originally posted on 2005-07-09 06:34:36 +0000
This BBC piece (below) has a pretty sound take on what this action was about. We hope to have more detailed personal reports up here shortly...
Stuff happened in other parts of Scotland too:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/07/317527.html
...and in other parts of the world:
Australia: http://www.risingtide.org.au/
USA: http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org/actions/2005-7-08/index.php
Venezuela: http://www.noalg8.contrapoder.org.ve/
---------------
Climate protest targets Glasgow
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4663639.stm
A protest against climate change and the M74 road extension, which caused
chaos in Glasgow, has ended.
Around 300 people took part in the rally on the George V bridge over the
River Clyde and all have now left.
The anti-G8 group Dissent organised the Boogie on the Bridge event as part
of action against climate change and construction of the new road.
Four people were arrested as police tried to disperse the protesters from
the city centre during the day.
Officers flanked the demonstrators, some of whom were dressed as clowns,
as they marched to the bridge after gathering in the east end of the city
at about 1300 BST.
Vanessa Head, 22, from Sussex, said: "I think it is important that people
come and show that they care about issues like climate change.
"I think a lot of the time the world leaders put us all under one umbrella
but we need to show that the whole of the world is behind doing something
to stop climate change.
We are here to make some noise: to shout our rage and dance our hope
Dissent network statement
G8 calls for new climate dialogue
"It is important that they see a presence like this."
One protester, who gave her name as Mary, said: "We are protesting against
oil dependency and the building of new roads so that more cars can burn
more fuel and destroy the climate."
The efforts to create a party atmosphere were aided by jugglers and a
sound system which was wheeled along in a shopping trolley, as well as the
arrival of the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army - a fixture at many
of the week's anti-G8 protests - on bikes.
Earlier, the Kingston Bridge ramp at Waterloo Street was shut and is
likely to remain closed throughout Friday. Police foot and vehicle patrols
were placed on both sides of the bridge but have now said that traffic is
moving freely over the span.
The police surround protesters to contain them on the bridge. Picture by
Yvonne Cairns.
The police surrounded protesters to contain them on the bridge
A police spokesman said: "We have robust contingency plans for the roads,
however, if some disruption does occur, we would urge motorists to be
patient and follow diversion routes."
A statement from Dissent called for people to join them on the streets and
protest for a "just, joyous, fossil-fuel free future".
It said: "We are here to make some noise: to shout our rage and dance our
hope; to stand up and show the G8 and the world that the climate crisis
can no longer be ignored."
Dissent said that the climate crisis had been created by the G8 and
"international institutions, power-hungry politicians and profit-seeking companies that constantly put the needs of people and the environment
last".
Plans to extend the M74 in Glasgow so that it joins the M8 in the city
centre were also condemned by the group.
'False needs'
It said: "Local people have rejected the extension, knowing that it would
increase air and noise pollution, contribute to climate change, worsen
traffic and split their local community.
"But the government planners, bent on pursuing the false needs of
'progress' and 'economic development', plough ahead with their road
building schemes."
Minor G8 demonstrations continued in Edinburgh with small-scale protests
around the city centre.
Lothian and Borders police said very little disruption was caused but they
were maintaining a high security profile in the capital.
About a dozen people were sitting outside the city's sheriff court where
people appeared in connection with disturbances earlier this week.
Meanwhile, about 100 people calling for regime change in Iran staged a colourful protest at the foot of The Mound.
A large banner reading: "G8 Kills" was unfurled on Salisbury Crags, overlooking the Scottish Parliament.
- Log in to post comments