Unpleasant Bunch in Trafalgar Sq
Auguste | 28.10.2000 15:25
A sea of Union Jacks and (more ominously) Crosses of George took up most of Trafalgar Sq this afternoon, protesting against the perceived "European Superstate". Leaflets urged us to "save our pound" (our ? from what ?), and among the groups particpating were a "Populist party" (yes, thats what they call themselves) and also a banner from the Morning Star (old Stalinist Communist party).
The march is clearly pitched at the fuel tax lobby. The danger is that, having failed to be attracted to the left, they may take up this position instead. Its not 'political', just 'common sense', sound as a pound...
It is one thing to oppose unwholesome international developments, such as the IMF and NATO, but it is quite another to dress up peitit nationalism of a dangerous kind and hold it up as radical. It is not as if the EU was thriving- the dread Euro is looking very shaky at present. This inversion of 'globalization theory' into trade- currency blocs, is the dark side of anti-globalization, and we should be exteremely wary of it. We must not let ourselves be drawn into this spurious "Anti-EU" platform.
Actually, there isnt much chance: In truth, if you stand to be adversly affected by any conversion from £ to E, you must have so much cash that you shouldnt really be dabbling in the left anyway, you capitalist you !
The march is clearly pitched at the fuel tax lobby. The danger is that, having failed to be attracted to the left, they may take up this position instead. Its not 'political', just 'common sense', sound as a pound...
It is one thing to oppose unwholesome international developments, such as the IMF and NATO, but it is quite another to dress up peitit nationalism of a dangerous kind and hold it up as radical. It is not as if the EU was thriving- the dread Euro is looking very shaky at present. This inversion of 'globalization theory' into trade- currency blocs, is the dark side of anti-globalization, and we should be exteremely wary of it. We must not let ourselves be drawn into this spurious "Anti-EU" platform.
Actually, there isnt much chance: In truth, if you stand to be adversly affected by any conversion from £ to E, you must have so much cash that you shouldnt really be dabbling in the left anyway, you capitalist you !
Auguste
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I was there too...
30.10.2000 18:22
The organisers and some of the stewerds were very knowledgeable about the countryside alliance and the fuel protests.
Several 'parties' were represented including the UK Independance Party (as well as many others with names like UK Democracy Party etc)
Some people were just there to shout about keeping the pound - others were fully against a super Eurostate. Some were there talking about britain, others were just concerned about England and were talking of treason. Blair was a big target on the banners.
The average age of the march and rally must have been about 55, there must have been a good few thousand there, and in total I saw only 4 people who were not white.
Flyers were also given out about the fuel protests and the next phase - these were obviously from the BNP if you follow the website www.fuel-protest.com that was listed on the flyer - have a look at it... they call themselves 'patriotic fuel protesters' - read on and you'll get the picture....
(they kind of marry countryside alliance / anti-euro / fuel protest views with nationalism and racism)
Jed