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G8 2005, Gleneagles: Repression, Resistance and Clowns

14.07.2005 23:00 | G8 2005 | Globalisation | World

All over Scotland, (dis)organisations as varied as the grassroots network dissent! and the largely conservative coalition "make poverty history" protested against the 2005 G8 summit in Gleneagles. The reasons were as varied as the forms to express disagreement, from marching to blockading, from clowning to filming, from talking to direct action. Although police from all over the UK were busy containing protesters in pens, arresting, searching and holding them under section 60 [Legal Support Group statement], discontent with the G8 agenda was voiced in many significant places and eventually supported by international solidarity.

Read the Full Article for summaries on issues, actions, timelines, repression and resistance in Scotland from Saturday 2 July to Friday 8 July. And check G8 Info for quick links and resources.

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After more than a year of preparations and campaigning, at least 250,000 people came to Scotland to protest at the 2005 G8 summit in Gleneagles. We came for a wide range of reasons and protested in a diversity of ways, while the G8 leaders hid away on a golf course.

Events kicked off on Saturday 2 July with the Make Poverty History march and rally in Edinburgh. As over 200,000 white T-shirts walked around the city, a bloc of some 300 anti-capitalists were detained in a police pen for over 3 hours and denied the right to join the protests.
Sunday saw the Make Borders History tour of Glasgow highlighting the racist asylum and immigration politics of the G8 and other states in closing their borders to people escaping poverty and political persecution. Sunday also marked the start of three counter-conferences in Edinburgh: the Days of Dissent! Turning Ideas into Action 5 day programme; the G8Alternatives 1 day conference; and the NGO-organised Corporate Dream, Global Nightmare.
Faslane, Scotland's nuclear submarine base was blocked and shut down on Monday. A Carnival of Full Enjoyment, in Edinburgh, was called on the same day to resist the daily grind of the institutions that plunge us into overwork, poverty and debt. Instead, it became quickly dubbed the Carnival for Full Policing as events in the city showed how fast a place can be turned into a temporary police state. Protesters, media and bystanders were cordonned-in for hours as Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT) roamed the city, stopping and searching people under section 60 for no obvious reason. The city of Edinburgh came to a stand-still as shoppers and tourists mixed with protestors facing lines of (riot) police and the ever present Clowns.
Different actions took place on Tuesday including a protest at the Dungavel Detention Centre where the authorities had found it necessary to evacute the centre of all detainees before the protests. The eco-village called Hori-zone in Stirling, became the focus of more or less continous searches of people getting in and out of the the camp.

Street blockades met the first day of the G8 on Wednesday. 5000 people marched on Gleneagles. The fence protecting Gleneagles hotel was breached. The day, which saw mass arrests, started quietly at midnight with the early warning Beacons of Dissent lit in the Ochil Hills. At 3:30am hundreds left the Stirling campsite to join the blockades only to clash with riot police. Many were forced back. Others went to occupy roads: the A9 leading to Gleneagles was blocked for several hours. Other blockades included the Kids Tea Party.
The G8Alternatives' coaches taking people mainly from Edinburgh to the March on Gleneagles were stopped by the police for hours. When police unilaterally declared the march cancelled Coach loads were sent back to Edinburgh starting a spontanous demonstration of 700 people in the streets that was again heavily clamped down on. Finally, the majority of the coaches were allowed to Auchterader, the village closest to the Gleneagles Hotel. Around 5,000 people started moving towards the perimeter of the fence, where many paused bringing the entire march to a standstill. A determined group dismantled the fence in front of police lines. Another group of about 700 entered a nearby field moving towards another fence forming the enclosure of the Hotel. This fence was also partially dismantled and a watch tower attacked. The police were forced to use Chinook military helicopters to fly in more riot cops to secure the hotel grounds. [Detailed report]

Actions on Thursday were overshawdowed by the bombs in London, and vigils were held. During the night, the Stirling campsite was encircled by hundreds of riot police blocking activists in come the morning. Mass stop and search tactics continued to hinder people, especially in Stirling where anyone leaving and entering the camp was section 60'd. Friday, the third and final day of the G8 summit saw a subdued day of action on the causes of climate change with a street party in Glasgow and smaller actions in Edinburgh. Protestors in Stirling still found themselves heavily controlled and large groups were stopped from leaving the camp. Despite this, the atmosphere in the camp remained good.

The legal support team estimate that at least 700 people were arrested and 350 charged. Targeted actions of London's FIT teams resulted in several of the arrests. Most people were released with strict bail conditions, having to leave the districs of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and/or Stirling or even Scotland all together. Several people were rearrested for breaching their bail conditions. Section 60 was continuously used to stop and search people. The Wombles became a target of unprecedented police harrasment.

During the days of the G8, solidarity actions took place all over the world.

As the protests and repression were taking place on the streets of Scotland, a summit to deliver Africa into the arms of the G8's corporations and abandon the (already heavily compromised) Kyoto treaty climate change was also happening behind the fences and armed police of Gleneagles. The G8 communique was spun as a triumph but proved all the critics right - there was no deal on trade, debt relief will only be granted to 18 countries and is worth just over $1bn, not the 60 and $45.7bn demanded as a minimum by the conservative Make Poverty History coalition, and the $50bn a year aid increase from the rich countries to the poor will only kick in by 2010 and is some $75bn short of development campaigner's demands. To get these crumbs from the table, Africa must commit to major Western-style economic and political reforms. Geldof and Bono caused outrage from normally mild-mannered NGOs when they described the outcome as "the greatest G8 summit there has ever been for Africa". War on Want and World Development Movement released a joint statement criticising the G8 summit as a betrayal and launched a scathing attack on Bono and Geldof, arguing that they "may be content with crumbs from the table of [their] rich political friends. But we did not come to Gleneagles as beggars. We came to demand justice for the world's poor." Geldof in return branded the NGO's criticism as a "disgrace".


Comments

Hide the following 28 comments

these clowns and their leftie ways

10.07.2005 09:16

why is it a clown bllinks and its photo is on here
are they the new celebs of the actor-vist world?

slow coach


blinking clowns

10.07.2005 11:30

winking would be more apt.

L


Bring in the clowns

10.07.2005 13:58

A clown represents an irony of a social pattern, as the rulers disobey voices of people. Clowns using a mime scetch the attitudes that are performed against those who are deprived of legal regualtions to confess and reject treatment patterns of the rulers. Clowns perform outcasted, whose the last right remained is silence. Clowns repeating sentences perform hope evolved by persisted use of standarized words they shall become understood and get resurrect. Clowns represent the mass society under a spell of those who disobey equity.

No-body


enough blather and clowning

11.07.2005 01:23

It's good to hear I'm not the only one with clown misgivings. Not to be a hater, but I'm already a little over-clowned after only one action and I'm terrified of the years to come as this tactic takes hold. The clowning is great in certain contexts and amounts, but it's ubiquity is already getting me down. I wonder if it serves to diminutize our efforts and casts a contrived "wacky" tint to everything.

none
mail e-mail: none
- Homepage: http://none


To none

11.07.2005 07:38

Now, you have been learning about despair. You may start imagining what to do next and learn of people's feelings confronted with actual despair of deprivation when facing hunger, thirst, war, unemployment, sickness, isolation ... As long as you think, it shall be allright with you. Follow use of advantage of your freedom and change anything if you can. It is not only about solidarity, it is about more. Focus your distinguishing capability at where it suits to our efforts better. Clowns do perfect. You may share their experience and turn yourself in a good direction that is your choice. Don't make yourself worries about clowns who know why. Have you never been a clown? Try out.

No-body


Diversety may be needed...

12.07.2005 00:24

Personally I feel that there needed to be more diversity within the protesting areana.
After all, if we just stick to one tactic in general, than nothing will be acomplished b/c the State and Elite's enforcers will adopt too quickly to our stratagies..
To the Clowns I think personally that it's not as wholly bad as it seems for the anti-capitalist movement....
It creates diversion for the police and thus perhaps, use it to our own advantage to be heard..
On the other hand I do understand the sentiments that the clowns are dismantaling and not helping the movements serious(or perhaps more somber I should say,) side of things...
I agree that there needs to be better orginization and/or planing but that, we should think of other strategics to get our message heard and more importently, to take action.
Perhaps I am too inexperiance at these things to know what the hell I am talking about..Afterall i haven't been to too many protest as of late and Will fully admit my lack of expertise in the area of protests.
But in the end, I feel that diversity is needed and spontanious pockect protests here and there even more so....

C.K.


clowning

12.07.2005 19:46

After reading comments about clowns i must confess to clown misgivings also, even after seeing them in action it became bloody annoying when trying t plan and plot to hear people that you have come to trust and love when working with 'em to hear the response of 'i wanna do some clowning!' please people remember that clowns ain't everything! saying that 'twere bloody funny seeing clowns routing riot cops around charlotte square at the carnival for full enjoyment

kernewek


Clown concerns

13.07.2005 15:58

I for one was bitterly dissapointed in Edinburgh. The clown army had no big feet, no buckets of confetti, no flowers that skooshed water and no big car horn. Thier jokes and japes were of poor quality, and I am begining to think that they were no real clowns. What circus did they run away from......Oxford, Cambridge or Roedean?


Greyfriars Bobby


Clown Car

14.07.2005 03:57

Be funny if the police try to see how many clowns they can fit in a paddywagon.

BadManBizniz


clowns...you must be joking

14.07.2005 12:10

on a personal level i thought the clowns were great, the pigs really didn't know how to handle them, unlike the blackshirts who are really easy to deal with(draw batons and charge)

chris


Raliement des francophones

14.07.2005 13:57

Bonjour !

Ayant participé au G8, suivi les black blocs et la manif de Gleneagles, j’ai rencontré des français et des belges… j’aimerai beaucoup les retrouver pour garder contact (petite idée derrière la tête pour l’avenir avec ceux que ça pourrait tenter)…
Mon mail :  tigraque@hotmail.com

Cédric

Cédric
mail e-mail: tigraque@hotmail.com


American freedom for all the people in the world!

14.07.2005 15:48

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" - Benjamin Franklin

"Live free or die" - New Hampshire State Motto

Bill of Rights
Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.


Amendment II

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.


Amendment III

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.


Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.


Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.


Amendment VII

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.


Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.


Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.


Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Washington


American freedom for all the people in the world!

15.07.2005 12:52

American freedom for all the people in the world...whether they like it or not!

Visit the USA before their armed forces visit you!

Paranoid Pete


American freedom!

15.07.2005 13:00

Yes, because the American people have been served so well by Amendment 1 (allowing the neo nazis, homophobes, anti-semites, and others an outlet), Amendment 2 (check out these gun-death statitstics, and remember - they're allowed automatic weapons), and Amendment VI (a significant proportion of the poor souls on Death Row in southern states).

Please bear in mind also that the Decleration of Independence (All Men Free and Equal etc) was written by a whole pile of folks that saw no contradiction in keeping slaves, consider hwhether any of the constitution ever applied to Native Americans (or whatever we call them this week), and just which bits of the whole sheebang have effectively been undermined by subsequent (especially post 9-11) legislation.

Nothing is more amazing that American's belief in their rights, freedoms, and above all their incomprehension that others of us in the Western World might just enjoy the same without all the hullabaloo.

"les Americans? Ils sont commes les enfants" De Gaulle (the General, not Asterix)

Big Bad Boab


European Parliamentary question asked...

15.07.2005 16:15


Subject:
Illegal files on demonstrators kept
on the Schengen information system

[....]
Whom is the EU actually targeting? Why are files being kept on all participants at mass protests as if they were common criminals? Does the Council not consider this to be a direct infringement of some of the very individual freedoms and democratic rights embodied in the Member States’ Constitutions?

read more at
 http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=70790#comment114801

redjade


marching

19.07.2005 10:02

Hey, tempered guy, if you don't learn properly what RIGHT is, you cannot know what LEFT is.

Can you walk, by the way, and how is your ballance doing?
Was it pleasurable to squat an Internet page?
We fear those nasty eye-looks ... bbbrrrr.

No-body


Whit?

19.07.2005 18:32

Anyone know what Nobody (note the spelling, mate) is on about?

Boab


Message gone

19.07.2005 19:33

I am pleased with your question.
Two nights ago something very strange occured on my PC. The Indy web site was gone, I have it saved among Favourites, instead some other web site written in French, subtitled as Place Libre (!?!) was appearing through the time of about 20 minutes.
Preceding the above message of mine there used to be a thretening hostile message of somebody addessing it to the "left". I responded to it.
I have been asking myself as well what was going on the Sunday's late evening on the www.Indymedia.

No-body


A SENSE OF PROPORTION

20.07.2005 21:27

I'm not sure of the final count of arrests at G8. I've seen a figure of 700 for arrests and detentions. I believe the figure for actual arrests is around 350.

Now compare that with the Orange "Walk" in Glasgow on 25th June. Those in the Glasgow convergence space who were awake early enough will have heard the bands marching up Dalmarnock Road as we were preparing to move onto the Stirling site. I counted 9 of them between 7.30 and 8.30. The press gives the total of arrests that day as over 400. It was an exceptionally violent one this year, by all accounts. As usual, many of these arrests were for very nasty violence or sectarian abuse. How does that compare with the sort of things we're being charged with?

So who were the rampaging, violent neds in central Scotland this summer? (Apart from the ones in riot gear, that is). Or is the Organge Order's annual hate-fest, draped as it is in the butcher's apron (for English folk, this = union jack), just one of those merry summer events, whilst our opposition to the world's major criminal gangsters is condemned as something outrageous?

I think the critics who have commented here should maybe have a more reflective look at Scottish society and its problems.

Arbuthnot

Arbuthnot


A SENSE OF PROPORTION

20.07.2005 21:29

I'm not sure of the final count of arrests at G8. I've seen a figure of 700 for arrests and detentions. I believe the figure for actual arrests is around 350.

Now compare that with the Orange "Walk" in Glasgow on 25th June. Those in the Glasgow convergence space who were awake early enough will have heard the bands marching up Dalmarnock Road as we were preparing to move onto the Stirling site. I counted 9 of them between 7.30 and 8.30. The press gives the total of arrests that day as over 400. It was an exceptionally violent one this year, by all accounts. As usual, many of these arrests were for very nasty violence or sectarian abuse. How does that compare with the sort of things we're being charged with?

So who were the rampaging, violent neds in central Scotland this summer? (Apart from the ones in riot gear, that is). Or is the Organge Order's annual hate-fest, draped as it is in the butcher's apron (for English folk, this = union jack), just one of those merry summer events, whilst our opposition to the world's major criminal gangsters is condemned as something outrageous?

I think the critics who have commented here should maybe have a more reflective look at Scottish society and its problems.

Arbuthnot

Arbuthnot


clowns proved themselves

21.07.2005 13:19

I had clown misgivings before the g8, but having seen the way they worked in Achterade, completely cancelling out the effects of the paid police and the voluntary police force (SWP ushers) making it clear that people could do whatever they wanted.

They also rescued a bunch of masked up boys & girls who had been surrounded by police - jumping into the cordon and taking the piss 'til the police just got rid of all of them. They were right up at the front line, diffusing bad situations, creating better ones where people could move through barricades and accross fields..

They are organised and useful to all at demos, and don't necessarily fluffy things up at all.

bobs


A Sense of Proportion (Part II)

21.07.2005 20:55

Just to be clear I'm in no way standing up for the Orange Order march in Glasgow, but actually there were only 70 arrests:

 http://news.scotsman.com/archive.cfm?id=705002005

You'll also find that there is considerable pressure on the authorities to ban it, that it is extremely heavily policed, and many of the others in the west of Scotland have (thankfully) died a death over the last few years.

I'd rethink your dodgy comparison.

Boab


Don't dismiss the clowns

22.07.2005 02:49

Two more reasons to not slate the clowns:

1. They helped events to happen as the police seemed obsessed with harassing them, thus wasting police resources (as happened at start of carnival)

2. They sometimes saved protesters from being kettled by the police (trapped by penning in) and again this happened on Monday when a number of people were saved from being trapped in Princes St Gardens - by the clowns

And we are trained in clowning. Would be good to have some real circus props too tho I guess.

>>>

Diversity is the best means of dissent.

Mix your messages and the chance of them being heard increases as does your audience...

Sir Ender U Mustbejoking
mail e-mail: theymustbejoking@riseup.net
- Homepage: http://www.clownarmy.org


Vote Clown

22.07.2005 13:51

I think the Rebel Clown Army was a vital part of the protests in Edinburgh and Gleneagles. Clowns dispell tension of which there was much and often react in a way that is very difficult for the police to handle. the shield kissing picture is a prime example. the police in Scotland were waiting for us to react violently and angrily and were prepared both willing and able to respond with draconian force. The clown reaction was one they had serious trouble with and as such was an important diversification of strategy.

In my opinion the establishment has enough clowns already on their side I don't see why we shouldn't have some of our own!

Red Baron
mail e-mail: roterbaron@gmail.com
- Homepage: http://redbaron.blog-city.com/


Send in the clowns

26.07.2005 04:10

The joke is not the clowns or the members of the G8 meetings.

Imagine people all over the world, once every three to five years going to a special event. They all confirm they are who they say they are and have the right to vote. So they take the paper, and cautiously select from one multiple choice question, what they believe is the correct answer.

The answers tallied, democracy has been served for a few more years. The joke is clowns believe such a process could ever produce a democracy. It might not be so pathetic if you were selecting a direction, but the best you can do is some jokers name. Yeah, Smith is the answer all right, world hunger, bad air, apply Smith, or whoever else you thought might be the correct answer to the problems in your world.

One question asked only during elections, and it isn't even close to the solutions. The clowns believe this means they live in a democracy. Doesn't matter where you live, you never have.

Sincerely,

sblaism


G8 Defendent & Prisoner Solidarity

02.08.2005 14:59

During the G8 protests across Scotland the police arrested and imprisoned around 354 people. Almost two hundred people are due to have trials in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Stirling and Falkirk following the G8. Court cases have already started and more are due in the next few weeks. Two people are still on remand in prison.

We are a group set up to support everyone who was arrested at or in connection with demonstrations against the G8. We support all those arrested during the anti-G8 protests in July 2005, whatever the reason the police have given for their arrest. We hope to act as a contact point for defendants to meet and work out strategies together and to find witnesses; and to provide practical support for people with court cases.

There are several different ways people coming to court can be supported:
- If you live in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Perth or Falkirk please get in touch if you are able to provide accommodation for people facing court and their friends or family
- Cash is needed to help with fares for defendants, friends and family members who don't live in Scotland
- Come to court to support people while their cases are being heard
- Sending postcards and writing to people in custody
- Arranging for delivery of books and small amounts of money to prisoners in custody
- Welcoming prisoners on release and providing local accommodation if needed

Please get in touch if you were arrested at the G8 and are due in court and want us to help in any way. We are going to try and be in court for everyone coming to trial - please let us know if you are in court so we can be there to support you.

If you need any legal advice then get in touch with the G8 Legal Support Team at  G8legalsupport@riseup.net or write to G8 Legal Support c/o LDMG BM Box HAVEN London WC1N 3XX

If you are interested in helping people due in court in any way please contact us: July 2005 Solidarity Group c/o 17 West Montgomery Place Edinburgh EH7 5HA  July2005solidarity@yahoo.co.uk or leave a message on 0131 557 6242

All interested very welcome. We are currently holding meetings very regularly in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Contact us if you want to get involved

July 2005 Solidarity Group

July2005Solidarity


Hard hatted clowns

10.08.2005 00:23

I thought the clowns were f***ing great. They made the police look even more heavy handed (and I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen one arrested!). The biggest clowns were the hard hatted ones. They hadn't a clue what to do with the painted ones, most of the time!

The revolution COULD come with a smile...!

Neil
mail e-mail: neilwscott@hotmail.com


Circa

04.09.2005 02:55

The clowns provided welcome support and relief when things started getting dicey with the police, and seeing as they operate in small, spontaneous groups they can cause quite a lot of confusion within the police ranks. one of them even lent me his woolly socks when i got trenchfoot (then hypothermia. yes, it's the lil' anarchist bastard if anyone's reading)

We spent most of our nights there talking about the various methods employed by the clowns and black bloc, and while there was a general consensus that pacifist action was the most exemplarary form of protest many thought to taking the fight to the police, believing that a more direct action would gain attention from the world's media, which it did, and of course, it was distorted. emphasis on the 'victims' inside the shops of edinburgh was instead placed.

hell, everyone told me not to go in case i got shot or something (which did indeed happen. and his name is remembered by many in the black bloc, those who were with him and those who have heard). but i still went, it was worth the time too.

WE NEED MORE ACTIVISTS!!!!!!!

Rob
mail e-mail: Mechaman@mail.com


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