours early and ran for it rather than face the public.
There can be no doubt that the July demos in Edinburgh, Faslane and Gleneagles will be huge and difficult for the powers that be to ignore.
The afternoon saw Tom McCabe MSP, minister for finance and public service reform, tell the house that the Parliament “welcomes the opportunities presented by hosting the G8 summit.” John Swinney of the SNP dvocated “arguments for increased International aid” and “welcomes peaceful and organised demonstrations to advance the arguments for increased International aid.” Mark Ballard of the Green Party expressed concern at the undemocratic nature of the G8 given that the G8 countries only represent 13% of the world’s population while making decisions with consequences that are felt world wide. Frances Curran of the SSP argued that the neo liberal policies of the G8 are a major cause of world poverty and said third world debt should be wiped out.
I was present for the debate and noted that while the public gallery, which can hold 225 people, was over half full the floor of the Parliament was only about one quarter full. That means only about 30–35 MSPs out of a total of 129 were present. The public outnumbered them around 4 to 1. What does this tell us?
It suggests there is a greater awareness and concern in the public than many politicians realise or than the press would have us believe. We see the coming G8 protests described as `The Anarchist’s World Cup` and how a `Ring of Steel for G8 Camp` will surround the Jack Kane centre in Niddrie, which conjures up images of trouble makers being fenced in. The negative comments of the press are a sign that the establishment is worried. They say that the city cannot cope with such a huge influx of people – well what about the Festival in August when the population of Edinburgh doubles? Are the hundreds of thousand of visitors then a lot of `Anarchists` and `Trouble Makers`, if not is it because they are relatively wealthy people? The people coming to Edinburgh for the G8 are somehow violent, drunken agitators who have nothing better to do
Who are the really violent people – surely the leaders of the G8 whose policies of war and globalisation cause the deaths of millions? Bush and Blair’s war on Iraq, which was rejected by over 80 % of the world’s population, has cost 100,000 lives alone. Yet they will doubtless be discussing even more wars at Gleneagles – after a nice game of golf and a £70.00 three-course meal. Then they can retire to their £1,500 a night suites and dream of world domination. Huge barricades and 10,000 police and 15,000 military will surround them. Why do they feel the need to hide away? What are they afraid of? Who do they represent? Why can’t some of the protestors go in and speak to them to point out that the majority simply don’t want their awful policies, which bring so much death and destruction around the Globe?
The exact route of the march on Gleneagles is still `up in the air`. Gleneagles railway station is likely to be closed for the duration of the conference as it falls within the 5-mile security zone. It depends on how many people turn up. If say a million came then the sheer weight of numbers might mean the protestors would sweep aside the barricades and join Chirac and co for a cognac and golf! We will have to wait and see. Whatever the exact route there can be doubt that July 6th will be a day to remember and one that the G8 may want to forget!
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